Archives of the Jewish Agency Office, Munich, Frankfurt (File L47)
Extent and Medium
109,425 digital images, JPEG
Creator(s)
- Jewish Agency for Israel
Biographical History
The Jewish Agency for Israel, previously called The Jewish Agency for Palestine, is the largest Jewish nonprofit organization in the world. Its mission is to "inspire Jews throughout the world to connect with their people, heritage, and land, and empower them to build a thriving Jewish future and a strong Israel." It is best known as the primary organization responsible for the immigration ("Aliyah") and absorption of Jews and their families from the Diaspora into Israel. Since 1948, the Jewish Agency for Israel has been responsible for bringing 3 million immigrants to Israel,and offers them transitional housing in "absorption centers" throughout the country. The Jewish Agency played a central role in the founding and the building of the State of Israel. David Ben Gurion was the Chairman of its Executive Committee from 1935, and it was in this capacity that on May 14, 1948 he proclaimed independence for the State of Israel. He became Israel's first Prime Minister. In the years before and after the creation of the State, the Jewish Agency oversaw the establishment of about 1,000 towns and villages in Mandate Palestine. It serves as the main link between Israel and Jewish communities around the world. [Source: Wikipedia]
Archival History
World Zionist Organization. Central Zionist Archives
Acquisition
Source of acquisition is the Central Zionist Archives, Records L47. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives received the filmed collection via the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s International Archives Project in two transfers in July 2019.
Scope and Content
Contains correspondence relating to the Jewish communities in postwar Germany as well as activities related to heirless property and restitution, including correspondence with the International Trust Corporation, Haavara, the United Restitution Office, various offices of the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency and Youth Aliyah, minutes of meetings, statistics and reports. Note: Online description of each folder at: http://www.zionistarchives.org.il/en/Pages/ArchiveSearchResults.aspx?k=L47&t=T3
System of Arrangement
Arranged by three main groups: 1.Correspondence; 2. Minutes; 3. Reports. Note: Quarterly statistical reports on internal restitution (innere Rueckerstattung), prepared by the German Ministry of Finance; amount of claims filed, treated or still in process, sums of money paid (L47/650); Summaries of bi-weekly meetings of the Emissaries Committee (Va'adat Hashlichut) of the Jewish Agency and the World Zionist Organisation (L47/309).
Conditions Governing Reproduction
Copyright Holder: World Zionist Organization. Central Zionist Archives
Corporate Bodies
- World Zionist Organization
- Jewish Agency for Israel. Youth Aliyah Department
Subjects
- Executive departments.
- Jews--Germany--History--1945-
- Palestine--Emigration and immigration--1917-1948.
- Haavara.
- Germany--Emigration and immigration--1933-1948.
- Germany.
- Restitution and indemnification claims (1933-)--Germany.
- Jewish property--Germany--History--20th century.
Genre
- Document
- Reports.
- Statistics.
- Correspondence.
- Minutes.