March 12, 2007 / 22 Adar 5767

 Dear Friends,

Since being appointed chairman of the Jewish Agency and the WZO executive, I have attached great importance to nurturing a close relationship between Israeli business leaders and the Jewish Agency. I am pleased that today we have an impressive group of Israelis serving on the Jewish Agency Board of Governors who are active in a broad range of sectors in Israeli society. In the last few months, since the war in Lebanon, we have succeeded in extending this circle beyond the Board of Governors. We have brought in a number of leading Israeli businesspeople including Benny Landa, the founder of Indigo, a company acquired by Hewlett-Packard– who opened the last Board of Governors meeting with a moving address – and Nochi Dankner who, in the last few months, has become an important partner. Together, we are supporting a wide range of projects in the North and in the Gaza perimeter communities.

About ten days ago I visited the North together with Minister of Education Yuli Tamir and Nochi Dankner. During the tour we met the mayors of local municipalities, residents, education professionals, students and youth. We were moved by the outpouring of appreciation and expressions of thanks for our work on behalf of the North, and for our joint commitment to the residents.

During the tour we visited schools in Tiberias and Safed, and we examined the possibilities of providing aid and of collaborating with the local municipalities. We visited Kibbutz Ravid, part of the Working and Learning Youth movement. We encountered a true educational paradise, nestled in the mountains of the Galilee. We met committed youth who opted for a lifestyle of values, and took upon themselves an educational and community-oriented mission. These are young people who care for youth at risk, help adult groups in areas of education, and contribute to the community. These youngsters help to educate not only school students but also members of the Border Police and IDF units.

We toured Safed, a city that endured barrages of Katyusha rockets and has yet to recover from the trauma of the war. Here, too, we met young people whom the Jewish Agency recruited to support the education of children at risk as part of our Youth Futures project. Here, too, we consolidated the partnership and commitment of the Jewish Agency with Israeli donors on behalf of the city’s children. Particularly those children who, without our help, would not have a fair chance of realizing their potential, attaining higher education and finding their rightful place as adults in Israeli society.

I am proud of, and feel blessed by, the wonderful contributions of the United Jewish Communities (UJC) in North America, and Keren Hayesod - United Israel Appeal, and the impressive help we receive from leading members of the Israeli business community. Together with us, and the Israeli government, they enable us to play a significant role in the areas affected by the war, in the development of the Negev and the Galilee and, principally, to nurture the human capital in these areas.