December 24, 2009 / 7 Tevet 5770

Dear Friends,

I write to inform you that Moshe Vigdor, the Director General has responded favorably to the request of the Minister of Education to serve as the next Director General of the Council for Higher Education in Israel.

In the five years that Moshe served as Director General of the Jewish Agency he proved to be a very creative and talented executive. During his service, he helped lead the Agency to a new strategic plan and oversaw a major reorganization in its structure, making it far more cost effective and efficient.

Personally, I regret Moshe's decision to end his service at the Agency, although I fully understand his decision to accept this most important challenge and responsibility in the area of education in our State. I thank Moshe for his unswerving dedicated work on behalf of the Agency, world Jewry and the State of Israel, and for his many achievements during his distinguished tenure.

Moshe and I have agreed that he will continue his work at the Agency for a sufficient period to allow for a smooth transition. Moshe will continue in his present position as Director General of JAFI till after the next Board of Governors meeting in St. Petersburg at the end of February 2010. Moshe has graciously offered to continue sharing his advice and experience with all of us for an indefinite period beyond his formal departure for which I am grateful.

We all wish Moshe every success in this most important position in Higher Education which he will assume in the near future.

Natan Sharansky