Tal Brody is a national icon in Israel, nearly on par with Golda Meir, Moshe Dayan and David Ben-Gurion. A Big Ten college basketball standout with the University of Illinois, drafted by the NBA’s old Baltimore Bullets in 1965, the New Jersey native immigrated to Israel and joined its fledgling basketball league. But in 1977 he led Maccabi Tel Aviv to its first European championship, on the way defeating the giant CSKA Moscow, thereby transforming Israeli sports, and the nation, forever. "We are on the map -- and we are staying on the map, not only in sports, but in everything,” he said.

Today Maccabi is a European hoops powerhouse, and Brody’s legacy lives on -- in volunteer work and philanthropy. He works with Israeli organizations such as Migdal Ohr, which helps at-risk, impoverished, orphaned and underprivileged children, and leads the Spirit of Israel, which raises money for "vital human needs" identified by our partners at the Jewish Agency for Israel and Keren Hayesod.

At The 2008 UJC General Assembly this Nov. 16-19, you can meet inspiring Israelis like Brody. “Talking isn't enough ... you have got to do something,” Brody insists. Join us in November as we travel Israel from north to south to see how our system is doing something to change Israeli lives, and to share our hopes and dreams for the Jewish state.

Don't miss this historic moment - Register here for the GA, International Lion of Judah Conference, the JAFI Assembly, and more than 40 federation Israel missions.  
(Note: Don’t wait -- hotels must be reserved by Sept. 1.)