Printer Friendly

Email to A Friend

Friday September 13, 1996

Rabbis promoting Bonds sales to deepen diaspora ties

HEATHER CAMLOT
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

"The bonds become an instrumentality to connect the diaspora with the state of Israel," said Orthodox Rabbi Reuven Bulka of Congregation Machzikei Hadas in Ottawa, Ontario. Bulka also is the chairman of Israel Bonds' High Holy Day Appeal.

The annual campaign on the High Holy Days reaches congregants in more than 800 synagogues across North America.

"You need [investments] more in time of growth than in time of stagnation," said Maj. Gen. Nathan Sharony, who is retired from the armed forces and is now the president and CEO of Israel Bonds. "The need for money is self-evident. The faster the country grows, the faster the country absorbs immigrants, the more financial resources are needed."

Since the program began in 1951, more than $15 billion in State of Israel Bonds have been purchased worldwide.

Bonds have been used to help develop the country's infrastructure, technology, agriculture and industry. Since 1990, Israel's Ministry of Finance has also directed funds for the absorption of new immigrants, especially the massive aliyah from the former Soviet Union.

"Diaspora Jewry becomes a partner with Israeli Jews in providing employment opportunities for the ever-growing number of new immigrants to Israel," said Conservative Rabbi Aaron Landes of Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins Park, Pa., a member of Israel Bonds' national rabbinic Cabinet.

Last year's campaign raised $72 million in North America. Worldwide, $920 million in bonds were sold.

Israel Bonds encountered political difficulties last year when several U.S. rabbis canceled their appeals, protesting the Labor government's approach to the peace process.

Bonds officials view that incident as an aberration, saying that the dissident religious leaders are back on board for this year's appeal.

Did you find this article interesting? Subscribe to our FREE newsletter and you'll be notified each week when "J." goes online. We'll tell you about the most important stories of the week and give you a link to each one.

This page contains a BETA version of Amazon contextual links. They are marked by the dashed underline.  Your purchases support our site. At times they point to items which are not related to the actual link. Please alert us by email if you discover objectionable links.