Jewish leaders, decision makers and thinkers from around the world gather in Jerusalem on Wednesday for a three-day conference with the goal of fashioning a strategic perspective for the Jewish People in light of the threats, challenges and opportunities.
The "Conference on the Future of the Jewish People" is organized by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) with the participation of Israeli President Shimon Peres as Honorary Chair.
The JPPI leadership, headed by Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat and Leonid Nevzlin, will present the policy recommendations to Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with the leaders of Jewish organizations and communities around the world.
According to JPPI, for the first time the conference participants are to raise issues regarding the status of the Jewish Diaspora in peace agreements between Israel and the Arab world in issues such as the final status of Jerusalem, the Jewish character of Israel and the future access to holy sites.
The conference will also hold an in-depth discussion on the problem of delegitimization, not only in the international arena, but also internally as it strains the friendship and support of allies, by offering ways in which the Jewish People can unite to deal with this increasing phenomenon.
The issue regarding conversion and the disagreements between Israel’s religious authorities and the Diaspora will also be on the agenda.
According to Avinoam Bar-Yosef, founding Director of JPPI, "The conference participants intend to shape together a wide strategic conception for the Jewish People to ensure a thriving future."