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Source: http://www.virtualjerusalem.com/news/worldjewry/?disp_feature=TTH84p.var
American Jews Returning to Israel in Record Numbers
(JTA) Rachel Pomerance - Tourism officials report a serious upswing in travel to Israel for Passover, reflecting a general trend of U.S. Jews returning to Israel in an act of solidarity. "Tourism to Israel is up in a tremendous way," said Rami Levy, Israel's tourism ambassador to North and South America. In 2003, some 221,000 American Jews visited Israel. Last year Israel placed ads in Jewish publications and synagogues across North America saying: "Make your pledge to go back to Israel next year." "Well, it's 2004 now, and it looks like people are living up to their pledges," said Susan Blum of a Philadelphia-based travel agency. "We're doing quotations left and right for synagogues." At another agency, Raphi Bloom ascribes the increased interest to a calmer security situation in Israel coupled with the end of major hostilities in Iraq. Others say people simply are getting used to the ongoing intifada or feel inspired to show solidarity with a Jewish state still under siege.