The Jewish Agency building in Jerusalem. Photo credit: Jason
The Jewish Agency
governing body of pre-state israel
The Jewish Agency was founded under the direction of the League of Nations in 1929 as the “executive branch” of the World Zionist Organization in Palestine, though it existed in previous forms since 1908. It was the representative body of the Jewish people to the British government. Most famously, it was responsible for coodinating and supporting Jewish immigration to Palestine. Headed by David Ben Gurion until he declared the State of Israel in 1948, the Jewish Agency today is a nonprofit organization working to build and maintain links between Israel and Jewish communities worldwide, which includes aliyah (Jewish immigration), Israel-related education, and social action.
Appears in
Episodes 41, 50
Mentioned in Episodes 43, 45, 46, 49, 51, 52, 54, 56, 57