Excerpts from American Jewish Committee's Weekly Update:
Project Interchange: Chilean Leaders Visit Israel
A group of Chilean journalists and parliamentarians is visiting Israel on a Project Interchange educational seminar co-sponsored by AJC's Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs and the Chilean Jewish community organization, CREJ (Confederacion Representiva de Entitades Judias). The group will be briefed by Ms. Irene Bronfman, Chile's Ambassador to Israel, and Hebrew University professor, Mario Sznajder, who will discuss Israel's work addressing the painful history of the Holocaust. Additional sessions will examine Israeli media, women's rights and Israel's efforts to integrate new immigrants, particularly its growing Spanish-speaking community.
Washington Reception for UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon
Felice Gaer, director of AJC's Blaustein Institute, was among a small group of UN specialists and Washington-based activists who attended a Washington reception for new UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon of South Korea. The private dinner was hosted by Congressman Tom Lantos, the new chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and included key members of the administration and Congress as well as members of the Secretary General's staff.
Darfur Advocacy for High School Students
More than 125 high school students in New Jersey who are interested in journalism careers attended a daylong conference on Darfur, Do the Write Thing, cosponsored by AJC's Metro New Jersey Chapter. The keynote speaker was Nick Clooney, veteran television journalist and, together with his actor son, George, a leading activist for Darfur. Workshops were led by journalists from the New York Times, Newark Star Ledger and other media outlets, as well as Kenneth Bandler, AJC's communications director. Bandler also led the news conference, where students posed questions to Clooney, a Darfur refugee, the student founder of Help Darfur Now, and Blanche Foster, director of the Darfur Rehabilitation Project. Pictured are Susan Shapiro, AJC New Jersey Chapter assistant director, Kenneth Bandler, Nick Clooney and Nina Clooney.
Russian Jewish Leadership Program Marks Tenth Anniversary
More than 120 Russian Jewish leaders and activists gathered at AJC headquarters in New York to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of AJC's renowned Russian Leadership Program. The event, hosted by Dr. Cheryl Fishbein and Dr. Igor Branovan, paid tribute to AJC by honoring AJC Executive Director David A. Harris; Steven Bayme, AJC's director of Contemporary Jewish Life; and Shula Bahat, AJC's associate executive director. Peyrets Goldmacher, a "founding father" of the program and Boris Gorbis, a prominent Russian Jewish activist from Los Angeles, addressed the dinner. Since its inception in 1996, more than 200 leaders have graduated from this program, including Alec Brook-Krasny, the first Russian-Jewish immigrant elected to the New York State Assembly.
Wisconsin Governor Honors AJC Milwaukee Chapter
AJC's Milwaukee Chapter received the prestigious 2007 Heritage Award from the state of Wisconsin during the state's annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Milwaukee Chapter was selected because of its commitment to social justice and building bridges across Wisconsin's diverse communities. Pictured are (right to left): Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle; and Harriet McKinney, AJC's Milwaukee Chapter director.
Ari M. Gordon Assistant Director Department of Interreligious Affairs American Jewish Committee 165 E56th St. New York, NY 10022 (212) 751-4000 x266 www.ajc.org www.engagingamerica.org