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The Jewish Agency (HaSokhnut HaYehudit l\'Eretz Yisrael) is the global Jewish-Israeli connection organization, founded in 1929 by the World Zionist Organization. Pre-state, it organized Jewish settlement and managed relations with the British Mandate. Post-state, its mission shifted to aliyah facilitation, diaspora education, and Israel advocacy. Headquartered in Jerusalem (Beit HaIvrim), today it funds Onward Israel, MASA, Israel Experience, Tzofim Garin Tzabar, Russian-speaking community programs, and Ethiopian Mass Aliyah operations.
Cultural note, Sokhnut is your first stop as a potential oleh. They assess eligibility (te\'udat zikkayon, "Right of Return" certificate), open your file, and coordinate with Misrad HaKlita. Most aliyah from non-Anglo countries (Russia, France, Ethiopia, Argentina) goes via Sokhnut. From the US/Canada, mostly via Nefesh B\'Nefesh, which works in partnership with Sokhnut. Famous Sokhnut operations: Operation Solomon (Ethiopian airlift, 1991), Operation Moses (Ethiopian, 1984), Operation Magic Carpet (Yemen, 1949-50), Operation Exodus (Soviet aliyah).
Sokhnut Basics
Major Operations
Current Programs
Aliyah Services
Conversation Vocabulary
Initial Sokhnut Meeting
An oleh meets a Sokhnut shaliach to start the aliyah process.