Jewish Agency Board of Governors to Convene in Northern Israel for the First Time in Two Decades

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL – The Board of Governors of The Jewish Agency for Israel, composed of hundreds of Jewish communal and organizational leaders from Israel and around the world, will gather in Zichron Ya’akov for the first time next week (Sunday, February 25 through Tuesday, February 27). During the course of the three days of meetings, Board members will tour communities in northern Israel and will visit Jewish Agency programs aimed at strengthening the area. They will also tour the border area and will visit an observation point near Israel’s northern border.

The town of Zichron Ya’akov is partnered with South Palm Beach, Florida through The Jewish Agency’s Partnership2Gether (P2G) initiative. A relatively recent addition to P2G, which connects hundreds of Jewish communities around the world with dozens of Israeli towns and regions, the Zichron Ya’akov-South Palm Beach partnership’s flagship program will see hundreds of schoolchildren in Israel and Florida connected through The Jewish Agency’s Global School Twinning Network.

The Board of Governors’ deliberations will focus on the socioeconomic challenges facing northern Israel; efforts to encourage Aliyah (immigration to Israel) of choice, as well as Aliyah of rescue from distressed communities; connecting Jewish students to Israel while combating efforts to undermine the Jewish state’s legitimacy; various Jewish Agency programs aimed at strengthening various populations within Israeli society; building partnerships between Israel and Jewish communities around the world; and other issues.

On Monday, Board members will participate in site visits throughout northern Israel, during which they will learn about Jewish Agency programs aimed at strengthening the region and will meet various populations served thereby, including Jewish and Arab young people participating in The Jewish Agency’s Youth Futures mentorship program, recent immigrants working in Haifa’s hi tech sector through a specialized Jewish Agency initiative, Jewish young people from abroad volunteering in the predominantly Arab village of Ka'abiyye through The Jewish Agency’s Project TEN program, entrepreneurs who are receiving assistance from The Jewish Agency’s small business loan funds, and others.