'It's a privilege to be able to contribute to Israel'

James Tisch, the chairman of the Jewish Agency's board of governors and one of the richest and most successful businessmen in the U.S., sat down with Israel Hayom for a special interview to discuss the Agency's goals in the coming years. With infectious enthusiasm, Tisch shared his vision for the future of the Jewish people in Israel and the Diaspora.

The 59-year-old Jewish-American billionaire is the CEO and co-owner of Loews Corporation, which is involved, among other ventures, in providing commercial property and casualty insurance to businesses and professionals. Tisch, who was in Israel for the Board of Governors meeting at the Jewish Agency this week, is an ardent supporter of the State of Israel and a consistent donor to the country and to initiatives throughout the Jewish world. A year ago, Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky asked Tisch to sit at the head of the board of governors for the Agency.

"Once Sharansky came to me, I knew I needed to take the task upon myself, even though I thought that after serving as chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and president of United Jewish Communities of North America — I could take a break," he said grinning widely.

"I see Natan Sharansky as the spiritual leader of the Jewish Agency," said Tisch. "What's more, I considered it very important that I could contribute my experience and abilities to the Jewish Agency, which is a strong and dynamic organization led by professionals. I consider it a privilege," he said.

How do you see your role in the Jewish Agency-

"The goal is to take hold of the future and to be masters of our own fates by generating donations from private citizens, in order to continue the agency's diverse activities across the globe. It's a tough mission in the face of the economic crisis, but I try to convince potential donors by explaining to them that if you aren't a religious Jew there is a 50 percent chance that your children won't live as Jews. To my sorrow, the world isn't kind to many Jews. I define myself as a realistic optimist and I believe that because Jews managed to survive for thousands of years, they will continue to survive in the future, too. A lot of this is due to the Jewish Agency, which helps Jews all over the world reconnect to their Judaism and helps bring them to Israel."

What is the significance of programs that bring Jewish youths from all over the world to Israel-

"In a situation in which anti-Semitism rears its head everywhere in the world, and often these are acts that are anti-Israel, it is very important to bring Jews to Israel so that they can see up close what is going on here. Programs like "Masa" and "Taglit" are extremely important because they connect young Jews to Israel and their Jewish roots. Fifty thousand Jews come to Israel every year as part of these programs, and for many of them it is a life-changing experience. It's a huge enterprise, along with the emissaries located on campuses and in communities around the world. It's important to continue developing these wonderful programs in the coming years."

To summarize, Tisch was asked his opinion on the Israeli economy and its performance amid the global economic crisis, to which he responded without hesitation: "The Israeli economy is stable and there is good growth here. Israel is managing to overcome the global crisis in a way that inspires praise."

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