The Jewish Agency reports that 57 prospective immigrants from South Africa came this past week to Israel on a pilot tour to explore absorption opportunities. This is the largest such group to have arrived in Israel in many years. In addition, 19 physicians from North America arrived this week for a week’s study tour of Israeli civilian and military emergency facilities. The visit is sponsored by the Jewish Agency, the Ministry of Health and the IDF Medical Corps, in coordination with the American Physicians Fellowship in Israel. The doctors toured the Hadassah Medical Center burns and trauma care units, Tel HaShomer Sheba Medical Center, and other sites, and will assist doctors going on reserve duty. This is the third group of overseas medical volunteers to prepare for service in Israel in time of national emergency; the first arrived in August.



In a related item, Tourism Minister Yitzchak Levy has congratulated Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert for his decision to grant a 50% discount to hotels in the city for the year 2002. The other 50% will be paid by the Finance Ministry, in a move recommended by the Tourism Ministry to help the country's limping tourism industry. Rabbi Levy calls upon other cities to follow Jerusalem's lead.