JFNA AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE HOSTING KNESSET MISSION TO U.S.

Jan. 25, 2011

The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) and Israel's Office of the Prime Minister are co-hosting a senior delegation from the Knesset, Israel's parliament, on a visit to the United States this week.

The group includes 18 senior Israeli parliamentary professionals including ministerial bureau chiefs, ministerial advisors and six journalists who cover Knesset affairs. Israel’s Minister of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Yuli Edelstein, a driving force behind the program, will join the group for several meetings in New York.

The week-long visit is aimed at providing the Israelis with a greater familiarity with and appreciation of the American Jewish community, as well as the workings of American government.

The group will visit New York, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Meetings in New York will include senior JFNA leadership, leaders of several major Jewish organizations, a United Nations visit and a range of opportunities to interact with members of Jewish institutions across the city. 

The Israelis will also visit the Jewish community in Baltimore, hosted by The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore. As well as meeting Jewish community professionals, the delegation will visit a Jewish high school and the local JCC. Associated Chair and JFNA Board of Trustees member Bruce Sholk will host the delegation.

In Washington, the mission will meet with senior figures in Congress, the White House, JFNA and AIPAC and will also have breakfast with Israel's Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren at his residence.

"There is little doubt that, despite a deep feeling of global Jewish unity, North American Jews and Israelis often lack a comprehensive understanding of one another’s work, motivations and structures. I am sure that this mission will contribute significantly to bridging this gap," said JFNA’s Israel and Overseas Chair, Shepard Remis.

Leading the group are JFNA’s Senior Vice-President, Israel & Overseas, Rebecca Caspi and Perach Lerner, a senior advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We are very excited about this mission, which will present an opportunity for some of Israel’s most promising professional leaders to learn about and engage the American Jewish community," Caspi said. "We are confident that the trip will create greater understanding, appreciation and relationships between Israel and the North American Jewish community that we can build on for the future."

Other participants include the bureau chiefs of the ministers of the Interior and Tourism as well as senior advisors to the ministers of Justice, Communications, Finance, Science and Technology, and Industry, Trade, and Labor. In addition, the Knesset correspondents from the Jerusalem Post, Yisrael Hayom, Yediot Aharonot, Ma'ariv, Kol Yisrael Radio and Army Radio (Galei Tzahal) will participate.

For details, please contact JFNA’s Dani Wassner.