Most professions have annual conferences where colleagues gather to learn, network, and explore the challenges and opportunities shaping their field.

 

For those of us who work in Jewish communal life, our professional conference is unique. We do not gather separately from the communities we serve. Instead, we come together with lay leaders, philanthropists, volunteers, educators, rabbis, and community members from across North America at the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) General Assembly (GA). It is one of the few places where the broader Jewish community convenes under one roof.

 

Like any conference attendee, I value the opportunity to network, collaborate, and exchange ideas with colleagues. But I also view the GA as a chance to identify exceptional speakers and thought leaders whose insights can benefit our own community.

 

Last year, one of the most compelling sessions I attended featured David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari of The Washington Institute. Thoughtful, substantive, and deeply informed, they offered a nuanced discussion of Israel, the Palestinians, regional dynamics, and the broader Middle East that rose well above headlines and talking points. They spoke with deep knowledge, intellectual honesty, and a willingness to engage seriously with complexity.

 

That is why I am especially excited that on Wednesday, September 16, we are bringing them to Proctors for our entire community to hear.

 

Their presentation, The Iran War and its Aftermath: What's Changed for Israel, the Middle East, and What Comes Next?, comes at a pivotal moment. As Israel, its neighbors, and the broader region continue to navigate profound change, few speakers are better equipped to help us understand the implications of recent events and the possibilities that may lie ahead.

 

I hope you will join us on Wednesday, September 16, at Proctors at 7:30 p.m. for what promises to be an engaging, insightful, and timely discussion. Registration information is available here.