Israel Policy Forum announces the 2019 cohort of Charles Bronfman IPF Atid Conveners, the second annual group of twenty-five young professionals from across the pro-Israel and Middle East policy communities. From November 2 to 5, Bronfman Conveners will participate in an immersive kick-off summit in New York and Washington, DC. Similar to the 2018 summit that featured senior officials such as former Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Salam Fayyad, former Ambassador Elliot Abrams, Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar, and Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer, Conveners will again engage in discussions with experts on Israel-related issues from the policymaking and Jewish communities, as well as Israel Policy Forum’s professional team.
The 2019 Conveners, chosen during a rigorous selection process, represent a diverse group of academics, entrepreneurs, lawyers, writers, and Jewish communal and policymaking professionals who span ten different cities across North America. Together, they cite a range of present and past affiliations or involvement in the pro-Israel community, including with: the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Jewish Community Relations Councils (JCRCs), Hillel, Moishe House, Philos Project, the Schusterman Foundation’s ROI and REALITY Communities, the Wexner Foundation, and many more.
Following last year’s summit, the inaugural cohort of Conveners have spearheaded efforts in their home communities to elevate and shape the discourse in support of the two-state solution. Specific initiatives have included engaging entertainment professionals in dialogue about Israeli-Palestinian relations, convening groups to attend gatherings like the “Oslo” Broadway play and OneTable Shabbat meals, and curating new programs for progressive and conservative audiences to further understandings of the two-state vision and its importance.
Israel Policy Forum established the Bronfman Conveners program to honor its Advisory Council Chairman, Charles Bronfman, and his lifetime commitment to Israel. The program is designed to empower the next generation of Jewish community leaders with the resources and support to advance the vision of a Jewish, democratic, secure Israel. IPF Atid, the young professionals network of Israel Policy Forum, has chapters in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
