2006 UJC/FEDERATION GENERAL ASSEMBLY
IN L.A. OPENS, AS LIVNI DECLARES "WE ARE ONE"

November 12, 2006

Israel’s Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni opened the 2006 General Assembly of United Jewish Communities/the Federations of North America in Los Angeles Sunday, expressing appreciation for the vital connection between the Israeli and North American Jewish communities.

"I’m here today as a Jew and an Israeli, in that order,” she said. “The ties that bind Israel and Los Angeles cannot be broken by distance — we are one people. But we cannot take the bond between us for granted. We must ensure that Jewish children in the Diaspora see Israel as their home, and that Israeli children see you as family.”

Livni also spoke of Israel’s hopes to live in peace with the Palestinians, saying the situation "is not a zero-sum game." While she believes Jews have a right to live in all of their ancestral homeland, "Eretz Yisrael," she added, "each people must be willing to give up part of their dream to make room for the dreams of others. We are ready to reach out and engage with people who share these values.” 

She also talked about the importance of promoting Israel in a world that too often views it through a negative lens, and said Israel is embarking on a major advocacy effort to "close the gap between perception and reality."

"We want Israel to be seen not in the shadow of terror ... but in the light of its vibrant culture [and] its rich identity. This is not advertising or spin, not an effort to sell Israel, but to reveal its true identity.”

The GA, with the theme "Together on the Frontline: One People, One Destiny," is focusing on the new global challenges facing Israel and the Jewish people. Joining Livni to discuss the recent war against Israel and the $345 million UJC/Federation Israel Emergency Campaign response was Zeev Bielski, chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency for Israel.

“We are here today in L.A. to say to you 'todah rabah (thank-you very much)", you were there when we needed you. We couldn’t do it without you. We’ve seen you in action, we knew you could do it. It gives me great pride to stand here in front of you and tell you we appreciate what you did.”

On Monday, representatives of the three largest religious movements will address challenges for American Jewry. Speakers include Hebrew Union College Provost Normon Cohen; Jewish Theological Seminary Chancellor-elect Arnie Eisen; and Yeshiva University President Richard Joel.

Also on Monday, Newsweek International editor Fareed Zakaria and French philosopher and author Bernard Henri-Levi will discuss "Emerging global realities: Terror and the challenges of radical Islam." Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Canada's former Justice Minister, Irwin Cotler, will address challenges facing the Jewish people at the dawn of the 21st century.

On Tuesday, Israel's Education Minister Yuli Tamir and Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog will discuss challenges facing Israel, while Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer, Bank Leumi CEO and Israel GA Chair Galia Maor, media mogul Haim Saban and Israeli businessman Eitan Wertheimer will discuss investment in Israel.

Other major speakers Tuesday include business guru Warren Bennis, who will discuss "leadership at times of change."

Finally, Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, will deliver the closing plenary Tuesday. This will be the first time since the GA was held in Jerusalem at the height of the matzav that an Israeli premier has addressed the GA in person.

Nearly 5,000 participants gathered for this GA, one of the highest attendance figures in years for the largest annual event on the Jewish communal calendar. The GA, which is being held this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center, is being hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Los Angeles GA leadership includes International Chairs Richard Ziman and Leslie Bider; Host Community Chair Terri Smooke; and Host Community Vice Chair Cheryl Lewis. Los Angeles last hosted the G.A. in 1982.

"We are one family," said UJC Board of Trustees Chair Robert Goldberg of Cleveland. "We're all family when there's a need."

"It's inspiring and rewarding to see all these people come together as one," added Toni Young of Delaware, chair of the UJC Israel & Overseas Pillar.

For GA news and updates, visit UJC's GA Web page, at www.ujc.org/ga.