1897

First Zionist Congress.

1919

Idea for a "Jewish agency" first suggested by Felix Frankfurter at the Versailles Conference.

1922

League of Nations Mandate provides for a Jewish agency as a "public body under international law".

1929

Jewish Agency established. Zionists combine with non-Zionist notables.

1935

Election of David Ben-Gurion as chairperson of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization and the Executive of the Jewish Agency.

1937

Enlarged Jewish Agency collapses over statehood issue; United Jewish Appeal established.

1948

Establishment of the state of Israel; State assumes many of the functions of the Jewish Agency.

1952

Law of Status and Covenant signed for Jewish Agency and WZO.

1959

Jewish Agency, Inc., established (until 1966 when it became United Israel Appeal, Inc.).

1965

Louis Pincus becomes Chairperson of the Jewish Agency Executive.

1969

Conference on Human Needs leads to initiation of reconstitution process.

1971

Jewish Agency reconstituted at initiative of Diaspora community leaders.

1979

Signing of separate WZO and Jewish Agency covenants with government of Israel.

1981

Caesarea Process inaugurated.

1983

Max Fisher retires as Chairperson of the Board of Governors and Jerold Hoffberger succeeds him.

1984

Summary of Report of the Governance Commission adopted.

1987

Election of Mendel Kaplan as Chairman of the Board of Governors, Simcha Dinitz as Chairman of the Executive, and Meir Sheetrit as Treasurer.

1990

Operation "Exodus" Creation of the Joint Authority for Jewish Zionist Education; Operation Solomon.

1993

Partnership 2000 established; Hannan Ben Yehuda elected as Treasurer.

1995

Election of Charles Goodman as Chairman of the Board of Governors, Avraham Burg as Chairman of the Executive.

1990

Operation "Exodus"; Creation of the Joint Authority for Jewish Zionist Education.

1991

Operation Solomon.

1993

Partnership 2000 Established.

1995

Election of Charles Goodman as Chairperson of the Board of Governors, Avraham Burg as Chairperson of the Executive.

1996

Youth Aliyah activity transferred to Israel Ministry of Education.

1998

JAFI Re-structures, eliminating. Department Heads, designating four departments Aliyah and Klitah, Renewal and Development becomes Israel Department, FSU Unit becoming a Department, and the WZO and Joint Authority Education functions becoming absorbed into a new Jewish Zionist Education Department.

1999

Election of Alex Grass as Chairperson of the Board of Governors, Sallai Meridor as Chairperson of the Executive, and Chaim Chesler as Treasurer.

2000

Strategic Plan adopted, updating the Agency vision and mission and repositioning JAFI as the Jewish Agency for the Jewish People with Israel as its central focus.

2001

Despite the Intifada, close to 41,000 immigrants came to Israel this year. In addition, more than 8,000 participants came on Solidarity Missions to Israel from all over the world to demonstrate solidarity with Israel.