GA Programs by Time
Click here for a downloadable program.OPENING PLENARY
Sunday, November 8 @ 2:00-3:30 PM
Join us for the excitement as we gather for the first time and hear from an exceptional line-up of Jewish leaders, including: Hon. Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA); Steve Schwager, CEO of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee; Joy Sisisky, and a former JDC fellow in Ukraine and Ethiopia We’ll be welcomed by 2009 GA chairs Dede and Kenneth Feinberg of Washington, who have devoted much of their lives to supporting Federation on the local, national and international levels.
Forums I
Sunday, November 8 @ 4:00-5:30 PM
Renaissance in a Time of Rationing
During the last 12 months, Jewish organizations have been forced to reengineer their operations in response to economic turmoil. As we begin to think about what the Jewish community will look like in the future, we turn to visionaries who have led their organizations during this difficult period to become more focused in fulfilling their mission. Hear first-hand from chief professional officers of Jewish non-profits about the challenges and hopes for our community.
Designed by: Hillel:
the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life and The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Allan Finkelstein (President and CEO, JCC
Association of North America), Wayne L. Firestone (President and CEO, Hillel:
The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life), Elisa Spungen Bildner (President, JTA;
Co-Founder, Foundation for Jewish Camp)
Moderator: Alana Newhouse (editor-in-chief, Tablet Magazine)
Do Jews Still Matter in Political Washington?
Almost one year into the Obama Administration, how is it going from the Jewish perspective? This session will analyze the current administration and look at the influence of Jewish elected officials in every level of government. Top Democratic and Republican political experts will share their thoughts on Jewish power in politics in 2009 and look ahead to the 2010 midterm elections.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations
of North America
Confirmed speaker: Dr. Frank I. Luntz (President, The Word
Doctors), Mark Mellman (CEO, The Mellman Group), Ann Lewis (President,
nolimits.org)
Moderator: William Daroff (Vice President for Public Policy
and Director of the Washington office of The Jewish Federations of North America)
Successful Management in Lean Times
Top nonprofit leaders will discuss successful strategies for dealing with the economic downturn. Learn how to continue to advance your mission through downsizing, mergers, capital financing or restructuring. We’ll discuss how the changing role of nonprofits creates opportunities for innovative programming and collaboration. The session will be moderated by a widely known and recognized consultant specializing in nonprofit management working with major nonprofits such as United Way Worldwide, the American Cancer Society and Girl Scouts.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Laurie E. Paarlberg (Professor, University
of North Carolina Wilmington), Dr. Steven B. Nasatir (CEO, Jewish United
Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago), Liz Donnenfeld (Executive
Director, Jewish Federation of the North Shore, Massachusetts)
Moderator: Dan McCormick (CEO, McCormick Group)
Does Israel Still Need Us?
Israel’s third sector is growing and developing in ways that are changing the country itself and its traditional relationship to and reliance on North American philanthropy. In 21st century Israel, does North American philanthropy still have a role to play, or are Israeli philanthropists better positioned to make decisions about social service delivery and implementation? Should North American philanthropy focus more intensively on Jewish identity building and Jewish peoplehood? We’ll explore how a new reality will shape our evolving relationship, and how our overseas partners are helping to bridge the divide between North American and Israeli philanthropies.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Raya Strauss Bendror (Co-Owner, Strauss Investment Ltd.), Prof. Eliezer
D. Jaffe (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Susie Gelman (President,
Jewish Federation of Greater Washington)
Moderator: Jeff Kaye (Director General, Resource Development
and Public Affairs, Jewish Agency for Israel)
Peoplehood 2020
Peoplehood is all around us and yet notoriously difficult to articulate. The Federation enterprise rests on a vibrant sense of Jewish collaboration and mutual responsibility. So what is Jewish Peoplehood and why is it important at this time? Hear a range of views on what the world will look like in 2020, if we embrace and nurture Jewish collective potential.
Designed by: The NADAV
Fund
Opening Statement: Alan Hoffman, Director General, Education Department, Jewish Agency for Israel
Confirmed speakers: Dr. Erica Brown (Director, Adult Education for the Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning), Leon Wieseltier (Literary Editor, The New
Republic), Professor Moshe Halbertal (Professor of Jewish Thought and
Philosophy at Hebrew University)
Moderator: Yonaton Ariel (Executive Director of the Jewish Peoplehood Hub)
A Leadership Beit Midrash: Pressing the Reset Button (or What Got You Here Will Not Get You There)
This highly interactive Forum, created by The Wexner Foundation, will employ the uniquely Jewish format of the Beit Midrash [House of Study], using a carefully selected set of both ancient and contemporary leadership texts [no Hebrew or prior textual knowledge necessary!]. The provided texts will be mined for lessons about exercising effective leadership in a Jewish organizational context. Following an opening "leadership shiur/lesson," participants will engage in small group dialogue in a focused effort to answer key questions about what is required of both volunteer and professional leaders in the current organizational climate. The Forum will focus on three core leadership concepts: technical vs. adaptive challenges, developing the habit of reflective practice among teams, and the particular leadership challenge of "resetting" in order to move forward.
Designed by: The Wexner Foundation
Confirmed speakers: Larry S. Moses (President, The Wexner
Foundation), Rabbi Elka Abrahamson (Vice President, leadership Programs, The Wexner Foundation),
Cindy Chazan (Vice President, Alumni and Community Development, The Wexner Foundation)
The International Campaign to Delegitimize Israel
In recent years, there has been an intensifying campaign in both governmental and NGO spheres to delegitimize Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people. Anti-Israel activists have honed in on Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) as a tactic to isolate and demonize the State of Israel, seeking to associate it with Apartheid South Africa. This "Town Hall" style session will focus on the scope and nature of the current campaign to delegitimize Israel, and will explore effective strategies that can be utilized by the North American Jewish community, including through the Jewish Federations/JCPA Israel Advocacy Initiative, in responding to this challenge.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations
of North America, UJC/JCPA Israel Advocacy Initiative
Featured speakers: Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman/CEO
of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; Hon. Irwin Cotler (Member,
Canadian Parliament)
Confirmed speakers: Ethan Felson, Vice President, Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA); Charles
Lipson, Peter B. Ritzma Professor in Political Science and the College, Founder and Co-Director, PIPES: Program on International Politics, Economics and Security, The University of Chicago; Howard English, VP, Corporate Communications at UJA Federation of Greater Toronto; Elana Kahn-Oren, Editor, Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle and President, American Jewish Press Association
Moderator: Gil Troy, Professor of History, McGill
University
Sunday, November 8 @ 8:00 - 9:30 PM
e-Philanthropy Institute I: Introduction
Introductions
Best practices
Lessons from Obama / Jewish Nonprofits
Forums II
Monday, November 9 @ 8:00 AM-9:15 AM
Service: An Expression of Jewish Values
Renewed awareness of the potential of service to strengthen Jewish identity has brought it new prominence -- and it doesn’t hurt that it has become a national priority for the Obama administration. UJC and the Federation movement have been at the forefront of this issue, from our 2008 service learning study to the March 2009 National Young Leadership Conference in New Orleans. Let’s think big: how can we go even further, leveraging the current interest in service and the Serve America Act to energize and engage our communities?
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Nancy Lublin (CEO, DoSomething.org), Jon
Rosenberg (CEO, Repair the World), Rabbi Jason Kimelman-Block (The PANIM
Institute for Jewish Leadership and Values – A Division of BBYO), Stan Z.
Soloway (Board of Directors, Corporation for National and Community Service)
Moderator: Susan K. Stern, Chair, New York State Commission on National and Community Service
Applying Business Skills to Jewish Work
Jewish leaders are faced with increasingly challenging and complex responsibilities, and state-of-the-art skills are imperative. Experience the leadership skills taught at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management’s Kellogg Management Education for Jewish Leaders Program (KJL), where Jewish leaders learn from the best. You’ll learn breakthrough approaches to fundraising, conflict resolution, crisis management, and implementing change.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Professor Liz Livingston Howard (Associate Director,
Kellogg School Center for Nonprofit Management), Dinah Jacobs
(Academic Director, Kellogg Management Education for Jewish Leaders, Northwestern University), Rabbi
Jack Moline (Agudas Achim Congregation of Northern Virginia)
Innovations in Philanthropy
Friendraising, microdonations, venture philanthropy, cross-border philanthropy, foundation partnerships, government partnerships, supplemental opportunities, boutique philanthropy—these are today’s buzzwords in the philanthropic world. Learn about these innovative trends and how to integrate them effectively into your fundraising work.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speaker: Dan Pallota (Author, Uncharitable)
Moderator: Ted Sokolsky (President and CEO, UJA-Federation of
Greater Toronto)
The Jewish Innovation Ecosystem: How Social Entrepreneurship Can Transform Communities
Business, philanthropy, nonprofit and government leaders recognize that the economic crisis has triggered a moment of worldwide transformation. In our own community, changes in Jewish identity and demography, coupled with new technologies and modes of communication, have opened countless possibilities for re-imagining Jewish life. Join us for a dynamic conversation with accomplished changemakers from within and beyond the Jewish community who will describe their own innovative work, identify shared goals, and offer us new ways to move forward together.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America and Jumpstart
Confirmed speakers: Adam R. Bronfman (Managing Director, The
Samuel Bronfman Foundation), Bill Drayton (Founder, Ashoka), Felicia Herman
(Executive Director, The Natan Fund), Mara Vanderslice (White House Office of
Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships)
Moderator: Shawn Landres (Co-founder and CEO, Jumpstart)
Ethiopian Israelis: Now What?
The more than 120,000 Israelis of Ethiopian descent suffer disproportionately from a host of social and economic problems: poverty, low academic achievement, criminal behavior among young people, and unemployment and underemployment among adults, who often feel like strangers in their adopted country. Innovative and inexpensive programs have been effective in turning around lives. Yet despite the reasonable cost, we can’t afford to make these programs available to all who would benefit from them. This forum will summarize the situation and explore the difficult question of what role should be played in response by key actors, including the Israeli government, Diaspora philanthropy, and the community itself.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Dr. Alisa Rubin Kurshan, Sr. Vice President for Strategic Planning and Organizational Resources, UJA-Federation of New York; Professor Jack Habib, Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, Roni Akale (Chair,
Representative Body of the Ethiopian Jewish Community Organizations in
Israel; CEO FIDEL)
Moderator: Joel Tauber (Detroit)
The JPPPI 2009 Assessment
The 2009 Annual Assessment on the Situation and Dynamics of the Jewish People, published by the Institute for Jewish People Policy Planning, deals with two central issues: a) the impact of the economic crisis on the Jewish People and b) the Israel/USA/Jewish community triangle. This hot-off-the-press assessment provides important insights into the current status of the Jewish People. Come and hear from some of the key analysts.
Designed by: The NADAV
Fund
Moderator: Hon. Irwin Kotler (Member of Canadian Parliament)
Opening Statements: Leonid Nevzlin (Founder, NADAV Fund), Yuli-Yoel Edelstein, Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Israel
Panelists: Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat (Chair, JPPPI), Dr.
Einat Wilf (Senior Fellow, JPPPI), Major Gen (Res.) Aharon Zeevi Farkash (President, JPPPI,
Former Head of Planning and Former Head of Intelligence, IDF)
Closing Statement: Avinoam Bar-Yosef (Founding Director, JPPI)
DAY 2 PLENARY
Monday, November 9 @ 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
We are honored to present Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as keynote speaker for this event. We’ll also hear from famed human rights activist Natan Sharansky, who earlier this year was named Chair of the Executive at the Jewish Agency for Israel. Jerry Silverman, the new President and CEO of the Jewish Federations of North America, will have a chance to formally introduce himself, and the annual Sapir Awards for Campaign Excellence will be presented.
*Plenary Seating Update
Interest in attending the 2009 GA has continued to grow,
especially with President Obama Rahm Emanuel and Prime Minister Netanyahu scheduled to
speak. We currently expect more than 3,000 people to attend the GA. While
advance online registration closed as of midnight Oct 29th, we will continue to
accept a limited number of on-site registrants during the GA in Washington.
While every effort will be made to allow all participants to attend the 11am plenary sessions with these leaders, we will also provide a special on-site live TV feed nearby, to accommodate the expected large number of participants.
Priority for plenary seating will be given to those who registered before the deadline. On-site registration will take place Saturday, Nov 7th from 6pm - 10pm and Sunday, Nov 8th from 7am - 9pm.
Please call the GA Helpline at (212) 284-6990 with questions. We appreciate your understanding.
Monday, November 9
Meet The Writers
Don’t miss this chance; meet the authors of some of
this year’s most important books, who will speak and sign their latest
titles.
12:30–1:30 pm
Meet The Writers Session I
Co-sponsored by the Jewish Book Council and The Jewish Federations of
North America
According to Makovsky and Ross, the U.S. has been laboring under false
assumptions, or mythologies, about the nature and motivation of Middle East
countries and their leaders. The authors debunk these damaging fallacies and
present a concise and far-reaching set of principles to help America set an
effective course of action in the region.
David Makovsky, author (with Dennis Ross) of Myths,
Illusions, and Peace: Finding a New Direction for America in the Middle
East
Washington 5
Steven V. Roberts and Cokie Roberts
Steven V. Roberts is author of the new book, From Every End of the Earth, which
profiles new immigrants and explores how their stories compare to those of
earlier immigrants. He is joined by his wife, Cokie Roberts, the well-known ABC
News commentator and NPR senior analyst.
Washington 1
1:30–2:30 pm
Meet The Writers Session II
Co-sponsored by the Jewish Book Council and The Jewish Federations of
North America
Lucette Lagnado, author of The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit
The author, whose book received the 2008 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature,
speaks of her family's exodus from Cairo to Paris to New York -- and the
reaction she has received from the many Jews forced to flee the Middle East yet
whose stories have never been told in any detail.
Dan Senor, author (with Saul Singer) of Start-up Nation: The
Story of Israel's Economic Miracle
Dan Senor, Adjunct Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, and Saul Singer,
columnist for the Jerusalem Post, write: "Israel has thrived during the global
collapse—thanks to an entrepreneurial culture built on compulsory military
service.”
Washington 5
2:45–3:45 pm
Meet The Writers Session III
Co-sponsored by the Jewish Book Council and The Jewish Federations of
North America
The Art of Giving: Where the Soul Meets a Business Plan
Charles Bronfman and Jeffrey Solomon (Chairman and President of The Andrea and
Charles Bronfman Philanthropies, respectively) demonstrate through sound
argument and amusing anecdote that truly impactful philanthropy can only be
achieved when donors are fully aware of their personal motivations, and combine
them with smart, technical business plans. The authors then thoroughly and
systematically offer step-by-step instructions for developing both sides of
that equation.
Confirmed speakers: Charles Bronfman, Chairman, The Andrea and
Charles Bronfman Philanthropies; Jeffrey Solomon, President, The Andrea and
Charles Bronfman Philanthropies
Moderator: Gary Rosenblatt, Editor and Publisher of The Jewish
Week of New York
Washington 2
Workshops I
Monday, November 9 @ 2:45-4:00 PM
You Had Me at Shalom
The arrival of a child offers an unparalleled opportunity for the Jewish community to begin a connection with families in a meaningful way. Today, Federations are rethinking the portals through which families enter and navigate their Jewish communities, bringing local institutions together to break down barriers and share resources toward a common goal. This session will highlight national and local programs that support these efforts, and share best practices and models of outreach to families with young children.
Designed by: JESNA, Kehillah
Partnership of Northern New Jersey and Jewish United Fund: Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Chicago
Confirmed speakers: Rabbi Noam Marans (Director,
Contemporary Jewish Life, American Jewish Committee), Phillip Schatten (JESNA treasurer and Chair of the JCCA Finance Committee), Midge Perlman Shafton (Past Chairman of the Board, Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago)
Moderator: Marcella Kanfer Rolnick, President and Chair, Lippman Kanfer Family Foundation
Lessons from Smaller Federations: Relationships Are the Key
The power of data and benchmarking is now in the hands of every Federation. Small and intermediate Federations are now benefitting from the Federation Benchmarking Project (FBP, formerly known as Federation Peer Yardstick), and it’s time to share the news with everyone. Find out about the unique characteristics FBP discovered within these communities, their fundraising and their service delivery systems, and how our findings can strengthen your Federation’s performance.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Judy Horowitz (Director, UJC Consulting)
and Sue Worrel (Executive Director, Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte)
Jews on the Move and How to Locate Them
A just-released study of the Jewish population’s mobility highlights the impact of the nomadic nature of North American Jews on their ties to Federation. One solution: UJC’s New Moves program, in which 69 Federations now participate. By helping Federations find and connect with recent arrivals in their communities, New Moves is strengthening individual communities as well as the Federation system. Learn about Jewish mobility and how strategic sharing of information can help us build the donor base. Find out how some Federations have already begun to put this information to work for them.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Mandell L. Berman (Detroit), Marcia Sussman (Consultant, Jewish Federation of Greater Washington), Dr. Laurence Kotler-Berkowitz (Director, Research & Analysis, The Jewish Federations of North America)
Moderator: Adam Smolyar (Senior Vice President, Strategic
Marketing and Communications, The Jewish Federations of North America)
Peoplehood and Pluralism in Israel
The security and success of Israel require that its Jewish population be connected to Jewish values and peoplehood. Yet, much of Israeli society and education is disconnected from the search for Jewish meaning. A variety of religious streams and other groups are currently seeking creative methods to remedy this situation. How can these activities build a more cohesive society dedicated to the vitality of a Jewish state and also ensure the continued connection between Israelis and diverse Diaspora communities? A panel of experts will discuss the issues and consider how Federations can play an active role.
Designed by: United
Jewish Communities of MetroWest, NJ
Chair: Lori Klinghoffer, Chair, Israel and Overseas Committee, UJC of MetroWest; President, National Women's Philanthropy of The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Rabbi Seth Farber (Founder and Director of
ITIM), Roni Yavin (Executive Director, Beit Midrash Elul), Rabbi Gilad Kariv
(Executive Director, Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism), Yizhar Hess (Executive
Director and CEO, Masorti Movement)
Moderator: Michael Weiger (Executive Director, Melitz)
Meeting Community Needs Through Innovation and Collaboration
Crisis situations demand immediate and creative community responses. Across the continent, enterprising Federations are renewing their bonds with local agencies, joining forces to meet the challenges of the current economic environment in innovative ways. Many are consolidating services while broadening the scope and depth of their offerings. You’ll hear from them about the programs and strategies that have helped them survive and even thrive in these challenging times, and you’ll learn practical and innovative ways to replicate these programs to create a stronger infrastructure for your community.
Designed by: Association of Jewish
Family and Children’s Agencies and UJA-Federation of New York
Confirmed speakers: Gary Miller (CEO, Jewish Family &
Career Services, Atlanta), Rachel Davis (Chief Development Officer, Jewish
Family Service, Houston), Rachel Smoller Yoskowitz, (Director, Project Chessed,
Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit)
Moderator: Lee Sherman (President and CEO, Association of
Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies)
Innovation and the Jewish Future: Taking Calculated Risks
In a time of limited resources, taking risks may seem counterintuitive. But challenging economic climates can spur innovation and success — some of the most successful businesses, including Google, MTV, and Trader Joe’s, were founded or rose to prominence during an economic downturn. How can the Jewish community channel the tension between innovation and staying the course in order to grow stronger? Join us for a conversation about the importance of continuing to innovate, with a focus on Jewish start-ups that have flourished despite the tough times — and the funders who have encouraged them. This is a rare opportunity to hear how funders approach competing communal needs in a time of scarcity.
Designed by: Bikkurim: Incubator for
New Jewish Ideas and PresenTense Group
Confirmed Speakers: Aharon Horowitz (Co-Director, PresenTense Group), Deborah Joselow (Senior Managing Director, Commission on Identity and Renewal, UJA-Federation of New York), Seth Cohen (Atlanta)
Moderator: Nina Bruder (Executive Director, Bikkurim:
Incubator for New Jewish Ideas)
Durban, Darfur, and the Goldstone Report: Defending Israel and Advocating for Human Rights
Human rights advocacy is often synonymous with Israel-bashing, whether at the United Nations or in one-sided reports issued by major human rights organizations. But Jews are deeply committed to protecting human rights, as demonstrated in our massive involvement in the Save Darfur Movement. How can we balance our defense of Israel against unwarranted attacks with our desire to promote human rights, especially in response to genocide and mass atrocities? This session will provide a road map for constructive engagement in the human rights agenda.
Designed by: Jewish Council for Public
Affairs
Confirmed speakers: Rabbi Brent Chaim Spodek (Director of
Jewish Communal Relations/Rabbi in Residence, American Jewish World Service),
Stacy Burdett (Associate Director, Government and National Affairs,
Anti-Defamation League)
Moderator: Rabbi Steve Gutow (President and CEO, Jewish
Council for Public Affairs)
The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming…Wait, They’re Here!
Russian-speaking Jews live all over the world, from former Soviet republics to North America to Israel, where they make up a significant percentage of the population. As a group they have been successful in their new homes, yet many are disconnected from Jewish life. Learn about initiatives to engage Russian-speaking Jews in local Jewish communal life and with the global Jewish community. Key stakeholders currently focused on this mission will discuss strategies for successful engagement, interesting ongoing initiatives, and lessons learned.
Designed by: Genesis Philanthropy
Group, ORT, HIAS and NCSJ
Confirmed speakers: Robert Singer (CEO, World ORT), Sandy Cahn
(Limmud FSU), Rabbi Yitz Greenberg (President of Jewish Life Network/Steinhardt
Foundation), Sandy Cardin (President, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family
Foundation), Alexander Smukler (President, NCSJ))
Moderator: Marina Belotserkovsky (Senior Director, Russian
Communications and Outreach, HIAS)
Peoplehood: Indicators of Hope
The idea of Jewish Peoplehood has profoundly challenged our thinking about future relationships among Jewish communities the world over, including Israel. What might be indicators of Peoplehood that give us cause for optimism that we can take an abstract concept and make it real for our time? Come hear how we are beginning to generate criteria for the impact of Peoplehood programs based on changing paradigms, how your Federation can be enriched by these efforts and what work is still to be undertaken.
Designed by: The NADAV
Fund
Moderator: Dorothy Tananbaum
Speakers: Gidi Grinstein (President and Founder, Reut
Institute), Avraham Infeld (Senior Consultant, NADAV Fund), Dr Ezra Kopelowitz
(Founder and CEO, Research Success Technologies), Dr Alisa Rubin-Kurshan (Vice
President for Strategic Planning and Organizational Resources, UJA-Federation
of New York
Israel’s Other Enemy: Poverty
While much attention is paid to the physical threat Israel faces from its neighbors, the Jewish State faces another more insidious but no less serious threat.. Since the 1970s, the country has sustained low economic growth combined with high and steadily increasing rates of poverty and income inequality. These trends put the country’s very future in jeopardy. A leading Israeli expert will discuss the situation, facilitate dialogue among participants and offer insights about key challenges facing Israel that rarely make headlines.
Designed by: The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee
Iranian Nuclear Weapons: What can we do to help stop this nightmare scenario?
Preventing the regime in Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons capability is a defining issue of our time and it is imperative that the voices of all those who seek a more peaceful world are heard. Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons is a threat not only to the Jewish people and Israel. The stability of the region and international peace are at stake. This session will focus on how the North American Jewish community can be part of the effort to address this urgent crisis, including by filling the public square with a broad range of "voices" across religious, ethnic and political lines.
Designed by: JCPA
Confirmed speakers: Bradley Gordon (Director for Policy and
Governmental Affairs, AIPAC), Benjamin Krasna (Deputy Consul General of Israel
in New York), Martin Raffel (Senior Vice-President, Jewish Council for Public
Affairs (JCPA), Ambassador Kristen Silverberg (Advisory Board, United Against
Nuclear Iran (UANI)
Confirmed speakers: Michael Kotzin (Executive Vice President
of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago)
e-Philanthropy Institute II: Reaching More People
Monday, November 9 @ 2:45 – 4:00 PM
Social NetworkingGrowing your Database / List Building
Workshops II
Monday, November 9 @ 4:15-5:30 PM
Courageous Conversations: New Paradigms for Organizing Community Agencies
Perhaps the silver lining in the recession cloud is the willingness of agency leadership, donors, and other stakeholders to discuss "right-sizing" the communal network. In a time of shrinking resources, Federations and agencies all over North America are engaging in tough conversations about consolidating to save money and grow stronger. Federation representatives will share learning from their experiences--about what it takes to create an environment for a successful effort, and what these decisions mean for their communities.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Shep Englander (CEO, Jewish Federation of
Cincinnati), Beth Guttman (President, Jewish Federation of Cincinnati), Dan
McCormick (CEO and Founder, McCormick Group)
Creating Peoplehood
Our tradition tells us that Jews are one people, each responsible for the other. Lately, though, the idea of peoplehood and collective identity is often trumped by personal preference or an emotional disconnect among Jews of different of countries and beliefs. This session will explore the concept of Jewish peoplehood as it stands today, and offer some of the most compelling visions of a Jewish collective that celebrates diversity, vitality and amity.
Designed by: The NADAV
Fund
Confirmed speakers: Dr Shlomi Ravid (Director, International
School for Jewish Peoplehood Studies), Professor Yoav Shoham (Professor of
Computer Science, Stanford University), Raya Strauss (Philanthropist)
Strategic Planning in Changing Times
Tel Aviv’s Beit Hatfutsot previously told the story of the Jewish Diaspora, from the destruction of the Second Temple through the return to Zion. Now a thoughtful strategic process has led the institution to rethink its mission and re-emerge as the Museum of the Jewish People. This “new” museum will narrate the story of the Jewish People from Abraham and Sara – but without a “closing” chapter, thus allowing every visitor to make his or her life part of the unique and ongoing story of the Jews.
Designed by: The NADAV
Fund
Speakers: Avinoam Armoni (CEO, Beth Hatefutsoth) Gen. Eitan
Ben Eliyahu (Retired Major General, IDF; Formerly Commander of the Israeli Air
Force), Leonid Nevzlin (NADAV Fund)
Strengthening Identity through Jewish Service Learning
President Obama’s call for young people to make a commitment of service to their community and nation could help the Jewish community engage a new generation of leaders. Join us and be inspired by young people who are committed to having an impact both at home and well beyond their own hometowns — as far, in some cases, as the other side of the world. Jewish service, at home and overseas, can be the key to real global connections, encouraging responsibility and strengthening Jewish identity. Innovators in the field of service will share insights, best practices and important lessons.
Designed by: Hillel:
the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life and The American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee
Confirmed speaker: Ben Gittleson (Tufts University), Seth
Finkelstein (University of Maryland), Alisa Malki (UCLA), Angie Yucht (Cornell
University), Jenna Mitzner (Central Florida Hillel), Benjamin Amon (UC
Berkeley)
Moderator: Steven Scheck (Miami)
Our Mission is Not in Recession: Fundraising in Hard Times
The current "Great Recession" has put enormous strain on donors and service recipients alike. Although the philanthropic capacity of many donors has been greatly diminished, the desperation and need they see around them inspires their passion to help. For Federations, this can be an opportunity to cement long-term, values-driven relationships with committed donors and create new relationships with next-generation givers. Planned giving, project support, and even the Annual Campaign can benefit from a renewed focus on core values and efficient operations engendered by the current economic realities.
Designed by: The ASSOCIATED: Jewish
Community Federation of Greater Baltimore
Confirmed speaker: Matt Freedman (Baltimore), Bruce Sholk
(Baltimore), Iantha Sidell (Seattle), Keith Krivitzky (VP Center for Jewish
Philanthropy of The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle), Barbara Black
Goldfarb (Miami), Jeff Levin (Chief Development Officer, Miami Jewish
Federation)
Moderator: Linda Hurwitz (Baltimore)
Growing Jewish Education in Challenging Times
Quality Jewish education is not a “luxury” – it’s a necessity for a vibrant Jewish life. The current economic situation, while taking a heavy toll on Jewish education’s providers, consumers, and supporters, is also a spur to creative thinking about how to grow Jewish education beyond the crisis. This session will examine innovative approaches to funding and delivering high-quality Jewish education in a wide range of settings, including day schools, complementary education, summer camps, youth education, and Israel programs. Attendees will also have a chance to join table discussions on areas of interest.
Designed by: JESNA’s Lippman Kanfer Institute in
cooperation with ADCA, Avi Chai Foundation, Foundation for Jewish Camp, Harold Grinspoon
Foundation, Makom, NAACHHS, PEJE, PELIE
Confirmed speakers: Beth Cousens (Director, Meyerhoff Center
for Jewish Experience, Hillel: the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life), Robert
Sherman (CEO, Board of Jewish Education of Greater New York)
Moderator: David Steirman (Chair of the Board, JESNA)
“Create a Jewish Legacy” Community Showcase
The enterprising stars of UJC’s “Create a Jewish Legacy” initiative showcase their communities’ efforts, sharing their successes and midstream corrections. Whether you’re a professional or lay leader, don’t miss this opportunity to learn how cooperative legacy development can produce a big bang for the buck and transform your entire community. Get answers to the questions you’ve wanted to ask.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Susan Gutterman (Director, Jewish
Foundation of Greensboro), Robert Nomberg (Interim Director, Richmond Jewish
Foundation)
Moderator: Joslin LeBauer (Director, Planned Giving and
Endowments, Create a Jewish Legacy, The Jewish Federations of North
America)
Aliyah - The Living Bridge of the Jewish People in the 21st Century
Aliyah is one of the main factors strengthening Israeli society while strengthening relations between Israel and the worldwide Jewish community as well as the Jewish identity and Peoplehood by creating direct personal links between olim, Israelis and the communities from which they immigrated, as well as connections between organizations and communities across the Jewish world.
Designed by: Jewish Agency for
Israel
Honorary Guest: Natan Sharansky, Chairman, JAFI
Confirmed Speakers: Tony Gelbart (Founder and Chairman, Nefesh
B'Nefesh), Maish Isaacson (Chairman of Telfed, South Africa), Eli Cohen
(Director, Aliyah and Absorption Department, Jewish Agency), Carole Solomon
(Chair, JAFI North America)
Moderator: Bruce Arbit, Chairman, UIA
When: Monday, November 9 @ 4:15-5:30 PM
Health Reform: Educate, Engage & Empower Your Jewish Community
One of the most urgent issues in the United States today also has enormous implications for the Federation system: health and long-term care reform. Understand the nuts and bolts of these reform efforts, find out about current advocacy initiatives, and learn how to be a catalyst for local health reform advocacy in your area. You’ll be inspired and empowered to get involved in the historic efforts currently underway, and to play a leadership role in advocating for reforms that can expand the Jewish community’s ability to serve vulnerable populations.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Nancy-Ann DeParle (Director of the Office
of White House Health Reform), Judy Feder (Senior Fellow, Center for American
Progress), Joyce Garver Keller (Executive Director, Ohio Jewish Communities),
Ron Pollack (Executive Director, Families USA)
Moderator: Richard A. Licht (Co-chair, UJC Health &
Long-Term Care Workgroup)
Forums III, 1st Set
Tuesday, November 10 @ 8:00-9:15 AM
Betrayal, Redemption and Reward in a Post-Madoff World
Much of what we thought we knew about philanthropy changed in the past year. Organizations that behaved in an ethical fashion and apparently exercised sound due diligence practices were rocked by scandal and distrust. How can we, as a system and as Jewish leaders, best use this moment of transition to promote organizational success and financial resource development through good governance and ethical practice?
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Doug White (Senior Governance Consultant,
Boardsource), Stephanie Strom (The New York Times), Dr. John Ruskay (Executive
Vice President and CEO, UJA-Federation of New York)
Health and Human Services, Vulnerable Populations, and Tikkun Olam in the 21st Century
Meeting the needs of vulnerable populations has always been a priority of the Federation movement. To help us maintain that sacred commitment, this session will explore the needs of today’s at-risk groups along with the demographic trends and looming crises that will require action and innovation in the years ahead. Speakers include leading experts from government, non-profit groups and the Federation system.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed Speakers: Irv Katz, President and CEO, National
Human Services Assembly; Mary Leary, Senior Director of Project ACTION and
Transportation Initiatives, Easter Seals Office of Public Affairs, Stephen
Hoffman (President, Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland), Richard Johnson
(Senior Fellow, Urban Institute)
Moderator: Cheryl Fishbein (New York), Chair, The Jewish
Federations of North America Domestic Affairs
Iran and Prospects for Middle East Peace
The combination of Iran’s nuclear power and its stated desire to wipe out Israel creates the deadliest foreign policy problem of our time. The stakes are life and death for Israel, regional hegemony for the Arab Middle East, and stability abroad and security at home for the U.S. and the West. As the clock ticks, checking Iran’s power is an urgent priority. Newsmakers and journalists take us behind the headlines.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America
Confirmed speaker: Dr. Patrick Clawson (Deputy Director for
Research, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy)
Chair: Susie Gelman (Washington, DC)
Workshops III, 1st Set
Tuesday, November 10 @ 8:00-9:15 AM
Facebook, Twitter, Mobile Pledging -- What's Next? Implications of the Communications Revolution
By harnessing the power of Internet social networking to gain unprecedented political momentum. Jewish organizations can also use the power of social networking and changing technologies to connect the next generation of North American Jews to Israel and to Jewish communities around the world. Social media are shifting the way Jews think, act, connect and find meaning and value in their lives; Jewish organizations that align with this shift will be positioned for success in the coming years. Learn key strategies for leveraging social media tools.
Designed by: Darim Online and Jewish
Agency for Israel
Confirmed speakers: Reed Baker (CEO, Sophist Productions),
Lisa Colton (President, Darim Online)
The Pro-Israel Lobby and the Media
An explosive debate has erupted in recent years over the influence of the pro-Israel lobby and U.S.-Israeli relations. We’ll hear from some of the journalists and advocates who have found themselves smack in the middle of the fight and discuss what their experiences and insights mean for Jewish activism.
Designed by: JTA: The Global News
Service of the Jewish People
Confirmed Speakers: Joe Klein (Time Magazine), Jennifer Lazlo
Mizrahi (Founder and Director: The Israel Project), Ori Nir (Spokesman for
Americans for Peace Now), James Kirchick (Assistant Editor, The New
Republic)
Moderator: Ron Kampeas (JTA)
Learning From Success: Accessing Federal and State Support and Services for Jewish Day Schools
One of the best-kept secrets is the extent of services and support that federal and state government can provide to private schools. In fact, the local agencies responsible for implementing federal programs are required by law to consult with private schools in a “timely and meaningful” way. Advocates from a variety of faiths (including Jewish) have developed the relationships and mechanisms necessary to maximize access to federal programs. Learn the rules of the game and find out what has and has not been successful in other communities, so you can put the knowledge to work in your own.
Designed by: JESNA and Avi Chai
Foundation
Confirmed speakers: Dr. Maureen Dowling (Office of Non-Public
Education, Office of Innovation and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education),
Rabbi Dr. Martin Schloss (Director, Division of Day School Education, Board of
Jewish Education of Greater New York)
From Russia With Love: Learning from Former Soviet Jewry, Here and There
Following Israel and the U.S., the countries of the Former Soviet Union (FSU) are home to the largest concentration of Jews in the world. While no one can seem to agree on an estimate, well over one million Jews populate the former Communist countries stretching across 11 time zones. Today, some twenty years after the fall of the Iron Curtain, there are major opportunities to help these Jewish communities fully reclaim their heritage and rebuild Jewish life. Yet, there remain major challenges and impediments, with poverty impacting some 200,000 Jews in the region. Join an intimate conversation with a professional who has been working in the FSU for twenty years to rebuild Jewish communities, and a Ukrainian-born young Jewish leader giving new expression to Jewish life for FSU-immigrants in Brooklyn, to understand what is so unique about Jewish life in the Former Soviet Union, what we can learn from their experience and our own, and where we are heading as one people.
Designed by: The American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee
Confirmed Speakers: Asher Ostrin (Executive Director, JDC
Former Soviet Union Department), Alex Budnitsky (Chief Operating Officer, Edith
and Carl Marks Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst)
Moderator: Joy Sisisky, Executive Director, Jewish Women's
Foundation of New York
e-Philanthropy Institute III: Raising More Money
Tuesday, November 10 @ 8:00 – 9:15 AM
Introduction / discussion (15 minutes)
Fundraising / e-Philanthropy
List Building Email
Online Advertising / SEO Best Practices
Forums III, 2nd Set
Tuesday, November 10 @ 9:30-10:45 AM
Philanthropy Roundtable: Peoplehood and Second Generation Philanthropy
With the Jewish community -- despite the recent economic setback -- experiencing an unprecedented transfer of wealth from one generation to the next, in an era of unparalleled individualism, what is the call of giving to the Jewish collective? Come assert your own priorities for the Jewish collective and hear from second generation mega-donors about how they see their philanthropy.
Designed by: The NADAV
Fund
Confirmed speakers: Randall Kaplan (Greensboro), Irina
Nevzlin-Kogan (Managing Director, The NADAV Fund), Joanne Moore (Washington,
D.C.)
Moderator: Misha Galperin (Executive Vice President and CEO,
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington)
Taglit-Birthright Israel: Party or Paradigm? Implications for your Community
Since 1999, the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University has engaged in a comprehensive study of Birthright Israel participants and alumni. The Cohen center’s latest report is centered around a series of key questions: What is the long-term impact of the program on participants’ attitudes and behavior? Are alumni more likely to get involved in the Jewish community? Are alumni more likely to marry Jews? Do alumni support Israel? Lead investigator Len Saxe will highlight the report’s key findings and Leah Stern will moderate a lively discussion with Andrea Hoffman, Barry Shrage and Gary Rosenblatt focusing on the policy and program implications for the Jewish community.
Designed by: UJC/Jewish Federations of
North America
Chair: Dr. Leonard Cole, Chair, UJC/Jewish Federations of
North America Representatives to the Birthright Israel Steering Committee
Confirmed speakers: Andrea Hoffman, Director of Immersion
Experience, Hillel: the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life; Leonard Saxe, Cohen
Center for Modern Jewish Studies; Barry Shrage, President, Combined Jewish
Philanthropies; Gary Rosenblatt, editor and publisher of The Jewish Week (New
York)
Moderator: Leah Stern, TV correspondent, anchor and editor for
IBA News
Workshops III, 2nd Set
Tuesday, November 10 @ 9:30-10:45 AM
Strengthening Israel from Within
The Israeli government, civil society, the Federation movement, and dedicated philanthropists in North America and Israel have joined forces to improve Jewish-Arab relations in Israel. Their goal is to build awareness of the social and economic implications of isolating the Arab-Israeli community, and the benefits and opportunities of helping that community advance. Learn how this consortium has employed a range of educational and economic development initiatives to strengthen the country from within that will ultimately result in thriving families, communities and a healthier economy.
Designed by: The Jewish Federations of North America and The
Inter-Agency Taskforce on Arab-Israeli Issues
Confirmed speakers: Mohammad Darawshe (Co-Executive Director,
Israel, The Abraham Fund), Jimmy Levy (Founder, Galil Software ), Aiman Seif
(General Director, Authority for the Economic Development of the Minority
Sectors in the Prime Minister's Office, Israel), Irit Tamir (CEO, Kav
Mashve)
Moderators: Carol Smokler, Ph.D (Chair, UJC Social Venture
Fund for Jewish-Arab Equality and Shared Society) and Steve Schwager (Executive
Vice President and CEO, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee)
Exploring the Mind of the Mid-Level Donor
Last year, almost 7,000 people at 26 Federations responded to a UJC online survey of $1,000-$10,000 donors, the largest-ever survey of Federation donors. They described their giving motivations, relationships with Federation, and perceptions of Federation’s strengths and weaknesses. The Federation Benchmarking Project (formerly known as Federation Peer Yardstick) provides intriguing insights into the thoughts of mid-level donors, and the results are helping us find the keys to larger gift increases. Find out the top ten things donors said they cared about, and hear the strategies that helped catapult two high-performing Federations to the top of their peer group rankings.
Designed by: UJC/ The Jewish
Federations of North America
Confirmed speakers: Andrew Paller (Director, The Jewish
Federations of North America Consulting), Eric Stillman (President and CEO,
Jewish Federation of Broward County), Marc Terrill (President, The ASSOCIATED:
Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore)
The Business of Philanthropy: Collective Action
Collective action isn’t just about dramatic rescues and national advocacy. Federations are businesses, and each Federation can leverage the national system in order to do business more effectively. Find out about system-wide efforts related to four critical business activities: investments, tax-exempt bond borrowing for capital projects, property/liability insurance, and donor management software. Learn about successful and well established programs, and get in on the ground floor of cutting-edge initiatives that have recently launched.
Designed by: Jewish United Fund:
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Confirmed speakers: Steve Cupertino (Chief Information
Officer, UJC), Jill Greer (Manager, National Jewish Federation Bond Program,
UJC), David Strong (Chief Financial Officer, Combined Jewish Philanthropies of
Greater Boston), Michael Tarnoff (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago)
Moderator: Michael Gelman (National Treasurer, UJC)
Connect to Care: Crisis Response and The Strategic Repositioning of Community
In the face of the current economic crisis, and in a matter of three months, UJA-Federation of NY planned, developed, funded and implemented Connect to Care (C2C), a $6.8 million, eight-county initiative to assist Jewish New Yorkers newly impacted by job, income, status and asset loss. Seven regional C2C centers provide a full array of highly coordinated services including employment, mental health, spiritual, financial and legal counseling along with loans and cash assistance. The workshop will discuss: Crisis response in the context of Federation's historic mission, relevancy and role; a sustainable empowering new model of Federation-led planning, collaboration and service delivery; the challenges and opportunities in serving a "situationally needy" middle-class population who have not been part of our traditional client pool; building on past strategic successes; the role and importance of the synagogue in smart marketing and the provision of direct services; weaving a situational innitiative into an enduring campaign message.
Designed by: UJA-Federation of New York
Confirmed Speakers: Tina Price (Chair, Caring Commission,
UJA-Federation of New York), Roberta Marcus Leiner LSW (Managing Director,
Caring Commission, UJA-Federation of New York), Peter Friedman (Executive Vice
President, Planning and Allocations, Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan
Chicago), Anne Louise Kleper (Chicago)
Moderator: Alisa Rubin Kurshan Senior Vice President for
Strategic Planning and Organizational Resources, UJA-Federation of New York
Children At Risk: Securing Their Future
Israel’s widening social gaps have multiplied the number of children and youth characterized as "children at risk" by the social welfare system. Yet studies have shown that with targeted intervention and equal educational opportunities, these children will rise above their circumstances and succeed. Their success as productive members of society strengthens the State of Israel. We’ll explore the roles and responsibilities of Israeli and North American philanthropists in addressing this issue, and highlight vital programs aimed at closing the gaps that threaten to tear apart Israel's social fabric.
Designed by: Jewish Agency for
Israel
Confirmed speakers: Leah Golan (Director General, Israel Department, Jewish Agency for Israel), Michael Fisher (Ohr
Shalom), Richard Altman (CEO, Jewish Childcare Association), Dr. Liat Ben David
(Director - MAYDA: The Ashalim National Knowledge and Learning Center)
Moderator: Barbara Salmonson (New York)
CLOSING PLENARY
Tuesday, November 10 @ 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Please join us in welcoming Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff to President Obama. At this plenary, we will also announce the winner and five finalists of the Jewish Community Heroes Award, for which more than 500,000 votes were cast! We will also welcome Kathy Manning, the distinguished incoming board chair of The Jewish Federations of North America.
*Plenary Seating Update
Interest in attending the 2009 GA has continued to grow,
especially with President Obama Rahm Emanuel and Prime Minister Netanyahu scheduled to
speak. We currently expect more than 3,000 people to attend the GA. While
advance online registration closed as of midnight Oct 29th, we will continue to
accept a limited number of on-site registrants during the GA in Washington.
While every effort will be made to allow all participants to attend the 11am plenary sessions with these leaders, we will also provide a special on-site live TV feed nearby, to accommodate the expected large number of participants.
Priority for plenary seating will be given to those who registered before the deadline. On-site registration will take place Saturday, Nov 7th from 6pm - 10pm and Sunday, Nov 8th from 7am - 9pm.
Please call the GA Helpline at (212) 284-6990 with questions. We appreciate your understanding.
Capitol Hill Visits Briefing
Location: Thurgood Marshall West
Tuesday, November 10 @ 12:45 PM-1:45 PM
CAPITOL HILL VISITS
Tuesday, November 10 @ 2:00 PM-7:30 PM
To the exhibition hall!
