San Diego Ibim Student Village Softens Hard Landings
1. The San Diego Ibim Student
Village softens what is often
a hard landing for new
immigrants and serves as a
critical first step towards their
successful integration into
the fabric of Israeli society. As
young immigrants begin to
rebuild their lives in their new
homeland, the Jewish Agency
stands by their side, helping
them to fulfill their potential
and their dreams.
Printed at the Jewish Agency
www.jewishagency.org PARTNERING WITH PURPOSE, ALL OVER THE WORLD.
The Jewish Agency is funded by The Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod, major Jewish communities and Friedmann Campus
federations, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, foundations and donors from Israel and around the world.
San Diego Ibim Student Village
2. Friedmann Campus
San Diego Ibim Student Village Building a
Future in Israel
Since opening its doors in 1991, the Jewish Agency’s San part of Kedma, a year-long program consisting of intensive
Diego Ibim Student Village, located on the Friedmann Hebrew language ulpan, Jewish education and academic
Campus, in Sha’ar HaNegev regional council and near the enrichment. Participants in both programs learn Hebrew,
city of Sderot, has provided a home for thousands of young, English, math and other subjects at the nearby Sapir Many new immigrants, particularly
new immigrants who are interested in pursuing higher Regional College. Veteran immigrants and native-born young adults who arrive in Israel
education. Ibim and its programs are operated through Israelis studying at Sapir also live at the Village. Additional
the generosity of federations across North America, the programs are conducted at Ibim for other immigrant alone and without financial
communities of Keren Hayesod–UIA and donors in Israel populations including lone soldiers. The Nitzanim - FSU resources, are in need of assistance
and around the world. In 1998, the United Jewish Federation Family Project at Ibim, creates an ideal absorption site for to facilitate their successful
of San Diego County adopted the Village, providing for its young immigrant families from the FSU, addresses the
operation and development. needs of these newcomers and offers them a beautiful and absorption into Israeli society. The
affordable place of residence for a full year. Jewish Agency’s San Diego Ibim
Combining educational opportunity with comprehensive
social support, Ibim provides an ideal setting for students’ For the past few years, Ibim has been within the range Student Village, located on the
gradual yet steady absorption into Israeli society. Ibim’s 330 of terrifying rocket attacks from Gaza. In order to help Friedmann Campus, offers this
residents include immigrants from the former Soviet Union, residents and staff deal with the ongoing stress of the support, providing olim not only
North and South America, Ethiopia and Europe. security situation, special workshops and individual
counseling were offered through the support of the UJC’s with housing, but also with the tools
New immigrants from the former Soviet Union are part Israel Emergency Campaign (IEC). The dining room at Ibim they need to achieve independence
of Selah, a ten-month academic preparatory program for was secured through the United Jewish Israel Appeal and
recent high school graduates who come to Israel without and acclimate to their new lives.
Keren Hayesod. These efforts are part of the Jewish Agency’s
their parents. Immigrants from Ethiopia come to Ibim as larger campaign to assist Gaza perimeter communities.