Jewish Agency developing major Israel-Diaspora initiative

Program to focus on Israel education; Israel engagement on campuses worldwide; educational trips to Israel; and incentives for aliya.

By JTA
Nefesh B'Nefesh flight mother and kids 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Nefesh B'Nefesh flight mother and kids 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
The Jewish Agency for Israel is working on a major initiative in concert with the Israeli government and the philanthropic world to build Israel’s ties with the Diaspora.
Tentatively titled The Prime Minister’s Initiative, the program would focus on Israel education in Jewish institutions; Israel engagement on campuses worldwide; educational trips to Israel; and incentives for immigration to Israel.
The initiative will have an projected annual budget of $300 million — more than three times that of Taglit-Birthright Israel, the Forward reported. The Israeli government would finance $100 million, with the rest coming from philanthropic sources.
Misha Galperin, the Jewish Agency’s United States-based fundraising chief, said he hopes some funding will be ready to begin programming by 2014.
The program is “bringing Israel to Jews and Jews to Israel,” according to eJewishPhilanthropy.com, which first reported on the initiative.