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Beth Emet The Free Synagogue - Israel/ARZA Committee
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Event Details
SPECIAL PROGRAM & DISCUSSION
Wednesday, January 21 at 7:30 p.m. at Beth Emet
Israelis and Palestinians are at war in Gaza. Daily Hamas rocket and mortar
barrages continue, with over half a million Israelis within range throughout the
South of Israel. IDF air and artillery assaults reduce parts of Gaza to rubble.
Thousands of IDF soldiers fight terrorist organizations on the ground inside the
Gaza Strip. Hundreds of Palestinian civilian casualties result, along with
hundreds of militant casualties.
Every night on the news, and every day in the papers we see troubling pictures
and hear disturbing narratives that shake us to the core. What is really
happening? Why is this happening? We all have questions, and would like to
understand the situation better.
On Wednesday, January 21 at 7:30, the Israel/ARZA Committee of Beth Emet will
host a discussion aimed at allowing us to better understand the situation from
an Israeli perspective.
Zach Selch and Aharon Solomon, Beth Emet congregants who have served in the IDF,
and who have been part of the Israeli Peace Movement, will discuss the events
leading up to Operation Cast Lead, the operation itself, and what the
ramifications are to the region and to the political process. After their
presentation, there will be time to discuss and try to understand better this
very complicated situation.
Please join us for this very important and interesting evening of discussion. We
recognize how difficult it is to reconcile our American Jewish values with the
news we are receiving from the Middle East. This evening has been organized to
help us understand the full picture, including the view from Israel.
Thursday, February 5, 2009 at 7:30 pm at Beth Emet
 Come join the Israel/ARZA Committee at 7:30 p.m. on February 5, 2009 at Beth Emet
to hear from an outstanding Israeli NGO called Elem. Elem has been successfully
reaching out to Israel's at-risk youth for over 25 years in a variety of
creative and innovative ways. They are the largest volunteer organization in
Israel, and they operate based on the belief that they cannot wait for the
troubled youth to come to them, but rather, they have to be where the at-risk
youth are.
We will be joined by Elem representative Amit Marom to learn more about the
serious problem of youth living on the streets or in abusive situations and the
vital work that Elem is doing. Also, we will have the opportunity to meet
Jessica, a young woman who spent five years living on the streets of Tel Aviv.
Come hear her incredible story, and learn how Elem was able to help rehabilitate
her into the successful college student that she is today.
Unfortunately, the problem of youth in distress in Israel is much more serious
than many of us realize. You will get a deeper understanding of the scope of the
problem, and also see the incredible generosity and commitment of Israeli
volunteers that are helping to find and rehabilitate youth at risk.
Dr. Liora Sion -
Sunday, February 22 , 9:45 a.m.
 Please join the Israel/ARZA Committee on Sunday, February 22 at 9:45 a.m. for a
morning speaker and brunch.
We are pleased to present Dr. Liora Sion, a Postdoctoral Fellow in the
Department of Sociology at Northwestern University. Dr. Sion will speak on the
topic of Gender Issues in Israeli Society.
Dr. Sion's educational background includes The Hebrew University, Jerusalem,
where she earned an MA in Organizational Sociology, Cum Laude, and a Ph.D. from
the Amsterdam School of Social Research, University of Amsterdam/ The Free
University of Amsterdam. Dr. Sion was a postdoctoral fellow at John M. Olin
Institute for Strategic Studies, Harvard University. Her research interests are
Gender and Masculinity, Globalization, the Middle East, Israeli Studies,
Post-Conflict Operations, Peacekeeping, Ethnicity and Interracial Relations.
Please RSVP by contacting the office at ext. 301. Your response is kindly
requested prior to the event.
See you on February 22!
Dr. Rachel Dulin -
Sunday, March 29 at 9:30 am at Beth Emet
 Please join the Israel/ARZA Committee on Sunday, March 29 at 9:30 am at Beth
Emet as we host Dr. Rachel Dulin, Prof. of Bible and Hebrew Language at Spertus
Institute, Chicago.
Dr. Dulin, renowned as a captivating speaker, will discuss the Biblical Roots of
the Jewish People in the Land of Israel.
Rachel Z. Dulin is Professor of Bible and Hebrew Language. Born in Israel and
educated in Israel and the United States, she received her PhD from Northwestern
University. A dramatic and gifted instructor, she has pioneered new methods of
teaching Hebrew to adults and has done groundbreaking research in the confluence
of Women's Studies and biblical scholarship, and has published on biblical views
of aging, including Crown of Glory: A Biblical View of Aging.
Gil Hoffman - Chief Political Correspondent and Columnist, The Jerusalem Post
Sunday, April 19 at 9:30 a.m. at Beth Emet
 Please join the Israel/ARZA Committee on Sunday, April 19 at 9:30 am at Beth
Emet as we welcome Gil Hoffman. Mr. Hoffman, a former Chicagoan, will talk about
“61 Reasons Why You Can Be Proud of Israel – and How You Can Help Make it Even
Better”
Gil Hoffman is the chief political correspondent and analyst for The Jerusalem
Post. Well-connected to Israeli and Palestinian political leaders, Hoffman has
interviewed Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, former prime ministers Sharon, Peres,
Barak and Netanyahu and every major figure across the Israeli political
spectrum. He has been interviewed by top media outlets on 6 continents and is a
regular analyst on CNN, BBC and other foreign news outlets.
Called "The most optimistic man in Israel" by Israel Television, Hoffman's
frequent television appearances and popular column provide a behind the scenes
look at the intrigue and humor in the Israeli political arena. Hoffman also
frequently covers diplomatic issues, traveling with the prime minister and
reporting on efforts to achieve Mideast peace and other key international
developments.
Hoffman, who was raised in Chicago, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northwestern
University's School of Journalism and wrote for the Miami Herald and the Arizona
Republic before moving to Israel. A corporal in the IDF's Spokesman's Unit
(Dover Tzahal), he has given lectures in 18 American states, Washington DC,
Canada, England and Australia on five successful international speaking tours.
He lives in Jerusalem with his wife and new baby daughter.
Israeli High Tech: Engine of Growth for the Modern Israeli Economy
Ben Rabinowitz,
Managing Partner, Amiti Ventures
May (date TBD) at Beth Emet
 The Israel/ARZA Committee is proud to welcome Beth Emet’s own Ben Rabinowitz on
May (date TBD) for an eye-opening presentation about Israeli High Tech: Engine
of Growth for the Modern Israeli Economy.
Ben has extensive experience in Israel’s high technology sector and is a keen
observer of the modern Israeli economy. His insights may surprise people whose
mental image of Israel prominently features Jaffa oranges and tour guides on
buses.
Currently, Ben is a Managing Partner of Amiti Ventures, a Chicago and
Israel-based venture capital firm that invests in Israeli high tech companies
involved in health care technology, mobility, enterprise software and IT
security.
Come join us and learn why “it’s not your father’s Israeli economy any more.”
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