MARCH 15 DEADLINE - AJC/Brandeis Summer Institute on Israel
Join with other AJC leaders for a four-day intensive seminar, August 2 to 5, on modern Israel. Ilan Troen, chair of Israel Studies at Brandeis University, and Steven Bayme, director of AJC's Koppelman Institute for American Jewish-Israeli Relations, will lead the second AJC/Brandeis Summer Institute at the Cranwell Resort in Lenox, MA. Focusing on Israeli history, politics, culture and religion, participants will enhance their knowledge on the major issues that will confront Israel and her Diaspora supporters in the years ahead. Contact Steven Bayme at baymes@ajc.org or 212-891-6711 for more information. Deadline is March 15, 2007.
New Volume Furthers Jewish-Polish Understanding
Difficult Questions in Polish-Jewish Dialogue, co-published by AJC and the Forum for Dialogue Among Nations, is the latest AJC initiative to deepen understanding between Jews and Poland. Difficult Questions addresses questions raised by young people who participated in youth programs in Poland. The questions focus on Polish-Jewish relations in Poland before and during the Holocaust, memory and knowledge in Poland about the Holocaust, current issues in Polish-Jewish relations, the status of the Jewish community in Poland today, and the future for advancing Polish-Jewish relations. Answers are provided by distinguished Jewish and Polish experts in history, sociology, Polish-Jewish relations and religion. The English edition of Difficult Questions can be ordered from AJC by contacting Dan Larson at larsond@ajc.org.
Rabbi James Rudin Receives Eternal Light Award
More than 200 people attended the annual Eternal Light Award dinner in Sarasota, Florida to honor Rabbi James Rudin, longtime AJC director of interreligious affairs, and author of The Baptizing of America. The dinner was held by the Center for Catholic Jewish Studies at Saint Leo University. The Center was co-founded by AJC and Saint Leo University. Carol and Mort Siegler were co-chairs of the event. Dr. Arthur Kirk, Jr., president of Saint Leo University and an alumnus of AJC's Project Interchange program in Israel, and David Harris were among the speakers at the event.
AJC's Mideast Briefing: Importance of the Olmert-Abbas Summit
In his weekly analysis, Eran Lerman, director of AJC's Israel/Middle East Office, discusses the importance of Israel's ongoing outreach to Mahmoud Abbas, despite his formation of a Palestinian "unity" government with Hamas, regional disharmony promoted by Iran, and Israel's domestic crises. http://www.ajc.org/site/apps/nl/content2.asp?c=ijITI2PHKoG&b=1717407&ct=3586 831
Take Action Now: Support Energy Legislation
Join AJC's campaign to end America's troubling dependence on foreign oil. Visit AJC's advocacy center to urge your Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor the DRIVE (Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy) act, which calls for reductions in oil usage and innovations in vehicle fuel efficiency.
Project Interchange Brings Congressional Staffers to Israel
A bipartisan delegation of senior House and Senate staff, including chiefs of staff and legislative directors, is visiting Israel on a Project Interchange educational seminar. The congressional staffers are meeting with, among others, Knesset members and Israeli Foreign Ministry officials. The group will also visit with the Bedouin community in Israel's south and learn about the development of the Negev. The group is accompanied by Allyson Gall, director of AJC's New Jersey Chapter.
Ari M. Gordon Assistant Director Department of Interreligious Affairs American Jewish Committee 165 E56th St. New York, NY 10022 (212) 891-6768 (212) 751-4000 x266 www.ajc.org www.engagingamerica.org