Jewish leaders to discuss future of Israel, Diaspora

More than 120 major decision makers, scholars and leaders from around the Jewish world will attend a conference in Jerusalem on Tuesday to discuss strategic issues facing the Jewish people and the State of Israel in the future.

The gathering, organized by the Jewish People Policy Institute together with the NADAV Foundation, will focus on Jewish identity, new Jewish leadership, and geopolitical challenges to Israel, among other topics.

JPPI president Avinoam Bar-Yosef emphasized that the conference plans to raise the issue of managing the budgets and resources within the Jewish world in light of the ongoing global economic crisis and the changing trends in Jewish philanthropy.

“For the first time, we can see that the Israeli government is taking Diaspora Jewry seriously, viewing it as a strategic asset to Israel, and that it is willing to invest in its future to maintain its power and influence,” said Bar-Yosef.

As such, a special session will be held at the conference with senior government officials and leaders of Jewish organizations to identify joint projects for the future that will require mutual cooperation and coordination between Israel and the Diaspora community.

“Conference participants will also look at the entirety of the resources available within the Jewish world in order to consider more efficient ways to utilize them to meet future strategic needs of the Jewish people,” Bar Yosef added.

Jewish-French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy, President Shimon Peres, former US envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross, US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro and chairman of the Jewish Agency Natan Sharansky, as well as a number of senior Israeli politicians, are expected to participate in the event.

JPPI will present policy recommendations arising from the conference to decision makers in Israel and the Diaspora.