Israeli Culture Series to present ‘Dreaming Israel through Three Generations’

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May’s Israeli Culture Series program will feature Sigal Kanotopsky, a member of the Center for Ethiopian Jewry Heritage, discussing the challenges faced by Ethiopian Jews and the contributions of women to Israeli society as told through the stories of her family.

The program, “Dreaming Israel through Three Generations,” will be held on Zoom on May 11.

Women throughout the world have made huge contributions to Israel and the Jewish world. Kanotopsky will discuss how she, her mother and her daughter have impacted Israel and how it all began. She will detail how her mother played an important role in bringing the family from Ethiopia to the Holy Land, how her daughter became a journalist in the military, how women collectively have shaped Israeli society and what’s on the horizon for women in Israel. 

Kanotopsky recently became the director of the U.S. Northeast region of The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). Prior to joining JAFI, she served as vice president of resource development at MAOZ and as CEO of Olim Be’yachad, a nonprofit that aims to change perceptions and eliminate racism in Israeli society through employment and media.

Kanotopsky has been recognized as a leader in social change for women leading breakthroughs notably by receiving awards such as the Rappaport Prize and being named one of the 50 most socially influential leaders for 2018 by the Yediot Aharonot newspaper.

The free program, which is co-sponsored by JAFI, will take place on Wednesday, May 11, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. To register, go to JewishAllianceRI.org/ICS-may/.

For more information about the program or the monthly Israeli Culture Series, contact Amit Moshe Oren at 401-421-4111 or AOren@jewishallianceri.org.

LARRY KATZ(lkatz@jewishallianceri.org) is the director of Jewish life and learning at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

Israel Culture Series, JAFI, Ethiopia, Sigal Kanotopsky