Issue 3

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The Jewish Agency Connection, Issue #3 | January, 2012

the Jewish Agency Connection | Issue #1, November 2011


	From the Desk of Alan Hoffmann
			Amos Oz once noted that it is misleading to speak of the Zionist dream as the basis for the State of Israel; rather, there are Zionist dreams. Colliding with each other, their ongoing interaction provides the context for
	the dynamic and complex reality of the modern state. With their many differences, however, all of the Zionist perspectives—socialist, liberal, revisionist, religious and others—began with the same moment: a vision of the exemplary society the Jews would establish as they returned to their ancestral homeland. Alan Hoffmann is the Director General of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Click here to read his full message.

	In Focus: The Eyes and Ears of the Jewish Future
	A hearing exam at a Jewish Agency youth village

	We often take routine vision and hearing screening for granted. What if you found out that a high percentage of the kids in an Israeli high school for at-risk youth had undetected vision and hearing problems? Click here to read about how Atlanta’s Dr. Stephen Kutner, founder of Jewish Health International, worked with the Jewish Agency to take action after making such a discovery.

	Building Bonds, 21st-Century Style
	Making Jewish friends in the Skype age

	Our Partnership 2Gether initiative with dozens of federations, which pairs Diaspora communities and Israeli ‘sister’ communities, has launched a robust, global, school twinning program so tens of thousands of Jewish children in the Diaspora and Israel can use social media as they form the critical bonds of peoplehood. Click here to read Ha’aretz’s coverage of the program’s launch.

	75 Years Ago
	David Ben-Gurion, Executive Chairman of the Jewish Agency, told the Royal Commission during an inquiry by Lord Peel about the intentions of Zionism that “The Jews are in Palestine on our own rights… Our aim is to make the Jewish people master of its own destiny, not dominating anybody… No other nation in the world claims Palestine as a home. We are a minority everywhere, depending upon the majority's mercy… We created and we are creating this country; we came and will come until the Jewish problem is solved."

	In the News
	Jerusalem Post Publishes Barry Spielman Op-Ed on Effect of Israel Experience Programs Wall Street Journal Features the Jewish Agency in Article about Art and Philanthropy Y-Net News (Yediot Ahronot) Features Jewish Agency Israel Fellows’ to Hillel Defense of Israel Against Delegitimization Efforts Jewish Week Touts the Jewish Agency’s Work in Beit Shemesh Click here for the Jewish Agency’s complete In-the-News archive


	Building Bridges of Tolerance in Israel
	Dancing for change in Beit Shemesh

	As the body most representative of global Jewry, the Jewish Agency takes pride in its long record of leadership in advocacy and support for religious pluralism as a core principle of Israel’s democracy. For this reason, we are deeply troubled by recent reports of religious intimidation in the Jewish State. Click here to read our statement on this issue and here to read a story from the Jerusalem Post on our partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and the Jewish community of South Africa, which is facilitating increased dialogue in the town of Beit Shemesh.

	In Focus: Let Our Students Go
	Students at the University of Haifa

	A team of Jewish Agency Israel Fellows to Hillel posted at several California State University campuses spearheaded a strategic campaign that convinced the administration of the Cal State system to reverse its ban on study abroad programs to Israel. Click here to read the full story.

	The Jewish Agency and Immigration Absorbtion
	Natan Sharansky, the Jewish Agency’s Chairman of the Executive, recently sat down with the Jerusalem Post for a candid discussion regarding the Agency’s historical role in the absorption of immigrants to Israel and the future direction of this process. Click here to read the story

	Falash Mura Update
	Falash Mura at prayer in Gondar, Ethiopia

	More than 7,000 Ethiopians from that country's remaining Jewish community, waiting to immigrate to Israel, remain in Ethiopia. The target date of 2014 for completing the Ethiopian Aliyah, agreed upon in principle by the Israeli Government and the Jewish Agency, remains logistically feasible. The Agency has the capacity to process and prepare some 200 olim per month at its community center in Gondar, Ethiopia and house them comfortably upon arrival. Click here to read the full Jewish Agency statement.

	Recent Press Releases
	Jewish Agency Partnership to Facilitate Dialogue with Haredi Residents in Beit Shemesh Proceeds from Sale of Acclaimed Artist’s Series to Benefit the Jewish Agency Click here for the Jewish Agency’s complete press release archive

Comments or Suggestions
We welcome your feedback.
Please send your comments or suggestions on this newsletter to: connection@jafi.org

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

Sunday 26 May, 2013

יום ראשון י"ז סיון תשע"ג