Informed sources reported here today that the Jewish Agency is withholding a 280-page report on American aliya prepared by the Dichter Institute of Deep Motivational Research, allegedly because the report is severely critical of the agency’s aliya and absorption practices. The report, for which the agency paid a reported fee of $100,000, undertook a psychological analysis of aspects of American Jewry pertaining to aliya problems, as well as case studies of American settlers in Israel.
The Jewish Agency, however, contends that a series of illnesses and absences from Israel of key agency personnel has held up evaluation of the study. Officials denied any intent to hush up the report and said that they are satisfied that the investment in the study was “money well spent.”
The Dichter Institute’s recommendations reportedly include psychology courses for prospective aliya emissaries to make them better equipped to handle olims’ personal problems. Another suggestion is for more efficient feedback of absorption information from Israel to America. The Jewish Agency has already begun placing professional social workers in its absorption centers in Israel, as a result of another Dichter Institute recommendation, officials said,
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