Category Archives: Sessions 2015

Extremism in America

Ken Jacobson, Deputy National Director of the ADL, continued the conversation on extremism in America for this breakout session. According to Jacobson, overall anti-Semitism is no acceptable by society at large, unlike what was seen in the past when it was championed by those like Henry Ford.
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Keynote Address by Rabbi David Saperstein

Rabbi David Saperstein’s keynote address was a prophetic call for peace, justice, and tolerance in a world riven by polarization, violence, and disregard for the sanctity of the Earth and all of its inhabitants. He described a world in which we currently face a complex set of issues: military conflicts that destroy people and the
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Community Conversation on Israel and American Jewish Identity

The Community Conversation on Israel and American Jewish Identity featured Dov Waxman, Professor of Political Science, International Affairs, and Israel Studies at Northeastern University; Laura Blumenfeld, senior fellow at SAIS Johns Hopkins Center for Strategic Studies; and Jonathan Rynhold, director of the Argov Center for the Study of the Jewish People and the State of
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Delegates Discuss Social Justice In Israel

The first to speak during this session was Nancy Kaufman, who discussed Israel’s history regarding the rights of women. She opened her talk explaining that although Israel’s pre-state existence created a deep appreciation for gender equality, this did not translate to a state constitution, due to opposition on religion and military grounds. However, in 1992,
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JCPA Welcomes New Delegates

On Sunday, at the 2015 JCPA Town Hall New Delegates Orientation, new Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) lay and professional leaders met with Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) Senior Vice President Ethan Felson to learn more about the history and meaning of the conference. As a new staff person at JCPA, I joined them.
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Jewish Role in Civil Rights Work in the 21st Century

For decades, advancing civil rights and building a pluralistic and open American society has been a key priority for the Jewish community. Now, fifty years after the landmark legislation of the 19060’s — including Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Acts—we confront both some of the same challenges and emerging issues. Join us to discuss
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Talk Amongst Ourselves: Intermediate/Large Communities

This workshop would provide an opportunity to meet others in the JCPA community to share ideas and experiences, and establish relationships across the country.  
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Talk Amongst Ourselves: Small Communities

This workshop would provide an opportunity to meet others in the JCPA community to share ideas and experiences, and establish relationships across the country.  
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Reaching out to the Teen community

This workshop would discuss how best to engage the teen and student community on community relations including social justice and Israel advocacy. Presenting JCRC programs: Student to Student, St Louis, MO; Israel Advocacy Training for Teens, Southern NJ; Israel Engagement Teen Fellowship, Washington, D.C.
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Innovative Solutions to Confront New Frontiers for BDS

The movement to delegitimize Israel has made significant inroads into new arenas. This session will explore new core BDS strategies, including using Socially Responsible Investing to push forward divestment campaigns, placing public pressure on musical and cultural artists to boycott Israel, and the co-opting of unions and national grassroots movements. We will examine the impact
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