IPF Atid Charles Bronfman Conveners Summit Dates: Saturday, October 21- Tuesday, October 24, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
A selective cohort experience for North American young professionals ages 24-40 to engage in high-level policy discussions with analysts, diplomats, elected officials, and other Middle East regional experts and to build the next generation of leaders committed to a two-state outcome.
Charles Bronfman Conveners return to their communities with an in-depth understanding of the policy challenges shaping the current moment in Israeli-Palestinian affairs and a network of relationships with fellow young-professional leaders committed to Israel’s secure, Jewish, and democratic future.
In-Person Summit Saturday, October 21- Tuesday, October 24 in Washington, D.C. featuring:
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Briefings with policy experts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader Middle East
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Intimate meetings with diplomats and elected officials
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Shared learning and strategy sessions as a cohort
Conveners come from a variety of professional backgrounds including holding positions at ADL, AIPAC, Arizona State House of Representatives, Atlantic Council, Brookings, the Department of State, Eurasia Group, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Hillel International, Jewish Federations of North America, Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California, JStreet, the United Nations, and the White House.
Application for the 2023-2024 Charles Bronfman Conveners Program Is Now Open!
Deadline to Apply: Friday, May 19, 2023
Charles Bronfman Conveners Inaugural Cohort: Where are they now?
Shelley Greenspan, Washington, D.C.
Then: A global innovation policy associate at Amazon and a member of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s State Department Research team on the campaign after three years as a legislative project manager at AIPAC.
Now: Serves as the White House Liaison to the Jewish community and a policy advisor on partnerships and global engagement for the National Security Council.
Zachary Schaffer, New York
Then: A senior manager of community strategy of Israel Action Network at JFNA and then the Executive Director of the Council of Young Jewish Presidents.
Now: Co-founder and vice president of community engagement of Project Shema, an organization that provides training and support to help the American Jewish community and allies navigate the difficult discussions around antisemitism on the progressive left.
Brianna Goodlin, Cambridge, UK
Then: A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant at Kotter, where she worked with clients to accelerate the execution of their strategies and drive large-scale, sustainable change.
Now: Founded invstED, a social enterprise aimed at bringing together first-generation, low-income university students with individuals who want to be a part of their success, while attaining her MBA at Cambridge University in the UK.
Tara Khoshbin, Los Angeles
Then: A communications and project coordinator at Creative Community for Peace, an organization dedicated to promoting music and the arts as a bridge to peace and countering the cultural boycott of Israel.
Now: Became the executive director of the Chaya Community, an organization that strives for an empowered Jewish Iranian community, and now owns her own small business.
CONVENER PROJECT SPOTLIGHTS:
Brianna Goodlin led a session on Israeli-Palestinian affairs with ZBT fraternity leaders at their annual conference in Chicago. The group focused on issues such as settlements and the Palestinian Authority, as well the means for campus leaders to articulate their viewpoints in productive and non-alienating ways. Goodlin is also curating and led an eight-part discussion series for a diverse cohort of Chicago young professionals.
Jonah Naghi of Boston shaped the discourse on our issue by writing nearly a dozen op-eds about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which cited Israel Policy Forum reports, and were published in national publications including the Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel. Jonah also serves as the Vice Chair of IPF Atid Boston, where he has organized and facilitated countless events, including a roundtable discussion with Mohammad Darawshe, a prominent political analyst and expert on Arab-Jewish relations in Israel.
Rachel Nelson used our Israel Policy Forum’s new Israel 360º virtual tour platform to educate the JCRC Israel Advocacy Committee in Portland, Oregon with a six-part series on recent developments in East Jerusalem. Led by Israel Policy Forum Executive Director David Halperin, this virtual tour gave participants a keen understanding of the situation on the ground in Jerusalem and the West Bank, during a time when travel to the region was halted.
Maytal Kowalski of Vancouver planned a virtual tour led by Israel Policy Forum CEO David Halperin for the Canada Branch of Ameinu. Using the IPF Atid 360º virtual platform, David and Maytal led over 40 Canadian community members on a tour of the West Bank with a focus on flashpoints in East Jerusalem. She is also working with other Canadian Atidniks to bring additional IPF Atid programs to Jewish communities across the country.
Jacob Levy launched a book club with IPF Atid New York in which he led a constructive discussion on “Letters of my Palestinian Neighbor” by Yossi Klein Halevi. Liora Berkstein hosted a Shabbat dinner for the IPF Atid Los Angeles community.
FAQs
Who can apply?
Young professionals (ages 24-39) from across North America are encouraged to apply.
Do I need to already be involved with Israel Policy Forum and IPF Atid to be considered?
No, applicants with varying degrees of involvement will be selected to participate. Participants will be selected from across North America, including from (but not limited to) existing IPF Atid chapters in the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, and Washington DC.
What does it mean to be a Charles Bronfman Convener?
Participants are selected through an application process to attend a four-day program in Washington, D.C. in which they have the opportunity to engage in high-level policy discussions with analysts, diplomats, elected officials, and other Middle East regional experts and to build the next generation of leaders committed to a two-state outcome.
Charles Bronfman Conveners return to their communities with an in-depth understanding of the policy challenges shaping the current moment in Israeli-Palestinian affairs and a network of relationships with fellow young-professional leaders committed to Israel’s secure, Jewish, and democratic future. They will develop projects to engage their local networks and communities with the support of IPF Atid staff.
Is this a 101-level program?
There are no academic requirements for this program. That said, typically conveners have a strong, high-level background and understanding of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and many have lived or spent extensive time in the Middle East.
What type of projects are the current 2022 Charles Bronfman Conveners engaged in?
Conveners are leading a variety of projects that range both in local and national scale, private and public settings, and across different target communities. Examples include intimate conversations with Consul Generals, educational programs on the two-state outcome with campus leaders, facilitated dialogues over Shabbat dinners, partnerships with both Jewish communal and policy organizations, and briefings on current events in Israel for synagogues. There is a lot of room for creative ideas from conveners to be brought to life through this program, with support from our staff.
How much does the summit cost?
The program is highly subsidized in honor of Charles Bronfman’s lifelong commitment to the two-state outcome. The participation fee is $180.
Israel Policy Forum covers the cost of travel to and from the summit, as well as hotel accommodations for those from outside of the DMV area. We do not want cost to be a barrier to entry, if the participation fee is not affordable you are encouraged to reach out directly to atid@ipforum.org.
How and why was this summit created?
In November 2017, Israel Policy Forum recognized its Advisory Council Chairman Charles Bronfman for his leadership in the community with an event in New York and an honorary gift to inspire next-generation support for Israel and the two-state outcome. Recognizing that extreme polarization currently characterizes the communal dialogue on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this program strives to further elevate the discourse by educating and empowering current leaders to utilize IPF’s resources in their local communities. Bronfman Conveners will have the opportunity to meet and discuss these issues with Charles Bronfman.
Are students able to apply?
The summit and program are intended for young professionals who have completed their undergraduate studies as of May 2023. Graduate students are encouraged to apply.
Is the summit Shabbat-friendly?
Yes, the sessions will not take place during Shabbat.
