Details of the reorganization of the basic structure of the Jewish Agency for Israel in line with decisions adopted at the last World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem, were disclosed at a pross conference here today by Aryeh L. Pincus, chairman of the Agency executive. Mr. Pincus, who is currently on a three-week visit to this country, said that the initial changes already in the first stages of implementation, are aimed at solving the problems of “over-centralization” and “duplication” in the day-to-day work of the Agency.
The first step in the reorganization of the Agency’s structure, he said, is the establishment of a system of executive committees with “collective responsibility” in specific areas of work to replace the individual departments which have carried out the activities of the organization since its formation.
Under the new system which is already functioning in Israel and which will shortly be implemented in the American section, each of the five executive committees, which will be working bodies rather than advisory units, will bear responsibility for the areas formerly under the direction of department heads which were found to be related in function and purpose.
The new executive committees include immigration and absorption, youth aliyah, agricultural settlement, education and youth and one committee on information, external relations and organization. Each of the units, Mr. Pincus said, will have a permanent staff director to work under the supervision of the members of the committee. Chairmanship of the committees will be rotated in most cases.
SAYS STRUCTURAL CHANGES ARE RESULT OF ‘SELF EXAMINATION’ EFFORTS
Mr. Pincus cited as an example of the new units, the committee dealing with immigration and absorption which were formerly separate departments. The new committees will pool the experience and skills of Agency officials working in the same general areas.
Stressing the urgency of the reorganization in the fields of immigration and absorption, the Agency head noted that, over the next four to five years, a total of some 250, 000 Jewish immigrants are expected to come to Israel from “areas of distress. ” He said the problem was particularly acute in the case of the absorption of large numbers of newcomers from Moslem lands where the cultural lag was greatest.
The new structural changes in the Agency setup, Mr. Pincus said, are a result of the current efforts at “self examination” by the organization, of its functions and activities. Among other areas currently under review with the specific aim of eliminating duplication and improving efficiency, he noted, are agricultural settlement, absorption of immigrants from western countries and education and youth activities. While some duplication exists in such areas as agricultural settlement, he said, the extent of it was generally exaggerated.
Another aim of the Agency review and reorganization program, he said, was the achievement of a greater degree of unity among Zionist organizations throughout the world. While these groups “do an enormous amount of work, ” Mr. Pincus stressed that it was important to minimize “fragmentation” in the movement. In this area, he declared, “we are seeking ways of cooperation so that the concept of Jewish peoplehood might mean something.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
