DENVER, CO — Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael B. Oren and the U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel B. Shapiro affirmed U.S. support for the Jewish State’s peace and security before a packed house on the second day of The Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly in Denver today. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also sent greetings via a taped message.
Ambassadors Oren and Shapiro held an onstage dialogue, led by former IDF and Israeli government spokesperson, Col. (Ret.) Miri Eisen. The discussion touched on everything from the diplomats’ shared heritage of American Jewish summer camps and youth groups to their joint dream that, as Oren put it, the time is not distant from “that day when Dan and I can witness a signing ceremony” at the White House for a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
There were many intense and diverse topics covered at today’s GA session: integration of the Haredi and Arab-Israelis into the mainstream of Israeli society (two different sessions); Welcoming Interfaith Families (which featured Denver/Boulder’s Stepping Stones program, featuring Rabbi Steven Foster); and the Jewish Futures Conference, exploring trends and new approaches to Jewish education, which included Boulder’s Chidush Program materials, just to name four sessions.
We continue to be surprised and proud at the number of Boulder community members attending the GA. Here are some of today’s pictures from Bruce Shaffer, David and Cheryl Fellows:
Here are Bruce Shaffer’s pictures from Sunday night’s Matisyahu concert: