New Jewish Agency chief officially takes up post

Former IDF general Doron Almog took the reins today at the Jewish Agency for Israel, as the organization’s offices face the possibility of being shuttered in Russia.

On his first day in the position, Almog visited new immigrants and Ulpan Etzion, a leading Hebrew-language immersion center in Jerusalem.

“Under my leadership, The Jewish Agency will continue to assist every Jew who wishes to immigrate to Israel and lead aliyah rescue operations across the globe,” the new agency chair told a group of 180 new immigrants at the ulpan.

“Almog will devote his first days in office to become thoroughly acquainted with the breadth of Jewish Agency activities in Jewish communities worldwide and throughout Israel,” the agency says in a statement.

Almog, 71, a past head of the Israel Defense Forces’ Southern Command, dedicated his life after leaving the military to running a widely lauded rehabilitation village in the Negev desert for people with physical and mental disabilities. ADI Negev-Nahalat Eran is named for his son Eran, who had severe autism and physical disabilities.

Almog took over from acting head Yaakov Hagoel, who has served in an interim capacity since former chair Isaac Herzog left the organization to become president of Israel in 2021.

He begins his role at a challenging time for the Jewish Agency. The organization is currently battling a petition in Moscow’s Basmany Court filed by the Russian Justice Ministry, which has called for shuttering its offices in the country.