ARTICLES OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH LAWYERS
AND JURISTS (Amendment) 5767-2007
Art.1. This first International Congress of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists hereby resolves
to create and establish a non-political and non-profitmaking body to be called
HaIrgun HaBeinleumi shel Orchei Din U-Mishpetanim Yehudim, and in English “The
International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists” having the following
objectives, purposes and articles.
REGISTERED OFFICE & BRANCHES
Art.2. a) The Center and Head Office of the Association is in Jerusalem. The
Association may establish branches and regional offices in such places and countries
as may be decided by the Board of Governors and nominate representatives.
b) No branch shall be approved unless its stated objects are identical to the objects
of the International Association.
c) All members of a branch must be members of the Association and pay fees
directly to the Association.
THE OBJECTS
Art.3. The objects of the Association are:
a) To contribute, alone or with cooperation with other international or ‘national
organizations’, towards the establishment of an International legal order
based on the Rule of Law in relations between all Nations and states; and to
promote Human Rights and the principles of equality of men and the right of
all states and peoples to leave in peace.
b) To promote and maintain cooperation and exchanges between members of
the Association.
c) To promote study of legal problems of special interest to Jewish Communities
in the world within the framework of International and Domestic Law.
d) To promote in consultation with the legal profession in Israel and its organs,
the study of legal problems of particular interest to the State of Israel.
e) To seek information and data on the legal and personal status of Jews in fact
and in law, in various countries, with special reference to the status of Jews
within the framework of the International Declarations and Conventions on
Human Rights and International Law.
f) To promote the study of and research into the sources of Jewish Law with
reference to the legal concepts of other nations.
g) With reference to the foregoing, to promote the study of and research into
the system of comparative law with a view to disseminating information to
members of the Association.
h) To organize, promote and maintain legal assistance through the members of
the Association and its organs for such cases as may be approved by the
Executive committee.
i) In respect of the foregoing to engage in any other matter in legal spheres as
the organs of the Association may decide.
MEMBERSHIP
Art. 4. The membership in the Association shall be open to:
a) Jewish Lawyers and Jurists who identify with the objects of the
Association.
b) Such other Lawyers and Jurists and Organizations of Lawyers and
Jurists of whatever race, colour or creed, who identify themselves
with the objects of the Association.
Art.5. All applications for membership shall be made in writing. Members shall be
admitted by the decision of the Board of Governors.
Art.6. The Board of Governors shall have the right to exclude any member upon the
recommendation of the Executive Committee but no member shall be
excluded without notice and without having been given an opportunity of
being heard.
Art.7. The Executive Committee shall have the right to exclude or suspend any
member for failing to pay membership fees due by him under the
Regulations.
Art.8. Membership for organizations in the Association shall be as one of the
following:
A. Member Organization –
1. An organization that has been approved by the Board of
Governors of the International Association as a “Member
Organization”.
2. No organization shall be approved as a “Member
Organization” unless it has declared its identification with the
objects of the Association.
3. A Member Organization shall have the right to include in its
name the fact that it is a member organization of the
International Association.
4. A Member Organization shall pay annual membership dues, in
the sum that shall be determined from time to time by the
Board of Governors.
B. Affiliated Organization –
1. An Affiliated Organization shall be an organization that is
approved by the Association’s Board of Governors as an
Affiliated Organization.
2. No organization shall be approved as an Affiliated Organization
unless it has been determined that its objects are not
incompatible with the objects of the Association.
3. An Affiliated Organization shall have the right to include in its
name the fact that it is an affiliated organization of the
International Association.
4. An Affiliated Organization shall pay annual membership dues,
in the sum that shall be determined from time to time by the
Board of Governors.
5. Affiliated organizations shall be entitled to participate in all
public events organized by the Association, as well as the right
to be fully informed of all activities carried out by the
Association, subject to paying their dues
Art.9. A member may resign membership by written application to the Association.
ORGANS
Art.10. The organs of the Association are: Congress, the Board of Governors and the
Executive Committee.
a) THE CONGRESS
1) The general meeting of the Association is the Congress.
2) The Congress shall be convened every 3 years or such earlier date
as the Board of Governors may decide.
3) The Congress is the sovereign body of the Association.
4) All members of the Association, in Israel and abroad, who are
members by personal membership in the Association and which
are not organizations have the right to attend and vote at the
Congress.
5) Every Member Organization which is not an Affiliated
Organization, shall have the right to appoint a representative to
participate in and vote at the Congress on its behalf.
6) The Congress shall elect the Board of Governors and the Executive
Committee.
7) The congress may give special recognition to members who have
rendered special services to the Association, by conferring on
them the status of honorary members, honorary President and
honorary deputy Presidents, who shall have the right to attend
the meetings of the board of Governors.
8) Every member in attendance shall have one vote.
9) Delegates of member organizations which are not Affiliated
Organizations shall have one vote for every 50 members of the
organizations which they represent, but not more than 10 votes.
10) Resolutions at the Congress shall be passed by simple majority of
votes of members present and voting.
11) Resolutions which concern the amendment of the Constitution of
the Association require a majority of 75% of members present and
voting.
b) THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS
1) The Board of Governors is the body responsible for determining the
policy of the International Association.
2) The number of members of the Board of Governors shall be up to 40.
3) The Board of Governors shall have the right to co-opt members on
condition that the number of co-opted members shall not exceed 20%
of the members of the Board of Governors elected by the Congress
not including ex officio members.
4) The Board of Governors shall be convened by the Executive
Committee as required, but not less than twice a year.
5) Every member of the Board of Governors shall have one vote.
6) Members of the Board of Governors shall remain in office from one
Congress to another.
7) Decisions of the Board of Governors that may be of a general nature
or which may influence the policy of the Association shall be brought
before the Congress for ratification, however they shall be binding
from the date of their adoption until ratification by the Congress.
8) Permanent members of the Board of Governors, are members of the
Executive Committee, the outgoing President and the outgoing
Deputy President, the chief representatives of the Association in
international institutions and up to 10 members who are Presidents of
member organizations (that are Member Organizations). Other past
presidents and deputy presidents of the Association will be invited to
meetings of the Board of Governors.
9) The balance of the members of the Board of Governors shall be
elected directly by the Congress.
10) The President of the International Association shall head the Board of
Governors.
c) THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1) The Executive Committee shall comprise: the President; the Deputy
President; three Vice Presidents from Israel, of whom one shall serve
as General Secretary, the second shall serve as Treasurer and the third
as coordinator for international organizations; and three additional
Vice Presidents, of whom one is being a representative of a member
organization (that is “Member Organizations”). Tie cases shall be
resolved by the President’s casting vote.
2) The seat of the Executive Committee, of the President and of the
Deputy President is in Israel.
3) The Executive Committee is the Association’s permanent executive
institution.
4) The Executive Committee may co-opt no more than three members in
an advisory capacity.
5) Minimum number of executive committee members, necessary to
conduct a meeting shall be four.
6) The Executive Committee may nominate representatives to other
international organizations.
Art.11. ELECTIONS
a. No less than one hundred days from the day prior to the election
day, the Board of Governors of the Association shall appoint an
Elections Committee which shall be comprised of five members of
the Association.
b. The committee shall hold its first meeting ninety days from the day
prior to the election day.
c. A quorum for a meeting of the Elections Committee shall be three
members, including the Chairman. Should a vote at a meeting of the
Elections Committee be tied, the Chairman’s vote will be decisive.
d. At its first meeting the Elections Committee will examine the list of
the Association’s members who have paid their annual dues for the
current year up to seven days prior to the Committee’s first meeting.
The Committee will approve the list as the electoral roll for the
elections no later than the eightieth day prior to the election day.
e. The list of candidates from among the members of the Association
for the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee, shall be
submitted to the Elections Committee no later than the sixtieth day
prior to the election day. A list of candidates shall include the
curriculum vitae of each candidate and his consent to nomination,
and shall be accepted by the Elections Committee only if supported
by the signatures of 50 members of the Association registered in the
electoral roll.
f. The Elections Committee shall publish the lists of the candidates
standing for election at the Congress thirty days prior to the
election-day. The list will be published on the Association’s internet
site and at the Association’s offices in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Art.12.The funds of the Association shall comprise:
1) Membership fees.
2) Grants.
3) Gifts, donations and legacies.
The amount of membership fees payable by members and
organization members shall be determined yearly by the Board of
Governors.
POWERS
Art.13.The Association shall have power to do all such things, execute all such
instruments, enter into all such agreements and acquire and dispose of all
such property as may be considered by the Executive to be necessary and
proper for the fulfillment, attainment or execution of any of its objects.
LANGUAGES
Art.14.The official languages of the Association are: Hebrew, English, French and
Spanish.
DISSOLUTION
Art.15.The Congress may decide upon the dissolution and winding up of the
Association by a special resolution taken at a special meeting convened for
that purpose, passed by majority of 75% of votes of members present and
voting.
Upon dissolution the property of the Association shall be transferred to such
public Institution or organization as the Congress may decide.
REPRESENTATION AND EXECUTION
Art.16. The Executive Committee shall represent the Association in all matters in
accordance with the resolution of the organs of the Association duly adopted
in terms of their powers as defined in these articles.
Art.17. Resolutions of the Executive Committee shall be adopted by a simple
majority of members of the Executive Committee, present and voting at a
meeting of the Executive Committee convened according to rules to be
established by the Executive Committee from time to time.
Art.18. The right to sign in the name of the Association shall be as established by the
Executive Committee from time to time.
Art.19. a) The Executive Committee may appoint office workers and/or other
employees, with or without remuneration, to fulfill the objects of the
Association and designate their functions, titles, powers and remuneration.
b) The assets of the Association shall be applied only for the fulfillment of
its objects and division of profits or benefits of any kind among the members
of the Association is prohibited”.
B. Transitional Provisions
The provisions of these Articles, with the exception of the provisions
of Article 11, shall enter into effect immediately upon their ratification
by the Congress. The provisions of Article 11 shall enter into effect
prior to the Organization’s 14th Congress.
This amendment shall not affect the decisions regarding amendments
adopted at the Fifth Congress on 30.7.1981.
Minutes of the General Meeting of the International Association of
Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, held in Jerusalem at the Fifth Congress –
Thursday 30.7.1981
Chairman of the General Meeting – Dr. Yehoshua Rotenstreich
Meeting Secretary – Ms. Ofra Kidron
Following discussion the following decisions were adopted as special resolutions:
Pursuant to the provisions of the Amutot Law 5740-1980, it was resolved to adjust
the Association’s Articles to the requirements of the law, as follows:
1. Following Article 9 d) the following Article shall be added:
9. e) Audit Committee.
(1) An Audit Committee shall be elected at the Congress and shall be
composed of a number of members to be determined from time to time
by the Congress.
Unless otherwise determined the number of members shall be three.
(2) The Audit Committee shall audit the Association’s records and books of
account and shall be empowered to receive all information required to
carry out its auditing role.
(3) The members of the Audit Committee shall serve from one Congress to
the next.
(4) The Audit Committee shall submit its findings and recommendations to
the Association’s Executive and to the Congress no less than two months
prior to the date of the Congress.
(5) The members of the Audit Committee shall appoint a chairman and
secretary from among their number.
(6) The chairman of the Audit Committee shall call meetings of the
committee at least once a year.
(7) The Congress may decide that an accountant may be appointed instead
of an Audit Committee.
(8) No member of the Association shall serve at one and the same time as a
member of the Executive and as a member of the Audit Committee.
2. The following Article shall be added to Article 10 a):
Article 10 a) 10):
The Association’s Executive Committee may convene an extraordinary
Congress at any time and shall be required to do so upon written request from
the Audit Committee or from one tenth of the Association’s membership.
Article 14 shall be repealed and in its place shall come the following Article:
Article 14: A Congress whose agenda includes an item relating to the
dissolution of the Association may decide on voluntary dissolution of the
Association and the appointment of one or more liquidators. The decision shall
require a majority of two thirds of those voting at the meeting, notice for
which shall be given to all members of the Association 21 days in advance,
indicating that it will be proposed at the meeting to decide on the Association’s
dissolution.
Pursuant to the provisions of Article 17 of the Articles, it is hereby decided that the
right to sign on behalf of the Association shall be as determined from time to time by
the Presidency and unless otherwise determined the signature of two of the
members of the Presidency listed below, together with the rubber stamp bearing the
name of the Association, shall be binding on the Association:
Justice Haim Cohen – President
Dr. Yehoshua Rotenstreich – First Deputy President
Adv. Yitzhak Ganon – Deputy President
Adv. Baruch Geisman – Director-General
Adv. Menachem Berger – Treasurer
Adv. Avraham Hori – Honorary General Secretary
[Signature] [Signature]
Dr. Y. Rotenstreich
Chairman of the General Meeting
Ofra Kidron
Meeting Secretary
Minutes of the General Meeting of the International Association of
Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, held in Jerusalem at the Fifth Congress –
Thursday 30.7.1981
Chairman of the General Meeting – Dr. Yehoshua Rotenstreich
Meeting Secretary – Ms. Ofra Kidron
Following discussion the following decision were adopted as special resolution:
In Article 14 of the Association’s Articles the following paragraph shall be added:
Upon dissolution of the Association its assets shall be transferred to such public
institution or organization as decided by the Congress, provided that the assets shall
be transferred for the purpose of carrying out goals similar to those of the
Association. It shall be forbidden for members of the Association to receive any part
whatsoever of the Association’s assets.
[Signature] [Signature]
Dr. Y. Rotenstreich
Chairman of the General Meeting
Ofra Kidron
Meeting Secretary
The International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
Addendum to the protocol of the General Meeting of The International
Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, which took place in
Jerusalem, during the 5th Congress, Thursday, 30.7.1981.
Chairman of the General Meeting – Dr. Yehoshua Rotenstreich, Advocate
Secretary of the Meeting – Ms. Ofra Kidron
After discussion the following additional decisions were taken as special decisions:
In accordance with the directives of the Non Profits Law 1980 (The Law), it was
decided to add the following specified amendments in order to adjust the Rules and
Regulations of the Association to the requirements of the Law, as follows:
In section 2 of the decisions that were forwarded to the Registrar of Non Profits,
attached to the letter from the 18.10.82, the following regulations shall be added:
A) Regulation 10 A) (9) shall be revoked and in its stead shall be added the
following regulation:
10 A) (9) – Decisions taken regarding amendments to the Rules and
Regulations of the association shall be taken at a Meeting
convened for this purpose, in a decision taken by a majority of 75%
of those present who are entitled to vote at that Meeting.
B) To Regulation 10 A) (2) shall be added the following paragraph:
“A Regular General Meeting of the members of the Association
shall be convened on the dates determined in its Rules and
Regulations and no less than once per year. The Administration of
the Association is entitled to convene an Extraordinary General
Meeting at any time and it shall do so in accordance with an
instruction in writing of the Audit Committee of the Auditing body,
or of one tenth of the all members of the Association.”
[Signature] [Signature]
Dr. Y. Rotenstreich
Chairman of the General Meeting
Ofra Kidron
Secretary of the Meeting