OK, fifty years ago it helped set up the state helped with aliyah and moving funds. But today, will some one clue me into why anyone should give them money except to perpetuate their own jobs?

Answer to Number 1: In the UK I called NBN to make aliyah and they gave me the phone number of the Jewish Agency, which did everything. I had been living in Israel over a year when NBN E-Mailed me to ask, if I still wanted to make aliyah? NBN may be great in the USA but the JA works hard in other places in the world and fills the gaps. As long as we are being brought home, the more organizations working the better. Come home soon.

NOTHING!!!

As with any JEWISH org, they set out to help us Jews because the rest of the world doesn't. As such, instead of the cynicism, why don't you try calling them and asking them what they do rather than judging them the way the non-Jews do? Hm? Might be a good idea Larry 'ol boy. After all, they ARE family to us Jews and YES, they DO make a huge difference.

time to downsize this and many other such organizations-merge some of them- end others

Close it down. It's sole function is to find jobs for ex-politcians

An inefficient bureaucracy providing employment for lazy protektsianerim that want to travel the World. This dinosaur should be closed down ASAP. Some of its functions should be transferred to the Israeli Embassies, others to private organisations like Nefesh be Nefesh.

THEY ARE OF THE OUTMOST IMPORTANCE WITH CONTACT BETWEEM NEFESH B NEFESH, ALIYAH AND HELPING FACILITATE OBTAINING PASSPORTS THROUGH THE CONSULS IN MANY COUNTRIES, THIS IN ADDITION TO WORKING FOR SO MANY THINGS IN ISRAEL!

The JA is going bankrupt due to the pensions that they are currently paying their retirees. The monthy pension payments are MORE than what their employees contributed over the years of employment there. Since many organizations are facing the same issue, now the pensions are based soley on what the employee contributes over the years. The JA retirees are laughing all the way to the bank!

The Jewish Agency was the precursor to the State of Israel. Later it was used by the maarach to fund its political activites and pay of its supporters. Today, it does nothing and is of absolutely no value. It should be used to fund the giborai Israel in the zionist goal of settling the land of Israel in Judea and Samaria. Otherwise just close it.

They do nothing. Absolutely nothing they did in in the last 50 years. Sorry, drinking coffe.

People here are slamming the Jewish Agency in favor of Nefesh B'Nefesh. NBN only helps middle to upper class white English speaking Jews from the US, Canada and the UK. What about the ex USSR? What about Ethiopia, South America and the other risky places to work? You won't find NBN's 23 year old Americans in Venezuela trying to get Jews out fo that antisemtic hell, and my shaliach did more to help us than NBN ever could. She was Israeli, knew the system, the city I live in, and people on the ground. All NBN does is make promises and compile lists of "resources" for rich North American Jews.

If you really want Jews to come and settle in Isreal cut the BS along with the red tape. Enourage people with lower taxes, an open market, Jewish governments and respect for Jewish culture, religion and customs. Dont pander to every two bit anti-semite out there and stand your ground. Teach your kids respect and drop the 'in your face' attitude. Be thankful to those who help you and respect eachother. Get all segments to work for their daily bread and break the entitlement culture. Have I left anything out?

Congragulations, you have made it! An American Jew with job skills, a bit of money and a will to face a challenge is not 'rich'. Of course, to one who sucks on the teat of envy, anyone with a backbone will be viewed as 'rich'.

the JA was interested in justifying its existence. one way in which it sought to do that was to fill planes with immigrants. the problem was that the JA did not care about who was on its planes. if one were alive and were willing to board, the JA had a seat for him. Non-Jews? Anti-Jews? Criminal? Enemies? the JA did not care. it's time to dismantle the JA or let it dissolve. even the great and good Natan Sharansky cannot undo the damage that his predecessors did.

Maybe the Jewish Agency would get more people backing it if they tried to bring JEWS to Israel, & stopped trying to bring those who are eligible for aliyah under the Law of Return but aren't Jewish. Downsizing might be a good idea --- especially in Russia and the FSU.

Nobody asks the big question: how come the State of Israel doesn't contribute at all to the aliya process...how come they are not interested, since the country itself profits from the newcomers and adds to the Jewish population...

Compared to the Jews in Ethiopia, South America and other risky places, most Jews from the US, Canada and the UK usually ARE rich, realize it, and are grateful. Everything is relative. And one's 'bottom' line can be another's goal line.

#7 puts it in a nut shell. It wouldn't surprise me if 50 percent of donated money goes on fat cat salaries and perks.

Everybody who "WORKS" for the agency is a parasite. All the money it raises should go to the soldiers in fighting units and the true zionists the Jews living in Judea and Samaria.

are so negative, the truth is that the Jewish Agency does allot to promote immigration to Israel. They personally helped good friends of mine. I have never heard anything negative about them with the exception of the talkbacks here. at the moment the company I own gives monthly contribution to the United Israel Appeal in South Africa (which also supports CSO, a Jewish security organisation that protects Jewish schools and Synagogues) I will now add the Jewish Agency to the list of contributions seeing as north American support is dwindling due to the recession.