Herzog, in first North American trip as Jewish Agency chairman, stresses need for unity
On his first trip abroad since assuming office last week, Isaac Herzog, The Jewish Agency for Israel’s new Chairman of the Executive, visited Jewish Federations in New York, Boston and Philadelphia. Herzog, who assumed office on August 1, is due to visit Cleveland and other Jewish communities in North America in early September.
Herzog met with the leadership of these Federations and The Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) to promote enhanced cooperation and dialogue with the organized Jewish world. He considers these meetings to be of utmost importance in a reality of growing misgivings and misconceptions between Israel and Jews around the world in the Diaspora.
At the same time, Herzog made clear his intention to examine new ways for more Jews to connect to Jewish life and Israel. He believes engaging the diversity of Jewish people is a top priority because doing so is essential to further Jewish unity.
“I intentionally went out to the field in my first week in office to learn about the unique needs of American communities and to explain my vision for The Jewish Agency to Jewish leaders and activists,” said Herzog. “In the coming weeks and months, I’ll continue these meetings in North America and the rest of the world. I also look forward to seeing many of them at JFNA’s upcoming General Assembly that’s taking place in Israel this October.”
Herzog continued, “Jewish people around the world and in Israel share a love for the Land of Israel and the State of Israel. While we have a sincere desire to maintain and strengthen the connection between us, I’m very aware of the growing feeling that Diaspora Jews are drifting away from Israel. I will do everything in my power to act against this trend that’s increasingly dividing us. We are one nation, small amongst nations, that’s facing huge challenges. Only when we are together can we overcome them.”
Underscoring the importance of a unified Jewish people, on Thursday morning in Boston, Herzog declared: “To all those people living in southern Israel and the Gaza perimeter who are now sitting inside shelters due to the dozens of rockets fired from Gaza by Hamas, and also to the IDF soldiers defending the State of Israel and its residents, the Jewish people – from Boston, from the U.S., from North America, from around the world – they are all with you in their hearts and minds, supporting your well-being during this time of escalation.”
Herzog is a former Cabinet Minister and former Leader of the Opposition at the Knesset as Chairman of Israel’s Labor Party and Zionist Union alliance. He is the son of Israel’s sixth president, the grandson of its first chief Rabbi, and in his college years was a student at Cornell and NYU Universities. Herzog has been involved in Diaspora relations for many years. Most notably, in one of his ministerial tenures he served as the Israeli Minister for the Jewish Diaspora, Society and the Fight Against Anti-Semitism (2007-2009). In that capacity, he played a major role in anti-boycott initiatives and led the International Forum Against Anti-Semitism.
“There are few people as qualified as Isaac Herzog to take the helm of The Jewish Agency for Israel at this critical moment. His knowledge of Israeli-Diaspora relations and his familiarity with the issues and concerns we are currently grappling with make him the right leader at the right time,” said Jerry Silverman, President and CEO of JFNA, who accompanied Herzog on these visits. — From Jewish Agency for Israel
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San Diego Jewish Academy principal attends weeklong seminar at Harvard Graduate School of Education
Kelley King, principal of San Diego Jewish Academy ,has just returned from Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she participated in Leadership: An Evolving Vision, a seminar at the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Principals’ Center for experienced school leaders. This weeklong institute is part of a larger, year-long program to enable day school leaders to improve their schools, with special focus on their Jewish mission and vision, sponsored and facilitated by the AVI CHAI Foundation.
The AVI CHAI Foundation, a New York-based private foundation dedicated to promoting Jewish commitment, sponsored Mrs. Kingand nineteen other day school principals to attend the seminar to help address the professional development of day school leaders with a particular emphasis on their role in promoting the Jewish mission of their schools.
Participants attended lectures and discussion groups led by Harvard faculty, educational consultants and school practitioners. The program focuses on the challenges facing experienced school leaders and seeks to re-inspire them to lead instructional improvements at their schools. Rigorous study is combined with writing, reflection and peer interaction, allowing participants to identify priorities and share ideas and solutions. In addition, the AVI CHAI-sponsored day school leaders attended additional sessions, facilitated by Jonathan Cannon, former head of the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD, applying what was learned at Harvard to the Jewish purpose of their schools.
“It was one of the most intense and impactful professional growth experiences I have had in 30 years,” said Mrs. King. “At Harvard, I attended lively, thought-provoking sessions exploring a variety of topics including strategic planning, family engagement, school culture, organizational change, and more. It definitely lit a fire for me. I feel inspired and energized to enter the new school year with renewed passion and focus on what we do for children. The AVI CHAI sessions for leaders of Jewish day schools allowed me and my colleagues the chance to discuss leadership challenges and opportunities in the context of our Jewish school missions. I am looking forward to bringing these new skills back to San Diego Jewish Academy.” — From Avi Chai Foundation
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Anti-Semitism back on the rise in Germany
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) expressed strong concern this week following the release of new figures in Germany indicating a 10 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the country over the course of the first half of 2018 when compared with the same period in 2017.
WJC President Ronald S. Lauder said: “The German government has demonstrated admirable commitment to combating anti-Semitism, including with the appointment of Ambassador Felix Klein as the first federal government commissioner working on behalf of the Jewish community. Nevertheless, it is clear that concerted efforts are needed across the board to arrest the steady rise in violent incidents and harassment and ensure that German Jews continue to feel secure and valued as all German citizens deserve.”
“The WJC stands ready to assist our community in Germany, as well as all levels of government, to work toward implementing the necessary steps to quell anti-Semitism across the country,” Lauder said.
Some 349 out of the 401 anti-Semitic incidents recorded this year were reported as being perpetrated by those with far right-wing tendencies, while Berlin accounted for 80 such incidents.
President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany and WJC Vice President Josef Schuster has called for the implementation of an effective, nationwide system of reporting on anti-Semitism with a suitable threshold to be used when evaluating suspected cases. — From World Jewish Congress
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Jewish groups call on Colombia to reverse its recognition of Palestine
StandWithUs is urging its supporters to write to Colombian authorities following the outgoing President’s decision to recognize Palestine as an independent country. The group made these points in support of Colombia rescinding that decision.
In a similar missive, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs also asked friends of Israel to contact Colombian authorities. It said:
“In the days before the new Colombian President, Ivan Duque, took office, outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos officially recognized Palestine as a ‘free, independent and sovereign state.’ The Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) urges the Government of Columbia to reverse this highly damaging decision.
“The JCPA supports a negotiated two-state outcome that results in the creation of a Palestinian State living side by side in peace with Israel. Recognizing the state before it is created, however, only complicates the possibility of a peaceful resolution. A Palestinian state can only come into being through direct, bilateral negotiations. Recognizing the state prematurely empowers radical voices that assert Palestinians don’t need to negotiate with Israel, but rather can extract concessions by internationalizing the conflict and isolating Israel.
“Colombian officials representing the new government appear willing to re-consider the decision.” — From StandWithUs and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs
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Lake Elsinore Storm offers free tickets to donors of items to help fire fighters and victims
Gary Jacobs, owner of the minor league baseball team, the Lake Elsinore Storm, is offering free tickets to any game through the rest of the season to persons who donate supplies for fire fighters and victims of the Holy Fire, which is burning in the Lake Elsinore area.
Jacobs, a past president of both the Lawrence Family JCC and the Jewish Federation of San Diego, authorized an appeal as set forth in this graphic:
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Preceding items culled from news releases. Send yours to editor@sdjewishworld.com