eJP has learned that the proposal for an egalitarian/pluralistic area of the Kotel will include supervision by The Jewish Agency, a quasi-government organization headquartered in Jerusalem. This previously unreported news was apparently discussed at a meeting earlier this week in New York where Natan Sharansky briefed members of the various North American streams. If correct it represents a significant addition to the mission of the organization. … [Read more...]
The Jewish Agency for Israel (The Agency) is a storied organization with a long history of assisting building the Jewish State. Today, with aliyah mostly an aliyah by choice, The Agency is trying to reinvent itself by focusing significant resources around Jewish Identity. While the "jury is still out" on the success of the latest strategic plan, the organization gets credit for moving forward, sharpening its focus and trimming [a meaningful amount of] excess fat. Governance of The Agency is complicated. The Board consists of a mix of organizational CEO's, wealthy donors, committed lay professionals and political hacks. In practice, despite denials, the Chair of the Executive serves at the pleasure of the Prime Minister. Every faction has their own agenda and only a small minority are truly … [Read more...]
A town hall style conversation was held yesterday at The Jewish Agency's Board of Governor’s Committee of the Unity of the Jewish People. The open session was called for the express purpose of gathering information to assist Natan Sharansky in his task of formulating new recommendations concerning prayer at the Kotel that will be presented to the Prime Minister. All present expressed a desire to resolve the current tensions and simultaneously provide respect for all who choose to worship at the Kotel. The approximately two dozen speakers hailed from across the religious streams and the world (including several Israelis). They mostly echoed similar themes, first and foremost that the Kotel belongs to all Jews. Several speakers tied the Kotel monopoly by the ultra-Orthodox to the broader issue … [Read more...]
At the conclusion of this year's program, OTZMA is slated to become a program of the Israel Experience Educational Tourism Services Ltd., a subsidiary of The Jewish Agency for Israel, in a way returning the program to its early roots. Project OTZMA, founded 27 years ago, was originally a joint program of the Israel Forum and the UJA (North America) in cooperation with the Jewish Agency's Department for Jewish Zionist Education. Over the decades the OTZMA program itself has gone through changes; UJA became a part of Jewish Federations of North America, and roughly three years ago - in a cost-cutting move - The Jewish Agency moved away from direct program support. On November 1, 2011, Jerry Silverman - JFNA's CEO - announced the conclusion of OTZMA. Neither at that time, nor at any time since, … [Read more...]
Heard Around Jerusalem takes a different tack than usual today, bringing our readers the following two noteworthy, and unrelated, items: First, we hear from Ron Krumer, Director, External Relations at Hadassah Medical Organization in Jerusalem: "This is one of the most surreal situations I remember since the first Gulf War in the early 90's. Jerusalem (HMO included) is quiet and continues with routine – work, schools, and going out – everything. Some 40 miles from here there is war. Hundreds of thousand people are under on going bombardments of rockets and missiles, which have gone heavier in recent hours, and this time the attacks claimed some casualties on our side. Meanwhile, the Israeli Air force has also intensified its attacks in Gaza. I'm listening to the radio and the broadcast is … [Read more...]
'Heard Around Jerusalem' returns with some behind-the-scenes insights on the weeks ahead: With both the Jewish Agency's Board meeting and JPPI's Conference on the Future of the Jewish People on next week's agenda, influentials - including 'wanna be' ones - have slowly been arriving in our nation's capital. The Jewish Agency, for the first time in recent history, will be meeting in Tel Aviv. And while several participants are planning an afternoon on the beach, or shopping/dining in historic Neve Tzedek, the meeting will pale in comparison to last October's hugely successful gathering in Buenos Aires. The backdrop to both meetings will be the upcoming elections - in both Israel and the U.S. - along with last night's unexpected announcement of the joining together of Likud and Yisrael Beytenu as a … [Read more...]
