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Federation General Assembly

The Jewish Federations of North America’s “Israel at 75 General Assembly” is taking place between April 23-26 in Tel Aviv. Credit: Courtesy of the Jewish Federations of North America.

Jewish Federations’ annual conference becomes embroiled in political battles

The General Assembly, featured only one session on judicial reform, with exclusively anti-reform panelists. Queried by JNS, JFNA president and CEO Eric Fingerhut explained that the panel—titled, “75 Years of Israeli Democracy: Understanding What’s Motivating the Largest Protest Movement in Israel’s History”—was about the protesters, not the reforms themselves.

April 25, 2023

JFNA president and CEO Eric Fingerhut. Source: Screenshot.

Facing criticism of partisanship, head of Jewish Federations defends its legitimacy

“The demographics are changing,” said Irving Lebovics, co-chairman of the Agudah-affiliated Am Echad. “I’m not even sure who the federation represents today.”

Menachem Wecker

April 24, 2023

Anti-reform activists harass Knesset member Simcha Rothman at the JFNA General Assembly in Tel Aviv, April 24, 2023. Source: Twitter screenshot.

Judicial reform architect harassed at JFNA General Assembly

“People were shouting things that weren’t of any substance, just to disrupt,” says an audience member.

April 24, 2023

Israeli founding father and first prime minister David Ben-Gurion declares independence beneath a large portrait of Theodor Herzl, founder of modern Zionism, at the Tel Aviv Museum, today Independence Hall, on May 14, 1948. Photo by Zoltan Kluger/GPO.

Tel Aviv birthday bash sees Jewish NGOs kick off Israel’s 75th anniversary

Keren Hayesod, the Jewish Federations of North America, the Jewish Agency of Israel and the World Zionist Organization unite.

Judith Segaloff

April 23, 2023

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, April 10, 2023. Photo by Tomer Neuberg/Flash90.

The perils of politicizing Jewish philanthropy

As the debate about Netanyahu and judicial reform heats up, the umbrella group of Jewish Federations is showing less restraint about intervening in Israeli politics. That’s a mistake.

Jonathan S. Tobin

April 21, 2023

The modern-day architecture of Tel Aviv. Credit: Pixabay.

Jewish Federations of North America prep for General Assembly in Tel Aviv

Some 2,100 representatives from Jewish communities in the United States and Canada are expected to attend the program that also celebrates modern-day Israel’s 75th year.

April 4, 2023

JFNA president and CEO Eric Fingerhut. Source: Screenshot.

Federations emphasize Jewish security, physically and identifiably, at virtual GA

A major announcement was a three-year initiative—the umbrella organization’s largest to date—called LiveSecure, geared to guarantee that all 146 communities across the country with a Jewish Federation have the Community Security Initiative.

Dmitriy Shapiro

October 4, 2021