Becky Caspi, Director general of JFNA’s Israe
Becky Caspi, Director general of JFNA’s IsraeYoni Kempinski

Thousands of Jewish leaders and community representatives attended the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) 2014 General Assembly last week in National Harbor, Maryland.

To hear more about the full scope of the conference, Arutz Sheva spoke to Becky Caspi, the senior vice president for Israel and Overseas of JFNA, who has also served as the Director General of JFNA's Israel Office since 2007.

According to Caspi, the General Assembly is the "largest communal gathering on the planet," where leaders hear about different communities around the world, brainstorm new fundraising ideas for Jewish communities, and discuss how to strengthen Jewish identity for the next generation. 

Caspi downplayed the tension between the US and Israeli governments, noting that Vice President Joe Biden had visited the conference and stressed the close relationship between the US and the Jewish people. 

As for the next generation, Caspi noted that Birthright and other youth programs are supremely important for linking young people with their Jewish identity, as they "meet people where they are" to educate them about Israel and Jewish life.