Keren Hayesod – United Israel Appeal (Hebrew: קרן היסוד, literally "The Foundation Fund") is the central fundraising organization for Israel, with operations in 45 countries. The work of Keren Hayesod is carried out in accordance with the Keren Hayesod Law, 5716-1956, passed by the Knesset in January 1956. It is a registered corporation of the State of Israel.
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Keren Hayesod was established at the World Zionist Conference in London on July 7–24, 1920, and officially declared on December 24, 1920. The resolution adopted called on "the whole Jewish people", Zionists and non-Zionists alike to contribute toward the building of the Land of Israel through Keren Hayesod. Jewish communities throughout the world established local campaigns under the Keren Hayesod umbrella, often using local names (UIA, UJIA, IUA, CJA, AUJF)
According to the Reconstitution Agreement of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI), Keren Hayesod is one of its three constituent bodies (along with the World Zionist Organization (WZO) and the United Israel Appeal in the United States, a subsidiary of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA)) and provides 20% of the representatives on the Board of Governors and the Assembly. Keren Hayesod occupies 4 places on the JAFI Executive.
Leib Yaffe was the director-general of Keren Hayesod until March 11, 1948, when he and 12 others were killed by a car bomb in the courtyard of the Jewish Agency building in Jerusalem.[1]
Israel Goldstein was World Chairman of Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal in 1961-1971, and led the organization during the period of expansion and growth that followed the Six-Day War.[2]