Doing Good: Tikkun Olam in the 21st Century
A JDC Symposium presented in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s Israel and Overseas Committee. Followed by An Evening to Bring Back Hope.

Date: Thursday, June 8, 2017
Symposium:
10:00 – 11:00 a.m. informal breakfast and discussion with experts
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Plenary program and lunch (dietary laws observed)
Congregation Beth Israel
Experts from around the world converge in Vancouver to share the greatest challenges and opportunities facing Jewish communities around the world, and the Jewish role in humanitarian care.
REGISTER HERE
10:00 am INFORMAL BREAKFAST
A chance to ask questions of leading experts in Jewish life and
humanitarian care around the world

11:00 am OPENING PLENARY
Welcome – Gary Segal and Ezra Shanken
Our Biggest Global Challenges and Opportunities Today
A look at some of the most vexing problems of our day: from the challenges of extreme poverty, to the reemergence of anti-Semitism in Europe and beyond, to the divisions and apathy that plague Israel and our global Jewish community, and some of the most innovative efforts to solve them
- Alan Gill

11:40 pm Lunch buffet

11:50 pm BREAKOUT TABLES for lunch
International Hot Spots
 Israel: Real Stories of The Start-Up Nation and Those Left Behind
A tremendous success story in high tech development and innovation at the top, Israel has also left too many people behind. JDC’s mandate is to care for the most vulnerable Israelis – people with disabilities, children and elderly living in poverty, and the unemployed – and seek sustainable solutions to help the individuals and the country as a whole.
- Solly Kaplinski

 After the Soviet Jewry Movement: The Little Known Story of Jews who Stayed in Russia
Many of us marched to free Jews in the Soviet Union in one of the largest mobilizations of the recent era. But what happened to the hundreds of thousands of Jews who stayed behind? In an incredible and unlikely turn of history, Jewish communities are reemerging – in major cities and in fascinating regions such as the Russian Far East.
- Michael Novick

 Jewish Action in Times of Crisis: Humanitarian Aid during Global Emergencies
How is the Jewish community active in general relief in times of crisis? Learn about JDC’s work in Africa with Dr. Rick Hodes and medical interventions, and ambitious plans for water relief and agricultural aid. Hear about the Jewish role in helping the influx of refugees from Syria. And learn about the well-being of Jewish communities in Muslim countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey.
- Sam Amiel and Will Recant

12:30 FINAL PLENARY
Our Part in a Global Future
A family conversation between generations about how we think of the challenges in our world today, what we learn from our parents and how we forge our own paths in understanding Jewish values and our own role.
- Will Recant and Rebecca Recant

Thank You and Closing
-Sam Amiel and Karen James

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Visiting Speaker Plenary bios:

ALAN H. GILL
JDC’s Executive Vice President Emeritus
Alan Gill, recently retired CEO of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, is one of the Jewish world’s transformative professional leaders. His vision and career have exemplified and put into direct action the notion of global Jewish responsibility. With more than three decades of Jewish community development, partnership building, global strategy and innovative resource development expertise, Gill has played a central role in expanding and revolutionizing JDC’s humanitarian operation in more than 70 countries and in Israel.

DR. WILLIAM RECANT
Assistant Executive Vice President, International Development Programs
Will Recant is the Assistant Executive Vice-President of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee-International Development Program. Among his responsibilities is the development and coordination of projects relating to the Rescue, Relief, and Renewal of Jewish communities worldwide. Will was instrumental in developing Jewish renewal programs in the former Soviet bloc countries that eventually entered the sphere of Western Europe, including Hungary and the Baltic States. Will was a catalyst in forming twinning programs between North American Jewish Federations and communities in the Baltics, where the Jewish communities have long suffered from economic deprivation.

Before joining JDC, Will served as the Executive Director of the American Association for Ethiopian Jews, where he established the Congressional Caucus for Ethiopian Jews and advocated on behalf of the Ethiopian Jewry movement. The end result of his efforts was Operation Solomon, one of the largest resettlement operations of the 20th century.

Honorary Chairs & JDC Board members:
Michele Rosen
Alan Rothenberg
Jaynie Schultz
Gary Segal