The Nativ immigration assistance program has received government approval to open offices in Germany, despite opposition from some segments of the German Jewish community. Nativ plans to encourage Jews living in Germany to make Aliyah (immigrate to Israel), and will focus on Jews from the former Soviet Union. Approximately 200,000 such Jews are currently living in Germany.
Some German Jewish officials have expressed concern that the program will create a rift between Jews native to Germany and Jewish immigrants from the FSU. Steven Kramer, head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, sent a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last week threatening to ask the German government to prevent Nativ from encouraging Aliyah.