Page 6 - The Jewish Voice - April '22

Page 6, The Jewish Voice

Local Happenings from page 5 Foundation’s vast network of more than 3,000 professional and
volunteer leaders in North America and Israel.
“We are delighted to welcome these outstanding leaders as
Young Jewish Professionals they embark upon a transformative journey of Jewish learning
and leadership development,” said Rabba Yaffa Epstein, director
Brunch of The Wexner Heritage Program. “We know that this will only
enhance their capacity to serve as visionary change agents in
Young Jewish Professionals of Chabad of Palm Jewish life. We are so grateful to our partners in Palm Beach
Beach Gardens recently held a Sunday brunch with who share our vision of investing in the future of our community
Mark Halawa. The world peace activist was raised in an by offering training and enrichment to the volunteer leaders that
antisemitic Kuwait society where Jews are synonymous will guide us into the next generation.” Synagogue VP Robert Keats, Ambassador & Mrs. David
with evil and inhumanity, only to discover years later that The Wexner Foundation has more than 30 years of experience Friedman, Former Synagogue President Gary Schottenstein,
he himself is a Jew. developing excellence in Jewish professionals and volunteer Terri Schottenstein
Mark passionately encouraged the young professionals leaders in North America. The mission of the Wexner Heritage
to be aware and proactive and to stand firmly against Program is to expand the vision of Jewish volunteer leaders, and the ongoing conflict
antisemitism. deepen their Jewish knowledge and confidence, and inspire them in the Middle East as
to exercise transformative leadership in the Jewish community. an American and as an
“The leaders selected are among our most dedicated, talented, observant Jew.
and impact-driven; they are vital to the future of Jewish Palm He stated that one
Beach and our global community,” said Michael Hoffman, of his goals after he
President & CEO of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. was confirmed was
“At the same time, for our community to be selected by The to enforced the 1995
Wexner Foundation speaks volumes of our emerging position act that recognized
as a center for Jewish life, philanthropy, and innovation. Our Jerusalem as the capital Ambassador David Friedman,
community will unquestionably benefit for years to come from of Israel, and move the Jonathan S. Tobin
our cohort’s participation in this incredible program.” embassy to Jerusalem.
Friedman was able to educate the Trump Cabinet on the
U.S. Ambassador to history of the region and show that the Palestinian Authority
had praised and supported terrorist activity in the region, as
Israel Speaks at Palm Beach evidenced by P.A. President Abbas’s rhetoric during the Gaza
War, making multiple statements praising terrorist activity and
Synagogue support of reparations to terrorist families.
When probed by Tobin, Ambassador Friedman told the
Palm Beach Synagogue and United Hatzalah of Israel story of how he played a video for President Trump at a Cabinet
hosted David Friedman, Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel, meeting to show him Abbas’s statements, readily available
for an exclusive evening to discuss his newly published book, online, garnering laughter and nodding heads from the audience.
Sledgehammer, the story of how the Abraham Accords were The discussion moved to the Abraham Accords and
negotiated. Friedman’s book, Sledgehammer, which tells the story of how
Leaders Selected for The More than 300 community members gathered in the for the first time since 1994, a peace agreement was signed
Wexner Heritage Leadership sanctuary of Palm Beach Synagogue to listen as Jonathan S. between Israel and other Arab countries, and what the benefits
have been for the region, including shared technologies, access
Tobin, a well-known journalist and editor-in-chief of JNS.org,
Program asked the ambassador questions about his experience in the to material goods and access to Saudi airspace, allowing travel
Trump Administration and his role in the recent peace accords.
to and from Israel in a timely fashion, instead of routing flights
Twenty dynamic leaders in the Palm Beaches have been As he was not a political appointee, Ambassador around the large country.
selected for the inaugural cohort of Palm Beaches’ Wexner Friedman described how he was in a unique position to
Heritage Leadership Program, a program of The Wexner educate the White House on the current facts regarding Israel Local Happenings on page 7
Foundation, widely considered the gold standard of Jewish
leadership programs in North America. The Palm Beaches is one
of only three communities from around the country selected for
this two-year, intensive leadership program focused on Judaism
and leadership; this is also the first instance of the Palm Beaches
serving as a host city, a testament to the local Jewish community’s
emergence as one of the country’s burgeoning centers of Jewish
life. More than 2,100 leaders from 35 North American cities have
participated in the program since its inception in 1983.
The Palm Beach cohort will begin the program alongside a
cohort from Cleveland and the San Francisco Bay Area in the
summer of 2022. The Wexner program will be operated locally
by Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and its Mandel
Center for Leadership Development.
The following individuals have been selected for the 2022
Cohort:
• Jonathan Chane • Andrew Koerner driveway courtyard
• Matthew Comiter • Justin Paul
• David Friedlander • Adam Rickel
• Juliana Gendelman • Brett Sandala
• Alan Haspel • Emily Schachtel
• Michael Hoffman • Kevin Shapiro
• Scott Holtz • Geoffrey Stahl
• Adam Jackowitz • Lauren Stuhmer
• Ilan Kaufer • Amy Terwilleger
• Starr Kempin • Beth Wayne
Utilizing the diverse, cohort-based learning that is the
hallmark of The Wexner Foundation programs, Wexner Heritage
members will be exposed to various approaches to leadership
as well as tools for addressing pressing issues in the Jewish
community, while deepening their knowledge of Jewish history,
values, and texts. Members will also connect with The Wexner

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