(JTA) — The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Israeli government drafted an agreement outlining their respective roles in a new initiative promoting Jewish identity in the Diaspora.
In a nonbinding Memorandum of Understanding, the Jewish Agency and the government’s Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs Ministry outlined preliminary goals and structure for the project that had been previously mired in a dispute between the two players, according to The Jerusalem Post. While the government approved the initiative itself in June, few specifics had been announced.
The initiative plans to focus on seven program areas, eJewishPhilanthropy reported, including teen trips to Israel; summer camps; Jewish/Israel engagement on college campuses; internships in Israel for students and young adults; and community service projects in Israel and the developing world. Specific goals include doubling the number of teens traveling to Israel and doubling enrollment in Jewish summer camps.
Funding for the initiative is to be split among the Israeli government, Diaspora Jewish organizations and Jewish philanthropists.
However, while the Israeli government has committed to funding a third of the project, the private funds have not yet been raised.
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