We have created the URJ/ARZA Israel Speakers Bureau to offer presenters to congregations seeking programmatic resources on Israel and Zionism that reflect our Movement, values, and ideology. If there is a speaker on our list that you are interested in connecting with, Please submit this form. Please note that some speakers do require honorarium fees. This information will be shared after a request is submitted. Someone from the URJ will follow up with you directly.
Andrew Keene
Washington, DC
Board of Governors, JAFI/Management Committee, WUPJ
Andrew’s bio
Topics:
- Israeli civil society and Israeli culture
- Religious Pluralism in Israel
- Israeli Politics and the government
- How to Speak about Israel
- National Institutions
Rabbi Loren Sykes
Jerusalem, Israel
Director of Israel Immersives, URJ
Loren’s bio
Topics:
- Anti Semitism and Anti Zionism
- Religious Pluralism in Israel
- The history of Zionism
- Israeli Politics
- Educating our Youth on Israel
Professor Charles Freilich
NYC, Boston, and Israel
A former deputy national security advisor in Israel
Charles Freilich’s bio
Topics
- Israeli Politics
- Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
- Israel’s National Security Strategy
- US-Israeli Relations
- Israeli National Security Decision
- Making Processes
- Israel’s Purported Nuclear Capabilities
- Israel and the Cyber Threat
- More speaking topics
Visit chuckfreilich.com
Rabbi Marc Rosenstein
Shorashim, Israel
A former deputy national security advisor in Israel
Rabbi Marc Rosenstein’s bio
Topics
- Israeli civil society and Israeli culture
- The History of Israel and Zionism-
- Religious Pluralism in Israel
- Social Justice in Israel
- Israel Education
- Touring the Land of Israel
- Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
Rabbi Galit Cohen Kedem
Holon, Israel
Davis, CA/Holon, Israel
Rabbi Galit Cohen Kedem’s bio
Topics
- Israeli civil society
- Hebrew Language and Literature
- Religious Pluralism in Israel
- Social Justice in Israel
- Educating our Youth on Israel
- How to Speak about Israel
- Reform Judaism in Israel- the untold stories
- Your Mother is a WHAT?”- Being a female reform Rabbi in Israel
Mark Anshan
Toronto, ON
Past Chair, ARZENU and Past President, ARZA Canada
Topics
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The History of Israel
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Religious Pluralism in Israel
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Israeli Politics
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Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
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How to Speak about Israel
- Middle East Conflict – Role of International community and organizations
Rabbi Haim Shalom
Jersualem, Israel
Topics
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Anti Semitism and Anti Zionism
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The History of Israel
- Religious Pluralism in Israel
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The history of Zionism
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Social Justice in Israel
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Educating our Youth on Israel
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Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
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How to Speak about Israel
- “Semantics and the Semites – building a new vocabulary for a better future”
- “Seeking a way forward” – how the values of one Jerusalem community could change the world.
- “An Englishman in Jerusalem – a legal alien”.
Rabbi Neal Gold
Natick, MA
Jewish Chaplain and Hillel Director at Babson College
Rabbi Neal Gold’s bio
Topics
- Tzedakah / Tikkun Olam Opportunities in Israel
- The Land of Israel in Legend and Midrash
- Jerusalem in Jewish Lore and Midrash
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Antisemitism and Anti Zionism
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The History of Israel and Zionism
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Hebrew Language and Literature
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Religious Pluralism in Israel
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Israel Education
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Touring the Land of Israel
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Biblical Israel
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Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
Rabbi Jeffery Salkin
West Palm Beach, FL
Topics
- Antisemitism and Anti-Zionism
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The History of Zionism
- Israel Education
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Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
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How to Speak about Israel
- “Zany For Zion: What Makes People Go Nuts About Zionism and Israel.”
- “Rock of Israel: Israeli Singer-Songwriters You Should Know and Love.”
- “American Jews are from Mars; Israeli Jews are from Venus”
Robbie Gringas
Galilee, Israel
Topics
- The Four HQ’s
- Mizrachi issue through culture;
- Theater shows about Jews-Arabs in Israel
- Celebrating Israel’s complexities
- The Second Intifada
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Israeli civil society
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Israeli culture
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Israeli Politics
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Educating our Youth on Israel
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Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
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How to Speak about Israel
Jo-Ann Mart
Brooklyn, NY
Topics
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Israeli civil society
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Antisemitism and Anti Zionism
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The History of Israel and Zionism
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Israeli culture
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Israeli Politics
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Social Justice in Israel
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Educating our Youth on Israel
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Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
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How to Speak about Israel
Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish
Jerusalem, Israel
Topics:
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Israeli civil society
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Israeli Politics
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Social Justice in Israel
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Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
- Arab-Jewish Coexistence in Israel–is it still possible?
- Critical Issues in Israel Today
- Jewish-Muslim Relations in Israel
- Jewish-Christian Relations in Israel
- The Other Peace Process:Interreligious Dialogue as a form of Peacebuilding in Israel
- Peacemaking and Peacebuilding in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict–How do they go together?
Rabbi John Rosove
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Rabbi Emeritus – Temple Israel of Hollywood
Rabbi John Rosove’s bio
Topics:
- “Why Reform Zionism Matters”
- “The Case for Aspirational Zionism”
- “Navigating between Liberalism and Zionism”
- “Avraham Shapira – Veteran of the Haganah and Hebrew Guard”
- “The International Campaign Against Israel”
- “Young American Progressive Jews and Israel”
- Anti Semitism and Anti Zionism
- The History of Israel and Zionism
- Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
- How to Speak about Israel
Rabbi Shai Beloosesky
Augusta, GA
Topics:
- My way to be a reform rabbi
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Israeli civil society
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The History of Israel and Zionism
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Israeli culture
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Religious Pluralism in Israel
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Israeli Politics
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Biblical Israel
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Conflict between Israel and the Palestinians
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How to Speak about Israel
Shari Robins
Jerusalem, Israel
Israeli tour guide
Shari Robins’ bio
Topics:
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Israeli civil society
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The History of Israel
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Hebrew Language and Literature
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Israeli culture
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Religious Pluralism in Israel
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The history of Zionism
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Israeli Politics
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Touring the Land of Israel
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Biblical Israel
- More than 30 virtual tours of Israel that look at specific niches in Israeli history and society which explore Hebrew, Hebrew slang, food, song, poetry, culture and politics
Rabbi Joshua Weisberg
Jerusalem, Israel
Topics:
- “Stories of Israel” a series of short fifteen-minute documentaries, brings you into the lives of engaging Israelis and, by tackling issues such as race, gender, religious pluralism, spiritual search, Ashkenazi and Sephardi identity, and Arab identify in Israel, gives you a taste of the life behind the headlines.
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Israeli civil society
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Israeli culture
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Religious Pluralism in Israel
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Social Justice in Israel
Ilan Bloch
Jerusalem, Israel
Tour guide and session facilitator, Teaching Israel
Ilan Bloch’s bio
See the list of virtual tours of Israel Ilan offers
Rabbi Leon Morris
Jerusalem, Israel
President, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Rabbi Leon Morris’s bio
Topics
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Israeli culture
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The Four HQ’s
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A historical analysis of the prayers for the State of Israel
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American Jewish universalism and Israel Jewish particularism: Why we need each other
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Pop Liturgy: Israeli musical artists creative contributions to Jewish prayer
Rabbi Lisa D. Grant, Ph.D.
Brooklyn, NY
President, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies
Rabbi Lisa Grant’s bio
Topics
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The History of Israel
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Israeli culture
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Religious Pluralism in Israel
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Educating our Youth on Israel
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Touring the Land of Israel
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How to Speak about Israel
Dr. Sivan Zakai
Los Angeles, CA
Topics
- Children’s thinking about Israel
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Educating our Youth on Israel
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How to Speak about Israel