12 Friday, January 2, 1981
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Reform Without Fanfare, Levinsky's Key to Agency's Success
By DAVID LANDAU
JERUSALEM (JTA) —
Finance Minister Yigal
Hurwitz was wrestling with
his colleagues in the
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up to
Cabinet over the size of next
year's budget while report-
ers gathered outside to hear
what it would all mean for
the pocketbook and shop-
ping bag of the ordinary
man and woman.
Akiva Levinsky, quiet-
spoken and businesslike at
his office in the Jewish
Agency building, half a mile
away could scarcely fail to
make the comparison.
Levinsky's reforms —
still in the process of evolu-
tion — have been sweeping
indeed. It is in character
with the man that they have
been undertaken without
fanfare — without the pub-
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tion, in Israel and in the
Jewish Diaspora, that they
perhaps should have.
Levinsky is keenly
aware of the Jewish
Despite the limitations
imposed by this political
reality, Levinsky's
achievements in his two
years at the treasury have
been impressive. Last year
alone, agency manpower
costs were reduced by 15.
percent and the actual
number of agency em-
ployees was cut by 11.5 per-
cent. (Not all manpower
posts were filled in the
past.)
He introduced a system of
"three-year plans" as part of
his overall planning-ori-
ented approach. (Levinsky,
a scion of the Labor move-
ment and long-time
member of Kibutz Maayan
Zvi, came to the agency
from a top slot in the bank
Hapoalim commercial em-
pire.)
Agency's "image" prob-
lems, and spends a good
deal of time thinking
about them. "But in the
final analysis," he says,
image is shaped by what
is actually done.
No amount of "packag-
ing" can sell a commodity
that is faulty, and similarly
no amount of negative pre-
conceptions can prevent the
Jewish Agency's public
image improving if the
work of the departments
and of the agency as a
whole is genuinely
meritorious.
Apropos of "image,"
Levinsky points to a conun-
drum which, he says, con-
The original "three-year
tinues to baffle him. While
plan" will be updated this
the Jewish Agency as such
suffers, especially in the Is- year according to changing
Another
raeli media:from an unde- conditions.
"evaluation
niable "image problem: . the novelty:
teams," comprising agency
individual departments
that together comprise the officials and outside ex-
agency each separately perts, are commissioned to
have a good and often very review and supervise major
agency projects.
good "image." "Take the
Budget calculations —
settlement department, for
example," he says, "or youth perhaps traditionally the
key function of the trea-
aliya."
He says the root-cause of surer — have also under-
the Jewish Agency's "image gone a thorough over-
problem" — and of much of haul.
the inefficiency and laxity Vaccine Sent
that still bedevils some de-
partments — is the political to Quake Victims
party system on which the
NEW YORK (JTA) — A
agency is based.
shipment of 20,000 doses of
"If you ask me," he typhoid vaccine is on its way
says, "an executive of five to Italy, donated to the
members is enough." But earthquake victims by
it is the will of the public Montefiore Hospital and
— in Israel and in the Medical Center of New
Diaspora — that wants York.
(as expressed in the elec-
Dr. Isadore Levine, the
tions to the Zionist con- hospital's deupty director
gresses) a proliferation of for professional affairs, con-
parties. Each of these tacted the Jewish Commu-
parties and movements nity Relations Council
demands a slice of the (JCRC) to offer to send a
power and influence. team of doctors to Italy at
Thus, in practice, a Montefiore's expense.
wholesale reduction of
JCRC representatives
the executive portfolios is discussed the matter with
"impossible."
Italian Consul General Al-
lesandro Cortese-de Bosis,
who, though "deeply
gratified by this generous
offer,"- noted that doctors
from neighboring cowntries
as well as those from north-
ern Italy were on the scene
in sufficient numbers to
handle the situation.
The consul general indi-
cated, however, that there
was an urgent need for
typhoid vaccine.
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lic affairs, has developed a
network of state committees
and coordinators in 30
states to be part of the na-
tional drive.
Levinsky also insists on sponsibility is in setting a
"full disclosure" of all back- ceiling on the agency's
ground data to the board of borrowing.
governors and its relevant
Another noteworthy ad-
committees.
vance in the agency in
He insists that for him the which Levisky has had im-
concept of"full partnership"
portant input: the decision
that underlays the "recon- to publish the agency com-
stitution" of the Jewish ptroller's annual report.
Agency is meaningful and This year, part was pub-
imperative, not mere lished (for the first time)
rhetoric. "I want the board
and part held back (some of
to be genuine partners in it sensitive material deal-
decision making— in decid-
ing with communities and
ing on the concepts and distress or delicate fund
principles governing the
raising work). In the future.
work of the agency — and Levinsky pledges, "th(
hence shaping its budget," Itrend will be towards fuller
Levinsky asserts.
and fuller publication.
Obviously, he says, the
overseas members and
especially the United
Jewish Appeal and United
THE DETROIT AREA'S
Israel Appeal members, are
a key factor in drawing up
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