June 24, 2008 / 21 Sivan 5768

Olmert called Sunday for the government of Israel to take a larger, more active role in Jewish identity and Zionist education abroad

The Jewish Agency for Israel formally endorsed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s call to increase the Israeli government’s involvement with world Jewry, in a resolution passed by its Board of Governors at a meeting in Jerusalem Tuesday (June 24). “The Jewish Agency applauds the Prime Minister’s declared intention to increase significantly the Government of Israel’s commitment, responsibility and investment in securing the future of the Jewish people,” the resolution said.

Prime Minister Olmert had addressed the Board of Governors Sunday (June 22), saying that it was time to “reconsider the link between Israel and Jewish communities around the world in keeping with the changing reality."

Olmert pointed out that after 60 years on independence, with Israel now home to the majority of Jews in the world, “we must stop talking in terms of big brother and little brother and instead speak in terms of two brothers marching hand-in-hand and supporting each other... Our main goal is to strengthen Jewish education in Jewish communities, including the study of Hebrew; increase awareness regarding Jewish culture and heritage; instill Jewish values; and deepen the links between world Jewish communities and the State of Israel.”

“The Jewish Agency expresses its appreciation to Prime Minister Olmert for the historic address… [which] reflects a major change in the paradigm of the relationship between the State of Israel and the Jewish people in the Diaspora and a strengthening of the partnership between the government of Israel and the Jewish world,” the Board of Governors said in its resolution.

To implement this deeper Israeli government partnership, a steering committee, under the auspices of Jewish Agency Chair Zeev Bielski and the Minister of Diaspora Affairs Isaac Herzog, will be set up in the coming month and comprise members of the government, the Jewish Agency, Israelis and Jewish leaders from around the world. The committee will work to define precise methods “to encourage Jewish identity in Diaspora communities and strengthen the bond with the state of Israel” and will “examine the pooling of government resources existing for this purpose.” The committee will present initial recommendations in November, with its final conclusions to be presented in February 2009.

“For 60 years Jews in the Diaspora, through the Jewish Agency, helped build the State of Israel,” said Jewish Agency Chairman Bielski. “Now, the Prime Minister says, ‘let’s look at the next 60 years.’ The Government of Israel today, thank God, is strong, has means, and can be a partner of the Jewish people in the Diaspora -- not only in building Israel, but also in the Diaspora, by having youth come to Israel, by educating in Hebrew, and in everything that has to do with the Israel-Jewish world relationship.”