In attendance at the conference are 2,850 participants, focusing on the American Jewish community's historic commitment to Jewish education, social justice, Israel, and more. Fundraising strategies and the distribution of the $800 million of Jewish Federation funds raised over the past year are prime topics of interest as well.
Howard Rieger, president and chief executive of United Jewish Communities, said the General Assembly is an opportunity for Jewish groups, volunteers and professionals alike, to refine what they have been doing for 75 years. He said they hoped the delegates would "challenge one another, ask hard questions and build a consensus - not just agree with one another and go home."
Israel National Radio's Eli Stutz and Yishai Fleisher spoke with Rabbi Charles Lebow, a Canadian-born Israeli who has attended the G.A. convention for years. “One of the things that has become the key issue in the Jewish community is competition for funding, “said Lebow, “and it is reflected in the focus of the General Assembly. A core issue is how much money should stay within the community, and how much should go to international causes, mainly Israel.”
Money is not the only thing going to Israel, though. For the first time, Jewish immigration from North America to Israel is a key focus of this year’s General Assembly.
“Aliyah is definitely a higher priority than in prior years,” said Lebow, who works with North American student activists. On the other hand, though, something else is of even higher priority: “Israel is a key issue, but advocacy - meaning ways of strengthening Israel through influencing the U.S. government on her behalf - remains the main focus.”
For the first time, official representatives of Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) are taking a significant role in the proceedings. Sha'ul Goldstein, mayor of the Gush Etzion Regional Council in the Judea district, south of Jerusalem, told Arutz-7 last night that this is the sixth consecutive year he is attending the GA conference, and that the situation is improving.
"There is no real desire to hear me as a 'settler,'" Goldstein said, 'but little by little people are beginning to listen. The first year I was here, they didn't even let me in when they heard where I was from, but the situation has improved. I am now an official delegate, and I can speak in the panels. This just proves that the more we invest in explaining ourselves, the more we will succeed. We need more determination and desire."
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom delivered the keynote address. Outlining what he said were the shared challenges faced by the Jewish people today, Shalom stated, “We must act together to combat the new anti-Semitism which is taking root in Europe and the Arab world…[and] stand up to the growing trend of anti-Israel hostility on campuses."
He also called upon North American Jewry to make Aliyah [immigration to Israel]: “We must act together to increase Aliyah. We would like to see every Jew coming to Israel - and the sooner the better."
Emphasizing the Aliyah message were members of the grassroots organization Kumah. The activists said they were proud that after four years of bombarding the General Assembly with the neo-Zionist message of massive "Aliyah-by-choice from the West," their message is finally taking center stage.
The event was kicked off with an appearance by Israeli windsurfing gold-medalist Gal Friedman. Adorned by his medal, Israel's first gold in Olympic history, Friedman received a standing ovation from the crowd.
For the first time, a student delegation from Yeshiva University attended the conference. At a Shabbat program at the hotel for students prior to the conference, the YU students took a leading role in bringing spiritual excitement to the Sabbath festivities.
Howard Rieger, president and chief executive of United Jewish Communities, said the General Assembly is an opportunity for Jewish groups, volunteers and professionals alike, to refine what they have been doing for 75 years. He said they hoped the delegates would "challenge one another, ask hard questions and build a consensus - not just agree with one another and go home."
Israel National Radio's Eli Stutz and Yishai Fleisher spoke with Rabbi Charles Lebow, a Canadian-born Israeli who has attended the G.A. convention for years. “One of the things that has become the key issue in the Jewish community is competition for funding, “said Lebow, “and it is reflected in the focus of the General Assembly. A core issue is how much money should stay within the community, and how much should go to international causes, mainly Israel.”
Money is not the only thing going to Israel, though. For the first time, Jewish immigration from North America to Israel is a key focus of this year’s General Assembly.
T'ka b'Shofar Gadol L'cheruteinu
For the first time, official representatives of Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) are taking a significant role in the proceedings. Sha'ul Goldstein, mayor of the Gush Etzion Regional Council in the Judea district, south of Jerusalem, told Arutz-7 last night that this is the sixth consecutive year he is attending the GA conference, and that the situation is improving.
"There is no real desire to hear me as a 'settler,'" Goldstein said, 'but little by little people are beginning to listen. The first year I was here, they didn't even let me in when they heard where I was from, but the situation has improved. I am now an official delegate, and I can speak in the panels. This just proves that the more we invest in explaining ourselves, the more we will succeed. We need more determination and desire."
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom delivered the keynote address. Outlining what he said were the shared challenges faced by the Jewish people today, Shalom stated, “We must act together to combat the new anti-Semitism which is taking root in Europe and the Arab world…[and] stand up to the growing trend of anti-Israel hostility on campuses."
He also called upon North American Jewry to make Aliyah [immigration to Israel]: “We must act together to increase Aliyah. We would like to see every Jew coming to Israel - and the sooner the better."
Emphasizing the Aliyah message were members of the grassroots organization Kumah. The activists said they were proud that after four years of bombarding the General Assembly with the neo-Zionist message of massive "Aliyah-by-choice from the West," their message is finally taking center stage.
The event was kicked off with an appearance by Israeli windsurfing gold-medalist Gal Friedman. Adorned by his medal, Israel's first gold in Olympic history, Friedman received a standing ovation from the crowd.
For the first time, a student delegation from Yeshiva University attended the conference. At a Shabbat program at the hotel for students prior to the conference, the YU students took a leading role in bringing spiritual excitement to the Sabbath festivities.