Jacques Torczyner
Encyclopedia
Jacques Torczyner has been a leader in the American and international Zionist movement. He was born in Antwerp, Belgium
, in 1914 and came to the United States in 1940, escaping Belgium after the Nazi invasion. He became a member of the Zionist Organization of America
("ZOA"). He joined 18 Jewish leaders at a special meeting in July 1945 called by David Ben Gurion organizing the Friends of the Haganah to organize support for the Jewish defense forces in Palestine
.
He was active in the campaign for the creation of the Jewish State led by Dr. Abba Hillel Silver
and took on additional responsibility when Dr. Silver became the President of ZOA. After the founding of the State of Israel, he was a member of the Rifkind Committee and various Special Committees of the Jewish Agency charged with evaluating the future of the Zionist movement. Mr. Torczyner served five consecutive terms as president of the ZOA.
From 1974 to 1977 he was Chairman of the American section of the World Jewish Congress. From 1972 till 1998 he was member of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization in charge of its Foreign Relations Department and the Herzl Institute, the adult education Institute of the World Zionist Movement.
He was also appointed a member of the American UNESCO Committee, and served on the Holderman Committee that recommended that the United States should leave UNESCO. Later, he was appointed a Special Advisor to the Director General of UNESCO
, Federico Mayor.
Mr. Torczyner has widely lectured around the world and written articles on issues faced by the State of Israel and World Jewry.
He is the nephew of Naftali Herz Tur-Sinai
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, in 1914 and came to the United States in 1940, escaping Belgium after the Nazi invasion. He became a member of the Zionist Organization of America
Zionist Organization of America
The Zionist Organization of America , founded in 1897, was one of the first official Zionist organizations in the United States, and, especially early in the 20th century, the primary representative of Jewish Americans to the World Zionist Organization, espousing primarily Political Zionism.Today,...
("ZOA"). He joined 18 Jewish leaders at a special meeting in July 1945 called by David Ben Gurion organizing the Friends of the Haganah to organize support for the Jewish defense forces in Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
.
He was active in the campaign for the creation of the Jewish State led by Dr. Abba Hillel Silver
Abba Hillel Silver
Abba Hillel Silver was a U.S. Rabbi and Zionist leader. He was a key figure in the mobilization of American support for the founding of the State of Israel.-Biography:...
and took on additional responsibility when Dr. Silver became the President of ZOA. After the founding of the State of Israel, he was a member of the Rifkind Committee and various Special Committees of the Jewish Agency charged with evaluating the future of the Zionist movement. Mr. Torczyner served five consecutive terms as president of the ZOA.
From 1974 to 1977 he was Chairman of the American section of the World Jewish Congress. From 1972 till 1998 he was member of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization in charge of its Foreign Relations Department and the Herzl Institute, the adult education Institute of the World Zionist Movement.
He was also appointed a member of the American UNESCO Committee, and served on the Holderman Committee that recommended that the United States should leave UNESCO. Later, he was appointed a Special Advisor to the Director General of UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, Federico Mayor.
Mr. Torczyner has widely lectured around the world and written articles on issues faced by the State of Israel and World Jewry.
He is the nephew of Naftali Herz Tur-Sinai
Naftali Herz Tur-Sinai
Naftali Herz Tur-Sinai was a Bible scholar, author, and linguist instrumental in the revival of the Hebrew language as a modern, spoken language...
.