Last Thursday, the seventh Zionist Mission to the Diaspora conference was held with hundreds of participants, all candidates for missions to countries around the world.

Speaking at the event, Immigration & Absorption Minister Ophir Sofer said, "I have never been an emissary, and I love this country very much. But it appears that you love Israel more than I do, which is why you're all here today, doing what you're doing. As someone who has served as a commanding officer, I can tell you that it's the soldiers on the front lines who decide the outcome of the battle. The State of Israel is now sending you out to the world to conduct your missions, missions which are so very significant.

"Your main task will be to connect Jews to Israel and to the idea of making Aliyah," he continued. "I want to thank everyone who is engaged in this important task, and I'm so happy to be here, at this conference, which is bringing together important Zionist organizations with strong values. You are my emissaries too, and I have an obligation to ensure that you succeed in your missions."

MK Ohed Tal, a former director of the center for emissaries to the Diaspora for World Mizrachi, was also present at the conference.

"We have succeeded in recruiting emissaries from the younger age group for all kinds of service to our people, and we must not forget or disparage those emissaries we send out to other countries. More than half of world Jewry lives outside Israel and is thirsty for connection. From my present position in the Knesset, I can tell you that we are continuing with all kinds of projects to enhance this connection."

Rabbi Hillel Van Leeuwen, head of Leadership Development at World Mizrachi, noted that, "Diaspora Jewry may feel that we're distant geographically, but this is something that we should be addressing. The right way, the best way to enhance the connection with Jews outside Israel is to go out to them, and that's what we're doing when we send out hundreds of emissaries throughout the year, to strengthen Jewish identity and connect Jews with their values and their heritage - and all this increases the numbers making Aliyah."

Rabbi Doron Perez, executive chairman of the Mizrachi World Movement, stressed that "events like this one promote unity and bring together under one roof all the various organizations that send out Religious-Zionist emissaries across the world. With G-d's help I hope that hundreds if not thousands of emissaries will reach Jewish communities across the world in the future."