Month: March 2020

In 1984, some 7,500 immigrants from Ethiopia arrived in Israel with the help of Keren Hayesod, the Jewish Agency for Israel, the Mossad and El Al. Only in January 1985 was permission given to publish the details of this secret and complex mission, which was named Operation Moses. It was one of the lengthiest, most difficult and most dangerous aliyah journeys up to that point. After waiting days or even months in Ethiopia, the courageous and determined Ethiopian Jews set out on foot on a long and perilous trek from Ethiopia to Sudan. Many did not survive. They walked at night in order to avoid the burning sun, highway robbers along the way and the Ethiopian authorities who intercepted them and forbade them to leave. The route was difficult; they had to avoid populous places. Water sources were few. After spending several weeks or months in a camp in Sudan, the immigrants were taken by plane to Europe, and from there to Israel. The success of Operation Moses lay in its absolute secrecy, and in the courage of the immigrants and those who helped them. At the same time, thousands were left behind, waiting for the next opportunity to come to Israel. This opportunity came in May 1991, in Operation Solomon, also a highly complex aliyah operation, which took place against the backdrop of a sensitive political and security situation in Ethiopia. In two days, some 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were flown to Israel in an air convoy of El Al and other planes. The seats were removed on some of the flights to allow more room for passengers. One flight broke a record and more than 1,000 people boarded. Keren Hayesod has continued to help aliyah operations from Ethiopia and to support the integration of Ethiopian immigrants into Israeli society.

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Photo: Olim from Ethiopia arriving in Israel, Operation Solomon, 1991

From its inception, Keren Hayesod excelled at information activities. Just one year after its establishment, the organization published a book in the style of “Everything you wanted to know about Keren Hayesod, but were afraid to ask”. The book was part of the massive information effort led by Ze’ev Jabotinsky, who also wrote the introduction to the book, which was based on the first KH Manifesto. It was a guidebook for donors, investors and active Zionists. Isaac Asher Naiditch, the founder of Keren Hayesod, defined it as Keren Hayesod’s Book of Genesis. The book’s 23 short chapters dealt with Keren Hayesod’s principles, the development of Eretz Israel and its potential, and economic, political and social issues. One chapter was entitled “What might be accomplished with £5,000,000?” Another chapter dealt with the Jewish tradition of tithing; there were chapters on the political situation in the Land of Israel, immigration, agricultural settlements, opportunities for industry, water power in the Land of Israel, banks, education and more. Over the course of its history, Keren Hayesod has published many booklets in a similar format, i.e., questions are asked and comprehensive answers are given that teach about KH activities.

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Photo: Title page of the Keren Hayesod Book, 1921

In 1977, as part of a huge project intended to rehabilitate disadvantaged neighborhoods in Israel, dozens of community buildings underwent complete change: apartments were enlarged and buildings were renovated with the help of Jewish communities around the world. The fundraising initiative was the product of an exceptional vision by Prime Minister Menachem Begin – “Twin Cities”. Sderot received a warm embrace from its twin city of Milan. The Morasha neighborhood of Ramat Hasharon suddenly took on a Dutch flavor. Britain adopted Ashkelon and Dimona, South Africa was twinned with Ofakim and so on. The idea developed from the hardships of the residents of poor neighborhoods in Israel that no one had been able to solve. The combination of a creative and inspiring idea and the support of Keren Hayesod and the Jewish Agency for Israel turned the dream into a reality. Over the course of 30 years, 160 disadvantaged areas in Israel were rehabilitated and are currently home to over one million Israelis.

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Photo: Prime Minister Menachem Begin with the President’s Mission at “Komkommer”, a KH Belgium-supported social project, 1981

Keren Hayesod has always enjoyed support and warm words from the world’s greatest leaders. Already in 1922, US President Warren Harding conveyed his greetings to the organization. President Franklin Roosevelt sent a warm letter on the occasion of Keren Hayesod’s 15th anniversary, and presidents and heads of state from throughout the world have continued to publicly express their admiration for Keren Hayesod. In 2002, former American president Bill Clinton spoke at the opening conference of the Geneva Campaign, at which over $1 million was raised. Among other things, President Clinton said: “As part of Keren Hayesod, each one of you can be proud of your share in the development of Israel. Keren Hayesod helps the Jewish people in Israel and around the world to build on its splendid past and to build a shining future together”.

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Photo: President Bill Clinton and Sofia Loren, Geneva, 2002

Thousands of new immigrants streamed to the Land of Israel every month and 1935 promised to be the most successful year of the aliyah enterprise. Tens of thousands of olim arrived that year alone and were absorbed with the help of Keren Hayesod. In the previous three years, 42 new settlements had been established. Tel Aviv crossed the threshold of 100,000 residents, becoming the largest Jewish city in the land. Keren Hayesod celebrated 15 years, and letters of encouragement, support and congratulation flowed in from all the Zionist leaders, from presidents and heads of state around the world, from artists and writers. They were published in a special issue put out in honor of the festivities and included in Jewish newspapers around the world.

Among the congratulations is a message from S.Y. Agnon, published in the weekly newspaper Netiva: “For 15 years God has displayed kindness and mercy toward you and enabled you to build desolate cities and [turn] wasteland into sources of life, and to increase salvation in our glorious land forever. 15 is an auspicious sign for Israel, inasmuch as on the 15th of Shvat we plant and the 15th of Av is the day that God resumed speaking to Moses directly, with love. Therefore, we hope that the Holy One, blessed be He, will assuredly see the good things that you have done with His land, and your faith with Israel His people, and will bestow favor on favor, and with His great kindness, will restore His love for us, for eternity”. US President Franklin D. Roosevelt congratulated Keren Hayesod, saying: “Greetings on the 15th anniversary of Keren Hayesod, created by the Jews of the entire world to help establish a national home in the Land of Israel for the people of Israel”.

Albert Einstein, who had supported Keren Hayesod since its inception and even joined its inaugural fundraising campaign in the United States, wrote: “Keren Hayesod, which made Jewish settlement possible on the lands of Eretz Israel, has proved itself to be an institution of priceless value for the necessary rehabilitation of the people. May it overcome all obstacles, so that the enterprise, upon which the future of the Jewish people depends so much, may develop and grow”. Keren Hayesod’s director, Leib Yaffe, noted already then that Keren Hayesod was becoming a bridge and a unifying force between the Jewish people all over the world and Eretz Israel. And yet, they all understood that there was still a long way to go and that they must carry on resolutely, with determination and courage.

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Photo: Message of congratulations on Keren Hayesod’s 15th anniversary from renowned writer S.Y. Agnon (recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1966), published in the weekly newspaper Netiva, November 22, 1935

What are the core values of Keren Hayesod that have accompanied it for the past 100 years and are more relevant than ever today? What kind of organization is Keren Hayesod and what is the basis of the intensive, meaningful and deep connection between hundreds of thousands of Jews and the organization?
These are the shared values that guide our activities:
Israel – Zionist – Jewish: The commitment to the citizens of Israel and the Jewish people lies at the heart of Keren Hayesod’s activities. Keren Hayesod was founded to help realize the Zionist vision of establishing a home for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel, and its work is based on the principle of mutual responsibility among Jews throughout the world.
Reliable – transparent – professional: Keren Hayesod enables effective and influential philanthropy on behalf of Israel, based on professional knowledge, experience, transparency and the duty of trust towards the donor.
Historic – experienced – established: Keren Hayesod was founded 100 years ago and played a central role in the fulfilment of the Zionist vision even before the establishment of the state. Since 1948 and until today, it has been at the forefront of Zionist activity. Keren Hayesod is deeply rooted in the story of the Jewish people in modern times.
International – global – family: Keren Hayesod represents a strong international network of mutual assistance that connects Jews and Friends of Israel throughout the world. Keren Hayesod donors, leadership, staff and beneficiaries are all part of the Keren Hayesod family, who support and help each other, and work together to promote shared goals.
Inspiration – vision: Keren Hayesod enables its supporters to take part in realizing an inspiring vision for Israel, its residents and the Jewish people and encourages them to play a meaningful role in the continued fulfilment of this vision, for the sake of a better future.
Effective – strategic: Keren Hayesod’s activities are designed to create a real and meaningful impact that leads to effective, long-term change through the donations it receives from its supporters. It achieves this by carefully choosing its strategic partners and the projects that it funds. These projects are also meticulously executed. Keren Hayesod is always at the forefront of relevant activity in the fields in which it is involved and directs its actions to the most important and urgent needs of the Jewish people.

For many years, the Jewish Agency for Israel has operated a call center from Jerusalem, which provides information, quickly, efficiently and free of charge, to people interested in making aliyah to Israel. The call center provides round-the[1]clock service in six languages (English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, French and Hebrew). Activity at the call center is intense when there is trouble – such as a security incident or economic crisis – somewhere in the world. During the terror attacks in France in 2015, for instance, the call center staff worked non-stop answering calls, which were often punctuated by tears and shouting, with one purpose: to respond to every question and help the distressed callers. The center helps potential olim understand the process that awaits them, look at possible aliyah tracks and start the registration and preparation process. The staff includes new immigrants who have been through the process themselves, and are now paying it forward and helping others. Some 85% of new olim to Israel received initial help from the call center. The center responds to over 100,000 calls a year; 25,000 of the callers fulfil their desire to make aliyah.

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Photo: The Jewish Agency for Israel call center in Jerusalem, 2017

Keren Hayesod’s wide-ranging activities throughout the world were managed by its office in London, with a relatively small staff of only 15. The Mandatory government in Jerusalem was responsible to the British government, so that work from London was convenient and close to the center of diplomatic activity. However, the Zionist General Council decided that the time had come to carry out its earlier decision to move the Keren Hayesod offices to Jerusalem. The move was carried out gradually, and in order to avoid errors and mishaps in ongoing activities, offices were maintained for a while both in Jerusalem and in London. Along with the move, the Executive also changed. The founders, Naiditch and Zlatopolsky, resigned as directors and were replaced by two long-time activists who would lead Keren Hayesod from Jerusalem for many years, Aryeh Leib Yaffe and Arthur Hantke.

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Photo: Zionist leaders in front of the Keren Hayesod office, left to right: unidentified man, Arthur Hantke, unidentified man. Behind them, Hans Kohn and Leo Hermann, Jerusalem, 1927

In the early years of the state, hundreds of thousands of new immigrants arrived and hundreds of settlements were established – 116 in 1949 alone! Keren Hayesod continued its intensive fundraising activities in order to bring immigrants from throughout the world and establish new settlements. A film produced in honor of Israel’s third Independence Day shows some of the important activities supported by Keren Hayesod. It includes moving clips of children in a youth village during routine activities, Haifa Port at its height, when it was the gateway for many new immigrants, and a dance performance in the area, along with signs declaring “Keren Hayesod settlements – strongholds of might”. Also documented is the establishment of two new settlements – Numbers 501 and 502 – with the support of Keren Hayesod. The film concludes with the arrival of a plane carrying new immigrants from Iraq, in Operation Ezra and Nehemiah, one of the most important aliyah campaigns carried out by Keren Hayesod and the Jewish Agency for Israel.

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Photo: Independence Day 5711 – Israel’s third Independence Day, 1951 Newsreel

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Jerusalem is in turmoil. The country is in an uproar. The attacks and bloodbaths are unending. A vehicle belonging to the nearby American consulate was permitted to enter the courtyard of the National Institutions; the driver, an employee of the American consulate who was well known to the guards, and therefore didn’t arouse suspicion, parked the car and quickly left. One of the security guards decided to move the car, which was blocking the main entrance; the booby[1]trapped vehicle blew up in an earsplitting explosion, causing part of the Keren Hayesod wing to collapse. The results of the attack were horrific: 12 people were killed on the spot, including the director of Keren Hayesod, Aryeh Leib Yaffe. Dozens of others were injured. Months later, from one of the balconies of the building, the People’s Council announced Israel’s independence to the residents of Jerusalem.

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Photo: Attack at the National Institutions Building, 1948