Jerusalem Post annual conference set to begin
June 4, 2023 by Avi Kumar
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The Jerusalem Post will hold its annual conference in a year celebrating Israel’s 75th anniversary of independence.
Ayelet Shaked
Tomorrow’s event will be attended by notable high-level diplomats, politicians, entertainers, and other leaders in the Jewish world from the US, Israel and beyond. It will be held tomorrow at Gotham Hall, located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan in New York City.
Avi Mayer, a former pro-Israel social media figure, has taken the helm as Jerusalem Post’s Editor-in-Chief since March.
Some of the attendees include Moshe Lion, Mayor of Jerusalem, Benny Gantz, former Minister of Defence /Alternate Prime Minister of Israel, Khazar Ibrahim, Azerbaijan Ambassador to the United States and Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City.
Former Minister of Interior Ayelet Shaked (2021-22) told J-Wire: “I am happy to attend – but this is not my first time at a Jerusalem Post conference, I’ve attended a few times in the past. I personally feel that it is very important to address Jewish communities around the world, especially in these times.”
I wish to discuss the relationship between Israel and the Jewish diaspora – currently, there is a lot of tension and polarisation among many Jewish communities.
But we should always remember that Israel is the home of the Jewish people: and this is the case no matter which government is in power.”
Shaked has made a few foreign trips this year to countries such as UAE, Singapore and Australia and has spoken about the importance of the relationship between Israel and diaspora Jewry.
Israeli-American businessman and philanthropist Mordechai (Moti) Kahana, who has helped orchestrate daring rescues of Jewish individuals fleeing war zones such as Syria and Ukraine, will be among the speakers. Kahana notably assisted with the rescue of Zebulon Simentov, the last Jew of Afghanistan in 2021. When J-Wire asked him “why he assisted people in dire situations”, he modestly replied “I helped because I could and was asked to.”
Laura Ben-David, a photographer, told J-Wire: “I am excited for this.” Ben-David will be on a panel with Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, founder of Nefesh B’Nefesh (Soul to Soul), a non-profit that promotes and assists diaspora Jews to make Aliyah to Israel. Fass was her rabbi in Boca Raton, Florida.
Ben-David was on one of the organisation’s pioneer flights to Israel in 2002. “I have been part of the Nefesh B’Nefesh family for all these years and feel very connected to the organisation,” she said.
She continued, “Some of those who came with me were small children on the flight then. Now, they have children of their own. And they are still in Israel.
At the time, Nefesh B’Nefesh was a relatively unknown entity but I put so much faith in it; moved 6000 miles away with this organisation and never looked back.”
The Jerusalem Post was established in 1932 under the name The Palestine Post. It was renamed in 1950, shortly after Israeli independence. It is Israel’s most-read primarily English publication and publishes news in both print and online formats. Although founded as a left-leaning newspaper, the website describes it as ‘centrist’ and states that “writers and columnists hold views that span the entire political spectrum”.
At this year’s event, the Jerusalem Post Conference is offering “Tech Talk & Innovation”.
World-famous Jewish organisations that also will be in attendance include the Jewish Agency, the World Zionist Organization, Yad Vashem and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
In addition to the regular annual conferences in Jerusalem and New York, the Jerusalem Post has also held events in London and Dubai. In addition, future conferences are planned for new venues.
According to the event website, tickets have been ‘sold out.’
