ISRAEL — The “ULTIMATE ALLY” of the US

Ambassador Michael Oren spoke at Penn State and Dickinson, Thursday, March 29, 2012 on the why and how of a special relationship.

Click to watch the video which is 30 minutes plus 30 minutes of Q & A regarding key key foreign policy questions.

Ceremony Commemorated 35th Anniversary of Entebbe Rescue & Hero Yoni Netanyahu
(see slideshow below)

Highlights:

• Wed. July 6 — 35th Anniversary Commemoration of Entebbe Rescue took place @ Cong. Mikveh Israel, Phila. (near Liberty Bell)
• Guest Speaker — Elisabeth Gentieu — Yoni Netanyahu's Cheltenham H.S. teacher — (in photo below) — she gave 2 touching personal stories about Yoni (audio/video is being produced)
• Two—fold purpose was to:
  1. commemorate Entebbe Rescue & Yoni's leadership & sacrifice,
  2. for young adults to learn, and make it “Their Narrative.”
• Guest Speaker — Daniel Kutner, Consul General of Israel to the Mid—Atlantic Region — story of Yoni Netanyahu & Rescue
• Guest Speaker — Prof. Ed Turzanski, LaSalle Univ., Counter—Terrorism Expert, former US intel. — value/benefits of American—Israel relationship
• Guest Speaker — Eli Gabay, Esq — meaning of Entebbe Rescue as July 4th Israel/American celebration
• Guest Speaker — Lou Balcher — how young professionals can accept Entebbe Rescue/Yoni Story as part of their own Am./Israel Narrative
• Host — Rabbi Albert Gabbai — Mikveh Israel synagogue, site of Yoni Netanyahu Memorial
• Star of David Jewish Bikers — motorcycle club was a unique Honor Guard Program
• Documentary of Entebbe Rescue screened after Ceremony (please see video)
• Numbers attending: Aprox. 80 community leaders, among whom were 25 young professionals organized only once every FIVE YEARS by YJLC — Young Jewish Leadership Concepts & Cong. Mikveh Israel

On July 4th, 1976, on America's Bicentennial celebration, Israeli elite forces carried out a daring and successful IDF rescue operation at Entebbe airport.

Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu, who led the ground forces that stormed the terminal, tragically lost his life during the mission. However, he and his team of highly skilled soldiers rescued 103 hostages from Arab and German terrorists and the clutches of Idi Amin's Ugandan forces. The topic of several books and movies, this incredible story of bravery was retold on July 6th at a local commemoration ceremony organized by the Consulate's Director of Academic Affairs and Speaker's Bureau, Lou Balcher, who also was a featured speaker.

CG Kutner gave remarks to the audience of community leaders and young professionals. Speakers included: Eli Gabay, Esq., emcee of the event; Prof. Ed Turzanski, counter-terrorism expert; Rabbi Albert Gabbai, Congregation Mikveh Israel; and Elisabeth Y. Gentieu, Yoni's Cheltenham High School English teacher.

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YJLC's 23rd Annual Pocono Rafting Leadership Weekend an Awesome Success!

The constant cool, wet rain on the Lehigh River on Sunday afternoon, August 15, did not dampen the spirits of 17 hearty rafters on the 23rd Annual YJLC Pocono Rafting Leadership Weekend. “The Speakers were AWESOME” remarked Wilmington, Delaware's Amanda Beck, who returned after enjoying last year's trip.

Speakers included Israeli Embassy diplomat Ohad Cohen who gave a history, world ranking and challenges of Israel's modern economy. Cohen is initiator and head of the commercial mission, Embassy of Israel. (continued…)

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Saturday night after a poolside Havdallah, the young professional participants screened “Hero in Heaven” and heard local stories of the Bucks County Lone Israeli Soldier, Michael Levin, who fell in Lebanon in the 2006 war. Discussions of Jewish identity and relationships with Israel followed, and was led by Monika Lev Cohen, Aliyah Regional Manager, Mid-Atlantic Region, Jewish Agency for Israel.

Sunday Brunch's final speaker was Marina Furman, Philadelphia's JNF Director, who told the harrowing tale of being a Soviet Jewish “Refusenick” who's crime was to want to go to Israel. Furman related, with daughter Aliyah sitting by her side, how Russian hospital workers were instructed to kill her in her last moments of pregnancy. Miraculously, the top hospital administrator intervened at the last seconds, sparing Marina and her soon to be born daughter, who Marina named Aliyah, accenting her wish.

Only a little less harrowing was Marina and Aliyah's river ride with fellow rafters almost falling into the rapids. Smiles abounded and no injuries occurred.

The leadership weekend was asssisted by seven national Jewish organizations including: The Jewish Agency for Israel- Aliyah North America, MASA Israel Journey, AEPI Jewish fraternity, B'nai B'rith International young leadership division, Magen David Adom, and Save a Child's Heart, The program was organized by Young Jewish Leadership Concepts.

Plans are in the works for numerous programs to engage Jewish young professionals. Those interested can check back on this web site: yjlc.org and follow YJLC on Facebook.