Thousands of Jewish Leaders From Around the World to Attend United Jewish Communities 2007 General Assembly
Israel’s foreign minister and the chairman of the Democratic National Committee will speak at the opening session of the largest annual gathering of Jewish leadership in the world, the United Jewish Communities (UJC) General Assembly, Nov. 11-13 in Nashville.
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, just weeks before an American-sponsored Middle East peace summit, and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, on the eve of the 2008 presidential primary season, will address more than 3,000 Jewish community leaders and others gathered for the 76th General Assembly.
The theme of the 2007 General Assembly, “One People, One Destiny,” underscores the power of the collective to strengthen Jewish community worldwide through humanitarianism, education, social action and advocacy.
“The thousands of delegates gathering in Tennessee next month will absorb three days of provocative programming and discussions on the most current and challenging issues facing North American Jewish federations and world Jewry,” said Joseph Kanfer, UJC chair. “Through networking, training, sessions, forums and workshops, GA participants will return to their communities equipped to be effective, passionate and visionary Jewish leaders and community builders.”
In line with its them, the GA will highlight many of the successes of the Jewish federation system, including the hundreds of millions of dollars raised for Israelis after the 2006 war, Hurricane Katrina victims and rebuilding efforts, and individuals and institutions affected by the wildfires in Southern California this month. But the GA will also look to future challenges, such as the threat of Iranian nuclear capabilities, and how the Jewish community can coalesce and respond.
Livni and Dean will be joined by a roster of speakers from across the spectrums of philanthropy, government, business, religion and academia in a program that includes three plenary sessions and a multitude of focused forums, sessions and workshops.
Among the notable speakers is Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter, University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought, and senior scholar at the Center for the Jewish Future at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Schacter, who will serve as the GA’s scholar in residence, will share his vision of the Jewish future during the opening plenary session Nov. 11, and the closing session Nov. 13.
The Jewish federations in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville are joint hosts of the 2007 General Assembly.
Other speakers include Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen; former U.S. Senator Bill Frist of Tennessee; Bruce Pearl, head coach of the University of Tennessee basketball team; and Ari Sandel, director of the Oscar-winning film, “West Bank Story.”
Full programming details for the 2007 General Assembly are at http://www.ujc.org/ga.
United Jewish Communities (UJC) represents 155 Jewish federations and 400 independent communities across North America. Through the UJA Federation Campaign, UJC provides life-saving and life-enhancing humanitarian assistance to those in need, and translates Jewish values into social action on behalf of millions of Jews in hundreds of communities in North America, in towns and villages throughout Israel, in the former Soviet Union, and 60 countries around the world.
source: earth times
