The Bottom Line - 4 July 2003
Keren Hayesod June Conference - Jewish Agency Meetings
By Rabbi Adi Sultanik
Executive Director
Keren Hayesod Senior Representative
The 2003 Keren Hayesod - Israel United Appeal and Jewish Agency Board of Governors meetings took place this June. With 11 South Africans in attendance, the meetings dealt with many important issues troubling Jewish communities throughout the World. Special emphasis was given to the current political, social, economic and security situation in the State of Israel; and the primacy of Jewish – Zionist Revolution, both in the Diaspora and in Israel.
There were frank discussions, first expressed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and then by Labour Minister Ehud Olmart, on the top priority of today’s international community - Aliya. This was a current theme throughout the week, and in fact, served as the backdrop to the delegations.
Demographic trends were presented by top sociologists all concluding that Aliya is the key to maintenance in a vibrant Jewish State, and that Aliya is the response to the aforementioned issues.
In addition to helping the victims of violence and supporting Jewish education in the Diaspora, Aliya and Klita (absorption) were reaffirmed as the top priority of the Jewish Agency, from both countries of oppression and “countries of choice” where Jews are free to elect Israel as their home. A major prerequisite for Aliya is Jewish – Zionist education both in the formal and informal educational settings.
We investigated the current situation just as the “Meraglim” - the ten spies who we read about in the Torah portion Shelach Lecha who went to “Tur” to ‘investigate the land of Israel’ and we objectively saw the deep challenges and problems facing the Jewish State. It was a sobering experience, but at the same time uplifting because we saw the leadership of the Jewish World united in outlining viable and achievable solutions. Imbedded in this, is a symbiotic relationship between Israel and a strong and committed Diaspora.
Unlike the Meraglim, we return with a report that, in spite of - or perhaps because of - the challenges of the day, we must go forward and identify with the International priorities of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.