Program
The unity event shuttle buses are open to General Assembly registrants only
Shuttle Buses to Marriott Marquis Begin (GA Registrants Only)
Established in April 2022, Shufuni creates events and platforms to promote young artists, musicians, and performers from Sderot and other communities around the Gaza envelope. Ohad Peretz, a musician born and raised in Sderot, leads the group’s efforts, including monthly events in his hometown demonstrating tremendous cooperation among singers, songwriters, and artists from other fields.
Last spring, Jewish students faced a growing threat on campuses as anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiments surged, endangering their safety and well-being. Amidst this challenging environment, Jewish students must navigate the difficult decision of whether to attend schools where harassment and antagonism are prevalent or to seek out non-traditionally attended universities that may offer a safer experience. This session will explore strategies for protecting Jewish students, strengthening their presence on campus, and ensuring they thrive in a supportive academic environment.
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Black and Jewish communities in the U.S. share a rich history of both partnership and tension. In the aftermath of October 7th, new challenges and opportunities arise for these relationships. This session will explore a 21st-century approach to Black-Jewish Relations and address the difficult conversations needed to advance solidarity, trust, and mutual understanding. Learn from leaders who are at the forefront of strengthening these vital connections.
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Across North America, 20% of Jews face financial challenges, and many who deeply desire a connection to Jewish life remain unaware of the resources and community that could support them. New research has uncovered key moments when financial vulnerability leads to individuals or families becoming untethered from Jewish life. This session will explore these findings and highlight inspiring examples of how Jewish Federations, organizations, and philanthropists work together to ensure everyone can thrive in our Jewish community. Join us for an engaging discussion that invites participants from all disciplines to help build a more inclusive and supportive Jewish future.
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From college campuses to city councils to the ICC, the battle over Israel's legitimacy is raging, fueled by media bubbles and social media algorithms. We’re seeing some of the implications in how younger people, in particular, relate to Israel. The way our community talks about Israel, Zionism, Jewish identity, and antisemitism can have profound implications for public opinion and policy alike. In this session, you'll learn what's working and what's not as our community combats the insidious efforts to marginalize the Jewish state.
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Join us to delve into the recent US presidential and congressional election results and their impact on the American Jewish community. This session will provide valuable insights into how changes in leadership and legislative priorities might influence Jewish communal life, advocacy efforts, and inter-communal relations across America. Engage in this critical discussion to understand the evolving political landscape and its relevance to our community.
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Since October 7, Jewish communal life in North America has changed rapidly, with renewed concerns about feelings on security, antisemitism, and anti-Zionism and a related surge in Jewish engagement. Join us in hearing how Jewish communal organizations are experiencing and responding to this surge nationally and in our local communities. Consider what we can do to build on this to strengthen the Jewish future.
Join us for an insightful discussion on how service learning and volunteerism has reshaped Israel educational travel since 10/7, deepening impact for global participants and Israeli communities alike. Integrating meaningful service maximizes program impact by addressing local needs and enriching participants' experiences through relationships with Israelis and Israeli communities. Examine innovative opportunities and strategic responses to evolving needs and gain valuable insights and transferable approaches to incorporating volunteer service into immersive travel programs.
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At a time of unprecedented challenges facing Israel and Israelis, it is more critical than ever that Israel is best positioned to achieve maximum success in all of its endeavors. This featured session will focus on the challenges and opportunities of ensuring that Israel benefits from and integrates women into Israeli government and society, as well as how Diaspora Jewry can support these efforts. Hear from women on the frontlines of strengthening and supporting Israel while working to change these dynamics in both the near and long term.
In an era of dynamic social change, understanding the modern Jewish family is more important than ever. This session delves into the findings from JFNA’s recent research into noteworthy family engagement program models across North America as well as those from the Jewish Family Today Study, to offer a comprehensive look at the shifting needs and aspirations of contemporary Jewish families. Together, we will explore the opportunities for innovation in the family engagement field and hear from leading experts and innovators on how to engage families in Jewish life. Join us for an enlightening conversation on how we can best support, inspire, connect, and empower Jewish families today.
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Explore the evolution of Jewish influence at the White House, focusing on how Jewish advisors have shaped policy-making in recent administrations through their roles and contributions. We will also delve into the future of Jewish influence in American politics, highlighting emerging trends and challenges. Our discussion will emphasize the importance of Jewish events hosted at the White House, such as the annual Chanukah party and other Jewish heritage celebrations, and their significance to the Jewish community and the broader public
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This session features the trailblazing organizations shaping Israel's emergency response landscape. Discover how these innovators identified critical needs and took bold steps to address them, creating impactful and effective programs and services. Through firsthand accounts of our partners on the ground in Israel, participants will gain insights into the inspiring work supported by our communities' emergency campaign
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This session will feature some of the leading thinkers in Jewish education as we as we confront issues including Israel education, antisemitism, and Jewish pride in our new post-10/7 realities. Join us for a discussion and analysis of how Jewish education and engagement can call on its strong foundations and adapt to meet the needs of learners and Jewish communities today.
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Join us for a special screening of Screams Before Silence, followed by a conversation about how to integrate the film into your community relations, advocacy, and educational efforts.
The dynamics of the war in Ukraine are complex and continually evolving. This session explores its impact on the Jewish community, the continuing humanitarian crisis, and the broader implications of this conflict. Experts will discuss the importance of sustained engagement and cooperation with experts and partners in addressing the war's challenges and how the North American Jewish community can continue to support the ongoing crisis.
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Did 10/7 and the subsequent war push Christian support for Israel into freefall? What are the dynamics at play, and how can we reverse negative trends? This panel will bring together leading lights of Evangelical Christianity and pro-Israel advocacy to ensure and grow Christian alliances for Israel. The session will focus on strategies for reaching younger generations and will suggest how we can proactively engage Hispanic, Asian, and Black Christians.
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Jewish Federations' recent data demonstrates a surge of engagement in Jewish life. Within this current landscape, Jewish day schools are at a pivotal moment. This featured session will explore the intersection of affordability, academic excellence, and strategic marketing to capitalize on unprecedented interest and opportunity to welcome new families to day schools. The discussion will highlight the latest trends shaping the future of Jewish education and will showcase innovative approaches.
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Midlife Jewish adults, age 55 and older, make up a quarter and the most significant surge of Jews who were previously not engaging with Jewish life before October 7 but who are now showing up in unprecedented numbers. Furthermore, a considerable percentage of donors who heeded the call to support Israel in the aftermath of October 7 fall in this demographic (69% of all donors). How can we respond to this skyrocketing demand to meet the needs and desires of midlife adults to (re)engage with Jewish life and meet the moment? Explore successful program innovations, ranging from local programs to immersive travel experiences, focused on giving midlife Jewish adults to navigate their purpose, explore transitions into new identities (career shifts, caregiving, grandparenting, and more), create friendships, and discover new community with others at a similar life stage for long-term engagement with Jewish life.
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The rise in antisemitism on social media platforms is a growing and urgent concern for the Jewish community. This session will delve into social media's unregulated nature, examine its societal impacts and prospects, and highlight the pressing need for robust federal regulations. Topics include social media's evolution and unchecked growth, the data-driven impact of antisemitism, and potential legislative actions Congress could take to address these issues.
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On behalf of Keshet, the Jewish Federations' Center for Jewish Belonging, and our co-sponsors A Wider Bridge, Edlavitch DC JCC, Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund, Eshel, The Jewish LGBTQ Donor Network, JQ International, and JQY, we warmly invite you to the LGBTQ+ & Allies Reception at the Jewish Federations of North America General Assembly in Washington, DC!
Registration is required: Register here.
Prime Ministers Council VIP Reception and Program (Invite-Only)
In public schools around the county, mandated new curricula present a growing threat of antisemitism. Lesson plans approved by school boards and superintendents for the kindergarten level and up depict Israel as an oppressive, colonialist occupier, demonizing Zionists, and perpetuating harmful stereotypes and misconceptions. At the same time, other districts are adopting a differently dangerous Christian narrative, toeing first amendment lines by framing history as Biblical, disregarding Jewish identity and perspectives, and failing to adequately address historical and ongoing antisemitism. Join us for a conversation with experts on the current classroom battles and the strategies, best practices and latest resources for addressing them.
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Flourishing Jewish communities are safe, healthy, caring, engaged, and educated. They care for their members, are active in public affairs, and stay connected to Israel and the global Jewish world while fostering a sense of belonging for diverse populations. Across North America, communities are making strides toward achieving these qualities. Discover how to assess where your community stands on this journey and explore strategies that can drive meaningful progress. This session will share insights from data analysis and surveys used by communities of all sizes, highlighting best practices and revealing initial findings from a recent Federation pilot aimed at accelerating growth and success.
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Does your organization have a culture that promotes philanthropy? Empower your entire organization to embrace philanthropy as a collective mission. This workshop provides practical tips and strategies to engage every team member, regardless of their role, in financial resource development. Featuring case studies from diverse organizations, participants will leave with actionable insights and the confidence to inspire their colleagues and peers to actively participate in fundraising efforts.
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As Jewish life evolves in the 21st century, shifting demographic trends are redefining social and cultural identities, reshaping how we perceive and measure communal belonging across schools, synagogues, federations, and Jewish community centers. In the wake of the unprecedented surge in engagement since October 7th, we stand at a pivotal moment. This session will explore the pressing need to sustain this momentum and actively foster a culture of belonging where every individual's unique gifts, talents, and perspectives are acknowledged and celebrated. Join leading experts as we delve into innovative strategies for building an inclusive and thriving Jewish community that embraces the richness of our diversity and ensures a strong, united future.
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In today's climate, the Jewish community faces the dual challenge of ensuring safety while creating an inclusive environment for all members. This workshop delves into the complexities of safeguarding our community, focusing on the needs of those with marginalized identities. Led by leading experts in community security and inclusion, this workshop will equip organizations with strategies for implementing culturally competent safety protocols. Attendees will gain actionable insights on how to design and deploy security measures that are not just effective, but also sensitive to our community's diverse experiences. Join us to learn how to balance safety with belonging and leave empowered with the tools to foster a secure and welcoming environment for everyone.
In an increasingly polarized society, diversity work has often centered on issues like race and gender, but frequently overlooked are the skills needed to truly understand and engage with those who hold differing viewpoints. This session will explore why engaging with diverse perspectives can strengthen individuals and organizations and how to elevate the importance of viewpoint diversity while setting appropriate boundaries.
Jewish communal leadership has been made especially challenging by the crises, from COVID to post-October 7th, that have occurred during the past few years. We have seen the demand for lay and professional approaches to leadership as governance has evolved. Explore the intersection of Jewish values and how they drive purposeful leadership through governance best practices, providing you with practical tools to lead in times of uncertainty. Focusing on Jewish concepts such as tzedek (justice), chesed (kindness), and emet (truth), learn ways to drive growth around the board table while also leveraging strong leadership and governance practices. Join us for an insightful journey into Jewish governance and its positive impact on fundraising, pipelining, and communal support.
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Investing in the safety and security of the Jewish community has become an integral part of fostering Jewish life. Today, our Jewish communities and institutions are more secure than ever before as we navigate the rise of antisemitism. As we continue to ensure that Jewish life is not threatened or limited by security concerns, we also have an opportunity to leverage our security infrastructure and expertise to support other religiously and cultural communities. As a result, we will continue to build bridges, strengthen civil society, and further protect the Jewish community. This session will delve into the challenges and opportunities in advancing this work and will include perspectives from interfaith allies, security experts, and Jewish communal leaders about best practices in collaborating across and beyond the Jewish community.
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Israel educational travel has proven again and again to have profound impact on Jewish identity, participation in Jewish life and connection to Israel and its people for Jews and non-Jews alike. And yet, October 7 and the ensuing events have created unprecedented changes to the who, the what and the how of Israel educational travel. Learn from those leading and guiding their peers innovating new best practices and grappling with current dilemmas to deepen impact of Israel trips in our post-10/7 world.
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Jewish Federations across North America have raised billions to address emerging local and overseas needs, including over $800 million to support Israel and Israelis since October 7, at the same time as we are facing growing challenges and opportunities to Jewish life in North America. This session explores the challenges of juggling competing needs and priorities in philanthropy. How does this substantial support for Israel impact the scale of giving to other Jewish communities in need, including growing needs in North America? Is the surge in giving to Israel a fleeting trend, or does it signify a new norm? Participants will engage in a thought-provoking discussion on strategies for promoting philanthropic multitasking, both during emergencies and in routine philanthropy, to create a balanced approach that addresses diverse needs across the globe.
People working and volunteering in Jewish organizations are carrying heavy burdens as they guide their communities through relentless collective trauma while also managing their own personal traumas. This persistent stress has sparked conversations across op-eds, chat groups, and boardrooms, highlighting the urgent need for safer, more supportive work environments. This workshop, grounded in a person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) approach, will provide essential insights into how trauma affects our work and well-being. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to combat burnout and foster resilience for themselves and their colleagues.
Mental health support is available to session attendees, provided by Kiran Dixit and Avi Criden from JSSA.
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As the Jewish community contends with what it means to live in our post-October 7th climate of skyrocketing antisemitism and a (re)newed desire to engage with Jewish life, it is our responsibility to understand the evolving needs of our Jewish future: our teens. Join us to explore the findings from leading teen-focused organizations, highlighting changes in teens' mental health, behavior, experiences with antisemitism, and evolving relationships with Israel. Experts will discuss the tools and resources needed to support teens and their families locally and as they prepare for postsecondary opportunities.