(By Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Gluck)

On Monday, November 5th, a group of Orthodox Jewish community leaders representing Am Echad and other organizations met with members of the Israeli media. The meeting, one of a series of meetings coordinated by the Ruderman Foundation to introduce Israeli opinion makers to Jewish leaders in the United States, was hosted by Shlomo Werdiger, co-chair of Am Echad, and chair of Agudath Israel’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Werdiger, who also holds a number of other leadership positions in Orthodox Jewish institutions, hosted the meeting in his offices in Midtown Manhattan, NY.

Other participants in the meeting included Dr. Irving Lebovics, co-chair, Am Echad (via phone), Rabbi Pesach Lerner, Executive Vice President Emeritus of the National Council of Young Israel, Mrs. Ruth Lichtenstein, publisher, Hamodia, Rabbi Avi Shafran, Director of Public Affairs, Agudath Israel, Mr. Shmuli Werdiger, Executive Vice President, Outerstuff, and Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President, Agudath Israel.

The meeting’s focus was on giving background and context to Israeli media’s reporting on American Jewry. A special emphasis was placed on the growing strength and vitality of the Orthodox community, and its connection with Israel.

“This is the first time this kind of meeting was requested by Israeli media leaders,” Am Echad co-chair Mr. Shlomo Werdiger said. “It reflects the increased acceptance of the message Am Echad has been sharing: Chareidi Jewry occupies an important place in America and needs to have a seat at the table when Israelis want to know what American Jewry thinks.”

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