Second Annual Jerusalem Symposium
We are happy to announce that the second annual Jerusalem Symposium was a stunning success, far exceeding our expectations. The symposium, titled “The Z-Word: Re-imagining Zionism,” brought together a crowd of over 300 students, professionals representing over 20 Jewish and Israeli organizations, and government representatives, to grapple with the meaning and enduring relevance of Zionism.
Speakers, including Natan Sharansky, MK Einat Wilf, Dr. Tal Becker, Yossi Klein Ha Levi, Professor Gil Troy, Col. Miri Eisen, Dr. Micha Goodman, and Nadav Tamir, addressed the symposium while participants were able to discuss issues more intimately during myriad breakout sessions.
The positive feedback we have been receiving regarding the Jerusalem Symposium has been overwhelming, with many people saying that it was the most meaningful and sophisticated conversation about Israel and Zionism to which they have ever been exposed. By promoting an open and nuanced conversation about Israel and by bringing together speakers and participants from diverse viewpoints, the Avi Schaefer Fund is leading the way towards creating new, innovative forums for discussing Israel and Jewish identity. We are thankful for the support of Elan Ezrachi, our Israel Program Director, and Emily Bernstein, for their hard work in organizing the symposium, and to Yoav, whose vision and energy inspires us all.
The symposium can perhaps be best captured by Yoav, who in his opening address to the standing room only crowd said, “This event is not only a testament to Avi’s memory, but to Avi’s vision of Israel defined not by a past of monumental historical undertakings, but by a future of infinite promise and possibility.”
Symposium Recap
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