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The Jewish Agency
Among the four senior residents of the National Institutions Building, the Jewish Agency held a central role as well as the central wing. To its right were the offices of KKL-JNF and to its left were the offices of Keren Hayesod, some of which were staffed by members of the Jewish National Council. In different periods of time, this edifice housed several subtenants which shall be told of separately.
The Jewish Agency is a public international entity, centered in Jerusalem, which has been in operation since 1929. The Mandate Charter for the Land of Israel, which Britain received from the League of Nations, stated that: "An appropriate Jewish agency shall be recognized as a public body for the purpose of advising and co-operating with the Administration of Palestine in such economic, social and other matters as may affect the establishment of the Jewish national home." It further stipulated that until such an entity is created, the World Zionist Organization would fulfill its functions.
Which is what indeed happened. During the Twenties, the Zionist Executive operated in Jerusalem while simultaneously, efforts were being made to establish the Jewish Agency. Most of the work was done by the President of the World Zionist Organization, Dr. Chaim Weizmann. He spared no efforts to establish the Agency as a partnership between Zionists and non-Zionists, primarily in the US, who were also willing to contribute their strength and capital for the establishment of the Jewish national home in the Land of Israel. In the summer of 1929, he was able to do so. Immediately following his deliberations with the 16th Zionist Congress in Zurich, the founding assembly of the Jewish Agency had convened in the presence of Zionist and non-Zionist personages and several prominent individuals in the world, including Albert Einstein and the renowned French-Jewish leader Léon Blum.
The Jewish Agency's Constitution stipulated that it would be headed by an assembly, half of whose members would be drawn from the World Zionist Organization and the other half would be comprised of non-Zionist groups. This division would also be preserved in the executive of the Jewish Agency. It was further stipulated that Keren Hayesod would be the Agency's financial instrument and would raise the necessary funds for establishing the Jewish Land of Israel.
The Jewish Agency's Constitution stipulated that its primary goals would be the following: (A) Encouraging and promoting Jewish Aliya (Immigration) to the fullest practical scope, recognizing that great attention would be granted to working Olim (immigrants) and those Olim with independent means; (B) The actions of the Jewish Agency would also include caring for the Jewish religious needs, while ensuring personal freedom; (C) The Jewish Agency would work to promote
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