May 14, 2002
3 Sivan, 5762
Jerusalem

Ambassador Dennis Ross and Professor Yehezkel Dror Head New Jewish Agency Institute for Jewish People Policy Planning

Dennis Ross at inaugural ceremony: "To be a proud Jew does not contradict my efforts on behalf of Peace in the Middle East."

Prof. Yehezkel Dror: "The Jewish People has always been rich in thinkers but poor in long-term strategic thought."

For the first time an international think-tank will analyze cardinal problems affecting the Jewish People and propose medium and long-term policy solutions

Ambassador Dennis Ross consented to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Prof. Dror is Founding President and Mr. Avinoam Bar Yosef Establishing Director

Jerusalem, 14 May. In a ceremony presided over by Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor and Treasurer Chaim Chesler, the Jewish Agency inaugurated today a policy planning institute for the Jewish People. The institute will be headed by Ambassador Dennis Ross, who will serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Advisory Board, and by Prof. Yehezkel Dror, who will be the institute's Founding President. Mr. Avinoam Bar-Yosef will be Establishing Director.

"This is the first time that such a think tank will exist to serve the Jewish People on a global level," said Sallai Meridor at the inauguration ceremony.

"The importance of the institute resides in the fact that that it will engage in policy research (i.e. research germaine to the formulation of policy). It will anticipate cardinal problems facing the Jewish People, assess challenges, needs, threats and opportunities and offer policy options for the medium and long-term future ," said Ambassador Ross. Among the issues to be examined figure demography, assimilation, motivations to be Jewish, cohesion of the Jewish people Israel and the Diaspora, anti-Semitism and the physical security of the Jewish People.

"We have traditionally reacted to pressing situations. It is important to develop professional analyses of anticipated problems and offer insights and solutions for the future. As a member of the Jewish People, I am honored to contribute my talents to this initiative," Ambassador Ross said. Ross does not see a contradiction between his labor on behalf of the Jewish People and his efforts on behalf of Peace. "To be a proud Jew does not contradict my efforts on behalf of Peace," he said.

Prof. Dror, in his remarks said "The Jewish People has always been rich in thinkers but poor in long-term strategic thought. The institute will engage in professional long-range and comprehensive policy thinking and planning so as to provide insights, estimates, analyses and recommendations for decision makers and policy discourse"

"I am certain that the work of the institution will greatly improve the quality of decision making and contribute greatly to a better understanding the processes affecting the Jewish People and the Jewish democracy, the State of Israel,"Jewish Agency Chairman Meridor said.

Mr. Nachman Shai, Director General of the United Jewish Communities of North America congratulated the initiatve on behalf of UJC Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Hoffman.

The seat of the Institute will be in Jerusalem, but it will have branches abroad. Jewish Agency Treasurer Chaim Chesler said that $1million have already been budgeted for the new institute's operations during 2002.

For additional details, please contact Yehuda Weinraub 053-927017

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