Thursday, Dec. 12, 7 pm
The Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, in partnership with area synagogues, agencies, organizations, businesses and community members, presents Ishmael Khaldi as the first speaker in its 2013-2014 three-part Israel Today Forum.
Khaldi will discuss diversity in Israel, with a unique, personal viewpoint.
Born into a traditional Bedouin family in a poor village in northern Israel, Khaldi made the choice as a young adult to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces, the Defense Ministry, and the Israeli Police. In 2004, Khaldi earned the distinction of becoming the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s first Bedouin diplomat. His diplomatic career has continued since then; currently, Khaldi is Counsellor for Civil Society Affairs at the Embassy of Israel in London.
A Bedouin, Arab, Muslim Israeli, Khaldi is a vocal patriot and advocate for Israel. He has garnered a reputation for the willingness and risks he takes to speak up in support for his homeland, as well as for his storytelling prowess.
The Israel Today Forum is free and open to the community, as are the other speakers in the three part series. The Forum takes place at the Simon Family JCC on the Sandler Family Campus of the Tidewater Jewish Community. RSVP to lhenderson@ujft.org, or call 757-965-6107. For more information, visit www.jewishva.org/CRC.
Ismael Khaldi’s memoir, A Shepherd’s Journey, will be available for purchase through Nov. 17 at the Lee & Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival at the JCC and again on Dec 12.
*of blessed memory