Conference Call on Israel’s Internal Challenges

The Wexner Foundation will host a conference call exclusively for our constituents

Tuesday, February 18th at 12 noon, EST / 7pm Israel time

“Israel’s Internal Challenges – 2014: What Lies Beyond the Iranian Threat?”

Click here for dial in information

with Barak Loozon, WIFA (Class 21), Director of the Israel & Global Network for the Jewish Federation of San Francisco in Israel, and Adv. Itzik Sabato, WIFA (Class 21), Director of Social Funds, Bituach Leumi (Israel’s National Insurance Institute). The call will be moderated by Deb Housen-Couriel, Director, Wexner Israel Fellowship Program, and WIFA (Class 12) and open half way through to questions and conversation.

Wexner Israel and Graduate Fellows and Alumni, and Heritage Members and Alumni welcome. The call will be in English. To RSVP and receive dial-in information, please email Erika Stiel.

Media reports have been focusing over the past few months on Israel’s external challenges: the Iranian nuclear threat, the Israel-Palestinian process, and the rocky road of both Israel-US relations and Israel-Europe relations.  Yet behind these headlines, Israel is currently facing deep and critical, internal rifts and challenges. Among these are unprecedented levels of family and youth violence; the highest poverty rate among OECD countries, (21% of the population;) and 20% of the elderly population living below the poverty level. These internal problems have become more and more a part of the daily lives of Israelis, and public discourse is becoming increasingly engaged with addressing them. 

Join us for a conference call during which two Wexner Israel Fellowship alumni, deeply involved with these issues, will present their views on developments and related trends, as well as the leadership challenges connected with resolving them.

Barak Loozon (Class 21) is the Director of the Israel & Global Network for the Jewish Federation of San Francisco in Israel. Prior to this position, he served as the Director for Young Adult Engagement for Israel at the Israel Center of the Jewish Community Federation San Francisco and a Community Shaliach. He was an emissary for the Jewish Agency for Israel to the U.S. and served as the Education Director for the Tzabar program – aimed to foster and sustain a strong Israeli and Jewish identity among your Israelis living in the U.S. Barak is a member of the Task Force on Jewish Peoplehood. He holds a B.A. from Bar Ilan University and two M.A. degrees in Education Policy and Administration from Tel Aviv University as well as an M.A. in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, when he was there as a Wexner Israel Fellow. 

Adv. Itzik Sabato (Class 21) is Director of Social Funds at Bituach Leumi (Israel’s National Insurance Institute). Prior to this position, he was the Senior Advisor to the Director-General of Bituach Leumi in charge of policy, strategic planning and cross organizational projects. Itzik received LL.B., LL.M. and M.B.A. degrees, all three cum laude, and edited the “legal research ” journal published by Bar Ilan University. He also holds a Master Degree in Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University as a Wexner Fellow. 

Optional: Participants are invited to click on and review the following background materials:

Unprecedented Levels of Family and Youth Violence 

Highest Poverty Rate Among OECD Countries 

Elderly Population Living Below the Poverty Level   

Please also note other upcoming virtual learning options, available to our members, fellows, and alumni:

Conference Calls:

April 2nd, 12 pm ET “Leadership Models in the Haggadah”

with Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (publicity to follow).

March 12th, 12:30 – 1:45 ET

“Flexigidity” a Lunch & Learn in the New York City Office with Wexner Israel Fellowship alum Gidi Grinstien (publicity to follow). 

March 24th, 12:30pm – 1:45 ET

“Redreaming Eretz Israel – A Window Into Contemporary Zionism ” a Lunch & Learn in the New York City Office with Rabbi Tamar Elad Appelbaum (publicity to follow).

 For more information on these events and to RSVP, please contact Erika Stiel.