Page 108 - ISRAEL'S CRADLE

was renovated and in the following years, the first period of the State of Israel, Keren Hayesod filled a central role in financing the largest wave of Aliya to Israel.
Until the establishment of the state and even in the years afterwards, Keren Hayesod was also very active in the area of Zionist Public Relations. Photographers for Keren Hayesod scanned the settlements in the Land of Israel and its colorful landscapes, and tens of thousands of photos of the renewed Land of Israel were sent out every year to Jewish communities around the world. Keren Hayesod even emphasized modern means of communication such as cinema, and created long and short films that were successful. The most prominent of them was "The Land of Promise," which was produced in 1935 and the copies of which were sent in a variety of languages to dozens of countries in five continents. This film contributed greatly to the Music of Israel, since three of Nathan Alterman's first songs, to the tunes of Daniel Samburski, were included in it and which became huge hits: "The Valley Song" ("Rest comes to the weary"), "Morning Song" ("On the mountains the sun already burns") and "Song of the Road" ("Strike a hammer, raise and drop").
In January 1956, the Knesset adopted with no dissenters the "Keren Hayesod Law," which recognized the organization under Israeli Law. Until then, Keren Hayesod – a vestige of the Mandatory Period – had been registered in England, and from that date onward it became an Israeli company for all intents and purposes.
Since then and until the present day, Keren Hayesod has been one of the financial tools outside the State of Israel through which the world Jewry aids the State of Israel, and the Jewish Agency in particular Keren Hayesod maintains centers in dozens of countries throughout the world, and good Jews open their hearts and wallets and contribute large and small amounts for Aliya operations, settlement and development in the State of Israel. Some of the funds are sent to finance cultural, educational and public relations activities throughout the Jewish World.
Particularly large amounts were contributed to Keren Hayesod on the eve of the Six Day War, when Israel faced many dangers and following the brilliant victory in the war, when a period of accelerated development began; as well as following the Yom Kippur War.
In 1971, with the reestablishment of the Jewish Agency, Keren Hayesod was given representation in 20% of its governing bodies, which granted the community leaders in the world (except the United States) significant influence in determining its policy.
The statutory governing and policy making bodies of Keren Hayesod are its Board of Governors, Board of Directors, the Finances Committee and the Balance Sheet Committee. There are 32 members in the Board of Governors – 16 of whom are appointed by the World Zionist Organization and 16 by the Keren Hayesod collection offices. The Board of Directors is comprised of eight members – four from the World Zionist Organization and four from the Keren Hayesod collection offices.
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