Community Relations Council to host panel discussion

American Jewish Perspectives to Peace in Israel

While the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians seem to have faltered, the need for a peaceful solution is still urgent. What role should we play and how can the American Jewish community be helpful in the peace process?

On May 21, at the Dwares JCC, nationally recognized Jewish leaders will participate in a facilitated discussion about the hurdles facing peace and how we, in the U.S. can influence peace in the Middle East. Panelists for the program include David Bernstein, executive director of The David Project, Rachel Lerner, senior vice president of community relations of J Street and Martin J. Raffel, senior vice president of the Jewish Council on Public Affairs (JCPA).

As executive director of The David Project, which works to positively shape campus opinion on Israel, David Bernstein transformed and rebranded the organization. The David Project focuses on the need for expanding relationships with campus opinion leaders and investing resources and effort on each campus where the organization is active.

Rachel Lerner has devoted more than 10 years of Jewish community service and advocacy for Israel including director of the Israel Advocacy Initiative of the JCPA before coming to J Street. Lerner is responsible for helping to express the advocacy position of J Street to the Jewish community.

Martin J. Raffel serves as the senior vice president and director of the Task Force on Israel, World Jewry & International Human Rights at the the JCPA. He is a primary resource on a broad range of Israel-related and other international issues for a field of 14 national and 125 local Jewish public affairs/community relations organizations.

The panel discussion begins at 7 p.m. at 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. The program is sponsored by the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

For more information, contact Marty Cooper at mcooper@jewishallianceri.org or 401-295-7703