HUMAN SHIELDS TO DEPART TO ISRAEL AGAINST IRAQ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, March 14, 2003

ONE HUNDRED American College Students Depart TO SUPPORT ISRAEL IN WAKE OF
IRAQ CONFLICT "Operation Torah Shield" Intended To Show Support With Israel
and Lack of Fear of Saddam Hussein

NEW YORK, N.Y., March 14, 2003 - "Operation Torah Shield", a group of one
hundred American students from Yeshiva University and Stern College will be
departing to Israel for one week on Sunday, March 16, 2003. They will be
departing on El Al Flight #002 from JFK leaving at 7:35 PM, arriving in
Israel 12:15 on Monday, March 17th. Accompanying the group will be
Assemblyman Dov Hikind, and Joe Frager, President of The Jerusalem
Reclamation Project.

There will be a press conference on Sunday at 4 PM at the Red Carpet Area of
the El Al Terminal at JFK Airport. Also present at the press conference will
be a variety of Israeli dignitaries, Dr. Norman Lamm, President of Yeshiva
University, and Councilman David Weprin.

The group will be staying one week to study in Jewish yeshivas and
seminaries, work on volunteer assignments with the Israeli army, and
volunteer in hospitals.

On the eve of the Iraqi War, these students are going to Israel to show a
lack of fear of Saddam Hussein's continued threats against the Jewish State,
and to show support with the State of Israel. Despite the imminent conflict,
these students will be traveling to Israel, as a similar group did during
the previous Iraq War.

Funds for this program were donated by a prominent Miami businessperson, and
special thanks are due to the National Council of Young Israel and the
Israeli Ministry of Tourism who lent considerable logistical and
organizational support to this endeavor.

"As President Bush and many other world leaders have stated, 'We can't let
the terrorists win, and we are visiting Israel during these times to show
support for the State of Israel. As the misguided "human shields" recently
returned from Iraq, our mission is called "Operation Torah Shield", as we
will learn the Jewish bible and spend time supporting the great democracy of
the Middle East," said Yisrael Schachter, Vice President of Student
Government at Yeshiva University. "We, the Jewish community of North America
care for our brethren and we want to stand shoulder to shoulder with them
during these times."

Individual interviews with participating students are available until the
trips departure and in Israel. For further information, please contact Ronn
Torossian at 212-999-5585 or 917-721-4436. ronn@kcsa.com