11/02/2010

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Will Attend 2010 General Assembly in New Orleans


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs the weekly cabinet in Jerusalem, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010. Netanyahu says he is heading to the U.S. next week to discuss Mideast peace efforts with Vice President Joe Biden. (Getty Images / AP Photo/Jim Hollander, Pool)

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Jewish Federations of North America will host Netanyahu at their annual conference running Nov. 7-10, along with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, other leading political figures

The Jewish Federations of North America is pleased to announce that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attend the 2010 General Assembly in New Orleans.

Prime Minister Netanyahu will headline a roster of major global figures at the 2010 General Assembly (GA) and the 2010 International Lion of Judah Conference (ILOJC), which run Nov. 7-10 in New Orleans. Along with Prime Minister Netanyahu, GA speakers will include Vice President Joe Biden, Israel's Defense and Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Israel's Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren.

Also speaking at the GA and the ILOJC is Israel's Leader of the Opposition, Tzipi Livni. Joining Livni at the ILOJC are Israel's former ambassador to the U.N. Gabriela Shalev and other VIPs.

Global Jewish leaders at the GA include Jewish Agency Chair and legendary Soviet Jewish activist Natan Sharansky and his wife Avital, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee CEO Steven Schwager, and others.

"The entire Jewish Federation movement is thrilled to have Prime Minister Netanyahu joining us," said JFNA's President and CEO Jerry Silverman. "The Prime Minister will be joining an array of inspiring world leaders who will help make this a powerful and memorable GA."

Prime Minister Netanyahu has been a frequent participant at the largest annual gathering in the Jewish communal world, both as prime minister and minister in previous Israeli governments. Most recently he attended the 2009 GA in Washington, DC.

The General Assembly is the largest annual gathering of the North American Jewish community. The International Lion of Judah Conference occurs every other year in conjunction with the GA and is an event for leaders in women's philanthropy.

This year, the GA and ILOJC will attract more than 4,100 participants from around the world. The GA will feature cutting-edge programs such as the Jewish Futures Conference, a Global Day of Jewish Learning, a first-time day of service in partnership with Repair the World, and other top speakers including David Simon, creator of HBO's "The Wire" and National Jewish Book Award winner Rebecca Goldstein.

The ILOJC will also include a first-time service project – a literacy program in local schools in partnership with The PJ Library, Harold Grinspoon Foundation and Repair the World – and features leading women entertainers and speakers including singer Neshama Carlebach and comedian Judy Gold.

The Jewish Federation movement is the largest Jewish philanthropy collective in the world and the Jewish Federations of North America are dedicated to promoting awareness and involvement among the Jewish community in the United States and Canada.




SOURCE Jewish Federations of North America