The Israeli Forum
THE ISRAELI FORUM - BACKGROUND
The Israeli Forum is an a-political non profit organization committed to the strengthening of the relationship between Israeli (new immigrants and native Israelis) and Diaspora Jewry, under the motto of a "Direct Jewish Line".
The Israeli Forum was established in a conference initiated by a group of members of the UJA Young Leadership Cabinet and a group of Israelis from all parts of the political spectrum, business people,academics, high ranking army officers and civil servants. Their objective was to establish a new structure that would add a personal and humanistic dimension to Israel-Diaspora relations, a dimension that would reach beyond traditional philanthropic relations that existed between Diaspora Jewry and representatives of the Jewish establishment in Israel.
The conference took place in the summer of 1983 at the Moriah Hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea.
Among the participants in this first Moriah meeting, who later became the founders of the Israel Forum were: David Kolitz (the founding chairman of the Israeli Forum), Ze'ev Bielski, Amira Dotan, Nechemia Dagan, Yossi Ben Hanan, Michael Reiner, Uri Gordon, Yoram Yair (YaYa), Arik Carmon, Arnon Mantver, Haim Rozow, Ron Huldai and Knesset Members Haim Ramon, Avraham Burg, Uzi Landau and Nava Arad.
Two years later, in 1985, the Israeli Forum was officially established.
The Israeli Forum works with counterpart volunteer organizations such as:
In North America: The North American Jewish Forum (with chapters in the United States and Canada)
In Europe: The European-Israeli Forum , which operates in countries across Europe, East and West.
Other representatives operate in South Africa, Australia and South America.
Israeli Forum Chairmen 1985-1996
David Kolitz
Ze'ev Bielski
Shmuel Ben Tovim
Yoav Navon
Igal Brightman
Tony Kristal
Avraham Infeld
The Pedagogic Center
Director: Dr. Motti Friedman
Web site manager: Esther Carciente, esthers@jajz-ed.org.il.
Updated: December 23 ,1996