The Jewish Agency for Israel (known as the Jewish Agency) is a nonprofit organization based in Jerusalem that promotes Aliyah, or the immigration of Jewish people back to the State of Israel. ¹ The Jewish Agency – American Section is the Jewish Agency for Israel’s U.S. affiliate. ² The Jewish Agency for Israel North American Council is a non-tax related organization that supports the work of nonprofit organizations in Israel including the Jewish Agency. ³

Activities

The Jewish Agency for Israel promotes and facilitates Aliyah, or the immigration of Jewish people back to their ancestral homeland in the Land of Israel (since 1948, to the modern State of Israel). In 2018, the Jewish Agency assisted more than 30,000 Jews with the process of starting new lives in Israel. The Jewish Agency’s Global Aliyah Center provides information and logistical assistance with the process of immigrating, which includes a free one-way flight to Israel. ⁴

The Jewish Agency’s other programs include Campus Israel Fellows, which, in partnership with Hillel International, supports Jewish college students by bringing young Israeli adults to campuses across the U.S.; the Partnership2Gether Global Network, which establishes city-to-city and region-to-region partnerships between Israel and the U.S.; and the Masa Israel Journey in Israel for Jewish youth aged 18-30. ⁵

The Adelson Shlichut Institute

The Shlichut Institute is a training program responsible for the development training for young people from Israel who act as emissaries. Known as shlichim, youth that are trained in the program are sent to schools, synagogues, universities, community centers, and youth movements to communicate with both Jewish and non-Jewish people about Israel, issues of national and religious identity, and Jewish heritage. ^{6 7}

After casino magnate Sheldon Adelson’s passing in 2021, the Jewish Agency recognized his and his wife’s support of its shlichut program, through donations made to the Jewish Agency for Israel – North American Council, by naming it the Adelson Shlichut Institute. ⁸

Shelley Kedar was the founding director of the Adelson Shlichut Institute and is the director of the Connecting the Jewish People Unit at the Jewish Agency. Kedar is a former vice president of Israel education and engagement at Hillel International. ⁹

Natan Sharansky was the founding chair of the Adelson Shlichut Institute and is an honorary member of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency. He previously was chair of the Executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Sharansky is a former chair of the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy and the Combat Antisemitism Movement. ¹⁰

Funding

The Jewish Agency for Israel is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While the Jewish Agency does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties ($125,000 in 2021), ¹¹ the Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and Desert Area ($86,500 in 2022), ¹² and the Jewish Federation of San Antonio ($76,234 in 2022). ¹³

People

Amira Ahronoviz is the CEO and director general of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Ahronoviz is a former fellow with Jerusalem’s Mandel Educational Leadership Institute and is a founding member of the Keshet Community. ¹⁴

Mark Wilf is chair of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Wilf is a former chair of the board of trustees of the Jewish Federations of North America and former president of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey. Wilf is an attorney and partner in Garden Homes and the owner and president of the Minnesota Vikings. Wilf sits on the boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, American Society for Yad Vashem, NYU School of Law, Princeton University, Yeshiva University, Vanderbilt University, and NFL Business Ventures. ¹⁵

Doron Almog is chair of the executive of JAFI. Almog is a former leader with the Israel Defense Forces and received the Israel Prize in 2016. Almog is a former senior research fellow at Harvard. ¹⁶

Yaron Shavit is the deputy chair of the executive of JAFI. Shavit is a member of the Kamatz Reform Jewish congregation and former chair of the Reform Movement in Israel from 2008-2012. ¹⁷

Bruce Sholk is the former chair of the Budget and Finance Committee of JAFI and a member of the Board of Governors. Sholk is a former chair of the Executive Committee of Hillel International, a founding board member of Tamid, and a former member of the boards of the Jewish Federations of North America and United Israel Appeal. ¹⁸

The Jewish Agency for Israel is overseen by its Board of Governors and Executive, and the Office of the Secretary General. Members of both the Board of Governors and Executive are designated by its three partner organizations: the Jewish Federations of North America, United Israel Appeal, and the World Zionist Organization. ¹⁹

1.  “Who We Are.” The Jewish Agency for Israel. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.jewishagency.org/who-we-are/.
2. The Jewish Agency for Israel, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Schedule R, Part II.
3. Jewish Agency for Israel – North American Council, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Schedule F, Part I, Line 3.
4. “Aliyah.” The Jewish Agency for Israel. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.jewishagency.org/aliyah/
5. “Get Involved at Home.” The Jewish Agency for Israel. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.jewishagency.org/get-involved-at-home/.
6. ’I Am Israel’ The Shifting Paradigm of Shlihim: Shelley Kedar.” The Jewish Theological Seminary. Accessed September 3, 2024. https://www.jtsa.edu/hidden-page/i-am-israel-the-shifting-paradigm-of-shlihim-shelley-kedar/.
7. “Shlichim.” The Jewish Agency for Israel. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.jewishagency.org/shlichim/.
8. “Jewish groups mourn Sheldon Adelson.” Israel Hayom, January 13,2021. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.israelhayom.com/2021/01/13/jewish-groups-mourn-sheldon-adelson/.
9. “’Shelley Kedar.” LinkedIn. Accessed September 3, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelley-kedar/?originalSubdomain=il.
10. “Natan Sharansky.” Tablet. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.tabletmag.com/contributors/natan-sharansky.
11. Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2021, Schedule I, Part II.
12. Jewish Federation of Palm Springs and Desert Area, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Schedule I, Part II.
13. Jewish Federation of San Antonio, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2022, Schedule I, Part II.
14. “Amira Ahronoviz.” The Jewish Agency for Israel. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.jewishagency.org/amira-ahronoviz-bio/.
15. “Mark Wilf.” The Jewish Agency for Israel. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.jewishagency.org/mark-wilf/.
16. “Major General (Res.) Doron Almog.” The Jewish Agency for Israel. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.jewishagency.org/doron-almog/.
17. “Yaron Shavit.” The Jewish Agency for Israel. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.jewishagency.org/yaron-shavit-bio/.
18. “Bruce P. Sholk.” The Jewish Agency for Israel. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.jewishagency.org/bruce-p-sholk/.
19. “Members of the Board of Governors.” The Jewish Agency for Israel. Accessed September 7, 2024. https://www.jewishagency.org/members-of-the-board-of-governors/.