Israel’s Ministerial Committee for Symbols and Ceremonies has decided to declare the Jewish year 5757 — 1996-1997 — as the “Year of Zionism,” according to Eli Eyal, head of the World Zionist Organization Department of Organization and Community Relations.
Eyal said the WZO will give the committee a proposed schedule of projects and events in Israel and abroad to mark the 100 years since the first Zionist Congress and the establishment of the WZO.
The congress, convened by Theodor Herzl, was held in 1897 in Basel, Switzerland.
The Canton of Basel has already announced its intention to sponsor a series of events marking the centennial.
The 33rd World Zionist Congress will be held in Jerusalem in 1997.
Avraham Burg, the new acting chairman of the WZO and Jewish Agency, has said he believes Zionism should be at the center of Diaspora Jewish education.
Burg was elected acting chairman last month after a vigorous contest with the former acting chairman, Yehiel Leket.
The Jewish Agency is the primary recipient of money raised for Israel by the United Jewish Appeal.
The WZO undertakes Jewish educational efforts in the Diaspora and provides the mechanism for Diaspora Zionist organizations to participate in Jewish Agency decisions.
Burg will retain his post as a Labor member of Knesset until he is officially elected chairman of the WZO and Jewish Agency in June.
He has already resigned his post as chairman of the Knesset Education Committee. He has been replaced by Labor Party Knesset member Dalia Itzik, who is believed to be the first woman to chair a Knesset committee not directly related to women’s issues.
Meanwhile, the Jewish Agency’s Board of Governors recently concluded its meetings here.
In its efforts to rejuvenate itself and to broaden Israeli representation, the board approved 23 additional members, appointed by the WZO. This brings the board to 121 members.
The majority of the new members are prominent Israelis, chosen from various segments of society. The most noticeable additions are three olim from the former Soviet Union: Natan Sharansky, chairman of the Zionist Forum; Eduard Kozentzov, editor of Novosty, the Russian Israeli newspaper; and Sophia Landver, former chairwoman of the Association of Olim from the former Soviet Union.
Their election marks the first time olim from the former Soviet Union are represented on the Agency’s Board of Governors.
Among the other new Israeli board members are: Shlomo Avineri, a Hebrew University professor; Mayors Roni Milo of Tel Aviv and Amram Mitzna of Haifa; Yehudit Heibner, who chairs the women’s movement Emunah and is a member of the Jerusalem municipal council; former speaker of the Knesset and Police Minister Shlomo Hillel; and Moshe Rivlin, chairman of the Jewish National Fund.
New broad members from abroad include Seymour Reich of New York, chairman of the American Zionist Movement; Howard Schaverien, chairman of the British Zionist Federation; and Ann Zablud, chairwoman of the Australian Zionist Federation.
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