58 Archives - 100 Heartbeats - Keren Hayesod

After six years of activity – in 1926 Keren Hayesod moves to Eretz Israel and the Executive changes

Keren Hayesod’s wide-ranging activities throughout the world were managed by its office in London, with a relatively small staff of only 15. The Mandatory government in Jerusalem was responsible to the British government, so that work from London was convenient and close to the center of diplomatic activity. However, the Zionist General Council decided that the time had come to carry out its earlier decision to move the Keren Hayesod offices to Jerusalem. The move was carried out gradually, and in order to avoid errors and mishaps in ongoing activities, offices were maintained for a while both in Jerusalem and in London. Along with the move, the Executive also changed. The founders, Naiditch and Zlatopolsky, resigned as directors and were replaced by two long-time activists who would lead Keren Hayesod from Jerusalem for many years, Aryeh Leib Yaffe and Arthur Hantke.


Photo: Zionist leaders in front of the Keren Hayesod office, left to right: unidentified man, Arthur Hantke, unidentified man. Behind them, Hans Kohn and Leo Hermann, Jerusalem, 1927