The Department for Irgoon and Israelis Abroad hosted a conference in Miami, Florida, for leaders of Israeli communities in North America. Dozens of leaders from the United States and Canada participated in a unique gathering focused on the role of Israeli leaders and communities following the October 2023 events.
Led by Gusti Yehoshua-Braverman, Head of the Department, along with Executive Director Yaniv Nachmias, North America Desk Head Lior Sagi, and North America Program Manager Yahav Barnea, and guided by entrepreneur and senior strategic consultant Gilad Babchuk, the conference focused on self-leadership during crises, building community resilience, peer learning, and creating community work plans, while also connecting with the Jewish community and the next generation. The event also featured a special Israeli Kabbalat Shabbat with Cantor Galit Dadon-Cohen.
During the conference, participants learned about a new study conducted among Israelis in the Diaspora after the October events, as well as a comprehensive survey held in Israel on attitudes toward Israelis living abroad. Both were initiated and led by the department in collaboration with the Hebrew University. The findings sparked meaningful discussions and a lively brainstorming session. At the end of the conference, participants emphasized the sense of empowerment, purpose, and depth they felt, highlighting their commitment to continue working for and with the communities through mutual cooperation.
