April 14, 2008 / 9 Nissan 5768

In 1929, when the Jewish Agency was created by visionary leaders from around the Jewish world, the word 'Israel' existed only in the context of liturgy and their dreams. It would take decades of unceasing efforts by the Jewish Agency – as a "working government" literally of and by the people, but a people without a state – to realize the centuries-old longing. The modern Jewish state was essentially created by the will and determination of the Jewish people through the world's only global Jewish partnership.

A few days before the State's establishment, David Ben-Gurion was at his desk at the Chair of the Executive of the Jewish Agency… a week later he was inaugurated as Israel's first Prime Minister. With the miraculous founding of the State of Israel, the Jewish Agency took upon a new role. Forged from both its experience and expertise – and its special relationship with the new government of Israel – the Jewish Agency became responsible for the cornerstones of securing the future of the Jewish people with a strong Israel at its heart.

The Jewish Agency has brought some 3 million new immigrants to Israel since 1948.

For 60 years we have been doing this - through aliyah to populate and strengthen the Jewish state; through bringing Israel into the lives and hearts of Jewish communities around the world and through carrying the passion of those communities into Israel, to help shape its society and destiny.  We have been delivering on this promise every day, of every year, through the transcendent power of our global partnership.

Aliyah: Strengthening Israel through Immigration and Integration

Since 1948, the Jewish Agency has brought three million Jews home to Israel. At the Jewish Agency, we are committed to accelerating the successful integration of all new immigrants. For those with extraordinary needs, our absorption centers provide intensive support through a “first home” environment - giving them the tools they need for achieving independence. For those families that are able to integrate directly into communities, our national At Home Together program recruits Israeli families as volunteers to “adopt” newcomers during their first two years in Israel—connecting new immigrants to a critical social network. We continue to support new immigrants each step of the way through a host of critical programs including intervention for Ethiopian-Israelis, vocational training and support for young immigrant soldiers and students.

Alexey Kochetkov, a 23-year-old violinist from Smolensk Russia made aliyah at the age of 19 through the Jewish Agency's Selah program (Students Before their Parents), a pre-academic preparatory program for high school graduates from the FSU. "The Jewish Agency does so much to support young, new immigrants like me. When I decided to come to Israel, I knew that I wasn't coming alone. There was an entire network of people who were there to help me."

Alexey Kochetkov, one of many lone immigrant students in Israel
assisted by the Jewish Agency.

Involvement in a Jewish Agency summer camp and youth club in his hometown led Alexey on his life-changing journey to explore his Jewish identity and make aliyah.

Today, Alexey is in his fourth year at the prestigious Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He is serving in the army as a lone soldier, in a special program for young musicians.

"I have made so many choices in the past decade," says Alexey. "And the Jewish Agency has been by my side every step of the way. It is truly amazing."

Shlomit Avraham, 19, immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia with her parents and nine siblings. The Jewish Agency's Sparks of Science program, which supports the advancement of Ethiopian students in math and science, gave her the chance to excel in these subjects. The program is run in conjunction with Israel's major universities.

"My parents worked very hard so that all ten of their children would have a chance for a better future in Israel," explains Shlomit. "At the same time, the Jewish Agency supported our growth and gave us opportunities that pushed us forward."

Connecting the Jewish World's Next Generation with Israel and Peoplehood

At the Jewish Agency, we remain committed to bringing Israel into worldwide Jewish communities - working closely with our global partners to increase exponentially the quality and the quantity of Israel-centered engagement. In the FSU, every year thousands of youth participate in Jewish Agency camps - often their first contact with Jewish identity. These transformative experiences provide vital identity building programs that are the primary gateway to long-term communal involvement. Our inspiring Israel educators are fostering Jewish community around the world and improving the quality of Israel-centered education. We are also providing worldwide Jewish Zionist education through Jewish day schools, supplementary educational programs, Holocaust education and deepening engagement with Israel.

MASA participants in Israel.

The MASA Initiative is making a broad range of volunteer and study programs accessible to a much larger number of young Jewish adults, making a semester to a year in Israel the norm for Jewish youngsters worldwide. With their newfound knowledge of Israel and their deep exploration of their place among the Jewish people and within the worldwide Jewish community, MASA graduates play a critical role in securing our Jewish future. 

MAKOM, Israel Engagement Network, a Jewish Communities/Jewish Agency partnership is a bold new initiative whose mission is to provide content and training to renew Israel's place in Jewish communal life.

"Our focus as a community is on peoplehood," says Dr. Misha Galperin, Executive Vice President and CEO, The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. "We believe that the connection to the people of Israel is as important as to the State of Israel. MAKOM provides a platform for making this relationship deeper and more meaningful."

Partnering the Jewish World with Israeli's to Effect Transformative Change

Through the energy and commitment of our partners, the Jewish Agency’s Partnership 2000 (P2K) has become the paradigm for successfully partnering global Jewish communities directly with Israeli communities. In each of our 45 partnerships connecting over 550 communities, we are building living bridges into the Jewish future.

Youth Futures is an unprecedented Jewish Agency program of national scope that ensures that children at risk are given comprehensive, high-impact, tailored intervention that will allow them to take their place as independent, constructive members of society.

As part of Youth Futures, professionally trained Trustees mentor the young participants, ages 6 to 13, over a period of three years. The Trustees, young adults dedicated to advancing social justice in Israel, become involved in all aspects of the youngsters' lives. They help their charges overcome the barriers life has thrown their way and open their minds to fresh ideas and possibilities.

"Working with these children I feel that I can really bring about change," says Moran Yair, a trustee who works with 20 children in Tiberias. "There is so much injustice in our society, and we need to make sure that these children are given a chance, that someone pays attention and cares about their future."

Roi Hayon and young social activists build a new community in the Negev with support from the Jewish Agency's Young Communities Initiative.

Today, communities in Israel’s geographic and social periphery are at a critical turning point. The Jewish Agency has launched vital programs in the Galilee and the Negev to develop resources with the capacity to create a new socioeconomic reality. We are encouraging business initiatives through small business loans and working with young communities of social change activists to strengthen the periphery.

Roi Hayon, 26, is part of the Ayalim Association, supported by the Jewish Agency through its Young Communities Initiative. Roi, along with Ayalim's idealistic young students are returning to the Zionist values of Israel's early pioneers. In the four years since its inception, Ayalim has built eight student villages in urban and rural areas in the Negev and the Galilee. Some 500 students are living in these villages, volunteering 500 hours a year and reaching out to over 5,000 children, youth and senior citizens.
 
"Our impact is really strengthening peripheral communities," says Roi. "We are building a better, more socially-conscious society."

The core belief of the Jewish Agency is that a strong Jewish future requires a strong Israel at its heart. Yet Israel in the 21st century continues to be embattled on all fronts - both external and internal. It is clear that the existential challenges to the modern Jewish homeland are far from over. Israel’s very future and its character will be shaped by the actions we take today. Over the past 60 years we have seen the power of our partnership. And this power continues to grow, because together, anything is possible.