6TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY EDUCATION DAY on ARAB CITIZENS of ISRAEL SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 12:30 PM-4:30 PM at the DCJCC

A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WASHINGTON JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL 6TH ANNUAL COMMUNITY EDUCATION DAY ON ARAB CITIZENS OF ISRAEL SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 12:30 PM-4:30 PM at the DCJCC

12:30 pm Screening of Women in Sink 1:30 pm Panel discussion: Reem Younis, co-founder of Nazareth-based global high-tech company Alpha Omega and role model for Israeli Arab entrepreneurial success; Tziona Koenig-Yair, Israel’s first Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner; moderated by Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Co-chair of the Greater Washington Forum on Israeli Arab Issues. 3:00 pm Reception and “World Café” small roundtable discussions

WJFF.ORG/DayOfEd

Sponsored by the Greater Washington Forum on Israeli Arab Issues & the Washington DCJCC

Lead Support provided by The Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation and The Lois and Richard England Family Foundation

Co-presented by: Adas Israel Congregation; Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation; Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community of Greater Washington; Ameinu; American Jewish Committee, Washington Region; American University Center for Israel Studies; Anti-Defamation League, Washington DC Region; Beth El Hebrew Congregation; B’nai Israel Congregation; Congregation Beth El; Congregation Beit Chaverim of Calvert County; Congregation Sha’are Shalom of Waldorf; Congregation Shirat HaNefesh; Embassy of Israel; Hevrat Shalom Congregation of Maryland; Inter-Agency Task Force on Israeli Arab Issues; Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington; Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington; Jewish Federation of Greater Washington; Kehilat Shalom; Kol Shalom; Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation; New Israel Fund; Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation; Ohev Sholom – The National Synagogue; Shaare Tefila Congregation; Social Venture Fund for Jewish-Arab Equality and Shared Society; Temple Beth Ami; Temple Emanuel; Temple Rodef Shalom; Tifereth Israel Congregation; Washington Hebrew Congregation. THE GREATER WASHINGTON FORUM ON ISRAELI ARAB ISSUES

MISSION In response to growing awareness of the importance of this issue to The mission of the Greater Washington Forum on Israeli Arab Issues the future of the State of Israel, leading national organizations of the (GWFIA) is to educate the Washington Jewish community about: American Jewish community created the “Inter Agency Task Force on • Jewish Arab relations in Israel, including the economic, educational Israeli Arab Issues.” The Task Force is composed of over 100 member and social challenges faced by Arab citizens of Israel; and organizations including foundations, Federations, direct service programs, • the efforts of the Israeli government, the private sector, and the and umbrella groups from across the political and religious spectrum of NGO community to address these challenges and achieve full civic the organized American Jewish community. The IATF mission includes equality for all Israeli citizens. educating the American community about majority/minority relations in Israel and coordinating activities among its members so that they can MEMBERSHIP more effectively carry out their respective activities in North America and The GWFIA is a coalition of community organizations, synagogues, in Israel. For more information about the IATF, visit www.IATaskForce.org. philanthropic foundations, and individuals, located in the Greater Washington metropolitan area. The GWFIA welcomes all who support the The GWFIA works closely with the national IATF to educate the Greater vision expressed in the Declaration of Establishment of the State of Israel: Washington community about the complex issues of majority and THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the minority relations in Israel–recognizing both Israel’s commitment to Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country Jewish and democratic values as well as the challenges faced in the for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice full realization of those aspirations. The GWFIA assists community and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete organizations, synagogues, and foundations in their respective equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective educational and philanthropic activities that address issues within the of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, GWFIA mission. language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the STEERING COMMITTEE United Nations. Wendy Rudolph and Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Co-Chairs Adas Israel Congregation BACKGROUND Adat Shalom Reconstructionist Congregation Approximately 20.6% of Israel’s 8.3 million citizens are Arabs, including Am Kolel Jewish Renewal Community of Greater Washington Muslims, Christians, Bedouin and Druze. Since 1948, the relationships of American Jewish Committee, Washington Region these several communities to the Jewish majority have been complex, American University Center for Israel Studies varied, and constantly changing. However, following the historic Anti-Defamation League, Washington Region demonstrations by Israeli Arabs in October 2000, a commission of Naomi and Nehemiah Cohen Foundation inquiry established by the Government of Israel engaged in a rigorous Embassy of Israel examination of the circumstances of the Israeli Arab community. Lois and Richard England Family Foundation Acknowledging a history of discrimination, the commission called for a Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington wholesale review of state policies affecting its Arab citizens. The report Jewish Federation of Greater Washington called the issue “the most sensitive and important domestic issue facing New Israel Fund Israel today.” University of Maryland Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies [Report of the Or Commission, 2003, par. 24]. Washington DCJCC Washington Hebrew Congregation

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