Saturday Night, November 6, 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm:
Emerging Leaders Dessert Reception

Please join us for Masa Israel's Emerging Leaders dessert reception in New Orleans at 8:00 PM on November 6th. The dessert reception will bring together today's Jewish professional and lay leadership and the next generation of Jewish leadership, the Masa Israel Campus Interns. The interns are alumni of Masa Israel programs, who are passionate about Israel and work on campus to connect their peers to Masa Israel programs. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from the Campus Interns, learn about their work on campus and gain insight on trends in Israel activism on campus today

Sunday, November 7, 12:15 pm - 1:45 pm:
Partnership 2000 as an International Platform for Strengthening Jewish Identity & Peoplehood
Galerie I, New Orleans Marriott

Panelists:		Partnership 2000 connects 550 Jewish communities across the globe with 45 regions in Israel. It has developed into the most far reaching and unique platform for engagement with Israel. In its earlier years, P2K responded to the needs of Israeli society. Today, after 15 years our agenda focuses on Jewish peoplehood, mutual responsibility and connection. P2K deepends, in of both Israelis and overseas Jews their sense of belonging to a Jewish people, their communal responsibility, and their Jewish identity. This is done through a myriad of programs which on face value focus on very different topics and activity but almost all of which lead to a strengthened Jewish people. The panel of speakers will be followed by roundtable discussion so that you can share ideas, best practices and brainstorming with your colleagues. Designed by: Jewish Agency for Israel.  Moderator: Max Kleinman, Executive Vice President, United Jewish Communities of Metro-West NJ Other Panelists: Jane Gellman, President, World Confederation of Jewish Community Centers; Lisa Lisser, MetroWest
Andrea Arbel Director, Partnerships Division, Jewish Agency for Israel	Raya Strauss Bendror Co-owner, Strauss Investment Ltd.

Sunday, November 7, 2:30 pm - 4:00 pm: 
Conversion: Untangling the Knot
Galerie 5/6, New Orleans Marriott

Speaker:    Natan Sharansky Chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive

The complex issue of conversion has far-reaching repercussions for the Jewish people. Under Israel's Law of Return, immediate citizenship is granted to a child or grandchild of a Jew, or a spouse of a child of a Jew. On the other hand, in Jewish religious law (Halacha) a Jew is someone born to a Jewish mother. The influx of one million Russian Jews to Israel, approximately 300,000 of whom are not halachically Jewish, has brought this issue to the fore. Thus, a young soldier can put his or her life on the line for the country, but cannot marry an Israeli Jew and cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery. The issue does not stop in Israel. As more and more young people take part in programs like Birthright and Masa and reawaken their Jewish identity, many will be shocked to learn that they are not considered Jews under Jewish law. At the same time, the Jewish state does not recognize Conservative or Reform conversions performed in Israel. Learn how this complex issue is being dealt with in Israel by the government and by the religious establishment, and discuss the implications for North American Jewry and for future Diaspora/Israel relations. Designed by: Jewish Agency for Israel, Beit Morasha Other speakers: Rabbi Julie Schonfeld,Executive Vice President, The Rabbinical Assembly; Rabbi Gilad Kariv, Esq., Executive Director, Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism (IMPJ); Professor Benjamin Ish-Shalom, President, Beit Morasha of Jerusalem; Rabbi Dr. Basil Herring, Executive Vice President, The Rabbinical Council of America

Sunday, November 7, 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm:
Opening Plenary The Strength of Collective Response

Celebrate the power of the collective as we open the GA and highlight the Federation movement's successful response to Hurricane Katrina and our rescue and resettlement of Soviet Jews in Operation Exodus.

 
Monday, November 8, 8:00 am - 9:30 am:
Securing the Future: Forging The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Jewish People

Speakers:		Presenting the Jewish Agency’s New Strategic Plan: Inspire, Connect and Empower. Join a dynamic panel featuring JAFI’s new professional leaders, JAFI Director General Alan Hoffmann and Dr. Misha Galperin, President and CEO of Jewish Agency International Development LLC. Alan and Misha will present and discuss the exciting new directions the Agency is taking to focus on expanding and enhancing the Jewish identity and peoplehood of Jewish youngsters worldwide to ensure our Jewish future. Moderator: Linda Kislowicz. For more information on the New Strategic Plan, click here.
Alan Hoffmann	Dr. Misha Galperin

Monday, November 8, 8:00 am - 9:30 am:
Closing the Gap by Educational and Employment Stimulation - Is This Enough?
Bayside B/C, Sheraton

People are Israel's major resource, and the country faces a critical obstacle in realizing the human potential in Israel's periphery, mainly due to scarce educational opportunities, socioeconomic background and low self-image. The Atidim for Educational Excellence program was established 10 years ago to close these gaps and enable youth from Israel's geographic and social periphery to fulfill their potential However, for thousands of graduates the main obstacle in returning to the periphery is lack of employment opportunities in Israel's peripheral areas. To tackle this obstacle, the Tzafona Daroma Loan Fund was initiated by the founders of Atidim, enables small and medium size businesses to receive funding and flourish in the Negev and Gallil. These businesses create employment opportunities for young people.

Speakers: Leah Golan (Director General of the Israel Department, Jewish Agency for Israel) , Raya Strauss- Bendror (Co-owner, Strauss Investment Ltd.) , Giora Baran (Director General, Daroma-Tzafona) , Larry Joseph (Member, Board of Governors, Jewish Agency For Israel) , Sofi Shomer (IDF Officer and Atidim graduate, Israel Defense Forces)

Monday, November 8, 10:45 am - 12:00 pm:
Plenary

Tuesday, November 9, 9:45 - 11:00 am:
Responsible for One Another: Why Overseas Giving Matters Today
Grand Ballroom E, Sheraton

Speakers:		Jews have always been connected across borders and beyond many languages. At a time when Jews are facing poverty, young adults are yearning to reconnect to their heritage and their people, and when Israel is confronted with numerous challenges, JAFI and JDC are leading the way in changing Jewish lives and communities the world over. With a unique focus on Israel and the Former Soviet Union, learn why overseas giving is more important now than ever.Designed by: The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Agency for Israel. Moderator: Skip Schrayer JDC Speakers: Joy Sisisky, Violetta Shmulenzon
Seth Cohen	Liat Damoza

Tuesday, November 9, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm:
Closing Plenary

Speaker: Moises Lemor

TBD by Racheli Ben Lulu. Liat Demoza will be speaking as well.