April 21, 2005

A top professional at the Jewish Agency for Israel is fighting for his job.

Mike Rosenberg, director general of the department of immigration and absorption, will argue that he should retain his position in a hearing Thursday before Sallai Meridor, chairman of the Jewish Agency’s executive, and Carole Solomon, chairwoman of the Jewish Agency’s board of governors. Rosenberg, who has held his position for more than seven years, was told that his contract, which ends in June, would not be renewed because the Jewish Agency wants to inject fresh talent into its ranks, Jewish Agency officials told JTA.

The hearing is a grievance option provided by Israeli labor law. Meanwhile, the dismissal sparked a flurry of acrid e-mails between Solomon and the co-chairmen of the group’s aliyah committee, Daniel Liwerant of Mexico and Arieh Azoulay in Israel. Azoulay and Liwerant objected to the timing of the move because the Jewish Agency is reorienting around a new strategic plan.

Several members of the aliyah committee also oppose the move to dismiss Rosenberg. Liwerant and Azoulay have since reached an agreement with Solomon and are awaiting a decision after Thursday’s hearing. “At the end of the process, we are all committed to the task of the Jewish Agency,” Azoulay told JTA, saying it was normal for the leaders of a large institution to hold differing opinions.