UPDATE TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Fall 2017
UPDATE TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS / Fall 2017
Dear Friends, We are pleased to send you the fall's update to the Board of Governors on activities, challenges, and ongoing issues. We always welcome your feedback and comments.
Natan Sharansky Michael Siegal Chairman of the Executive Chairman of the Board
Special Day at the Knesset During the Board of Governors Meetings On October 31, during the meetings of the Board of Governors, the Knesset hosted a meeting of The Jewish Agency’s Executive Committee, including a briefing and dialogue with the Speaker of the Knesset MK Yuli (Yoel) Edelstein. Afterward, members of the Board met simultaneously with more than 30 Ministers, Deputy Ministers and MKs, from across the political spectrum. They included Minister of Energy MK Yuval Steinitz, Minister of Education and Diaspora Affairs MK Naftali Bennett, Minister of Justice MK Ayelet Shaked and Minister of Aliyah and Absorption MK Sofa Landver.
Following the meetings, we held a joint plenary of The Jewish Agency and the Knesset Caucus for Strengthening the Jewish People, hosted by the chairs of the Caucus, MK David Bitan and MK Dr. Nachman Shai. Thirty MKs, both from the coalition and the opposition, participated. The Jewish Agency leadership and the MKs engaged in a dialogue about the importance of pluralism in Israel and the unity of the Jewish people.
UPDATE TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS / Fall 2017
“Brand Refresh” for The Jewish Agency The Jewish Agency’s Marketing Unit "soft launched" the organization’s “refreshed” brand at the October Board meetings with the 2016-17 Performance Report and a brand presentation to the Marketing & Communications Committee. The updates to the brand were also shared by FRD and Marketing staff to key Federation professionals at the JFNA’s recent General Assembly.
The goal of refreshing the brand was not to change The Jewish Agency’s messaging, but rather to clarify it, by incorporating why we do what we do. Our new tagline, “Every one of us, together” reflects our core promise to make sure that every Jew is part of the Jewish story by connecting Jews to one another and to Israel – and that we work with all Jews, no matter where they are in the world.
The Committee meeting in October also included a “breakout session” in which members discussed practical ways to assist Senior Development Officers, Shlichim and Federation staff in effectively communicating the new brand.
All board members will have opportunities to learn more at the February meetings, when the Marketing Unit will launch the updated brand more broadly. To view or download the 2016-17 Performance Report, click here.
New Chef’s Program for Young Immigrants from France The Unit for Aliyah and Absorption has opened a new program for young adult immigrants from France, which both trains them in marketable skills and addresses the growing demand in Israel for qualified professionals in the culinary arts. While living at The Jewish Agency’s Beit Brodetsky center in Tel Aviv, the new olim study Hebrew three days a week, and spend the other three days studying at Michlelet Hachef (Chef College), where they are taught in French. The program began on November 1 with ten participants from Paris, two from Marseilles and two from Réunion.
At Beit Brodetzky, young adult immigrants from all over the world, including the young French Jews in the chef’s program, enjoy social and cultural activities and trips around Israel, to help them learn more about their new homeland, as well as about Jewish and Israeli heritage. A team of committed, caring staff members guide them on their journey toward becoming empowered, self-sufficient Israelis.
UPDATE TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS / Fall 2017
Seminars for Returned Shlichim As part of our “Bringing it Back Home” program for Returned Shlichim, The Jewish Agency hosted two seminars in the fall, the first for just-returned Community Shlichim, Campus Israel Fellows, and Service Year Shlichim (Shin-Shinim), and the second for just-returned Youth Movement Shlichim. All together, more than 200 former Shlichim returned to Israel over the summer, proud of their meaningful work overseas and also happy to once again celebrate the High Holidays with their families in Israel.
The Bringing Shlichut Home seminars give newly-returned Shlichim an opportunity to process the Shlichut experience and the impact of Shlichut on their Jewish-Israeli identities, and to consider ways they can move forward, acting as agents of change in Israeli society. The Jewish Agency assists them in identifying ways that they can spread the values of Diaspora Jewry among Israelis and help other Israelis bond with their Diaspora peers – be in their professional lives, their studies, their communities, or their army units.
Security Assistance Fund As 2017 draws to a close, the Jewish Agency Security Assistance Fund announces that it has allocated some $1 million to 75 institutions in 34 countries over the course of the year.
Founded in 2012, the fund provides means for Jewish institutions worldwide (except North America) to install physical security measures such as bullet-proof windows, intercom systems, and x-ray scanners. In total the fund has allocated more than $9.5 million to 220 communities and organizations in 54 countries. In recent years, the fund has focused on western Europe.
Makom’s “Four Hatikvah Questions” We are delighted to announce that Makom, the Jewish Agency Israel Education Lab, has received a $1.2 million grant from the Jim Joseph Foundation to run a three-year training project with Moishe House. The training project will empower Moishe House directors across North America to implement honest and relevant conversations about Israel through Makom’s signature “4HQ” approach. For more about 4HQ, see here.
UPDATE TO THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS / Fall 2017