FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF "RAZ-RAM" FUND: PRESIDENT HOSTED TENS OF ORPHANS - JEWISH, DRUZE AND ARAB
(May 3, 2001)

Israel's President, Moshe Katsav, hosted 80 orphan children in his home this week - Jews, Druze and Arab - supported by the "Raz Ram" Fund. The fund was established by musicians Aviv and Arik Livnat, children of the late pilot Arnon Livnat, who fell in the Six day War. The fund was established to advance, nurture and enrich orphaned children and teenagers and to bring people closer through creativity and training in the arts. The program was attended by the Fund's proteges who were subsequently invited to the Biblical Zoo and the Israel museum for a visit

The fund is supported by various organizations including the Ministry of Culture and the Jewish Agency, and other "friends" from the private and business sectors.

The "Orphans without borders" project run by the Raz-Ram Fund also directs its activities at the minorities sector involving Druze and Arab as well Jewish children. This activity already takes place in Jaffa and Hurfesh. "Such activity is extremely important at a time when there is a real need to protect the delicate fabric of our joint lives", said chairman of the Fund, Aviv Livnat.

Last Tuesday a delegation headed by Matan Vilnai, Minster of Culture, Science & Sport, paid a visit to the Druze village Hurfesh while the activities were under way. The minister expressed his support for the Fund's activities. The Fund is planning "creative nuclei" of orphans from Sderot, the Katif Bloc, Metulla and Kfar Rama. Most of the Fund's activities rely on donations and volunteers