Jerusalem Art – Transcending Cultures and Continents

Let us introduce you to the Jerusalem International Fellows, and founder CEO Elise Bernhardt, to share how artists from across the globe come together to use the city of Jerusalem as their studio. During the 10-week residency, Mexican choreographer, dancer, professor and producer Claudia Lavista, flourished in her passion as she worked with Elad Schechter, founder and Artistic Director of c.a.t.a.m.o.n Dance Group.

Join us to learn more about:

The inspiration and impact of the artist residency program creating a doppler effect of creativity throughout the city; and

Claudia’s travels across the globe to work with the c.a.t.a.m.o.n. Dance Group and the lasting impact of her collaboration.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Elise Bernhardt
Founder & Director
Jerusalem International Fellows 

Claudia Lavista
Mexican Choreographer, Dancer, Professor and Producer

Elad Schechter
Founder & Artistic Director
c.a.t.a.m.o.n Dance Group

Host:

Wayne L. Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

The Motivation Behind the Creativity of Artists

Join us for another prolific contemporary art tour with Gabriela Vainsencher. During this tour we will be introduced to the work of three artists: Elisabeth Kley, Sol LeWitt (1928-2007), and Jordan Nassar.  We will delve into their individual motivations which fuel their creativity, explore their own personal connections to art and learn how each artist employs the use of unique mediums and processes to create their work.   

Gabriela will highlight:
*    How mathematical equations allow Sol LeWitt’s art to continue to be created;
*    How Elisabeth Kley transitions her ideas from 2D to 3D; and
*    How traditional craft is meshed with the conceptual art of Jordan Nassar.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Gabriela Vainsencher
Artist & Lecturer

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

An AIFL Fireside Chat: Exploring the Multi Community City of Beit Shemesh with Mayor Dr. Aliza Bloch and Dr. Yossi Vardi

Please join us for a fireside chat with Mayor Dr. Aliza Bloch and Dr. Yossi Vardi.   Learn the inspirational story of Mayor Dr. Bloch, and how she has dynamically impacted the city of Beit Shemesh one step at a time; from working within the school system to becoming the city’s first female Mayor, and every step in-between. Mayor Dr. Bloch will delve into the challenges of running a city in great growth, with strong multi-cultural constituents, with a goal of mitigating cultural differences for the benefit of everyone. 

We will discuss: 
*   The many different communities of Beit Shemesh;  
*   Mayor Dr. Bloch’s experiences being elected against all odds without a political party behind her;  
*   The founding of Branko Weiss High School; and 
*   The future vision for Beit Shemesh.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Mayor Dr. Aliza Bloch

Moderator:

Dr. Yossi Vardi 

Host:

Wayne L. Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

A Musical Conversation for Mother’s Day

Join us for a musical performance and conversation with an electric and a classical guitarists in collaboration with the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF). The AICF has, for over 80 years, provided scholarships to artists in order to support and cultivate artistic life in Israel. We will first hear about the vibrancy of varied artistic endeavors from Iris Reff-Ronen, CEO of AICF USA and Israel.  We will then speak live with Dida Pelled, a native Tel-Avivian now living in Brooklyn, NY, who is a widely regarded jazz guitarist, and Didi Gold, an Israeli born classical guitarist since the age 11, now residing in London.   

The program will feature:  

Concert and performance videos;  

The influences and artistic processes of both of the musicians; and

Musical Tributes to Mother Figures 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Didi Gold
Classical Guitarist, Arranger & Composer

Dida Pelled 
Jazz Guitarist, Singer & Songwriter

Greetings By:

Iris Reff-Ronen
CEO, AICF USA & Israel

Host:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Independent Movements Pilates

Join us for a Pilates stretch class as part of our health and wellness series led by Becky Bank Srour from Tel Aviv. 

This session will focus on becoming independent through movements which will increase your ability to move around in everyday activities on different surfaces. The series will help increase your balance, strength, and flexibility.

Becky will provide instructions for specialized moves. Grab your mat, chair, cushion and if you have them handy, some light weights.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Becky Bank Srour
Pilates Instructor

Host:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Flowers that Empower: Growing Sustainable Communities

April showers will yield May flowers… in Chicago and Israel this year!

Join us to hear the story of Chicago Eco House and its in-house flower shop, Southside Blooms. We are delighted to introduce you to Founder Quilen Blackwell, a recent delegate on America-Israel Friendship League’s African American Leadership Delegation.  Through a partnership with the Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest, Quilen has since returned to Israel to collaborate with Israeli Floral Stylist, Zarina Wasser, to bring new techniques and focus to his work in Chicago.

During our conversation, we will learn more about how:

• Chicago Eco House is using sustainability to alleviate poverty;
• Southside Blooms provides real world experience, applicable job skills and job creation for at-risk youth in inner-city Chicago;
• Zarina and Quilen met and how Zarina’s knowledge will impact, and advance, Chicago Eco House’s mission.  

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Quilen Blackwell
President & Co-founder
Chicago Eco House/Southside Blooms

Hannah Bonham Blackwell
Co-Founder & Lead Creative
Southside Blooms/Chicago Eco House

Travis Wilkinson
Farm Manager
Southside Blooms

Zarina Wasser
Owner
Zarina Floral Styling & Event Design

Nathan Friedkin
Founder 
Find Your Edge Media

Opening Remarks:

Itai Biran
Consul for Political & Commercial Affairs 
Consulate General of Israel to the Midwest

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

The Israel Opera: An Encore Independence Day Concert, Jazzed Up

In celebration of Israel’s 75th Independence Day, please join us for a virtual encore concert streamed to your home. The concert will include a musical retrospective of popular Israeli folk songs that include:

Mechora Sheli – My Homeland
Chorshat Ha’Ekaliptus – The Eucalyptus Grove
Ahava Hi Shir Leshnaim – Love is a Song for Two.
Hayu Leilot—Those Were the Nights

Streamed, the program will feature:

Music Director
David Sebba

Anat Czarny

Goni Knaani

Daniela Skorka

Tal Ganor

Host:

Wayne L. Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Vibes of Tel Aviv – Virtual Tour

Join Master Tour Guide, Shahar Fertig, for a unique visit to Tel-Aviv, a city that never sleeps. Shahar will show us many facets of this modern city in the Middle East, beyond its vibrant nightlife, by highlighting some of the top art, history, culture, cuisine and architecture Tel Aviv is known for.

We will virtually visit and learn more about:

The Renovation of the Hall of Independence
First Houses vs. Modern Buildings
The Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Sarona  Historical Center and Market
Zina Dizenghof Square

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Shahar Fertig
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Transcendent Mishkan Art: The Abu Shakra Family Collection

Join us for a second visit to the Miskan Art Museum in Ein Herod for a behind the scenes look at: “Spirit of Man, Spirit of Place – Artists of the Abu-Shakra family in Ein Harod”. This visionary exhibit co-Curated by Dr. Housni Shehada and Dr. Galia Bar-Or – is an exceptional, highly acclaimed display of five artists of the Abu-Shakra family from Umm El Fahem. This historical retrospective brings hope, with a sense of comfort, in the creation of a timely dialogue. 

Highlights of this presentation include: 

• The unique phenomenon of the Abu-Shakra family of great artists from Umm El Fahem.
• This groundbreaking exhibition as a cultural-social bridge, between different parts of Israeli society.
• Reflections from the co-curators on why this exhibition has become a “MUST-SEE”, drawing tens of thousands of visitors from all over Israel!
• How the Museum’s educational programs, inspired by this exhibition are impacting the region through coexistence programs between Arab and Jewish children.  

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Orit Lev-Segev
Director
Mishkan Museum of Art

Housni Alkhateeb Shehada
Curator of the Abu Shakra exhibition

Galia Bar Or
Curator of the Abu Shakra exhibition

Tanya Fredman
Educational, Community and
International Programming Coordinator

Wendy Kantor
Organizer & Chair
American Friends Of The Mishkan Museum

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Israel’s Legacy: Empowerment Through Change

Join us for the first installment of our collaborative series with Israel Legacy Central as we introduce you to Israel’s vibrant nonprofit organizations. Through our series, we’ll explore the untold stories and profound impact that Israel’s nonprofit sector has on Israel’s economy and diverse communities.

During this initial broadcast, we’ll get to know Olim Beyahad, whose mission is to end the destructive impact of racial bias against the Ethiopian community, and Hillel – The Right to Choose – which supports the increasing numbers of young adults leaving ultra-Orthodox communities across Israel. Both NGOs have the singular goal of empowering and supporting their constituents as they integrate into and contribute to Israeli society.

Our panel will share the similarities, differences and uniqueness of the challenges faced by the communities they serve. We will also hear directly from their respective program alumni who are paying forward their accomplishments to others seeking similar change and growth. During the conversation we will learn:

• Why the Ethiopian and ultra-Orthodox communities face disproportionately greater challenges when compared to other segments of Israeli society;
• What approach is taken to address and shift preconceived notions and prejudices about the Ethiopian and ultra-Orthodox communities;
• What personal challenges program participants face during and after their journey from transition to integration; and
• What are the long-term goals when addressing the issues of inclusivity and tolerance.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Shimmy Lev
Attorney at Law & Mediator
Volunteer, Hillel – The Right to Choose

Avi Neuman
Chief Development Officer
Hillel – The Right to Choose

Hagit Yaari
VP of Resource Development
Olim Beyahad

Yeshareg Esayas
Manager, Graduate Network
Olim Beyahad

Closing Remarks:  

Mordecai Karsch
Co-Founder
Israel Legacy Central

Greetings by:

Carol Karsch
Giving Expert & Founder
Israel Legacy Central

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Education of Gold in Jerusalem

Join us as we take a closer look at Israel’s educational system with our special guests from the American Association of School Administrators delegation in Israel.  This delegation of school superintendents represent school districts from across the United States from states such as Alabama, Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.

During this webinar we will focus on the management and inner workings of the educational system in the municipality of Jerusalem, with the largest Arab and Ultra-Orthodox populations in the country. The educational system is comprised of 800 schools and three sectors of approximately 290,000 students and must adapt to the diverse needs of each sector. 

Yoav Zimran, Director of the Jerusalem Education Authority will introduce us to  this vast network of educational institutions and services. We invite you to join our guests as we explore:
•    What makes the educational system in Jerusalem unique;
•    How the system works as a cohesive unit;
•    The challenges of addressing the educational needs of its diverse community; and
•    The importance of innovations made during the last five years.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Yoav Zimran
Director, Jerusalem Education Authority
Jerusalem Municipality

Greetings from:

Ruby Shamir
Executive Director
AIFL, Israel

Moderatror:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Embroidering, Conceptual & Figurative Art Exploration

Join us for another prolific contemporary art tour with Gabriela Vainsencher. During this tour we will be introduced to work of three artists Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Sophia Narret and our guide herself.  Each artist’s work is in response to social issues and a global environment that is culturally diverse. 

We will gain insight into the conceptual work of Gonzalez-Torres which is composed of everyday material but elicits powerful responses from each viewer. This work has added historical value and perspective of the artist from the AIDS epidemic period. 

Vainsencher, draws on the Mother archetype which changes from culture to culture, but historically took the form of Madonna and Child. Her current work highlights motherhood as both subject and a state, a provocative theme and conversation in the artworld. 

Embroidering – painting with thread, we will escape with Narrett into her intricately embellished dreamscapes where she explores a variety of topics including Jewish mysticism, fantasy, and romance.

As Gabriela shares her creative process with us, we will also learn:     

• More about the legacy of González-Torres whose work continues to expand and be challenged;
• Why motherhood remains uncomfortable territory as a subject and state in the artworld;
• The importance of contemporary art due to its historical value of being a product and witness of a specific time and era; and
• About a unique approach to the craft of weaving and an artist’s radical vision for her work.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Gabriela Vainsencher
Artist & Lecturer

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Functional Pilates: Let’s Get Physical!

Join us for a Pilates stretch class as part of our health and wellness series led by Becky Bank Srour from Tel Aviv. 

This session will focus on a series of functional workouts which are related to increasing your ability to participate in and get better at everyday activities—like walking, bending, or squatting to pick up something heavy. The series will help increase your balance, strength, and flexibility.

Becky will provide instructions for specialized moves. Grab a mat, a resistance band, a chair, some light weights and, if you have one handy, a stick. 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Becky Bank Srour
Pilates Instructor

Host:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Virtual Tour: More Haifa by Demand

Join Master Tour Guide, Shahar Fertig, for this extended virtual tour of Haifa, as he continues to amaze us with Haifa’s history, hikes and wildlife.

During this virtual tour, we will learn about:
• The hike from Stella Maris to the Elijah cave;
• Druze, Jews, Muslims & Christians in Haifa and its surrounding areas;
• Forest fires and wild boars;
• Haifa’s markets and a special restaurant, Robin Food; and
• The Port of Haifa and the National Maritime Museum.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Shahar Fertig
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone 
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Mishkan Museum Of Art: Timeless Treasure

Join us as we introduce you to the Mishkan Museum of Art, Ein Harod. Founded in 1937, the brainchild of Israeli artist and kibbutz member Haim Atar, Mishkan was established in the heart of the kibbutz community.  Its founders believed that art, culture, knowledge, and understanding were essential. Today Mishkan located in the north of Israel is lauded as a respected museum and exhibition space for local, national, and international artists. 

The museum houses a large and diverse collection of Jewish art from the late 19th and early 20th century and boasts some of the most groundbreaking exhibits, along with an extensive collection of Judaica and Israeli art. Its structure has inspired some of the 20th century’s most iconic buildings.

During this first installment of our two-part series featuring Mishkan, we will learn from the museum’s professional staff:

• The history of the museum and what makes it unique;
• Why Mishkan is a multi-cultural institute that holds true to the values of pluralism and tolerance through the personal stories from professional staff;
• The impact of Mishkan’s educational and social initiatives and what makes the museum a pedagogical innovator;
• What makes Mishkan’s collection of Jewish and Israeli art unparalleled; and
• What’s next for Mishkan … the vision for its future.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Orit Lev-Segev
Director
Mishkan Museum of Art

Tanya Fredman
Educational, Community and
International Programming Coordinator

Yaniv Shapira
Chief Curator
Mishkan Museum of Art

Dvora Liss
Judaica & Contemporary Jewish Art Curator
Mishkan Museum of Art

Wendy Kantor
Organizer & Chair
American Friends Of The Mishkan Museum

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone 
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

We Stand With Turkey: An Emergency Briefing – Rescue Efforts & Humanitarian Aid

On Monday morning, February 6, Southern Türkiye and Syria were rocked with two successive earthquakes.  By Monday evening Israel’s rescue teams were en-route to provide their support and assistance.  In a dramatic move, the government of Syria sent a request to Israel for support.

Within a few hours, over 2,000 were confirmed dead, and that number will rise dramatically. The quake is one the strongest to hit the region in over a hundred years with multiple aftershocks felt throughout the region afterwards.  

Join us for a special briefing from representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of IsraAID, the Israeli humanitarian and disaster relief NGO, who will brief us of their efforts on the ground.

They will share with us:

• The challenges they are facing including extreme weather conditions in reaching those in dire need;
• The outlook from medical and logistics experts who have been deployed; and 
• What the region needs most in the wake of massive destruction and tragic loss of life.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Rescue Mission
Israel Ministry Of Foreign Affairs

Rescue Mission
IsraAID

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone 
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Innovation in Education & Community Reformation

• What inspired Rabbi Bombach to reimagine Israel’s Charedi educational system;
• The importance of finding a balance between educational innovation and the central religious values of students;
• How a Netzach education prepares graduates to pursue higher education and compete for quality employment; and
• How it feels to affect positive change and influence the future of your community. 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Rabbi Menachem Bombach

Moderator:

Dr. Yossi Vardi 

Host:

Wayne L. Firestone 
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page

Virtual Tour This Month @Haifa: Little Secrets and Large Innovations

Join Master Tour Guide, Shahar Fertig, who will take us on a virtual tour of Haifa, Israel’s third largest city, known for its majestic views of the Mediterranean Sea.

During this virtual tour, we will learn about:
•    Public Transportation in Haifa and the Cable Express
•    Mt. Carmel’s Flora and Fauna
•    Hikes Revealing Secrets of the City such as: 

• Spring and the Carmelite Crusader ruins; 
• Wadi Siakh:  Stella Maris to Elijah’s cave; and
• Haifa University Archaeology: Hecht Museum to The Generational Path.  

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Shahar Fertig
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone 
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Self-Discovery: A Journey in Contemporary Art

Join us on an exclusive journey with contemporary art expert, Gabriela Vainsencher, as she shares with us the creative journeys of three prolific artists whose stories of self-discovery have impacted their creative expressions and artistic creations. 

We will meet Yashua Klos, Tau Lewis and Tirtzah Bassel who have all unearthed personal connections and family history that have influenced their work. Using a variety of media including woodblock printing, collage, sculpture and painting they give their audience the opportunity to get to know them on a deeper level. 

During this tour we will learn more about:

• How these artists discovered personal history through art history
• How exploring racial and masculine identity inspired one artist’s works
• How a self-taught sculptor creates hand-made masterpieces from natural materials

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Gabriela Vainsencher
Artist & Lecturer

Host:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Music & Dance: The International Languages of Inclusivity

• The Academy’s history and mission
• What makes The Academy’s curricula unique
• What makes The Academy’s teachers and graduates some of the best artists in Israel and around the world
• What’s next for The Academy as they celebrate 90 years of academic excellence

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Sarah Meltzer Golan
Head of the International Relations Office,
Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance

Professor Michael Klinghoffer
President
Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance

Host:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

New Year’s Resolution Pilates

Join us for a Pilates stretch class as part of our health and wellness series led by Becky Bank Srour from Tel Aviv.  

Becky will provide instructions for specialized moves. Grab a mat and towel and get ready to start the new year with a healthy resolution.

Please be prepared with your foam roller for a challenging session, for all levels, as we explore:
•    Balance
•    Core
•    Range of Motion

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Becky Bank Srour
Pilates Instructor

Host:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Replay: PropTech: Israel Day @ New York Stock Exchange

Join us as we revisit one of the programming highlights of 2022, Israel Day @ New York Stock Exchange which was hosted in partnership with IsraeliMappedinNY and New York Stock Exchange.  Last year’s conference was dedicated to PropTech, technology developed to manage commercial properties. The Israeli startups featured specialize in technology that has jump-started property management to overcome inefficiencies in management and operations. 

The conference will recap many leading technologies and financing opportunities.

The program will feature:

Host:

Wayne L. Firestone 
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Timeless Symphonic and Operatic Discoveries

• What inspired the writing of an opera about Cairo Geniza;
• The challenges of bringing someone else’s vision to life with music;
• The approach needed to convey the preeminence and historical significance of a figure like Halevi; and 
• The creative process for operatic and symphonic works.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Maestro Arnold Saltzman
Composer of Geniza: Hidden Fragments &
A Choral Symphony: Halevi

Maestro Jeffrey Silberschlag
Artistic Director of the Chesapeake Orchestra
Prof. of Music and Chair in Music at St. Mary’s College of University of South Maryland
Alba Music Festival Co-director

Host:

Wayne L. Firestone 
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Sababa Sunday

The Mighty Mosquito: A Fireside Chat with Dr. Yossi Vardi & Dr. Jonathan Bohbot

   *How with the help of nanotechnology mosquitoes can help detect and reduce food spoilage

   *How mosquitoes use their sense of smell to track humans which will enable us to improve repellants

   *How receptors can be combined to detect specific odors

   *What has been learned by tracking mosquitoes in 3D when they are exposed to human odors and other       stimuli

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Dr. Jonathan D. Bohbot
Assistant Professor of Entomology
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Moderator:

Dr. Yossi Vardi 

Host:

Wayne L. Firestone 
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

The Road Ahead: A Post-Israeli Election Analysis featuring our 2022 African American Leadership Delegation

Join us for the second installment of our two-part series on Understanding Israel’s Democratic System and November’s Election. This segment features an in-depth discussion with Professor Udi Sommer who will analyze the broader implications of Israel’s election and discuss what the results may entail for the future of the Knesset and the State of Israel. Now, in the aftermath of the election, the ousted leader of the Opposition and Chairman of the Likud Party Netanyahu is set to reclaim his previous position as Israel’s Prime Minister.
 
With the Likud poised to hold a solid majority in the 120-seat parliament, the elections have catapulted the Religious Zionism bloc into the third-largest bloc in the legislature as well as a key component of the new ruling coalition.

• How will this change in power affect Israel’s approach to the country’s most-pressing concerns, both internal and external?
• How stable will the new coalition be?
• How will the new government influence US-Israel relations?
• Minorities and Israeli democracy – How does the Israeli democratic system relate to and address the needs of minority groups in society?

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Professor Udi Sommer

Greetings By:

Jonathan Barsade
President
America-Israel Friendship League

Moderator:

Jeremy Weiss
Vice President of Project and Programming Development
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Unique Thanksgiving Traditions: A Story of U.S. Immigrants in Israel

Join us for a unique Thanksgiving story, steeped in the early immigrant experience in Israel but born from a yearning to celebrate the culture and traditions of home. We will hear from founding members Marilyn Glazier and Lori Melman and will learn about Har Halutz, a settlement established by nine American families in 1985 who were part of the early Reform Movement. 

For these families, creating a sense of community would center around on holiday celebrations. For these American families, the holiday season begins with Thanksgiving.

We will learn what made these holiday activities so memorable.

What were the early days at Har Halutz like for the new immigrants?
How are families selected to take turns organizing hosting holiday gatherings?
How did these families make it a special celebration for the entire community?
Har Halutz now – how has the community evolved, and how have celebrations changed?

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Lori Melman

Marilyn Glazier

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone 
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Virtual Tour this month: Past Meets Present @ Tel Dor and Dor HaBonim

Join us and Master Guide, Shahar Fertig who will take us to the coast to visit Tel Dor and Dor HaBonim.

During this virtual tour, we will learn about the special qualities of this unique natural area, and how the nature along the coast changed life for those who lived there throughout the ages. This tour includes the vista of breathtaking coastal cliffs in Northern Israel.

Shahar will guide us from the past to the present at:
•    The trade routes of the Phoenicians;
•    The Dor Habonim Nature Reserves; and
•    The Nahsholim Beach in Tel Dor 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Shahar Fertig
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone 
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Mindful Movements Pilates

Join us for a Pilates stretch class as part of our health and wellness series led by Becky Bank Srour from Tel Aviv.  

Becky will provide instructions for specialized moves.  Grab a chair, mat and towel and get ready to have an attitude of gratitude.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Becky Bank Srour
Pilates Instructor

Host:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Coming Of Age -US & Israel Teens Speak

Join us for an inter-generational conversation with our American and Israeli youth ambassadors. We pride ourselves in introducing the world to future leaders. This program will allow you to hear authentic stories from these teenagers who have experienced many changes during the last few years and have emerged stronger. They embarked on this educational adventure together embracing the opportunity to accomplish what they sorely missed over the last two years, having an organic in-person bonding experience with their peers abroad.

Following home hospitality programs in Houston, Oklahoma City and Virginia Beach our youth ambassadors have had opportunities for growth, while experiencing daily life together.

During our “town hall” conversation live from New York, they will share:
• What they have learned about themselves and their peers during the pandemic;
• How they have adapted to the new normal in their respective countries and what that means;
• What social movements or global conversations have spurred them to find their voice or to act;
• What assumptions they may have had about each other prior to their YASE experience;
• What they have learned during their YASE experience, and has YASE impacted their perspective of each other
• What current and new goals have emerged from this exchange.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

2022 YASE Ambassadors from US & Israel

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Understanding Israel’s Democratic System & November’s Election

On November 1st, Israel will hold its fifth election in three and a half years. This period in Israeli politics has been marked by internal political conflict and external challenges. As Israelis prepare for the upcoming elections, tension, increasing extremism and social gaps are becoming more apparent. Yet, this small but mighty democracy, has never stopped believing in nor questioned the democratic process.

During this timely conversation, we will gain a better understanding of Israeli democracy and the reasons why there is yet another round of democratic elections. We will also explore the differences between the democratic systems in Israel and the USA and what the results of this election might tell us about the direction in which Israel might be headed.

Join us as political analyst and Israeli foreign policy expert Yohanan Plesner helps us understand this ever-evolving period in Israeli democracy. With his knowledge and expert opinion, we will learn:

How does Israel’s democratic process works? What are the similarities to and differences from the American democratic process?
What unique challenges does Israeli democracy faces both externally and internally, and what is their impact on governance?
Why is another election being held at this time?
What is the role that key groups in Israeli society play in the electoral process?

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Yohanan  Plesner
President, Israel Democracy Institute

Moderator:

Jeremy Weiss
Vice President of Project and Programming Development
America-Israel Friendship League

Please note special time of the webinar in Israel,
due to Israel’s change from Daylight Savings Time.

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

2022 YOUTH AMBASSADOR STUDENT EXCHANGE (YASE) – October 25th – November 22nd

The Youth Ambassador Student Exchange (YASE) program is the AIFL’s flagship educational program. Since 1977 the AIFL has conducted this formal binational educational exchange program in partnership with the Israel Youth Exchange Authority (IYEA, formerly known as the Public Council for the Exchange of Youth and Young Adults).

To date, over 5,000, predominantly non-Jewish, American high school students and their families have participated in this month-long exchange program where they gain the experience of living in each other’s country and home.

Each program is conducted around a current international theme (this year, TBD).

PROGRAM DATES: October 25th – November 22nd

Israeli Delegations arrive in the US – October 25th

US Home Hospitality – October 25th to November 1st Tours/Lectures etc. Washington DC & NYC – November 1st – 7th

• November 1st – 4th – Washington, DC
• November 4th – 7th – New York

Israeli and American Delegations travel and arrive in Israel – November 8th

Tours/Lectures, etc. Jerusalem & Tel Aviv – November 8th – 14th

• November 8th – 10th – Tel Aviv
• November 10th – 14th – Jerusalem Home Hospitality – November 14th –21st

American Delegations Return to the US – November 22nd

Tabernacles of Israel: Sukkot’s Movable Feast

Join us for a virtual tour of the Tabernacles across Israel, in the next installment of our monthly Virtual Israel Travel series with Shahar Fertig, Master Tour Guide.

We will learn about the roots and heritage of Tabernacles across Israel and their role in the celebration of Sukkot.

Shahar will share insights about:
• The story of Tabernacles
• The biblical origin of the Tabernacles
• How ancient holidays are celebrated in modern Israel

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Shahar Fertig
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page

Rebuilding Communities: Models Of Faith and Hope Replay

In the true spirit of Sukkot, please join us for this replay webinar discussing how our collective experience, regardless of where we live, has taught us that time is fleeting, life is a gift, and we have a lot to be grateful for here in the United States and around the world. Many of us have been worried about the challenges facing our families and wider communities and have turned to faith leaders for guidance and a ray of hope.  

Our panel of faith leaders from Miami consists of a rabbi, a pastor, a reverend, and an Islamic leader who have all had to think outside of their traditional ideological boxes and expand their ministries to address an ever-evolving list of social welfare needs of their congregants and broader community during the pandemic and now. Some have partnered with other faith leaders to bridge the gap of their local communities, creating social program models that have been successful in both addressing their constituents’ needs and providing hope.  

Together we will hear from these faith leaders and learn: 

• What it means to be selfless in service of our fellow man. 

• Which models have proven to be most efficient and effective in helping them address the growing needs of congregants? 

• What challenges and triumphs have they faced and had during their expanded community outreach efforts? 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Father Denrick E. Rolle

Rabbi Mario Rojzman

Mr. Abdool Ghanie

Paul Volan

Greetings from:

Consul General
Maor Elbaz-Starinsky
Consul General of Israel in Miami

Host:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Sweet Songs for the New Year …Shana Tova!!

Join us as we celebrate the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashana 5783, with a replay of an online concert from the Israeli Opera. This popular cultural event will be streamed straight to the comfort of your home filled with sweet songs and melodies for New Year. Some of the musical selections for this holiday period are:

Bashana Haba’ah – Next Year by Ehud Manor and Nurit Hirsch
Balada La’Shoter Azulai – Ballad for Officer Azulai by Ehud Manor and Nurit Hirsch
Reach Tapuach – Aroma of Apples by Yoram Taharlev and Nachum Heyman
Yeheyeh Tov – It Will Be Good by Yehonatan Geffen and David Broza

Streamed live, the program will feature:

David Sebba, Musical Director
Raanana Symphonette Orchestra
Goni Knaani
Anat Czarny
Daniella Skorka
Tal Ganor

Host:

Jeremy Weiss
Vice President, Project & Programming Development
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Golda: An American & Israeli Legacy

Join us for a look at the lesser-known story of Golda Meir’s American sojourn from Milwaukee to Denver. Golda’s time in the United States had an immeasurable impact on her life choices and future in Israeli politics. 

We will hear from family friend, author, and her former spokesperson Meron Medzini, whose biography of Meir weaves a gripping tale of triumph and adversity. We will also hear from a board member and the Executive Director of the Golda Meir House Museum. We will learn about the rededication and history of this museum, whose aspirations include showcasing this iconic leader’s home, and its story in Denver in a world class museum worthy of her legacy.

During our conversation with our panel, we will learn more about:

• The influence of Golda’s American experience on her future roles in the union movement and politics in Israel;
• The process of archival restoration for creating a modern Golda exhibit;
• The role of Congresswoman Pat Schroeder and her role in the fight to save Golda’s House; and
• The historical significance of sharing Golda’s legacy with future generations.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Meron Medzini
Author and Historian  

Roz Duman
Founder/Executive Director
Coalition Against Global Genocide

Lena Fishman
Executive Director
Golda Meir House Museum

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

9/11/01: A Retrospective

Join us as we commemorate September 11th, 2001 a tragic day in the lives of New Yorkers and all the world. We will look back on the impact and aftermath of the horrific events of the day, as we contemplate the debt we owe and can never fully repay to our first responders–those on the frontline for months who brought stability, comfort and peace of mind to a city rocked to its core, its traumatized residents, and a very shocked country.

The events of September 11th, 2001 not only reshaped the city’s and nation’s response to terrorism, but it also catalyzed global interagency cooperation in national security preparedness.

Our panelists served in critical roles on the day, one as a city leader in government, another as a public safety leader and first responder, the other as chaplain and one of the city’s leading interfaith leaders and one is president of the owner of the World Trade Center, receiving the keys several short weeks before the tragic events unfolded. They will share how they found strength in the months and years following the tragedy to:

• Continue to fight for healthcare for first responders and their families
• Rebuild a devastated fire department that lost 343 members of its bravest
• Use their faith to help many combat fear and foster interfaith dialogue in the aftermath of September 11th, 2011
• Share the complex history of September 11th with the next generation
• Maintain the commemoration during destruction to construction – how was the new trade center rebuilt while maintaining the legacy and memory of the original?

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney
New York’s 12th Congressional District

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik
Executive Vice President
New York Board of Rabbis &
Chaplain of the New York City Fire Department

Salvatore Cassano
Former Commissioner
NYC Fire Department

Tal Kerret
President, Silverstein Properties

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Artistic Interplays: Painting, Sculpture & New Techniques

Join Israeli artist and lecturer Gabriela Vainsencher for a gallery tour featuring three artists who enjoy using mixed media and the interplay of new techniques and new technology as a method of directly engaging their audiences. Featured at some of the most beautiful and fascinating shows on view in Los Angeles and New York City, Nicole Eisenmann, Adam Parker Smith, and Barbara Kruger’s creations explore complex feelings and the cultural prominence of their iconic pieces. 

Our tour will focus on the interplay of sculptures and paintings showcased at recent gallery exhibitions, and work represented at international museum collections. The artists’ work includes great mastery of each of their respective crafts, as well as creative processes that are revolutionary. 

During our discussion we will gain a greater understanding of:
•    The trends and new techniques in art;
•    How new technology can change the way we experience visual art;
•    Why contemporary art is so welcoming to these emerging trends;
•    How these three artists continue to be expansive with this new direction in the world of art.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Gabriela Vainsencher
Artist & Lecturer

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Shamir: War, Peace and a Dream

Yitzhak Shamir, the 7th Prime Minister of Israel, led a storied life now showcased in a riveting documentary, Shamir: War, Peace & A Dream. The film brings together a veritable roll call of Israeli politicians and generals to talk about his legacy. Interviews with Shamir’s confidants, colleagues and family, alongside reflections of former Prime Ministers, Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert, complement behind-the-scenes footage and archives.

The little-known personal history of Shamir is revealed onscreen, as director Igal Lerner offers a rare glimpse into Shamir’s early years in Poland, his family in Israel, and his leadership of the Stern Gang (Lehi) up through his years as Prime Minister.

Join us to meet the filmmakers and learn more about:

How this film and Shamir’s story are connected to our current times Why it was important to create this film
How and why Shamir’s legacy is still regarded as a leadership model You can view the movie trailer in advance of our webinar here: https://vimeo.com/679913389 .

The film’s official webpage is: https://www.noa-international.com/films/shamir-war-peace-dream .

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Noa Cacharel
Founder & CEO of NOA
International Film Marketing

Yair Shamir
Son of Yitzhak Shamir

Erez Fridman
Co-Filmmaker & Content Editor

Igal Lerner
Co-Filmmaker, Director & Producer 

Martin Kramer
Historian, Middle East and Israel at Shalem College & Walter P. Stern Fellow at The Washington Institute 

Host:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Parlor Meeting – Featuring Renowned Photographer Neil Folberg in his Jerusalem Studio.

Please join the America-Israel Friendship League in cooperation with State of the Arts for a private virtual tour with renowned photographer Neil Folberg in his Jerusalem studio.

During this parlor meeting, we will discuss the following:

* Neil’s seven published books, each encompassing what would be the project of a lifetime for others

* Neil’s travel and photography in 21 countries

* Neil’s Landscapes and Interiors

* How Neil has captured a dramatically changing world

You can learn more about AIFL, its storied history, and its rich current activities and across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  

Please RSVP to Leah at 843.830.6049 or leahlfc@gmail.com or

Raquel Veras at 516-604-1010 or events@aifl.org

Zev Brenner Radio Show

Zev Brenner, the decades-long President and Executive Producer of Talkline Communications Network and host of Talkline with Zev Brenner–America’s premier Jewish radio program—interviewed Naomi Reinharz, our Chief Development Officer, on his show this week about AIFL, our upcoming annual Partners for Democracy Awards Gala, and her career in fundraising. Listen here tonight, between 8-9 PM ET on WSNR 620 AM, WVIP 93.5 FM HD2 & www.talklinenetwork.com or via the 24  hour listenline: 641-793-0382.

“Reintroducing” Jazz Legends of Tomorrow: Carnegie’s National Youth Orchestra

The end of summer is near, and we know you need a break from the heat.  Join us for some “cool jazz” as we invite you to revisit a webinar and share a summer concert with you.  

Like the AIFL, Carnegie’s youth musical education programs inspire and introduces the world future leaders from those with aspirations and dreams to emerging talent. These lively musical performances breathe a new cadence of life into any room, and we cordially invite you to join us to:

• Be greeted by Sir Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall and learn more about Carnegie’s educational initiatives
• Hear personal and impactful stories from members of the National Youth Orchestra
• Immerse yourself into this extraordinary cultural musical program

Streamed live, the program will feature:
Carnegie’s National Youth Orchestra’s Jazz Ensemble Conducted by:

Sean Jones
Conductor
NYO Jazz Ensemble

With personal stories from:

Ebban Dorsey

Aliceyn Covington

Aidan McCarthy

Ephraim Dorsey

Emma Boyd

Sophie Urban

Greetings by:

Sir Clive Gillinson
Executive and Artistic Director
Carnegie Hall

Wayne Firestone
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom
or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Virtual Tour @ Jordan River Streams and the Ancient Cities of Dan & Banias: Part 2

This week, join us, along with our Master Guide Shahar Fertig, for part two of our virtual tour around the Jordan River and its historic tributaries.  We will continue our journey along the Hula Valley and learn more about the feeding streams and surrounding towns including the Dan, Panias (Banias) and Hasbani. 

Shahar will take us through the annals of time to share more historical insights, as well as little-known facts about this area. We will learn about:  
•    The largest waterfall in Israel
•    The Hanging Bridge
•    The Pan Cave
•    The Agrippa Palace

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Shahar Fertig
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom
or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

A Fireside Chat & Book Review: Judaism 3.0

Join us for a fireside chat and provocative discussion with AIFL board member Gol Kalev. Gol’s new book Judaism 3.0: Judaism’s Transformation to Zionism is triggering a new conversation.  

In his book, he asserts Judaism is going through a historic transformation just as it did 2,000 years ago. Zionism, the national aspect of the Jewish nation-religion is becoming its organizing principle. 

Kalev delves into analysis of long-term trends in Israel and in North America, collectively home to 85% of today’s Jewry. He argues that the transformation to Judaism 3.0 is not just a function of intra-Jewish trends, but also of global trends. He ties his observations to the original vision of Theodor Herzl, founder of modern-day Zionism, who, he explains, planted the seed for the transformation of Judaism. 

During our conversation, Gol will address:  

Is there a shift in global consciousness on the essence of Judaism?

Is there a global philosophical divide in the 21st Century between Americanism vs Europeanism? 

Why does criticism of Israel confirm his central thesis? 

How does Judaism 3.0 address contemporary Jewish realities such as intermarriage? 

What are the consequences of Judaism 3.0, in countering Israel-bashing? 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Gol Kalev

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

An IDF Briefing: Operation Breaking Dawn

These last few days, we all followed the most recent developments of “Operation Breaking Dawn”, which Israel deployed in the Gaza Strip in response to recent events carried out by the Islamic Jihad. After 55 hours of battle, late Sunday night, a delicate cease fire was brokered. For a behind the scenes perspective, join us for a briefing from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on this recent action.

The briefing will provide context and a better understanding of the prevailing threat of the Iranian sponsored terrorist organization Islamic Jihad.

During this briefing we will learn:
• What was the reaction of partner countries in the Middle East?
• What was the imminent threat that triggered Israel’s action?
• Were there other impending threats to Israel?
• What would it mean for the Israeli population if action was not taken or deferred?
• What was the role of Iran, Egypt and Hamas in these events?

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Lt. Col. Richard Hecht
IDF Spokesperson

Moderator:

Jeremy Weiss
Vice President of Project and Programming Development
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Pilates Summer Stretch Series

Join us for a total body Summer Pilates stretch class as part of our health and wellness series led by Becky Bank Srour from Tel Aviv. This resistance band series is designed to leave you feeling lean, strong and centered.

This session will focus on using these versatile resistance bands for some rotation movement to engage the core while also working that upper body but maintaining balance and posture.

Becky will provide instructions for specialized moves.

Grab a Theraband, your mat and towel and get ready to stand a little taller and feel stronger!

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Becky Bank Srour
Pilates Instructor

Host:

Wayne L. Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Live from Bat Yam: The Harvard Krokodiloes

Join us for a special live concert featuring The Harvard Krokodiloes one of the oldest American collegiate a cappella singing groups. The Kroks are on a global tour celebrating their first visit to Israel with several performances across the country.
Hosted under the auspices of the mayor of the beautiful coastal city of Bat-Yam, residents, beach goers and you will join this hybrid performance of their versatile repertoire and talent. 

This exclusive concert with the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea features ballads and classics such as:
•    Jerusalem
•    America The Beautiful
•    Sukiyaki
•    La Vie en Rose
•    All Of Me
•    Georgia On My Mind

Streamed live, the program will feature:

The Harvard Krokodiloes

Greetings by:

Mayor Tzvika Brot
Mayor Of Bat-Yam

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Harvard Krokodiloes: August 1st – 5th

Stay tuned for more details coming here soon.

Virtual Tour @Jordan River Streams and the Ancient Cities of Dan & Panias (Banias): Part 1

This week, join us for another exciting virtual tour with our master guide Shahar Fertig. Shahar will take us to the infamous Jordan River with its storied and biblical past, for the first of a two-part series. Coursing through the Hula Valley and fed by streams, including the Dan, Panias (Banias) and Hasbani streams it is approximately 223 miles in length and has the lowest elevation of any river in the world. 

During our tour, Shahar will take us through the annals of time to hear more about the Jordan River’s historical importance as a water source, as well as its religious significance. We will also learn, among other things: 

•    About the twelve tribes of Israel;
•    What is the Finger Of The Galilee?
•    Where is the Hula Valley?
•    Why the cleanest and freshest water comes from the Dan Spring.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Shahar Fertig
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

The Future Of Food Is Cellular

Join us for a riveting conversation with Dr. Yossi Vardi as he introduces us to another leader in innovation, this time from the field of food technology. This leader is someone who provides an answer to the adverse environmental effects of the traditional meat industry.

During his conversation with Professor Nahmias, Dr. Vardi will help us understand: 

• The ecological impact of meat consumption
• The growing interest in plant-based meat and sustainable alternatives
• What is ‘media rejuvenation’ and how it makes Future Meat Technologies stand out from its competitors
• Why Professor Nahmias believes cultured meat is the wave of the future and can feed the entire world

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Prof. Yaakov Nahmias
President & CSO
Future Meat Technologies

Greetings by:

Jonathan Barsade
President
America-Israel Friendship League

Moderator:

Dr. Yossi Vardi

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Live from Tel Aviv with AIFL’s 2022 Hispanic Community Leaders Delegation and Israel’s Selfie 2022: A Democracy’s Self Assessment

AIFL’s delegations are back in Israel, and now is your opportunity to hear first hand from the delegates of their experiences.  

After meeting the delegation, we will join them as they listen to Professor Tamar Hermann, Senior Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute, and her in-depth analysis of Israeli democracy based upon a comprehensive survey of public opinion.

Entitled Israel’s Selfie 2022,  the presentation and subsequent discussion will enable delegates to gain further understanding of the mosaic that is Israeli society.   Each year this survey, provided to political leaders and the President of Israel, gives them vital insight to the thoughts of Israel’s society, helping them make informed decisions, seeking to strengthen the Israeli democratic fiber.

Along with our delegation we invite you to learn about:

• Israel’s inherited challenges as it defines itself as a Jewish and democratic state
• Israel’s socio-demographic structure and its impact on the national political map (and upcoming elections)
• The realities of Israeli Jewish-Arab relations
• Israel and the Palestinians – what’s next?

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Professor Tamar Hermann
Senior Fellow
Israel Democracy Institute

Co-hosts

Ruby Shamir
Executive Director
America Israel Friendship League (Israel)

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Hispanic Community Leaders Delegation: July 10th – 17th

Curtain Call – Artistic Empowerment of Communities

Curtain Call works to bridge the gaps between, and foster dialogue among, the many diverse religious, minority and fringe communities across Israel. Join us for a program about this organization that is gaining acclaim in Israel and abroad for its innovative artistic programs.

The mission of Curtain Call is to use community theater as a tool to bring together and showcase people with disabilities, at risk youth, and minority groups – Arabs and Ethiopians, as well as Ultra-Orthodox women – bringing them to the forefront and integrating them into Israeli society.

During our program, we will hear from Curtain Call’s Founder and CEO, Ifat Bahar:
  * What inspired her to start this organization just a decade ago?
  * How does Curtain Call foster outreach and dialogue in its target communities?
  * How has the company adapted to meet the needs of its members during the pandemic?
  * How does Curtain Call measure its impact on the communities with whom it works?

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Ifat Bahar
Founder & CEO
Curtain Call

Soheir Khatib
Program Director for the Arab Society

Greetings:

Reuven Kuvent
Chair of the Board
Curtain Call

Moderator:

Wayne L. Firestone
AIFL Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Historical Eilat Through the Years – Virginia Beach, Parlor Meeting

America-Israel Friendship League
Invites You to Join Us at an AIFL Parlor Meeting
Virtual Tour of Eilat

Speaker:
Shahar Fertig
Master Tour Guide

Host:

Gregory Lewis Falls

Israeli Culture Club at the Global Studies & World Languages Academy (GSWLA)

Moderator:

Naomi Reinharz, Chief Development Officer at AIFL

Summer is in the air, and what better way to celebrate than to visit one of the premier Mediterranean beach cities—Eilat. Our guide, Shahar Fertig, will take us on a virtual tour that will include a brief visit to Eilat of the past through the annals of time to the trendy, vibrant city that never sleeps. This southern Israeli port and resort town on the Red Sea near Jordan is known for its beaches with their calm waters, like Dolphin Reef, where the aquatic mammals are often spotted. Known for snorkeling and diving, it is also home to Coral Beach Nature Reserve which has buoy-marked underwater trails among fish-filled reefs.

Our journey with Shahar will inspire you to visit Eilat. He will address these questions and more:  

• How did this shanty-style frontier town transform into one of Israel’s premiere resorts?

• How does Eilat preserve its magnificent coral reefs as a leader in environmental preservation and biodiversity, while sharing it with almost three million tourists each year?

When: Monday, June 27, 2022  

Time: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM ET (6:30 PM Israel / 8:30 AM PT)

Where: Via Zoom 

The event will also be streamed live via Zoom (prior registration is required). 

You can learn more about AIFL, its storied history, and its rich current activities and across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

Please RSVP to Raquel Veras at 516-604-1010 or https://forms.gle/ZqhagWDNmGS3UgXk9

Virtual Tour @ Caesarea: The Story Of Water

Caesarea: Rome’s Capital in Israel. Josephus considered it the main source of the Jordan River, and the ancient Greeks claimed the water that fed the Jordan flowed from the nearby cave. The truth may lie somewhere in the middle. Our guide, Shahar, will take us on a journey to discover the truth behind Caesarea and its intriguing story of water.

During our virtual tour with Shahar, we will learn:

• More about this ancient port city 
• How the Romans perfected the art of building aqueducts
• About the ancient water system that still connects the modern cities of Zichron Yaakov and Caesarea

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Shahar Fertig
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Taking Pride In Building Bridges – Beyond Stonewall, Milk & Marriage

As Pride Month celebrations are winding down, we commemorate a movement and members of our society who have evolved and grown along with societal perspectives on human sexuality. Our discussion features the leadership of two pioneering organizations at the fore of the movement in the U.S. and Israel – Hetrick Martin Institute and Israel Gay Youth (IGY). These organizations support LGBTQIA+ youth from every socio-economic stratum and across the religious and ethnic spectrum.

During our webinar we will learn how:

• Each organization helps youth embrace and accept all aspects of their identity;
• Both organizations work to bridge the divide in their communities through their services;
• Youth in both countries can find inspiration in each other while working together for a more progressive future.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Ofer Newman
CEO
Israel Gay Youth, IGY

Adam Stevens, MA, RDT
Program Manager,
Bereavement and Mental Health Services,
Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI)

Moderator:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Chillin n’ Grillin for Father’s Day

Tel Aviv and Miami have a few things in common: great architecture, boho markets, beautiful people, year-round sunshine, great bars, beaches, and then there’s barbecue. Yes, both cities are home to two avid grill dads and pitmasters. The first is a pioneer of the Israeli barbecue scene, a restauranteur and influencer. The second, a barbecue connoisseur, circuit competitor and entrepreneur who developed a device that allows you to stack and smoke your meat in the comfort of your home. 

During our webinar we will hear:

• How these two grilling dads met
• How each of them devised the innovative ideas for their unique grilling tools
• What it means to each of them, as fathers, to work alongside their parents and kids
• Some of their favorite meals and memories they have shared with family.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Chef Ziv Ruder

Chef Noam Weiss

Moderator:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

The Abba Program: Break Throughs Are for Men Too

Join us as we prepare to celebrate Father’s Day for a riveting discussion that introduces us to a novel program created to address the emotional needs of fathers and father figures in our lives. The Abba (Hebrew meaning ‘Father’) Program is a novel initiative inaugurated in 2020 during the global pandemic when the need to address mental health in the home was elevated. The program creates discourse and provides unique responses for fathers struggling with the challenges of raising their children generally as well as those specifically dealing with the trauma of experiencing stillbirth.

This discussion will be led by our panel of experts including Dr. Yair Apter, Director of The Abba Program and Dr. Nurit Glazer Chodick whose research was instrumental to raising awareness about the emotional needs of men among their peers.

During the program we will learn about:
•    The mission of Na’amat in Israel;
•    What makes The Abba Program special;
•    The impact of The Abba Program from participants/program alumni;
•    The vision for The Abba Program and the men who it supports;
•    Other programs at Na’amat’s Glickman Center in Tel Aviv;

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Yehudit Shamir
Na’amat USA
Chair of Programming

Shirli Shavit
Director of Na’amat
International Department

Dr. Yair Apter
Director
The Abba Program

Dr. Nurit Glazer Chodick
Social Worker
The Abba Program

Moderator: 

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

3rd Annual Tel Aviv Jewish Playwriting Contest

Join us for a front row seat at the 3rd Annual Tel Aviv Jewish Playwriting Contest. You will have the opportunity to see American and Israeli theater artists celebrate the best in new Jewish playwriting! Produced by CenterStage Israel and presented by New York’s Jewish Plays Project, we will feature three amazing plays from aspiring writers: Madeleines by Bess Welden, Say Goodbye by A.R. Cohen/Corwin, and Tree of Life by Victor Wishna.

Part live play reading and part “American Idol”, this unique event comes to you from CenterStage Israel in Ra’anana. You will have the opportunity to vote for the ‘Best Of’ with the live audience, as these hand-selected plays compete and YOU help cast a deciding vote.

During the program you will learn:
What it means to experience the only professional English-speaking Israeli theater;
The roles of CenterStage and Jewish Plays Project in their respective artistic communities;
The vision for this collaboration and the supporting aspiring playwrights; and
The different genres represented by the plays and the backgrounds of the American writers and Israeli actors.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Daniella Crankshaw
Center Stage Israel

David Winitsky
Artistic Director
Jewish Plays Project

Danielle Faitelson
Center Stage Israel

Moderator: 

Wayne L. Firestone
AIFL Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

An IDF Briefing – Multi-Arena General Strategic Assessment

Israel is facing today threats from multiple, new, and non-traditional fronts, many of which do not include a physical border with the state. These include non-state para-military organizations, sub-terranean infrastructure, cyber-threats and looming nuclear threats.

Join us for a briefing that evaluates current plans to build and increase the Israel Defense Forces’ ability to defend against these different fronts.

During this briefing we will learn about:

Potential threats and challenges that the IDF encounters
The means used by the IDF while facing the challenges and threats
The actions and means of terrorist organizations

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Lt. Col. Amnon Shefler

Moderator

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Lewis Falls – Virginia Beach Parlor Meeting

AMERICA-ISRAEL FRIENDSHIP LEAGUE, In Partnership With: Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Invites You to Join Us at an AIFL Parlor Meeting

Through both online and face-to-face gatherings, The Women’s Kiteboarding Collective is becoming a premier resource for kiteboarding education, inspiration, and connection for women around the world. The Collective encourages women to network, work together, learn together and build a sense of camaraderie in both kiteboarding and their personal and professional lives. With that foundation, women can advocate for improvements for their lives and the lives of others. 

We will learn about the global movement of kitesurfing. We will understand what it takes to become successful in water sports, the connection between sports and business and our guest will share some of her successes and challenges of the competitive circuit.

Speaker:

Shalhevet (Shelby) Segal,
Founder of KB4Girls Israel

Gregory Lewis Falls,

Israeli Culture Club at the Global Studies & World Languages Academy (GSWLA)

Moderator:
Naomi Reinharz,
Chief Development Officer at AIFL

When: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Time: 11:30 am – 12:30 pm ET (6:30PM Israel / 8:30AM PT)

Where: Tallwood High School
The event will also be streamed live via zoom. (Prior registration is required)
You can learn more about AIFL, its storied history, and its rich current activities and across
Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Please RSVP to Gal Zohar at 347-791-6674 or events@aifl.org
Please indicate if you would like to join in-person or virtually

A Medical Miracle in the Negev

Join us for an awe-inspiring story of one-year old twin girls, previously cranially conjoined, and the marriage of modern medicine and technological innovation that helped to successfully separate them. 

During the webinar we will hear about:

• The importance of Soroka University Medical Center to the residents of the Negev region;
• The rarity of the medical phenomenon of craniopagus twins;
• The enabling technology, including how 3-D modeling and virtual reality were implemented;
• The tremendous accomplishment felt by the dozens of collaborating medical team members

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld
Executive Director
American Friends of Soroka Medical Center 

Dr. Micky Gideon
Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery
Soroka Medical Center 

Dr. David Staffenberg
Chief of Pediatric Plastic Surgery
NYU Langone 

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Blurred Lines – Art & Craft or Craft in Art?

Join Israeli artist and lecturer Gabriela Vainsencher for a gallery tour of some of the most beautiful and fascinating shows on view in the New York City art world. We will look at sculpture, video, and even contemporary mosaic, as Gabriela introduces us to the artists behind the works.

This tour focuses on the recent exhibitions by Rose Nestler, Cameron Welch, and Kathy Butterly. These three artists work at the nexus of art and craft, a direction that has gained huge momentum in the art world in recent years. Their work includes great mastery of each of their respective crafts, while pushing it in new directions.

During our discussion we will learn about:
• What is art and craft in art;
• How contemporary art has blurred the boundaries between art and craft and;
• Three artists at the epicenter of this new direction in the world of art.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Gabriela Vainsencher
Artist & Lecturer

Wayne Firestone
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Houston – Parlor Meeting

Please join us at our AIFL Parlor Meeting for a private virtual tour at Northern Israel’s Kibbutzim. We will learn about these types of settlements which are unique to Israel. The first Kibbutz was Deganya Aleph, founded in 1910. Today, there are over 270 Kibbutzim in Israel. They have diversified greatly since their mostly agricultural start, and many have become private.  

We will explore:  

• Kinneret Courtyard – “Cradle of the Kibbutz”
• Degania Aleph – the first Kibbutz 
• Kibbutz Merhavia and Golda’s gramophone 
• Kibbutz Sasa – the armored kibbutz 

Moderator: Naomi Reinharz,

Chief Development Officer, America-Israel Friendship League

Host: Tyron Chambers, HISD, AIFL YASE Alum

You can learn more about AIFL, its storied history, and its rich current activities and across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  

Please RSVP to Gal Zohar at 347-791-6674 or events@aifl.org  

With warm regards, see you soon on May 11! 

When: Wednesday, May 11 Time: 11:00 am CT /12:00 pm ET 

The Goldsmith Of Boutique Chocolatiers

Nothing says decadence like chocolate!

Join us this Sunday as we celebrate Mother’s Day here in the United States and take a sweet outlook on life. Our program introduces us to Elie Tarrab a self-taught artisan chocolatier in Tel Aviv.

Elie is a lover of all thing’s chocolate. His passion for chocolate dates to his childhood in Haifa, Israel, where he tasted his first, unforgettable chocolate delicacies. He truly discovered his sweet tooth while working at Ben and Jerry’s. In 2006 Elie opened a chocolate boutique in Tel Aviv called Cardinal where he makes pralines, bonbons, desserts, chocolate bars, and other treats.

During our conversation with Elie we will learn:
• What inspired his love of chocolate and passion to start his own business
• How he translates his training as a goldsmith to his chocolate creations
• About the growing tradition of exchanging a gift of sweets in Israel
• What challenges COVID-19 posed as he opened his new store

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Eli Tarrab
Artisan Chocolatier, Owner,
Cardinal Chocolaterie

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

The Harvard Krokodiloes- Live in Concert

At 75 years old, The Harvard Krokodiloes is the oldest collegiate a cappella singing group.

They are about to embark upon their annual globe-trotting tour, which will include their first visit to Israel. Before they leave, they are providing AIFL’s audience with a front row seat to their versatile repertoire and talent.

Join us for this exclusive concert and hear about:
• The criteria to becoming a member of the group
• What it means to a be member of this legacy and storied brotherhood of song
• Some of their most cherished memories and memorable performances
• How much work it takes to plan their summer world tour
• Their hopes and vision for the future of the group

Streamed live, the program will feature:

The Harvard Krokodiloes

Greetings by:

Ruby Shamir
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League (Israel)

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Reflections On The Heroes of Salonika

We invite you to join us as we commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah). During our program we will highlight the film ‘The Heroes Of Salonika’, and hear the personal, and lesser-known stories of, the Jews of Salonika, Greece. 

Our conversation with the guest panel will include stories from one of the last survivors, the film’s producer, director and editor. Their compelling tales span from the arrival of the Nazis to Salonika, to the liberation and freedom from Auschwitz and for, “a few”, the return to their homeland. 

As we listen to the experiences of survivors and heroes of the once large, affluent and vibrant Jewish community we will learn about: 
•    The inspiration for the film
•    The quiet heroism and instrumental role of Jacito Maestro
•    The fate of the community as they tried to rebuild after the Holocaust
•    The importance of recording these stories for Jewish history

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Yigal Pomerantz
Producer & Assistant Director

Tom Barkay
Director & Editor

Sol Levi
Project Research & Content Consultant

Moshe Haelion
Holocaust survivor & resident of Salonika

Greetings by:

Ruby Shamir
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League (Israel)

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

House of Israel – Earth Day – Parlor Meeting

America Israel Friendship League, In Partnership With: 

Invite You to Join us at an AIFL Parlor Meeting

During this presentation, we will learn about key water technologies that are leading the way in Water Conservation. From citizens to farmers to industry to cities’ water is a precious resource we are all obligated to preserve.

• We will learn how farmers can select technologies for their specific needs
• With an oversaturated market of Agritech startups, how are farmers benefiting from recent technologies?
• What is the greatest risk going forward for the water industry, in your opinion?

Speaker:

Zeev Barylka,

Chief Commercial Officer

Rivulis Irrigation, N.A.

Moderator:

Naomi Reinharz,

Chief Development Officer at AIFL

Host:

Ruth Mastron,

President,

House of Israel, Balboa Park

12:30 – 1:00 pm: Welcome & Reception / 1:00 – 2:00 pm: Program / 2:00 – 2:30 pm Social Mixer

Where: The House of Israel, HALL OF NATIONS, 2294 Pan American Plaza, San Diego, CA 92101

The event will also be streamed live via zoom. (Prior registration is required)

Please RSVP to Gal Zohar at 347-791-6674 or events@aifl.org

You can learn more about AIFL, its storied history, and its rich current activities at www.aifl.org and across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  

Israel’s Shining Star in Ukraine: On the Frontlines of a Field Hospital

Kokhav Meir — ‘Shining Star’ is the only foreign field hospital functioning in Ukraine, established to enable doctors and medical professionals from Israel to provide much needed medical care to those in need.  

•    How the situation is evolving as the war wages on
•    What it means to  be  a ‘shining star’ for patients 
•    What are the most critical needs of refugees
•    What is the psychological impact of the war on children
•    How the international community can assist the war-torn country

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Dr. Michal Mekel
Head Of the Israeli Delegation to Ukraine
Deputy Director, Rambam Hospital

Prof. Eran Kozer
Medicine/ Pediatrics
Assaf Harofeh Medical Center

Greetings by:

Jonathan Barsade
President 
America-Israel Friendship League

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Virtual Tour This Month @ Zichron Ya’akov

This month features AIFL’s twenty-second virtual tour which will take us toZichron Ya’akov, one of the first ‘modern’ settlements in Israel.

Our Master Guide, Reuven Solomon, will show us magnificent view–s from the coastal plains to the Mediterranean.  He will focus on the midrachov, the original cobblestone and Zichron’s main street, while browsing galleries, coffee shops, ice cream parlors and eateries.

 Reuven will share stories of:

• Early Zichron Ya’akov– a Jewish pioneer agricultural settlement in Turkish Palestine
• Sarah Aaronsohn and the NILI spy organization
• Wine from Carmel Mizrahi
• Baron Edmond James de Rothschild’ exquisite gardens and tomb

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Reuven Solomon
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

A Diplomatic Review: Russia, Iran, Israel with Ambassador Dennis Ross

Iran, Ukraine, Russia, Syria, Israel, The Abraham Accords – Middle East geo-politics are as complicated today as they were thirty years ago.  
 
Will Russia turn its frustration from Ukraine towards a show of power in Syria?
 
Will a new alignment tame the Iranian bear?
 
What kind of solution will a nuclear treaty with Iran provide?
 
Ambassador Dennis Ross–scholar, diplomat, and expert–has been in the thick of it through multiple administrations.  

We will hear Ambassador Ross’ perspective on these and other related topics such as:

• What is the future of US-Russia relations?
• Has Russia’s unprovoked assault galvanized public support behind NATO?
• What is current US foreign policy to deter Tehran from engaging in gray zone activity?
• What role will the US play in keeping the Cold War between Israel and Iran from escalating?

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Ambassador Dennis Ross
Counselor and William Davidson Distinguished Fellow
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Greetings by:

Jeffrey Robbins
Partner
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Houston, Parlor Meeting

Please join us at our AIFL Parlor Meeting for a private virtual tour at Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea scrolls were found in 1947–56 in caves at nearby Khirbet Qumran, the site of an ancient Jewish settlement, as well as in more recent discoveries in adjacent caves in 2017 and earlier this year. We will share photos, maps, stories and explore some of the sites in this region and their historical and modern-day significance.

We will explore a region on the western shore of the Dead Sea in Israel and learn more about:
• The “Cave of Horror”
• Qumran & the Essenes
• Sectarian documents & the Biblical Scrolls

Moderator:

Naomi Reinharz

Chief Development Officer

America-Israel Friendship League

Host:

Tyron Chambers

HISD

AIFL YASE Alum

You can learn more about AIFL, its storied history, and its rich current activities at www.aifl.org and across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  

Please RSVP to Gal Zohar at 347-791-6674 or events@aifl.org  

With warm regards, see you soon on April 13! 

When: Wednesday, April 13th 

Time: 11:00 am CT /12:00 pm ET 

Rollo Art Exchange: Art Inspired by Art

Artists are often asked the universal question … what inspired your creation? 

They will share with us:

• Why the founders of Rollo were so intentional about embracing diverse artists and artistic expression
• How it felt to be part of this game of anonymous artistic inspiration and expression
• What it felt like to inspire a fellow artist, not knowing what their creative process was.
• What is the difference between Rollo and other art projects they have participated in before

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Greetings:

Amb. Meron Reuben
Consul General Of Israel to New England

Meclina Gomes
Artist & Curator
Community Art Collaborative

Anna Burd
Cultural Journalist &
Co-Founder, Rollo Art Exchange

Eden Kalif
Artist

Tracy Barbosa
Artist & Collaborator
Duende Studio

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Soroka – Parlor Meeting

Please join the America –Israel Friendship League (AIFL) in partnership with

American Friends of Soroka Medical Center

for a very special parlor meeting: 

The Third Wave of Israeli Tech –

The Startup Nation Takes on the Sustainability Challenge

Featured Guest Speaker:

Oren Heiman, CEO and Co-founder at NaturaGrowth

After 18 years as a renowned attorney and community leader in New York, Oren returned to Israel and has recently initiated the creation of NaturaGrowth, Israel’s largest tech incubator, focusing on Agtech, Foodtech and ClimateTech. Oren will discuss the potential for Israel to become a global leader in technologies relating to sustainability.

When:

Tuesday, April 5th

Time:

1 pm – 2 pm ET

(8 PM Israel / 10 am PT)

Host: 

Rachel Heisler Sheinfeld, Executive Director of American Friends of Soroka Medical Center

Exceptional science, innovative cures, and world-class experts–Soroka Medical Center, the sole major medical center for the Negev, is a beacon of peaceful co-existence, hope and healing for 1.2 million people. American Friends of Soroka Medical Center is dedicated to supporting the outstanding medical care and breakthrough research at Soroka

Greetings: 

Naomi Reinharz, Chief Development Officer of AIFL

You can learn more about AIFL, its storied history, and its rich current activities at www.aifl.org and across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Also, please view this short clip from AIFL’s exciting offering of diverse webinar activities over the past two weeks.

Please RSVP to Gal Zohar at 347-791-6674 or events@aifl.org

With warm regards, see you soon on the 5^th. L’hitraot!

Pavilions Of Promise At World Expos – A Retrospective Of Israel’s Participation

Join us a for a riveting discussion and a historic look at the Israeli story through the nation’s participation in International Expos. This evolutionary journey takes us from pre-statehood Palestine to modern Israel. 

A celebratory visit to the unique and symbolic Israeli pavilion at the Dubai 2020 Expo, shows a structure with no walls or boundaries looking to the horizon of the future, symbolizing a future wrapped in hope for cooperation with all its neighbors. The Israeli Pavilion at Expo 2020, like the tent of Abraham, is open on all sides and welcomes everyone. It greets those who want to learn about Israel, its heritage, culture and diversity of population; and those looking for the opportunity to collaborate in a variety or professional arenas.

Our panel, comprised of an archivist/historian, the Director of the Israel Pavilion at Dubai 2020, and the Commissioner General, Israel Pavilion Expo 2020 Dubai will share:
•    The historical Context of the Pavilions of Promise
•    Their experience on the road to Expo 2020 Dubai pre and post Abraham Accords
•    The significance of Dubai 2020 Expo moving forward

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Elazar Cohen
Commissioner General
Israel Pavilion Expo 2020 Dubai

Josh Bendit
Director
Israel Pavilion Expo 2020 Dubai

David Matlow
Archivist and Historian
Partner, Goodman’s LLP
Toronto, Canada

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Houston, Parlor Meeting

Please join the America –Israel Friendship League (AIFL) for a very special parlor meeting.

Featured Guest Speaker:

Reuven Solomon, Master Tour Guide

When: Wednesday, March 23rd

Time: 11:00 am CT /12:00 pm ET

Hosts:

Tyron Chambers,

Houston Independent School District (HISD) – AIFL Youth Ambassador Student Exchange (YASE) Alum

Naomi Reinharz, Chief Development Officer of AIFL

Reuven Solomon has been a professional tour guide in Israel for more than 25 years.

Reuven is a long-time friend of AIFL who has accompanied many AIFL delegations to Israel, and for the last two years has been taking AIFL viewers on virtual tours throughout Israel.

In this parlor meeting, he will share photos, maps, and stories about Jerusalem, Israel. 

He will guide us virtually through a historic journey of Jerusalem and take us on a modern-day walk-through the city.   

You can learn more about AIFL, its story history, and its rich current activities at www.aifl.org and across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Also, please view this short clip from AIFL’s exciting offering of diverse webinar activities over the past two weeks:

Please RSVP to Gal Zohar at 347-791-6674 or events@aifl.org

We look forward to seeing you all on March 23!

Spring Pilates

Spring is finally here with the promise of new beginnings.

Grab your mat and towel and get ready to spring into action!

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Becky Bank Srour
Pilates Instructor

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

The Israeli Century: A Book Talk & Discussion

Due to a conflict with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech to the Knesset, MK Yossi Shain cannot attend at the designated time. 
This webinar will begin at 1PM ET/7pm Israel. 

Modern Israel has become the epicenter of global Jewish life, with tens of thousands immigrating or making ‘Aliyah’ from all corners of the globe to the Jewish homeland each year.  Through his book “The Israeli Century”, Member of Knesset and Professor Yossi Shain takes us on a historical journey from the First Temple to modern Israel. The book emphasizes how sovereignty of a people can lay a solid foundation for the future of a thriving, independent nation.

During our discussion we will explore: 
•    The challenges to Israeli sovereignty 
•    Jewish morality and the challenges of Orthodoxy at this moment
•    Both the dangers and opportunities that confront the Jewish future

Streamed live, the program will feature:

MK Professor Yossi Shain

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Israel’s SolarEdge & Smart Energy

Join us for the inspiring story of an innovative alternative energy company. With vision and tenacity, its founders created a company that would soon dominate the industry.  Through its sophisticated web connected technology increasing power by 25% from solar panels they are now one of Israel’s largest tech companies. 

During our discussion with SolarEdge’s co-founder, Lior Handelsman we will learn:

• How the market has changed over the years
• What it means to be an energy pro-sumer vs consumer
• What gives their products a competitive edge?
• What partnering with industry giants means for the new company?
• About the market outlook for the immediate future and long from a consumer’s perspective

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Lior Handelsman
Partner, Grove Ventures
& Co-Founder SolarEdge

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

The Ukrainian Humanitarian Crisis – Briefing By An Israeli Support Organization

The recent unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces has led to one of the devastating refugee crises since the Second World War. To date over one million Ukrainians have fled their home ahead of the onslaught of Russian tanks Amid growing international horror and disbelief IsraAID, Israel’s leading non-governmental humanitarian aid organization, dispatched a team of first responders to the Ukraine’s  Moldovan border. 

Join us to receive updates from those providing these services, including IsraAid’ s Head of Mission, community mobilizers, protection specialists and members of the emergency response team. We will:

• View live footage from the Moldovan border
• Hear firsthand how the situation has evolved since February 24th 
• Meet Ukrainian refugees who will share personal stories of events of these recent 10 days.
• Learn how we can help Ukrainian refugees as their needs outpace support

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Tamar Lazarus
Senior Director of Development
and Communications, Global, IsraAid

Hagit Krakov
Head Of Mission
IsraAid

Greetings by:

Jonathan Barsade
President
America-Israel Friendship League

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Women In Legislative Leadership: Challenges & Opportunities

As we commemorate International Women’s Day, join us for a conversation that celebrates the leadership of diverse and brilliant women in the legislative branches of the US and Israel who are harnessing their inner power to craft and enact legislation while inspiring future leaders. 

In this webinar we will showcase successful models and practical solutions through the inspiring narratives of these women leaders. They will share how to:

• advance constructive change while strengthening the leadership capacity of women
• advance gender equity without alienating male colleagues
• inspire and mentor future leaders to accept the helm of leadership 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Sen. Karen Spilka
Senate President – MA

Sen. Beth Mizell
State Senator – LA

MK Yasmin Saks Fridman
Yesh Atid

MK Gabi Lasky
Meretz

Greetings By:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Host:

Elsa Ben-Shimon
Partner, Stroock &
AIFL Board Member

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Parlor Meeting – Charleston, SC

Please join Leah Chase and others from the America-Israel Friendship League for what promises to be a special online Zoom event.

Please RSVP

Please join me and others from the America-Israel Friendship League

for what promises to be a special online Zoom event.

Sunday, March 6, 2022  

10:00 – 11:00 am ET 

5PM Israel / 3PM United Kingdom / 5PM South Africa    

Hosts: 

Naomi Reinharz, Chief Development Officer, AIFL 

 Rina Schenfeld, Israeli choreographer and dancer, Tel Aviv, Israel

Leah Chase, AIFL Member, Charleston SC  

We invite you to hear Rina’s story, one of the foremost dance artists in Israel. She first established her reputation in the ‘60s as the principal dancer, prima ballerina, of the Batsheva Dance Company where she was engaged from its foundation in 1963 until 1979. The Batsheva is one of the foremost contemporary dance companies in the world. During that period, she manifested herself as an extraordinarily expressive and versatile dancer who is as accomplished in classical ballet as in modern dance. Her dance performances also hold up to international standards of excellence. This applies, moreover, to her own choreography, when she established the Rina Schenfeld Dance Theater in 1979.

I became involved with AIFL last year, and it is a wonderful and worthy organization to get to know. Please learn more about AIFL at www.aifl.org and across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Please RSVP at your earliest convenience at events@aifl.org.

Virtual Tour This Month @ The Muhraka, Daliyat al Carmel

This month’s twenty first virtual tour takes us to Northern Israel’s coastal mountain range.  

Our Master Guide, Reuven Solomon, will take us on a journey through the Mt. Carmel Mountain Range, which is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. He will focus on the highest peaks, known as the Horn of the Carmel and discuss two large Israeli Druze communities that are nestled in the hills.
 
 Reuven will share the stories of:
•    Mount Carmel – God’s Vineyard
•    The Druze – “Secret” religion & customs
•    Sir Laurence Oliphant & Israel’s National Anthem 
•    The Discalced Carmelites 
•    El Muhraka & Elijah the Prophet

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Reuven Solomon
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

King’s Legacy of Black-Jewish Relations Past, Present & Future

Join us for an expansive conversation about the history of Black-Jewish relations in America that underscores the importance of examining the state of that relationship today. Our accomplished panel includes Black and Jewish community leaders with a diverse set of personal and professional experiences serving as stewards of this relationship across both communities.

Along with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, many Jews have taken active, supporting roles the contemporary struggle for racial justice. The work of such allies has, in many ways, extended the impact of Reverend King, Jr. and Rabbi Hershel’s visionary leadership. Yet, strains within the inter-community relationship persist, with the antisemitic and racist biases that linger on the fringes of each community having, at times, complicated ties by permeating more mainstream settings. Join us for a provocative, forward-looking discussion to examine this and related matters, beginning with the following questions:

• What will it take for the two communities to overcome these divides, and for the cooperation to overcome the conflict?
• What does Black-Jewish partnership in the Age of Black Lives Matter look like?
• How do voices of compassion and mutual respect rise above the prevailing din of acrimony, misunderstanding and distrust?
• What will the relationship look like in the future?

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Rabbi Peter Berg
Senior Rabbi
The Temple

Dr. Ruth Pauline Plummer
CEO/ Founder
Covenant Daughters International

Olamide Fagbamiye
Covenant Ruth Bader Ginsburg Fellow
at Morehouse College

Greetings By:

Anat Sultan-Dadon
Consul General of Israel to the Southeast United States

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Classical Musical Education in a Multicultural Society

You are invited to hear the inspiring works and stories from the next generation of Israeli musicians and music lovers. Located in southern Ramat HaSharon, along the northern border of Tel Aviv-Yafo is HaKfar Hayarok ‘The Green Village.’ A quarter of the students at Kfar Hayarok are boarding school students. Others commute from communities across central Israel, attracted by the special study courses offered including an educational track taught in English, veterinary studies and a first-class arts program.

With more than 2,500 students from ages 12 to 18, there are obvious pedagogical challenges meeting the needs of such a diverse student body. Our focus during this webinar will be on the arts and the challenges and triumphs of the musical department’s various branches but specifically in training and providing students with a classical musical education. We will hear from the school’s gifted Head of the Department of Classical Music, Ayelet Lifshitz, who will share with us highlights of the school’s illustrious music departments including musical selections of orchestra, chamber, choir and original composition. She will also share and explore:

• What motivates her as an educator in the artistic field
• The challenges of fostering education in the arts while competing with interests like STEM 
• The sense of satisfaction and accomplishment felt by faculty and students from the beauty they create on stage and ‘behind the scenes’ 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Ayelet Lifshitz
Head & Founder
Dept. of Classical Music
HaKfar HaYarok

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Afghan Refugees and Their Allies in Rescue and Resettlement

Very few of us can imagine suddenly losing our entire lifestyle and society that surrounds us. Afghan families are living this reality now. They were forced to flee their homeland, within a specific timeframe to a foreign land to which they had no connection and be at the mercy of foreign governments and the goodwill of humanitarian aid.  

This webinar with take us behind the scenes and allow us to hear the courageous story of five friends who unwittingly became humanitarian frontline allies for Afghan families after initially assisting a former student. We will hear from journalist Danna Harman, documentary filmmaker Roni Aboulafia and humanitarian assistance expert Yotam Polizer, CEO of IsraAid who along with their colleague Charlene Seidel, head of a San Diego based foundation led the operation. 

We will also listen to the personal story of one of their friends Rodaba Noori in the United Arab Emirates whose family was among the first to be rescued. They will share: 

• What inspired them to act in the face of horrific political upheaval, and the ensuing panic and pandemonium that ensued; 

• What it feels like for most Afghan refugees, preoccupied with the future while living in the in-between; 

• The hopes of Afghans for the future of their country and themselves.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Danna Harman
Journalist

Roni Aboulafia
Documentary Filmmaker

Yotam Polizer
CEO IsraAid

Rodaba Noori
2019 Robotics Team Alumna & Refugee

Greetings By:

Ruby Shamir
Executive Director
America Israel Friendship League (Israel)

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

The Ghetto Fighters’ House: Holocaust Remembrance in Israel

In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day we invite you to virtually tour a unique Holocaust educational resource in Northern Israel.

The presentation and discussion will: 

• instill knowledge and understanding of the events that took place during the Holocaust 
• provide a deeper understanding of the human and universal meaning of the Holocaust both within and beyond Israeli society 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Madene Shachar
Educator and Guide

Yaron Tzur
Director of Pedagogy

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Virtual Tour: This Month @Beit Alpha and Beit She’an

This month’s virtual tour takes us north to one of the oldest cities in Israel, Beit She’an which boasts twenty-five layers of civilization and was until recently the largest archeological site in Israel. 

During this tour we will learn about:

• The significant role Beit She’an played because of its location
• The 749BC earthquake that destroyed Beit She’an
• How the Beth Alpha synagogue was uncovered in 1928 by members of the nearby Kibbutz Hefzibah
• The two dedicatory inscriptions in Aramaic and Greek at the entryways of the synagogue
• Who were the Makuya?

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Reuven Solomon
Master Tour Guide

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Art and the WOW Effect!

We live in an age in which our thrill threshold is rising constantly. The endless search for extreme experiences also affects the art world, as immersive and interactive art events- in which the viewer takes an active part – are drawing more and more attention. 

Debby Luzia, an expert on the world of art is an ex-gallerist and author of the book (in Hebrew) titled Why the Mona Lisa Lost her Smile, which analyzes the art world in the digital era, published in 2015.  Debby was born into the art world, her father being the founder of Israel’s renowned Stern Gallery.  She will take us on a journey through the WOW phenomenon, looking at the artists at the epicenter of the movement.  In her presentation she will highlight the works of: 

• Christo
• Yayoi Kusama
• Teamlab Collective and many others

Expect a WOW experience! 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Debby Luzia
Artworld Expert

Host:

Ruby Shamir
Executive Director
America Israel Friendship League (Israel)

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Webinar Host
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Pilates

It is the time of year again when we have made New Year’s resolutions, many of which are health related.

Grab your mat and towel and get ready to start this year right! 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Becky Bank Srour
Pilates Instructor

Host:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

A Fireside Chat with Dr. Yossi Vardi & David (David) Perlmutter – From High-Tech Superstar to Social Entrepreneur

Join AIFL-Israel board member Dr. Yossi Vardi, as he hosts an intimate discussion with Israeli technology and social entrepreneur and investor David (Dadi) Perlmutter. Perlmutter an investor/director in various startups in Israel is the former Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer of Intel responsible for developing several of Intel’s major products and technology breakthroughs. 

David produced the idea of the “anytime anywhere” when he envisioned the wireless thin and light NoteBook. He imagined the more cost-effective version of them would be useful for schools and emerging markets 20 years before COVID. His life story reflects the story of a successful tech entrepreneur positively supporting society through education and championing the disenfranchised through his philanthropic work and social activities to reduce social inequality by creating social, and economic opportunities for the younger generation.

Winner of the 1987 Israel Prize for innovation in industrial development—Dadi is invested in preparing the next generation for the digital revolution.  He was recently nominated to run a government/industry committee to significantly increase the Israeli high-tech workforce.

During the conversation we will learn how an Israeli boy became one of the top executives in the world’s largest chip company and discuss:

• Why as part of the foundation of the startup nation from its early days, he believes Israel is still a big tech hub?

• What influenced his decision to become more philanthropic and involved in social entrepreneurship?

• How he made the shift from overseeing an operation of 35,000 people, to focus on education and influencing kids?

• What is the future of the semiconductor industry?

Click here to learn more about and purchase David (Dadi) Perlmutter’s memoir  in Hebrew Leading to Success.
Over the last 40years Dadi Perlmutter has worked on developing products and technologies while embarking on a journey of social entrepreneurship, he never thought that sharing his personal story must take the front would be relevant until now.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

David (Dadi) Perlmutter 

Moderator:

Dr. Yossi Vardi

Co-hosts:

Ruby Shamir
Executive Director
America Israel Friendship League (Israel)

Wayne Firestone
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Bravi Tutti! – The Best Of Buchmann – Mehta School of Music

The America-Israel Friendship League invites you to join us for part two of our musical collaboration with Israel’s premier musical academy the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music. This musical celebration not only culminates our virtual programs for 2021 but helps us to ring in the new year 2022 on a high note.

The program features a selection of recent performances by the school’s representative ensembles, among others, the BMSM Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Lahav Shani, the new music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO). 

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Virtual Tour – This Month @Gamla

This month’s nineteenth virtual tour takes us to Gamla an ancient Jewish city on the Golan Heights and a rebel stronghold during the Great Revolt. As such, Gamla became a symbol for the modern State of Israel and an important historical and archaeological site.

 Reuven will share the stories of:
•    The Jewish revolt against the Romans and the battle that ensued
•    The six unique coins minted by town fathers almost 2,000 years ago
•    Gamla’s notoriety as the Masada of the North

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Reuven Solomon Master Tour Guide Moderator: Wayne Firestone Executive Director America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Stitching A New Identity: Fashion In Israel’s Nation-Building

You are cordially invited to join us for a riveting presentation and discussion with noted fashion historian and curator Keren Ben-Horin, Stitching A New Identity which investigates the relationship between fashion, national identity, and diplomacy. The discussion features the State of Israel from its inception in 1948 through the present day as a case study. 

Keren will share vibrant illustrations, photographs, videoclips, and never-before-seen archival materials. Together we will explore key moments about the designers, and political figures who shaped Israel’s foreign relations and — even more importantly — defined what it means to be Israeli. 

• From biblical fantasies to innovative technologies, we will experience how a young nation forged its identity stitch by stitch and learn:
• How clothing affects the perception of identity.
• What is meant by fashion diplomacy and political messaging in fashion.
• How fashion becomes inextricably implicated in constructions and reconstructions of national and cultural identity.

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom
or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Wonder Women In Wine: Uncorking Success – From Varietals To Vintage

Great grapes make great wine, thus great wines start in the vineyard. Yet, where and how do great wine makers start?

Join us as two successful female wine makers share their unique and inspiring stories about their passion for creating great artisan wine. Neither started out in the industry– one with farming in her blood became a successful lawyer first and the other with a design background developed a passion later for the creative process of vinification and the industry.

Theodora Lee– Owner of Theopolis Vineyards and Carmel Greenberg–Wine maker Clos du Val have both successfully created respected reputations in the industry. In an industry that is still male dominated and extremely competitive, these women have earned every success through hard work, dedication and tenacity.

• Their personal stories of what inspired them to enter the industry
• The challenges they faced and the accolades and awards they have received
• Their thoughts on creating a more diverse, inclusive, and successful wine industry 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Theodora Lee
aka
Theo-patra Queen of the Vineyards

Carmel Greenberg

Hosts:

Wayne Firestone
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom
or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Sababa Wednesday 2021: Part 2 -Best of AIFL’s Sites, Sounds and Celebrities

Sababa Wednesday 2021: Part 2 -Best of AIFL’s Sites, Sounds and Celebrities

America-Israel Friendship League (AIFL) launched its Telethon week with Sababa Sunday, and you’re invited to join us on Sababa Wednesday for the continuation of more of our best clips of 2021.  Invite a friend to our virtual 50th birthday after party as we cap off a wonderful year of programming on- and off-line. 

Join your co- hosts Wayne and Naomi as they share some favorite memories from hosting over 150 episodes. The program will include:

• SEASU – Finding Balance and Healing at Sea
• The Tower of David Museum – A Window into the Past, Present and Future of Jerusalem
• Mekudeshet Performances—Fueling Jerusalem as a Creative Laboratory
• The FAISR Accessibility Program – Journey to Kilimanjaro
• Highlights from the 2021 Israel Day at NASDAQ and the Partners for Democracy Award Gala Honorees

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Hosts:

Wayne Firestone
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Guest Presenter:

Ruby Shamir
Executive Director
America Israel Friendship League (Israel)

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom
or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Shenkar — An Historical Review: The Melting Pot Of Israeli Fashion

Fashion and identity are inextricably linked. Each of us has our unique sense of fashion, which as self-expression allows us to showcase our authenticity and individuality. Throughout history, apparel—like other self-expressive products—have inspired aesthetic professionals such as clothing designers, cosmeticians and photographers.

During this webinar we will look at Israeli fashion through the ages while straddling that line of individuality and national identity. We will look at Israel’s textile industry and the trend fusion of East meets West through the Rose Archive of the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Ramat Gan.

We will hear from fashion historian and Director and Curator of the Rose Archive, Tal Granovsky Amit, and learn about these iconic pieces which were donated and, in some instances, restored to their former beauty:

• Who wore these items and where?
• How do students at the college feel when they see the archive on display?
• How does the archive inspire future design and foster discussions on sustainability in fashion?

Winter Pilates

Join us for a winter warmup Pilates class as part of our series led by Becky Bank Srour from Tel Aviv.

Grab your towel and get ready to end this year on your toes!  

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Becky Bank Srour Pilates Instructor Host: Naomi Reinharz Chief Development Officer America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Parlor Meeting with Josh Weston

You are invited to an in-person parlor meeting hosted by

 America-Israel Friendship League (AIFL) Board Member Josh Weston

AIFL focuses on strengthening the relationship between the people of the two countries  

by increasing understanding of and appreciation for our common democratic foundations.

You can learn more about AIFL, its storied history, and its rich current activities at

www.aifl.org and across Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

Also, please view this short highlights clip from AIFL’s recent and exciting diverse webinar activities: https://youtu.be/wJON864Es8c.

Wednesday, December 3, 2021, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET 

Skadden

1 Manhattan West Ave, New York, NY

Hosts:

Josh Weston, Executive Committee and AIFL Board Member

Naomi Reinharz, Chief Development Officer, AIFL

Speaker:

               Bashar Masri, Founder of Rawabi City

Bashar Masri is the visionary behind Rawabi, the first Palestinian planned city. The success of Rawabi is a catalyst and inspiration for many bold initiatives, bringing opportunity and progress to the Palestinian economy.
Mr. Masri launched the first private equity fund dedicated to investment in businesses operating in the Palestinian territories. Benefitting from the Siraj I Fund, dozens of Palestinian enterprises have exhibited strong growth trends and continue to create new employment opportunities for Palestinians.

Limited capacity; must be fully vaccinated and provide verification of vaccination and ID Card.

Please RSVP to Gal Zohar

347-791-6674 or events@aifl.org

There will be a short video as well as time for mingling at the start and end of the event.

We look forward to seeing you all virtually on December 3.

A Knock At The Door: A Conversation With A POW/MIA Negotiator

We have all observed with intrigue and great fascination, hostage negotiations from the comfort of our home onscreen during popular films and television series. However, have you ever thought about what goes on behind the scenes of the real-life negotiations of this nightmare in times of war and peace, for the lives of soldiers, journalists and even humanitarian workers caught behind enemy lines?

Ory Slonim’s involvement in Israel’s intensive quiet diplomacy to determine the status of prisoners of war (POWs) and those missing in action (MIAs) spans his 30-year career. His empathy and emotional intelligence have helped him give support and build longstanding relationships with the families of the missing throughout his career.

During Ory’s conversation with his friend and colleague Ambassador Dan Gillerman, we will learn about his new book, A Knock At The Door and hear  the story of his background, his career and relationships with his pro bono clients.  We will also learn:

• What drove him to leave behind a highly successful legal career in service of his country and fellow man
• The meaning behind his symbolic annual salary of one single shekel
• How he became the central address and international ‘door knocker’ for these types of scenarios

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Ory Slonim

Moderator:

Ambassador Dan Gillerman
Chairman
America-Israel Friendship League, Israel

Host:

Wayne Firestone
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Multifaith And Gratitude Replay: How Do We Give Thanks?

• Practical steps to take in our own communities to strengthen our ability to manifest gratitude. 
• Sharing traditions of gratitude and personal expressions of giving thanks from around the world among different faiths. 
• In this time of pandemic, how can we elevate the importance of thanks. Can we foster gratitude in others? 

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Rabbi Rachel Greengrass
Temple Beth Am

Pastor Carlos Ortiz
Hispanic Director
The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews

Sri Sudarshan
Founder and Leader
SKYLIGHT YOGA

Abdool Ghanie
Interfaith Counselor
American Muslim Alliance of South Florida

Father Roberto Cid
St. Patrick Catholic Church, Miami, FL

Opening Greetings: 
Galit Peleg
Interim Consul General of Israel for Miami, FL

Moderator:
Rabbi Eric Greenberg
Former Director of Multifaith Cooperation
America-Israel Friendship League

Host:
Wayne L. Firestone
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Let’s Discuss: You Will Not Play Wagner

Who is Wagner and why is he such a controversial figure in Israeli arts and culture? This subject is discussed in a new theatrical film and Zoom production produced by the Jewish Arts Collaborative adapted from the Victor Gordon play You Will Not Play Wagner.

Join us for an intimate and artistic discussion with the writer, director, and two phenomenal actors in the US and Israel whose talent allowed us to explore this cultural divide through this stimulating film that evokes thoughtful discussion about Wagner and the generational divide.
 
We will hear from the film’s writer Lilia Levitina who will take us through the pre-production, production, and post-production of this idea. She will be joined by the lead actors Annette Miller and Ofek Cohen whose creative genius helped breathe life into this adapted film which has now enjoyed its international premiere.
 
The goal of this discussion with our panel who were intimately involved in the project is to:

• Enrich moral and practical discussions in Israel and around the world about Wagner
• Showcase how the arts can help heal long standing wounds and bring people together
• Examine the influence of past on the present and the future while exploring the emotional truth and search for connection

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Lilia Levitina
Writer & Director

Annette Miller
Actress

Ofek Cohen
Actor

Moderator:

Wayne Firestone
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League

Greetings by:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

2021 Partners For Democracy Awards 50th Anniversary Gala

The Partners for Democracy Award is bestowed upon distinguished individuals and organizations who have…..

AIFL Israel Day @NASDAQ Conference: Start-Up to Global Financial Markets – 11/17/2021 @10:00AM – Noon

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Opening Remarks:

Amb. Dan Gillerman
Chairman, The Blackstone Group-Israel
& Chairman AIFL Israel

Greetings:

President Reuven Rivlin
10th President, State of Israel

A Fireside Chat with Guest Presenters:

Randi Zuckerberg
General Partner, Surround Ventures

Welcome Remarks:

Jonathan Barsade
President
America-Israel Friendship League

Amb. Asaf Zamir
Consul General of Israel in NY

Amnon Neubach
Former Chairman
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange

Guy Franklin
Founder & CEO
Israeli Mapped in NY

Company Presentations by:

Dean Sysman
CEO & Co-Founder
Axonius

Hani Goldstein
CEO & Co Founder
Snappy

Michael Reitblat
CEO & Co-Founder
Forter

Eran Ben-Shushan
CEO & Co-Founder
Bizzabo

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Bon Appetit — A Taste of French Cuisine

A Frenchman and an Israeli walk into a bar—this sounds like the start of a culinary joke but truthfully, they are both notable chefs and one owns a Michelin and Zagat rated restaurant, Excuse My French and Arba, in New York. 

These chefs will take us on a gastronomic adventure sharing:

• Their personal stories on what inspired their love for the culinary arts
• A sample of the recipes unique to their restaurants and the quality of the meals they prepare for clients every day
• The difference between authentic French cuisine and French inspired cuisine
• Their future goals having made it to the top of their field

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Johann Giraud
Founder / Chef
“Excuse my French”

Chef Nir Zook

Host:

Wayne Firestone
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Seeing The Invisible- Augmented Reality Art

Israel’s Most Vulnerable Youth–ELEM’s Advocacy During COVID

Over the last year COVID-19 has ravaged the world.  Phrases such as incubation period, fatality rate and quarantine became commonplace and discussions about mental health were no longer taboo and ignored. 

Bridging this expanded gap created new challenges for essential organizations, such as ELEM/Youth In Distress in Israel dedicated to transforming the lives of troubled youth in Israel.  During this webinar we will learn about:

• What changes ELEM has seen in the demographic they serve
• What particular needs have increased exponentially
• How they expanded their services and kept their shelters open during this crucial time
• How they continued to create a safe space for Israeli youth under such trying circumstances

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Nava Barak
President
ELEM

Noam Nativ
Outreach Coordinator
ELEM Shelter for Homeless Young Men

Limor Bashiri
Director
ELEM’s Outreach Van

Host:

Wayne Firestone
Executive Director
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Spooky Pilates

Join us this Halloween weekend as we get ready for a Spooky Pilates class, part of our monthly series, led by Becky Bank Srour from Tel Aviv.

Of course, no costumes are necessary, and all are welcome to enjoy this great exercise class.

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Deconstructing The Beauty and Art in Reconstruction

The American Cancer Society predicts that this year, 43,600 women will die from breast cancer. Although there have been great strides in technology and education pertaining to earlier detection, increased availability for screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments, women who receive the devastating diagnosis face a variety of challenges that require unwavering support, and unfathomable strength.

During this webinar our panel comprised of colleagues, two doctors skilled in the art of reconstructive surgery, their collaborator, a multifaceted and visionary photographer and a patient will:
 

• Discuss their role in the lives of their patients 
• Share how they used the Japanese art of Kintsugi as a metaphor for life in collaborative projects uniting art and science in celebration of recovery and restoration through reconstructive surgery
• Showcase the physical and emotional restoration felt by patients after mastectomy
• Share personal stories about their journey from diagnosis to recovery, and reconstruction to restoration.

Streamed live, the program will feature:

Dr. Jonathan Bank

Dr. Ron Israeli

Erez Sabag

Host:

Naomi Reinharz
Chief Development Officer
America-Israel Friendship League

Please share with your friends and family and register on Zoom or watch live on AIFL’s Facebook page.

Bridging Divides- A Fireside Chat with Adina Bar Shalom and Dr. Yossi Vardi