נכחו; חברי הוועדה; נעמי בלומנטל - היו"ר

נעמי יוזן

אלכס לובוצקי

מרינה סולודקין

יורי שטרן

מוזמנים; קרול סולומון - יו"ר המגבית היהודית

יפעת אלידן - המגבית היהודית

מרוין לנדר - המגבית היהודית

ברני מוסקוביץ - המגבית היהודית

מנהם רביבי - המגבית היהודית

אליסון רפופורט - המגבית היהודית

היים ציסלר - הסוכנות היהודית

יוחנן בן יעקב - משרד החינוך והתרבות

בוב אהרונסון - משרד ראש הממשלה

בובי בראון - משרד ראש הממשלה

שמואל אדלר - מנהל המרכז לקליטה במדע

ברוך גור - קרן היסוד

גיוסי ארבל - מועצת אירגוני עולים

מיכאל בלום - מועצת אירגוני עולים

צפורה בנאי - מועצת אירגוני עולים

מילכה גרוס - מועצת אירגוני עולים

שמעון ליברמן - מועצת אירגוני עולים

לאה רונן - מועצת אירגוני עולים

שולה מולא - איחוד הארגונים של עולי

אתיופיה

איתן סקסון - ארגון הווגיס

אילנית ששון-מלכיאור - ארגון הווגיס

מנהלת הוועדה; וילמה מאור

יפעת שפרכר

סדר-היום; יחסי ישראל והתפוצות - האתגרים העומדים בפני העם היהודי ועתיד

מערכת היחסים בין ישראל והתפוצות. ישיבה בהשתתפות יו"ר הU.G.A- המגבית היהודית

המאוחדת קרול סולומון.



נוסח לא מתוקן



פרוטוקול מסי 161

מישיבת ועדת העליה והקליטה

יום שלישי. כ"ט בסיון התשנ"ח (23.06.98). שעה 00;09

I WANT TO OPEN THE SESSION. I WANT TO WELCOME CAROL SOLOMON, AND WE

ARE PROUD OF YOU, CAROL, BEING IN SUCH A HIGH POSITION IN THE U.S.A. I KNOW

THAT WE TOGETHER ARE THE FIGHTERS, AND THE ONES WHO CAN SHAPE OUR FUTURE.

NEOMI HAZAN;

IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE, NOT ONLY BEACAUSE YOU ARE A WOMAN,

BUT BEACAUSE YOU ARE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGANIZATION FOR ISRAEL AND

FOR ISRAELI RELATIONS WITH WORLD JEWRY.

I WOULD LIKE TO RAZE CERTAIN ISSUES AND HOPE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS ON

THESE ISSUES.

I THINK THAT THE 50TH YEAR OF ISRAELI INDEPENDENTS HAS BEEN THE MOST

PROBLEMATIC YEAR IN ISRAELI REALATIONS WITH WORLD JEWERY. THE REASON FOR

THAT BEGIN BEACAUSE OF THE PROPOSED CONVERSION LAW. THIS IS A CRISIS WHICH

IS CONTINUING. ALTHOW I DON'T THINK THAT THE CONVERSION LAW IS GOING TO

PASS, THERE IS AN UNFOTUNATE ATTEMPT TO LEGESLATE THE "NEMAN COMMITEE"

RECOMONDATIONS.

IN MY OPINION ANY ATTEMPT TO SEPERATE THE THREE MAJOR STREAMS OF

1. IT WOULD CREATE CLASSES OF JEWS,

WHICH IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. THERE WILL BE JEWS SECOUND CLASS AND THIRD

CLASS 2. IT WOULD CREATE A LARGE RIF BETWEEN ISRAEL AND JEWS OF THE WORLD.

3. IT WOULD CREATE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE COMITMENT OF WORLD JEWERY TO

ISRAEL AND ISRAELI AFFAIRS.

OTHER THEN THE SEPERATION OF RELIGION AND STATE IN ISRAEL, I DON'T SEE

ANY SOLLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I AM MORE CONVINCED ABOUT THIS THEN I WAS A

YEAR AGO.

MANY OF US ARE COCEREND BEACAUSE WE NEED YOUR IMPUT, AND THESE TIME IT

IS A SUBSTANTIVE IMPUT ON WHAT IS GOING ON IN ISRAEL BEACAUSE THIS IS THE

NATURE AND THE CHARACTER OF ISRAELI SOCIETY AND WHAT ISRAEL IS ALL ABOUT.

THESE ARE THE MOST FUNDIMENTIAL ISSUES ON OUR AGENDA. IT IS UNFORTUNATE

THAT THE 50TH YEAR ANIVERSERY HAS CREATED SUCH A RIF.

I DO NOT SEE HOW WE ARE GOING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. I WILL ASSUME

THAT YOU WILL ADRESS THESE ISSUES IN YOUR REMARKS. MANY OF THESE ISSUES ARE

FEMINIST ISSUES. THE QUESTION OF THE SEPERATION OF RELIGION AND STATE IS A

FEMENIST ISSUE, BEACAUSE THE KEY VICTOMS OF THE LACK OF SEPERATION ARE

ISRAELI WOMEN.

ANOTHER FEMINIST ISSUE IS HOW CONTRIBUTIONS TO ISRAEL FROM AMERICA ARE

EAR MARKED FOR PARTICULAR CAUSES IN ISRAEL. IT'S GOOD THAT PEOPLE

CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS WHAT THEY THINK IS IMPORTANT AND TO A PLORALISTIC AND

PROGRESSIVE ISRAEL.



YURY STERN;

WE ARE AT A CRITICAL POINT IN TIME. THE TRADITIONAL ROLES OF THEU.S. A

ARE QUESTIANAL, IF THEY EXIST AT ALL TODAY. THIS INCLUDE THE POSITION OF

ISRAEL IN THE EYES OF AMERICAN JEWERY. THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR MONEY

DONATIONS TO ISRAELI GOVERMENT AND TO ISRAELI SOCIETY IS TO THE YOUNG

GENERATION WHICH IS LESS IMPRESSED BY JEWISH HISTORY - THE HOLOCOST AND

ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE.

WHAT IS HAPPANNING WITH THE CONVERSION LAW GIVES US A CHANCE TO MOVE

FORWARD. IN ISRAEL IT CREATED SOME UNDERSTANDING AND SENSITIVITY THAT

DIDN'T EXIST BEFORE IN TERMS OF THE INTERESTS AND SENTIMENTS THAT EXIST OF

AMERICAN AND WORLD JEWERY.

SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPOSED TO BE TECHNICAL NATURE, DEVELOPED INTO A

MAJOR CRISIS. HOWEVER, THIS CRISIS CREATED DIALOGUE.

WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE DONATIONS IS AN UNFOTUNATE DEVELOPMENT. IN MANY

PLACES IN THE COUNTRY, IN POOR NEIGHBERHOODS AND IN THE DIFFERENT "ALIA"

ORGANIZATIONS, PEOPLE USED TO APPRECIATE U.J.A AND FEDERATION INVOLVMENT.

I THINK THAT THERE STILL EXISTS THE OPTION OF MONISTARY SUPORT IN THE

FORM OF EAR MARKETING DONATIONS FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS AND GOLES SUCH AS

EDUCATION. WITH A BIG EMPHSIS ON LOCAL NEEDS AND WITH ISRAELI INVOLVMENT IN

YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN JEWISH EDUCATION, GIVE US A CHANCE TO

CHANGE THINGS BACK TO A MORE OPTEMISTIC PERSPECTIVE.

CAROL SOLOMON;

I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE ISSUES THAT YOU RASED, WHICH ARE VERY

IMPORTANT.

WHILE THE PROCESS IS CHANCHING, WE ARE EXTREMLY COMITTED AND WILL

REMAIN COMITTED. WHAT SEPERATES JEWISH FUNDRASING FROM OTHER FUNDRASING IS

A SENCE OF COLLECTIVNESS AND COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY WHICH HAS GIVEN US

THE FLEXEBILITY TO RESPOND IN THE WAY WE NEED TO RESPOND.

AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED, THIS IS THE CENTERAL CARE OF OUR BEILIF,

NOT WITHSTANDING. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR INDIVIDUALS TO EXPRESS THEIR

JEWISH VALUES AND TO GIVE THEM TO EXPRESS THEIR JEWISH INDIVIDUALITY. THAT

IS THE FUTURE OF JEWISH CONNECTIONS.

YOUR TASK OF FACILITATING ALIA AND KLITA IS A NOBLE ONE. WE, WHO HAVE

ASSISTED YOU WITH OUR PARTNER THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL, SALLUTE YOUR

GREAT SUCESS OF GATHERING PEOPLE FROM ALL LANDS AND DIFFERENT CULTURES TO

FORM AN ISRAELI PEOPLE AND A NATIONAL IDENTITY.

ALTHOW I AM ONLY ONE INDIVIDUAL, I CARRY WITH ME THE VOICES OF MILIONS

OF AMERICAN JEWS. MY PRESENCE HERE TODAY SPEAKS OF THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN

THE UJA AND THE JEWISH STATE FOR 50 YEARS.WE ARE THE WORLDS LARGEST JEWISH

PHILANTROPIC ORGANIZATION. TOGEATHER WE HAVE ACOMPLISHED THE MIRICAL OF

INGATHERING MILLIONS OF JEWS INTO THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM HAVE HELPD BY UJA FUNDED RESCUES. IF



NOT YOU INDIVIDUALLY, THEN YOUR CHILDREN.

THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF JEWISH HISTORY HAVE SHOWN THAT AS A PEOPLE WE

ARE A STORY THAT IS CONSTANTLY UNFOLDING. I FEEL THATWE ARE A VERY

FORTUNATE GENERATION TO BE PART OF SUCH HISTORY. THE JEWISH PEOPLE ARE NOW

LARGELY OUT OF DANGER AND ARE CARED FOR. THIS IS TRUE ALL OVER THE WORLD.

I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT UJA AND WHY IT HAS ATTRACTED SO MUCH

SUPPORT OVER THE PAST 50 YEARS. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT OUR FUTURE

CHALANGES.

WHILE ISRAEL IS HOME TO ALL OF YOU, ISRAEL IS HOME TO MILLIONS OF

AMERICAN JEWS. THE EXISTANCE OF THE JEWISH STATE IMPOWERS JEWISH PEOPLE

WHERE EVER THEY LIVE.

THE EXISTANCE OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL HAS ENORMOUS MEANING AND

RELIVENCE TO JEWS OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL, AS WELL AS GIVING A SENCE OF THEIR

PERSONAL SECURITY. AMERICA HAVE TWO PRIMERY WAYS OF CONNECTING WITH ISRAEL:

1. BY HELPING THOSE LESS FORTUNATE AND PARTICIPATING IN THE TASK OF NATION

BULDING, AS EQUALLY VOLVED PARTICIPENTS 2. BY FORMING PERSONAL

REALATIONSHIPS WITH THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. 3. BY VISITRY FRIQUENTY SENDING

OUR CHILDREN TO VISIT, STUDY AND WORK AS MY SON HAS, WHO IS NOW LIVING IN

ISRAEL.

AMERICAN JEWISH CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE UJA AMOUNTS TO THREE QUATERS OF A

BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR. THIS HAS LED TO THE MISCONCEPTIONS AMONGST SOME

ISRAELIS THAT ALL AMERICAN JEWS ARE WELTHY AND THAT AMERICAN JEWISH

COMITMENT TO ISRAEL LASTS AS LONG AS IT TAKES TO WRITE THE CHECK. BOTH OF

WHICH ARE NOT THE CASE.

THROUGH OUR NATIONAL SYSTEM OF COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE

DONATED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO OUR FELLOW JEWS IN NEED. BOTH IN NORTH

AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD.

HOWEVER, THE MONEY IS NOT THE END PRODUCT. IT IS THE INABELER THAT

ALLOWES OUR PARTNERS, THE JEWISH AGENCY AND THE JOINT DISTRIBUTION

COMITTEE, TO SAVE LIVES AND REBUILD COMMUNITIES IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION

AND IN EASTERN EUROPE. IT CONNECTS US TO THE JEWISH STATE IN A MEANINGFULL

WAY, BY HELPING THOSE WHO STILL STRUGLE TO FIND THEIR WAY HERE, HELPING

THEM WITH INNICIAL ABSORPTION AND TO BUILD PROGRAMS TO HELP INFORCE

TOLLERENCE AND JEWISH UNITITY. SIMULTANIOUSLY WE MAINTAIN IN AMERICA

HUNDRETS OF LOCAL FEDERATIONS THAT HELP MAINTAIN JEWISH COMUNITIES IN NORTH

AMERICA CHANCHING. AMERICAN AND ISRAELI JEWS MISPERSEPTIONS OF EACH OTHER

IS ONE OF OUR CHALANGES.

A REAL DANGER THAT EXISTS IS THAT THE WORLDS TWO LARGEST COMMUNITIES,

ISRAEL AND AMERICA, WILL CEAST TO SPEAK A COMMEN LANGAUGE OR GROW APART

FROM EACH OTHER.

I BELIEVE THAT A LACK OF COMMEN LANGAUGE CONTRIBUTES TO THE ON GOING

CONTRAVERCETY ABOUT THE PENDING LEGISLATION CONCERNING CONVERSION TO

JEWDAISM IN ISRAEL. THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF PAIN TO MANY

AMERICAN JEWS. THE AMERICAN JEWISH RESPONSE HAS COME AS A SUPRISE TO THE

ISRAELI PUBLIC AND GOVERMENT.



THIS ISSUE HAS GIVEN US AN OPPERTUNITY THAT WILL ALLOW US TO SHAPE THE

NEXT 50 YEARS. IT ALSO HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A GREAT RIFT BETWEEN

ISRAEL AND THE NORTH AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY. THE UJA DOES NOT SUPORT ANY

INNICITIVE THAT WOULD MAKE ANY JEW FEEL LESS ACCEPTED BY THE JEWISH STATE.

OUR PEOPLE HAVE ACHEAVED OUR SUCCESS AS ONE PEOPLE BY ACTING IN A

PLURALISTIC MANNER. THE UJA HAS URGED THE ISRAELI GOVERMENT TO SUPPORT

PLURALISIM AND TOLARANCE. ISRAEL AS A DEMOCRACY NEEDS TO HAVE ROOM TO

ACCOMIDATE DIVORCE POINTS OF VIEWS.

MODEL PROGRAMS, SUCH AS "PARTNERSHIP 2000" , ACT AS AGENTS OF CHANGE,

WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FORGETING PERSONAL CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ISRAELI AND

NORTH AMERICAN JEWS. WE ARE WORKING TO BRING MORE AMERICAN JEWS TO SEE AND

EXPERIANCE ISRAEL FIRST HAND BY WAY OF PROVIDING SCOLARSHIPS AND

INSENTITNES.

WE INVITE YOU TO VISIT US IN OUR HOME IN NORTH AMERICA. WHEN ISRAELIS

VISIT AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITIES, THEY ARE IMPRESSED BY JEWISH LIFE THERE.

THE SYSTEM BROUGHT OVER TO NORTH AMERICA 3 DELLIGATIONS OF ISRAELI

M.P.S, SO THAT THEY COULD HEAR FIRST HAND HOW THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES FELT

ABOUT THE PENDING CONVERSION LAW. THESE M.P.S COME BACK TO ISRAEL WITH A

COMPLEATE DIFFERENT PRESPECTIVE OF AMERICAN JEWISH LIFE. WE WANT TO WORK

CLOSLY WITH YOU TO CONTINUE WITH THIS COMING TOGEATHER TO KEEP BUILDING

MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND TRUST. ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION: WE ARE UNDERGOING A

MERGER WITH THE "COUNCLE OF JEWISH FEDERATIONS". THIS MERGER SHOWS THAT

INSTITUTIONS ARE HEALTHY.

WE FEEL THAT THIS MERGER WILL ALLOW US OPERATE MORE EFFICENTLY, AND

BRING MORE MONEY INTO THE SYSTEMS TO HELP MEET THE. NEED OF ALL PEOPLE WHO

LOOK TO US FOR SUPPORT. THIS MERGER WILL ALSO BRING ABOUT THE GREATEST

CHANGE SINCE THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL SYSTEM. WE NOW HAVE THE CHANCE TO

BEACOME STRONGER AND MORE FOCLAST. I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHISIZE THAT OUR NEW

STRUCTURE WILL TAKE SOME TIME IN ORDER TO FUNCTION EFFICENTLY.

THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS RESPONDED IN A FINANCIALLY POSITIVE

WAY, IN SPITE OF PROPOSED CONVERSION LAW. THIS IS BEACAUSE THEY SEE BEYOND

THE PROPOSED LAW AND LOOK FOR A HIGHER CALLING WHICH IS MEETING THE NEEDS

OF OUR PEOPLE.

WE ARE COMMITED TO THE JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL AS OUR PARTNER IN OUR

INDOORS IN THE FIELDS OF IMMIGRATION AND ABSORPTION. THEY HAVE BEEN A VERY

VALUED PARTNER IN THE LAST 50 YEARS. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAINTAINING A VERY

STRONG REALATIONSHIP WITH THEM IN THE FUTURE.

OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY STILL LOOKS TO ISRAEL AS THE FORFILLMENT OF THE HOPES

OF ALL OF OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER. WE WILL WORK TO CREATE AN EVEN BRIGHTER

FUTURE IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS WITH SO MANY PEOPLE IMMIGRATING TO ISRAEL.

CHAIRPERSON NEOMI BLUMENTAL;

IT IS VERY MOVING TO HEAR YOU, AND HEAR THAT . THERE STILL EXISTS A

COMMITMENT TO ISRAEL BY JEWSIN THE DIASPORA. WE HAVE TO FORMULATE A NEW



AGENDA BETWEEN US JEWS IN ISRAEL AND THE JEWS IN THE DIASPORA. ESPECIALLY

JEWS IN THE UNITED STATES. IN THE PAST WE WERE VERY MUCH SUPPORTED BY JEWS

IN THE UNITED STATES IN TERMS OF SUPORT FOR ALIA AND ALL THE OTHER

CHALANGES THAT WE HAD IN BUILDING THE COUNTRY.

TODAY MANY AMERICAN JEWS THAT COME TO ISRAEL SEE A FLURISHING COUNTRY.

THEY MAY THINK WHY SHOULD THEY BE CONTINOUSLY SUPPORTING THE COUNTRY. WE IN

ISRAEL ALSO ASK OURSELVES DO WE REALLY NEED ALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM

AMERICA. JEWS IN ISRAEL THINK WHAT SHOULD THEY GIVE TO THE JEWS IN AMERICA

AS WELL. DO WE IN ISRAEL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS JEWS WHO ARE LIVING

IN THE DIASPORA.

CAROL SOLOMON;

WE ARE WITHING A REBIRTH OF ZIONISM, NATION BUILDING AND BUILDING IT

TOGAETHER. BEN GURION AND THE LEADERS AT THAT TIME DID NOT DISBAND THE

JEWISH AGENCY IN 1948, BEACAUSE THEY SAW ISRAEL AS NOT JUST FOR ISRAELIES,

BUT FOR ALL JEWS. WE HAVE A SENCE OF BELONGING TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL. THAT

IS OUR STATE, OUR PEOPLE AND OUR RESPONSIBILITIY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

WE NEED TO BUILD ON THIS ON A DIRECT PERSON TO PERSON BASES.

BARNY MOSKOVITZ;

I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT ONE OF THE SMARTEST THINGS THAT WE DID WAS TO

GET IN TOUCH WITH M.K.S FROM ISRAEL. CHANGES SHOULD NOT BE DONE UNERLATERLY

NITHER IN AMERICA OR IN ISRAEL. A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WE CAME TO ISRAEL AND

SPOKE TO A MINISTER FOR FIVE MINUTES. TODAY WE ARE SITTING IN A KNESSET

COMMITEE. THIS IS A TURN FOR THE BETTER, AND IS THE WAY THAT WE HAVE TO

BUILD IN THE FUTURE. MAYBE ONE DAY THE MONEY PART WILL BECOME INCIDENTIAL.

ISRAEL IS A COUNTRY WITH A POPULATION THE SIZE OF A CITY AND WITH THE

PROBLEMS OF THE WORLD ON IT'S SHOULDERS. NO CITY IN AMERICA WITH THE

POPULATION OF 5,500,000 PEOPLE HAS YET PROVEN CAPABLE OF ADDRESSING THE

NEEDS OF EVERY PERSON IN NEED. TPHOSE WHO ARE ABLE SHOULD CONTINUE TO

PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO CAN NOT.

REGARDING THE TIES BETWEEN AMERICAN JEWERY AND THE ISRAELI KNESSET,

YOUR PRESENTS IN OUR COMMITY IS VERY IMPORTANT.

CHAIM CHESTLER;

WE ARE NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE RELATIONS BETWEEN UNITED STATES

JEWERY AND ISRAEL, BUT ALSO BETWEEN JEWS IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND ISRAEL. I

REPRESENT JEWISH COMMUNTIES IN FIFTEEN COUNTRIES, SUCH AS CANADA, COUNTRIES

IN LATIN AMERICA, THE FORMER SOVIET UNION AND AFRICA.

THERE EXISTS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE UJA AND THE OTHER DIFFERENT

JEWISH COMMUNITIES. IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES JEWS WHO LIVE AND PROSPER

THERE DO NOT CONSIDER WHERE THEY ARE LIVING AS THEIR HOME. THEY CONSIDER

WHERE THEY ARE LIVING AS A TEMPORARY LIVING PLACE. THEREFORE, IN THESE

COMMUNITIES ALIA IS STILL A MEENINGFUL CONCEPT. THESE COMMUNITIES TEACH

THEIR CHILDREN THAT THE FUTURE MAY NOT BE IN THEIR COUNTRY BUT IN ISRAEL OR



SOMEPLACE ELSE. WE ALSO HAVE ENTIRE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOVING. FOR

EXAMPLE IN SOUTH AFRICA THE COMMUNITY IS ON THE MOVE, NOT NECESERALY TO

ISRAEL BUT ALSO TO AUSTRALIA AND CANADA. THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR CERTAIN

COMMUNITIES IN LATIN AMERICA. THEREFORE, FOR US ALIA IS VERY IMPORTANT.

ANOTHER DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE JEWISH COMMUNITIES

IN AMERICA IS REGARDING JEWISH EDUCATION. THE JEWISH EDUCATION IN OUR

COMMUNITIES IS MORE OF A ZIONIST ISRAELI EDUCATION. THE DIRECT INVOLVMENT

OF THE JEWISH AGENCY IN OUR EDUCATION IS MUCH STRONGER THEN IN ANY OTHER

PLACE IN THE WORLD, NOT SINAGOGUE EDUCATION BUT IN COMMUNITY EDUCATION.

THEREFOR, OUR ROLE IS MUCH MORE SIGNIFIGANT.

IN SOME OF OUR SMALL COMMUNITIES THERE IS A LOT OF TENTION REGARDING

THE FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITIES, HOW TO MANTAIN JEWISH CONTITUNITY AND JEWISH

IDENTITY IN SMALLL COMMUNITIES. IN ENGLAND FOR EXAMPLE WE CAN SEE A

PATTERN. YOUNG PEOPLE FORM SMALL COMMUNITIES ARE MOVING TO LONDON AND

MANCHESTER. THEREFORE, IN THE FUTURE WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT THE

GREAT JEWISH COMMUNITIES UNITIS SUCH AS LIVERPOOL. KEREN HAYESOD CONSIDERS

ITSELF TO BE A BRIDGE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE DIFFERENT JEWISH COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE ALSO A FUND RAISING ORGANIZATION, NOT LIKE IN THE UNITED STATES

BEACAUSE IN SOME OF OUR COMMUNITIES CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTABLE

AND IN SOME ARE ILLIGAL. INSPITE OF THIS JEWS IN THESE COMMUNITIES THAT

DONATE MONEY, EVEN IF IT MAY RASE SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTHORITIES IN

THEIR COUNTRIES.

WE RASE A LOT OF MONEY. FOR US ALIA AND ZIONIST EDUCATION IS ONE OF

OUR TOP PRIORITIES. WE ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN PARTNERSHIP 2000 AS WELL AS IN

PROJECTS IN ISRAEL, SUCH AS AID TO ETHIOPIAN IMMIGRENTS SCOLARSHIPS TO

STUDENTS. WE ARE ALSO INVOLVED IN SOCIAL SERVICES PROJECTS IN DEVELOPING

COMMUNITIES. DURING THIS PAST INDIPENDENCE DAY WE BROUGHT OVER 1300 PEOPLE

FRON ALL OVER THE WORLD. WE BROUGHT THE CELEBRATIONS IN JERUSALEM LIVE TO

ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES, SO THAT THEY WOULD FEEL PART OF JERUSALEM AND THAT

JERUSALEM WOULD BE PART OF THE COMMUNITIES.

WE ARE STRUGLING WITH PROBLEMS OF JEWISH IDENTITY AND ASSINILATION.

WHEN JEWS ON OUR COMMUNITY HEAR VOICES IN ISRAEL THAT OUR MONEY IS NOT

NEEDED IN ISRAEL, THIS HURYS OUR JEWISH IDENTITY BECAUSE FUNDRASING FOR

ISRAEL PLAYS A BIG PART IN OUR JEWISH IDENTITY AND JEWISH COMITMENT. WE ARE

ALSO FACING AN INCREASING PROBLEM OF LOCAL NEEDS. TOGETHER WITH OUR COLIGES

IN THE UNITED STATES WE WILL TRY AND BUILD A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP WITH

ISRAEL. WE ARE DEALITED TO IMPROVE OUR RELATIONS WITH THE KENESSET BY BEING

HERE TODAY, SO THAT THE KENEEST CAN HEAR THE VOICE OF JEWS LIVING OUT SIDE

OF ISRAEL.

CONSERNING THE ISSUE OF PHILANTROPY IN HELPING IN THE ABSORPTION OF

IMMIGRATION, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT THE OLIM ASSOCIATIONS ARE THE

ONES DOING THE MOST FOR ABSORPTION. THE OLIM ASSOCIATIONS AID IN BRINGING

JEWS TOGEATHER. ALL OF THE OLIM ASSOCIATIONS INCLUDE PEOPLE FROM ALL

STREEMS OF JEWDAISM AND ARE MADE UP OF JEWS FROM ALL WALKS OF POLITICAL

LIFE. THE OLIM ASSOCIATIONS ARE SUFFERING FROM REDUCED FUNDING FROM THE

JEWISH AGENCY.



THE OLIM ASSOCIATIONS ARE THE NATURAL PARTNERS FOR DIALOGE. I HOPE

THAT THE M.K.S WILL INCLUDE OLIM ASSOCIATIONS IN THE DIALOGE BETWEEN JEWS

IN ISRAEL AND IN THE DIASPORA. ALTHOUGH AMERICAN OLIM MAY NOT SEEM LIKE

ISRAILIS IN THE EYES OF AMERICAN JEWS )DUE IN PART TO OUR ACCENT(, BUT

AMERICAN OLIM ARE THE NATURAL BRIDGE IN DIALOGE WITH AMERICAN JEWS. WE

HOPE TO BE MORE INVOLVED IN THIS ACTIVITY.

MARINA SOLODKIN;

THE PEOPLE SUFFERING THE MOST FROM THE LESSENING OF FUNDING BY JEWS

OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL DUE TO THE CONVERSION LAW, ARE OLIM. IT IS THESE OLIM

WHO CAN MAKE THE CONVERSION LAW BE VOTED DOWN.

BOBBY BROWN;

WE IN ISRAEL ARE WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE

PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN AMERICAN AND ISRAILI JEWS. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR

MORE DIALOGE. ISRAEL IS REACHING A DIFFERENT STAGE IN THE RELATIONS

BETWEEN THE DIASPORA AND JEWS IN ISRAEL. HOW MUCH YOU HELP US IN THE

CREATION OF THE STATE IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT. WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK

TOGEATHER AT THE GLOBAL NEEDS OF JEWISH COMMUNITIES, TO DECIDE WHERE HELP

IS NEEDED.

CAROL SOLOMON;

THE MISSION AND PURPOSE OF WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT HAS NOT BEEN

DIMINISHED NOT IN THE LEAST BIT. OUR CHANGES ARE TO STRGNTHEN OUR MISSION

AND PURPOSE. THE ISRAILI GOVERNMENT HAS TO MAKE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS. THE

FUNDRASING ENVIRONMENT IS VERY SENSITIVE TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND IT.

THE CONVERSION BILL ISSUE DOES NOT HELP. THE PERSEPTION THAT THE ISRAILI

ECONOMY IS DOING VERY WELL AND CAN TAKE CARE OF ALL THE NEEDS OF ISRAEL

MAKES CONTRIBUTERS IN AMERICA FEEL THAT THERE CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT NEEDED.

OUR ORGONIZATIONAL CHANGES ARE TO GIVE US THE ABILITY TO DO MORE AS WELL AS

TO REESTABLISH ISRAEL AS THE PRIORITY FOR JEWS IN AMERICA.

ILANIT SASON - MALCIHUR;

THE BIGEST CHALANGE OF ALL JEWISH ENTITIES WOULD BE TO MAKE SURE THAT

THE COMITEMENT WILL CONTINUE. REGARDING PLURISIM, THIS IS SOMTHING THAT

WE CAN LEARN FROM JEWS OUTSIDE OF ISRAEL. AS A YOUNG ISRAILI I CAN SAY

THAT MY ENTIRE JEWISH BACKGROUND CAME FROM OUT SIDE OF ISRAEL. WHEN JEWS

FROM ISRAEL VISIT JEWISH COMUNITIES IN THE DISPORA THEY RETURN TO ISRAEL

WITH A STRONGER IDENTITY. THE BIGEST CHALANGE FOR THE UJA WOULD BE TO

CONSENTRATE NOT ONLY ON THE LEATERSHIP, BUT ALSO ON YOUNG PEOPLE. WE WOULD

BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU.

NAGEST MANGESHA;

THE AMERICAN JEWS HAVE HELPED US THE MOST IN OUR ALIAH. OUR ALIAH IS

FULL OF DIFFICULTIES AND PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY CHILDREN BE PART

OF ISRAILI SOCITY. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MY ETHOPIAN FRIENDS TO BE PART OF

ISRAILI SOCITY IN THE UNIVERSITIES. THE UJA IS SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY

FUNDING POLITICAL PARTIES AND SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS. ETHOPIAN JEWS IN



ISRAEL DO NOT HAVE A POLITICAL INFLUENCE, WE ONLY HAVE ONE MEMBER OF

KNESSET. THE UJA CAN SPEAK FOR US. PLEASE PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE

ETHOPIAN IMMIGRENTS AND THERE PROBLEMS.

WE DO NOT IN ANY WAY FUND POLITICAL PARTIES. WE HAVE ONE PURPOSE

WHICH IS TO FUND ANYTHING SOCIAL AND THE HUMAN NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE. WE

HELP IMMIGRENTS ARIVE TO ISRAEL AND CONTINUE HELPING THEM AFTER THEIR

ARIVLE. FOR SOME IMMIGRENTS THE PROCESS OF ABSORBTION IS MORE DIFFICULT

THEN OTHERS. WE ARE VERY COMITTED. IT IS PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITY TO

MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE AND ISSUES THAT ARE NOT SEEN EVERY DAY RECEIVE MONEY

AS PER THERE NEEDS.

MARVIN LANDER;

ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN COMING TO ISRAEL SINCE 1974, I HAVE NEVER

PARTICIPATED IN A FOROM SUCH AS THIS. THIS IS AN INDICATION OF CHANGING

TIMES. ON THE ISRAILI SIDE THERE IS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE

DIASPORA. THERE HAS BEEN GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE PART OF THE

LEADERSHIP, BUT NOT ON THE PART OF COMMEN ISRAILIS. INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN

ISRAEL, M.K. S, PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA, HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO CONNECT

COMMEN ISRAILIES WITH THE DIASPORA. THE PROBLEM IS PRESSING. I SEE TWO

COMMUNITIES GOING DOWN TWO DIFFERENT ROADS. WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT

DIRECTION, I JUST WANT TO SEE IT MOVE FASTER AND HARDER.

MARINA SOLODKIN;

WE IN ISRAEL ARE A VERY DIFFICULT SOCITY. WE CAME TO ISRAEL FROM ALL

OVER THE WORLD. DURRING OUR FIRST 50 YEARS, WORLD JEWERY DID NOT

UNDERSTAND THAT WE WERE BUILDING A NATION AND BECOMING STRONG. WE ARE

DEVIDED BETWEEN OUR SELF, A SECTURAL SOCITY, MUCH DIFFERENT THEN WHAT OTHER

COUNTRIES FACE. DIALUGE CAN HELP THE PROBLEM.

IN THE LAST YEAR I SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON ISSUES RELATING TO THE

DIASPORA ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND EACHOTHER. THE

CONVERSION BILL ITSELF WAS ALMOST OF NO INTREST TO ISRAILI JEWS OTHER THEN

WETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD FALL AS A RESULT OF THE PREPOSED BILL. THERE

WAS NO UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PREPOSED BILL MEANS TO AMERICAL JEWERY.

AN AMERICAN SECULAR JEW IS MUCH MORE CONNECTED TO A SYNOUGUE THAN A SECULAR

ISRAILI. WE SHOULD WORK ON THE PERSON TO PERSON CONNECTIONS. THE UJA WHEN

FUNDING PROJECTS IN AMERICA SHOULD FUND PROJECTS THAT WILL CONNECT PEOPLE

THERE TO ISRAEL. THIS CAN BE DONE BY SENDING TEACHERS ON SABITICAL TO

ISRAEL, AND THE CREATION OF A JEWISH UNIVERSITY SENDING JEWS FROM THE

DIASPORA TO ISRAEL TO WORK WITH ISRAILIES IN ISRAEL. THIS WILL ALSO

STRGNTHEN THE JEWISH IDENTITY IN ISRAILI JEWS.

IN THE RECENT PAST, JEWISH EDUCATION WAS REINTRADUSED INTO THE SOVIET

UNION. THE JEWISH AGENCY WAS THE FIRST TO DO THIS WORK. THIS PROJECT HAS

THE POTENTIAL TO CREATE THE DIALOUGE BETWEEN JEWS. "...THE "ISRAILI SPIRIT"



PROJECT SEEMS TO BE THE MOST SUCESSFULL PROJECT... REGARDING OLIM STUDENTS

FUNDED BY THE JEWISH AGENCY, THE JEWISH AGENCY SAID WITH OUT WARNING THAT

IT DOESENT HAVE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE STUDENTS STUDIES. THE BUDGET COULD

HAVE BEEN PLANDED FOR THE LONG TERM AS NOT TO HAVE 8500 STUDENTS BEING TOLD

TIN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR THAT THERE IS NO MORE MONEY. OLIM

ORGINIZATIONS ARE RECEVING LESS AND LESS AID FROM THE JEWISH AGENCY. THIS

IS SOMTHING THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN YOU RESTRUCTURE YOUR

ORGANIZATIONS. AS DONERS YOU CAN HELP CHANGE THINGS.

CHAIRPERSON NEOMI BLOOMENTAL;

THE PREPOSED CONVERSION BILL BRAUGHT UP THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JEWS

IN THE DIASPORA AND JEWS IN ISRAEL. BEFORE THAT NO ONE EVER SPOKE ABOUT

THE RELATIONSHIP. IT WAS ONLY YOU GIVING US MONEY AND US TAKING THAT

MONEY. WHAT ISRAEL IS FOR YOU AND WHAT YOU ARE FOR ISRAEL WAS NEVER SPOKEN

ABOUT. THE RELATIONSHIP CAME TO THE SURFACE BECAUSE OF THE PREPOSED LAW.

THE QUESTION TODAY IS NOT ABOUT MONEY BUT ABOUT WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF

ISRAEL FOR YOU, WHAT ABOUT THE CONTINUATION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN THE

DIASPORA AND WHAT CAN WE CONTRIBUTE TO THESE QUESTIONS. WE MUST START A

NEW AGENDA IN OUR MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP. ALL THIS WILL TAKE TIME, WE WILL

WORK TOGEATHER IN THIS TASK.

THIS CONCLUDES OUR COMITEE MEETING. 10:20