Alan Hoffmann chosen as next Jewish Agency director-general

Appointment marks the agency’s first oleh director-general, and the first Anglo to hold the position.

By HAVIV RETTIG-GUR
Alan Hoffmann, the veteran chief executive of the Jewish Agency’s Education Department, was chosen on Sunday to be the agency’s next director-general.
The appointment marks the agency’s first oleh director-general, and the first Anglo to hold the position, according to agency insiders.
Hoffmann, who made aliya from South Africa in 1967, has held numeroussenior education positions in Israel and the Jewish world, includingdirector of Hebrew University’s Melton Center for Jewish Education inthe Diaspora, executive director of New York’s Council for Initiativesin Jewish Education and head of Hebrew University’s Mandel Center forJewish Continuity.
He has served as director-general of the Jewish Agency’s Department forJewish-Zionist Education since 2000. Hoffmann was a former agency layleader, representing UIA-Keren Hayesod on the Jewish Agency Executive.
His selection by a special selection committee will be formally announced to the Jewish Agency’s senior staff on Tuesday.