Having just returned from the GA, the annual conference of the Jewish Federations of North America, I was struck by the issues we are now facing as a global Jewish community:
- the worldwide effort to de-legitimize the State of Israel
- the growing distance between the Jews of the Diaspora and the Jews of Israel
- the changing affiliation and identity patterns of today's Jewish community.
Yet I was encouraged by the efforts to face the new realities and our communal efforts to deal with these issues.
- A new initiative called the Israel Action Network-a community driven effort by the North American Jewish community to proactively lead the conversation about the legitimacy of the State of Israel and counter those who challenge her legitimacy
- A new focus on Jewish peoplehood and an expansion of exchanges of Israeli and North Americans. Over 250,000 young people have experienced Birthright Israel. Our own young emissary program is creating a new understanding of our connection to Israel.
- Re-imagining the Jewish community to meet the diverse needs of an ever changing Jewish population not tied to the traditional modes of identification. Check out our own community Young Jewish professional group. We will be hearing from Dr Steven Cohen this weekend who is the preeminent scholar researching these new trends and offering innovative alternatives.
Lots of important issues that we all need to be aware of.
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