Jewish Agency in U.S. Discusses Functions of Its Israel Representative

Unanimous agreement regarding the general concept of the position of the person who will be sent to Jerusalem by the reorganized Jewish Agency in New York to act at its representative in Israel was reached at the first meeting of the board of directors of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc. held here this week, it was announced today by Dewey Stone, chairman of the reorganized body.

The meeting, held under Mr. Stone’s chairmanship, also discussed the qualifications of the man who will fill that post. Views were exchanged at the meeting with respect to a number of potential candidates.

The directors also discussed the establishment of suitable channels of public information. They felt that in view of the fact that the Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc., through the United Jewish Appeal, will be the major beneficiary of all central Jewish fund-raising agencies in the United States, it was of utmost importance that progress reports on its plans and operations be made available regularly to the press and to the communities.

The board of directors also approved plans for the 1960 Bankers Study Mission to Israel. These missions, which have visited Israel annually over the past years, have been highly effective in giving top officers of banks involved in United Jewish Appeal or Jewish Agency loan operations a first-hand picture of the activities for which these funds are used. Financial and budgetary questions, as well as a consideration of the present fiscal policy of the Jewish Agency for Israel Inc., were also taken up at the meeting.

In closing the meeting, Mr. Stone expressed his appreciation of the excellent attendance–many board members had especially come in from out-of-town–and his gratification at the sustained high level of productive discussion throughout the all-day session. He termed the meeting “a most auspicious beginning for the activities of this body and a milestone in our work on behalf of Israel’s immigrants.”