History of UIA

Keren Hayesod – United Israel Appeal (KH-UIA) is founded in London as a Zionist movement to facilitate the return to Israel, with global offices established to seek communities’ support. Later, headquarters are relocated to Jerusalem, The Jewish Agency for Israel is established – with KH-UIA as its fundraising arm and KH-UIA helps establish institutions such as Bank Hapoalim and Israel Philharmonic. The economic depression affects KH-UIA significantly, coupled with the concerning plight of German Jewry, where plans are developed to bring German Jews to Israel.

During World War II and in its aftermath, KH-UIA establishes emergency campaigns to help the Allied war effort after the liberation of the concentration camps, and smuggle many survivors into the Land of Israel, in defiance of British immigration restrictions. Many KH-UIA leaders perish in the Holocaust and the organisation has to recover quickly. KH-UIA is a terrorism target due to its key role in the Zionist enterprise, where in 1948 a car bomb is detonated at headquarters, killing 12 people including the KH-UIA Director, Leib Yaffe.

Large waves of immigration occur following the birth of Israel and in turn, the population triples. This sees an increased demand for social, educational and cultural services and establishment of dozens of urban settlements. In 1956, the KH-UIA Law passes recognising its unique status as the official fundraising arm of the State of Israel.

Due to the economic recession, KH-UIA is required to respond to urgent social needs. An emergency campaign is launched following the Six-Day War and the plight of Soviet Jewry emerges as a priority.

KH-UIA focuses on two national tasks – the significant wave of immigration from the FSU and Project Renewal – a neighbourhood rehabilitation program. Organisational changes occur, including the establishment of the International Women’s Division and Young Leadership Division.

The decade begins with the First Lebanon War and ends with the collapse of the Soviet empire. The economic crisis hits Israel and KH-UIA is central to leading projects and support. In 1984, Operation Moses brings 5,000 immigrants from Ethiopia to Israel, and as the Soviet Union implodes, over 1 million Jews immigrate which changes the course of Israeli and KH-UIA history.

The end of the Communist regime makes Aliyah possible for many Jews, with 1 million immigrants arriving during this decade. In 1991, over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews are brought to Israel as part of Operation Solomon. The influx of Olim sees increased demand for services, housing and jobs, with KH-UIA launching the Exodus Campaign which raises half a billion dollars.

KH-UIA responds to the wave of terror launched by the Second Intifada by developing a wide range of social projects alongside Aliyah and Absorption. Addressing the needs of those living on the periphery to close social gaps becomes KH-UIA’s focus, including the creation of the Net@ program – providing hi-tech training to youth living on the periphery. The organisation also becomes the key partner in The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Victims of Terror Fund.

KH-UIA continues to further the national priorities of Israel and world Jewry through projects including Net@, Youth Futures, Amigour and more. During Operation Protective Edge in 2014, bomb shelters are funded through global solidarity. By the end of the decade, KH-UIA is operating over 60 campaigns worldwide in 45 countries.

KH-UIA celebrates its 100th year during the COVID pandemic, which has enormous impacts on the People of Israel, KH-UIA’s projects and the world. The October 7 massacre has devastating effects on communities particularly in the South and North, where Emergency Campaigns are launched across the world to support the rebuilding and rehabilitation of Israel.