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With Israel, In Israel: Shaping Our Common Future
Tentative GA 2003 Schedule
Last Updated: November 11, 2003

For the most updated information on the GA program, use the "GA Event Search" and "GA Speaker Search" located on the GA home page, www.ujc.org/ga.   

Saturday, November 15

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

Israel Democracy Institute Reception
By Invitation Only

8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

World ORT Reception
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kerem
Join World ORT officers and staff to mark 124 years of quality education and training for Jewish communities around the world and 56 years of support from the North American federation system. Enjoy a light buffet and music performed by ORT Israel students.

Sunday, November 16

9:00 a.m – 6:00 p.m.

OTZMA North American Leadership Seminar
By Invitation Only
Rabin Youth Hostel

9:30 a.m – 11:00 a.m.

Recents Trends in American Jewry:
From "The Jew Within" to the NJPS
Rabin Youth Hostel
The recently released National Jewish Population Study points to strengths,challenges, and diversity in American Jewry. Examine the implications for building strong Jewish identities and communities in the opening years of the 21st century.
Speaker: Steven M. Cohen, The Melton Center for Jewish Education and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Partnership 2000 (P2K) International Gathering
Inbal Hotel
The first International Partnership 2000 Gathering, a joint venture with JAFI and Keren Hayesod, will be a pre-GA event. Together we will strengthen the Partnership 2000 involvement in Israel and abroad and offer opportunities for serious discussion and an exchange of ideas.

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wexner Foundation Leadership Seminar
By Invitation
Mercaz Shimshon, 13 King David Street, Jerusalem
Gathering of the Wexner leadership constituencies (Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program, Wexner Heritage Foundation) for an intensive exploration of leadership dynamics and roles among North American professional leaders, North American volunteer leaders, and Israeli public leaders.

Keynote: Dr. John Ruskay, EVP/CEO, UJA-Federation of New York
Speaker: Larry S. Moses, President, The Wexner Foundation

5:00 p.m – 7:00 p.m.

 VIP Reception
By Invitation Only
David Citadel Hotel
Honoring GA Sponsors and leadership, Sponsored by Alfred Akirov, Chairman, Akirov Group

5:30 p.m – 8:00 p.m.

 Prime Minister's Council Dinner
Sponsored by Michael Federman, Chairman, Dan Hotels, Israel
By Invitation Only
$100,000 Suggested Voluntary Commitment
King David Hotel

6:00 p.m – 8:00 p.m. Partnership 2000 Fair
Sponsors Exhibition Hall
The P2K International Gathering will end with a street fair at Binyaney Ha'Ooma.  The fair highlights the last 10 years of P2K accomplishments.  All GA participants are welcome to join as they enter for the opening ceremony.

8:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. A Celebration of Jewish Peoplehood
Ussishkin Hall and Hall A
The 2003 General Assembly begins with a glorious tribute to all of us who have come from around the corner and around the world for this extraordinary event. The President and Prime Minister of Israel and the Mayor of Jerusalem will be on hand to welcome us. Guitarist-composer-singer David Broza will perform his magic; and then, participants can visit another auditorium to hear international concert and recording artist Noa give a live performance. And that's only the beginning. Dance troupes, performance artists, and a mixed-media presentation will celebrate our shared history and our common future. We will also be greeted by the Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Sallai Meridor. This opening event marks the closing of the Jewish Agency Assembly.

Monday, November 17

7:00 a.m – 8:45 a.m.

Campaign Chairman and Directors Meeting
Hall N
Speakers: MK Avram Burg, Past Knesset Speaker
Chairs: S. Stephen Selig III, Atlanta, National Chairman, UJC
Robert Meyer, Campaign Director, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
Victoria Agron, SVP, Campaign/FRD, UJC

7:00 a.m – 8:45 a.m.

Discussion Leaders Training Session
By Invitation Only
Hall J

7:30 a.m – 8:45 a.m.

 International OTZMA Committee Meeting
By Invitation Only
Hall E
Members of the Israel and North American International OTZMA Committee discuss future proposals and recommendations of the OTZMA Review Committee.

9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Shaping the Future
We will soend the day looking for uncommon solutions to common challenges.  seven overarching themes have been developed and woven throughout today's programming and provide the basis for tomorrow's site visits

1. Philanthropy and Our Future
2. Faces of the Jewish Future
3. Providing for Our People
4. Finding Our Voices
5. Safeguarding Democracy
6. Reflecting on the Jewish Dimension of Our Lives
7. Advocacy 2003: The Public and Private Image of the Jewish People


9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Shaping the Future
I. Making Fundraising Meaningful
II. Reflecting on the Jewish Dimensions
III. Democracy: In America, In Israel, In Jewish Tradition
IV. The Road...and the Map
V. The Road to Access: Strengthening Our Future through Diversity
VI. Advocacy 2003: The Public & Private Image of the Jewish People
VII. Joining Forces: The Convergence of the Public, Private and Non-Profit Sectors
VII. Jewish Community in 2004: Is this the New Enlightenment?


10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

I. Open Beit Midrash Learning
II. International Innovations in Caring for the Elderly
III. Navigating the Road: Strategies for Diversifying Leadership
IV. Israel as a Jewish Democratic State
V. Confronting the Leadership Crisis in Jewish Philanthropy
VI. Traditional and Non-Traditional Paths to Deepening Jewish Spiritual Connection in Israel
VII. Influencing Policy in the United States and Israel
VIII. Jewish Identity. Affiliation and the Next Generation
VIX. Spoken and Unspoken Words: What are the Prejudices?
VX. The Kabbalah and the Mystical Path
VXI. No Woman or Child Left Behind
VXII. A New Look at Israel in the North American Jewish Experience
VXIII. The Juggling Act of Collective Responsibility and Donor Choice


12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Lunch
Pre-Registration Lunches
I. National Young Leadership Awards Luncheon
Speakers: Knesset Members Reshef Cheyne and Ophir Pines
II. Rabbinical Awards Luncheon
Speaker: Rabbi Michael Melchior, International Director, The Elie Wiesel Foundation
III. National Women's Philanthropy Luncheon 
The New Hatred: Anti-Semitism, Anti-Israelism, Anti-Americanism, Why?
Speaker: Dr. Deborah Lipstadt, Author and Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies, Emory University
Hosted By the UJC/National Women's Philanthropy.
IV. PACT (Parents and Children Together) Partnership Council Meeting

Lunch and Learns
I. The Music Never Ends
II. Raising the Curtain on Israeli Dance
III. Ready, Set, Action! A Look at Israeli Film
IV. NJPS 2000-01: The Regional Differences
V. Judaism and the Environment
VI. A Taste of Hebrew
VII. Experience Jewish Text: Jerusalem in Jewish Religious Though
VIII. Experience Jewish Text: Am I My Brother's Keeper
VIV. Experience Jewish Text: Hanukkah
X. Intermarriage and the Jewish Family
XI. Voluntarism: Engaging the Next Generation

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Non Programmed Lunch

1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Egalitarian Mincha Service
Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jericho/Masada

1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Orthodox Mincha Service

 


1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Open Beit Midrash
Jewish Learning

 

1:45 p.m – 3:00 p.m.

 I. Strategic Philanthropy: Building New Partners and Partnerships
II. NJPS and Policy Implications
III. The Challenge of Immigration: Integration and the Needs of the Global Jewish Communities
IV. Jewish Learning for All Generations
V. America's Voices in Israel
VI. Building the Gap: Jewish Leadership and the GLBT Community
VII. Synagogues and Movements and the View from NJPS
VIII. The War on Terrorism: The Experience, Challenges, and Policies of the U.S. and Israel
IX. Creative Strategies for Engaging Women Philanthropies
X. Life Imitates Art
XI. Israel's Role in Facilitation Spiritual Connection for North American Jews
XII. Trends in Voluntarism: Perspectives from Israel and North America
XIII. My Bags Are Packed, But Where Am I Going?



Tuesday, November 18


7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Ideas in Action
Tuesday will be a day for extending our exploration of new ideas and new partnerships in the shaping of our communal future. The topics addressed on Monday will be further developed through visits to sites throughout the middle of the country where delegates can see, hear and interact with the people and places that define our work in Israel and the collective future of the Jewish People.

5:30 PM – 8:30 PM Evening in Neve Tzedek
Tuesday will conclude with a celebration at Neve Tzedek in the heart of historic Tel Aviv. The evening will provide a glimpse into the ethnic roots of Israel's first modern city, a look at the city as it was 100 years ago and a focus on Tel Aviv today.

Wednesday, November 19


9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Leadership Challenges in the 21st Century
Over the course of the morning, we will examine the future of the Jewish community and its leaders. We'll explore the issues that affect leadership and leadership opportunities; and discuss the ongoing efforts and new initiatives in our own communities in North America, in Israel and around the world to engage and develop leaders.
-Former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition faction Shimon Peres shares his vision for the future of the Jewish people.

-Philanthropist Michael Steinhardt responds.

-A brief presentation to recognize JDC's 90 years of service to world Jewry highlighting the organization's unbroken presence in Israel and the care, compassion and help it has brought to millions.

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Leadership Forums
Challenges in Israel and in the American Jewish community have required courage and direction. Each session will focus on a current challenge, and how individuals and the Jewish community have responded. Each group will hear from several distinguished leaders about their hopes and concerns. Following this session there will be an opportunity for dialogue about the complexities of being a leader in the 21st Century.
I. Insuring Successful Immigration
II. Jewish Identity in Israel and the Diaspora
III. Israel's Center, the Negev and the Galil
IV. Promoting Communication and Cross-Cultural Interaction in a Crisis Atmosphere
V. Providing A Jewish Safety Net

12:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

To Be With Israel Is To Be In Israel
For three days we will have walked, talked and explored the unfolding future of Israel and the Jewish people. Face to face and hand in hand, our North American and Israeli delegates will have broken new ground as we begin building tomorrow.

For our more than 4,000 North American delegates, we will have a tangible understanding of life in Israel that could not have been achieved except through a personal encounter with the land and people of Israel. And so we will conclude this General Assembly with a Call to Action.

Let the GA of 2003 mark the re-launching of North American Jewish tourism, with the federations serving as the gateway through which North American Jews will reengage with Israel following a three-year hiatus. Let us return to the United States and to Canada with a firm resolve to help the next wave of North American Jews to be With Israel -- In Israel, Shaping Our Common Future.