32 Facts About Jewish Agency

1.

Since 1948, the Jewish Agency has brought 3 million immigrants to Israel, and offers them transitional housing in "absorption centres" throughout the country.

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2.

Jewish Agency played a central role in the founding and the development of the State of Israel.

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3.

The Jewish Agency is funded by the Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod, major Jewish communities and federations, and foundations and donors from Israel and around the world.

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4.

In 2008, the Jewish Agency won the Israel Prize for its historical contribution to Israel and to the Jewish community worldwide.

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5.

The Palestine Office, which eventually became the Jewish Agency, was based upon Herzl's organizational ideas for how to bring a Jewish state into being.

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6.

Jewish Agency protested that the British had betrayed their commitment expressed in the Balfour Declaration and that he could no longer work with them.

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7.

From 1929 to 1948, the Jewish Agency was organized into four departments: the Government Department ; the Security Department; the Aliyah Department, and the Education Department.

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8.

The Jewish Agency Executive included David Ben-Gurion as chairman, and Rabbi Yehuda Leib Maimon and Yitzhak Gruenbaum, among others.

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9.

The Jewish Agency was housed in a fortress-like building in the Rehavia neighborhood of Jerusalem.

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10.

When World War II broke out, the Jewish Agency established a committee to aid European Jewry by finding them entry permits to Palestine, sending them food, and maintaining contact.

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11.

When World War II ended the Jewish Agency continued to aid illegal immigration to Palestine through HaMossad LeAliyah Bet in an effort known as the Bricha.

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12.

Frustrated with Great Britain's continued anti-Zionist stance, the Jewish Agency helped put together an agreement signed by the Hagannah, the Irgun, and the Lehi to form a United Resistance Movement against the British.

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13.

Meanwhile, the Jewish Agency collaborated with the Jewish National Council to set up a People's Council and National Administration .

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14.

The Jewish Agency helped these immigrants acclimate to Israel and begin to build new lives.

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15.

The Jewish Agency has taken charge of housing them in absorption centers, teaching them Hebrew, helping them find employment and in general easing their integration into Israeli society.

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16.

The Jewish Agency has helped them to integrate through a variety of programs including Hebrew language instruction, placement in absorption centers, and job training.

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17.

Jewish Agency provides Jewish communities outside Israel a continuum of programming to "bring Israel" to local worldwide Jewish communities.

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18.

The Jewish Agency is an important organizational partner in the Taglit-Birthright initiative.

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19.

The Jewish Agency is a significant partner in the Net@ program offered by Cisco Systems.

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20.

Jewish Agency Executive is charged with administering the operations of the Jewish Agency, subject to the control of the Board of Governors.

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21.

The 120 Governors play a crucial role in the governance of the Jewish Agency in overseeing budgets and operations and in recommending policy to the Jewish Agency.

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22.

The Assembly is responsible for determining basic policies and goals of the Jewish Agency; receiving and reviewing reports from the Board of Governors; making recommendations on major issues; and adopting resolutions on the above.

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23.

Jewish Agency is funded by the Jewish Federations of North America, Keren Hayesod, major Jewish communities and federations, and foundations and donors from Israel and around the world.

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24.

Jewish Agency International Development, the organization's main fundraising arm in North America, is a registered 501.

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25.

Jewish Agency still brings thousands of Jews to move to Israel each year.

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26.

The Jewish Agency continues to support these olim as they integrate into Israeli society.

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27.

Jewish Agency helps vulnerable populations in Israel and around the world.

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28.

Special services for lone soldiers on the front: During the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, the Jewish Agency provided mental health intervention and financial support to 340 "lone soldiers, " IDF soldiers from overseas who do not have close family members living in Israel.

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29.

For example, during the 2006 Lebanon War, the Jewish Agency established a micro-business loan fund in the north.

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30.

Fund for the Victims of Terror: During the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict, for example, the Jewish Agency gave 120 grants from the Fund for the Victims of Terror to Israeli families who had suffered death or major physical injury.

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31.

Jewish Agency has played an important role in supporting the residents of Sderot and the surrounding area, which has been the target of many rockets launched from Gaza.

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32.

From 1948 until 2009, the Jewish Agency was organized into departments: the Aliyah and Absorption department, which was responsible for the immigration and integration of Jews coming to Israel; the Education department, which worked to deepen the connection of Jews worldwide to Israel; and the Israel department, which focused on improving the lives of socio-economically vulnerable Israelis.

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