Upcoming at JFN 2016: Jewish-Arab relations and issues relat...

A number of events at the JFN International Conference featured Jewish-Arab relations and issues related to Arab citizens in Israel, including:

Arab Citizens in the Start-Up Nation

11:15 AM - 12:30 PM, April 4 2016

Salon E

The integration of Arab Israelis into the Israeli workforce is a strategic and economic necessity for the State of Israel. There are encouraging signs: over the last six years, the number of Arab citizens employed as engineers in Israel’s booming high tech industry has grown from 250 individuals to nearly 3,000—a major achievement resulting from coordinated and concerted efforts by the government, private sector, academia, and civil society. This session detailed the current realities, challenges and opportunities in Arab high-tech integration in Israel, efforts that support both social integration while supplying Israel’s industry with a qualified workforce when it falls short of fulfilling demand for the thousands of jobs created each year.

Turning Social Challenge to Philanthropic Opportunity

3:30 PM - 4:45 PM, April 4 2016

Fairway II

Creativity, independence, wisdom and risk-tolerance blend to give strategic funders a driving hand in addressing social problems that are personally meaningful to them. But the process through which a funder moves from identifying a challenge to creating a strategy to address it is a special and complex alchemy. This session presented three stories of how funders generated meaningful change on issues of deep significance, and then opens roundtable conversations on brewing issues in the Jewish world, including building young leadership in Israel, strengthening Jewish identity in the U.S., Arab-Jewish coexistence and social and physical aspects of urban renewal.

Home Hospitality Dinner: Arab Innovation in the Startup Nation

6:15 PM - 9:30 PM, April 4 2016

Meet bus at Hotel Main Entrance

Hosted by Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs and Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation

THIS DINNER IS CURRENTLY AT FULL CAPACITY. To be added to the waiting list, please email[email protected]. If you are already signed up and want to cancel, please email[email protected] so we can give the seat to someone on the waiting list.

Integrating Arab citizens into Israel’s thriving tech sector is a major national priority for the State of Israel. Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs and the Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation host a conversation on the current realities, challenges and opportunities in Arab high-tech integration in Israel and on public, private, and philanthropic investment in Arab scientists and entrepreneurs. Guests heard directly from the Arab scientists and entrepreneurs who are at the forefront of Israel’s technological growth and from the Government of Israel about the State’s commitment to investing in the potential of this human capital. Guests had the opportunity to learn how the shared goal of bringing new medical, life science, and technological products to market advances the social and economic status of Arab citizens and furthers Israel’s social cohesion and economic sustainability.

Hosted Breakfast: Investing in Social Cohesion in Israel

7:30 AM - 8:45 AM, April 5 2016

Scripps II

Hosted by Ted Arison Family Foundation

Philanthropic Reflections through the prism of the Good Deeds Day-Kulanana initiative.

After decades of focus on the basic essentials of state-building in Israel, philanthropists are increasingly turning attention to society-building. Many efforts are framed as promoting “social cohesion”, which refers to issues including: the quality of relations between Israel’s citizens, their identification with and trust in the state, sense of belonging, fair treatment, equal opportunities and common civic purpose. Good Deeds Day—Kulanana is one such initiative. Led by the Ted Arison Family Foundation and a growing flexible funding community, it aims to strengthen social cohesion through the creation of a diverse community of 400 nonprofits working to create a fairer shared future for all Israelis. Nearly four dozen nonprofits are running 23 twinning projects, and many more are participating in community forums. Success stories and positive research findings are amplified through the media, thereby spreading hope for a better shared future for all Israel’s citizens.

This session invited reflection on experiences, strategies and priorities to support the emerging social cohesion ecosystem.