Seeking to solidify Israel’s place in the world, more than 4,300 Jewish leaders – including the Israeli prime minister and seven members of his Cabinet – will meet in Los Angeles next week for the annual gathering of North American Jewish federations.

In addition to workshops about philanthropy and education, the four-day general assembly at the Los Angeles Convention Center – the first in L.A. in 26 years – will focus on rebuilding Israel in the wake of war, confronting rising anti-Semitism and protecting Jews from Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“And, of course, strengthening the ties between the Jewish community of North America and Israel,” Consul General Ehud Danoch said in a phone interview.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is scheduled to deliver the closing address Tuesday evening before resolutions are discussed Wednesday.

The showing of dignitaries – more high-ranking Israeli officials than have been in the United States at the same time since the state’s creation – is a gratuity for support during a contentious past year, Danoch said.

During that time, the Iranian president has called the Holocaust a “myth,” claimed the road map to peace starts with the destruction of Israel and

has continued to develop nuclear technology.
In June, an Israeli soldier was kidnapped by Hamas, and weeks later two more soldiers were nabbed by the Iranian-financed militia Hezbollah. The latter resulted in a 34-day war in Lebanon.

Despite some Jewish criticism of Israel’s response against Lebanese infrastructure, North American Jews donated about $300 million in humanitarian aid to Israel, $15 million of which was funneled through the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles.

“It is a very critical time in the Jewish world,” said John Fishel, president of the local federation. “What happened in the summer made many people aware of a particular vulnerability of Israel and Jews throughout the world. It is a time for us to express our solidarity, and the Israeli leaders want to be here because there was a tremendous outpouring of support during the war.”

About 1,000 Angelenos have volunteered to help during the conference, and more than 750 others will serve as delegates.

Until August, the theme for this general assembly had been about Hollywood. The United Jewish Communities, an umbrella of 155 Jewish federations throughout North America, planned to honor “the stars of our system,” said Howard Rieger, president and CEO of the New York-based organization.

But conflicts in the Middle East compelled Rieger away from puns.

“This is a time to deal with reality,” he said, adding that Israeli’s problems are shared by Jews throughout the Diaspora.

His organization changed course and picked the theme, “Together on the Frontline: One People, One Destiny.”

“Our history would demonstrate that,” he said. “When we think that is not the case, we wake up and find out it is.”

LADN