December 27, 2001
12 Tevet, 5762
Jerusalem

350 WORLD ORTHODOX JEWISH LEADERS IN JERUSALEM FOR SECOND ORTHODOX GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Dec 30-Jan 2, Ramada Renaissance Hotel. Press Invited.

AMONG THE SPEAKERS: Chief Rabbis of Israel; Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and Rishon Le'Zion Rabbi Eliyahu Bakshi Doron, Ministers Binyamin Elon, Eliyahu Suissa, Limor Livnat, Eli Yishai and Asher Ohana, Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Deputy Ministers Rabbi Michael Melchior, Yuli Edelstein and Meir Porush; Rishon Le'Zion Rabbis Ovadia Yosef and Mordechai Eliyahu; Chief Rabbi of Great Britain Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of Italy Prof. Eliyahu Toaff Chief Rabbi of the Czech Republic Ephraim Sidon, Ehud Olmert, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Effi Eitam (Fein), Malcolm Hoenlein; Ambassador Dan Kurtzer, Irwin Cotler, M.P., Profs. Avi Ravitsky, Avner-Chai Shaki, Charles Liebman, Reuven Feuerstein, Dr. Ruth Halperin-Kedari, Rabbi Dr. Yigal Shafran, as well as the Chief Rabbis of Major Cities, WZO and Jewish Agency Chairman Sallai Meridor and Treasurer Chaim Chesler.

Assembly, Pre-Assembly and Related Conferences to deal with: Differences and Commonalities within Orthodoxy, Halachic Perspectives on Medical Advances, Genetics, Stem Cells and Halacha, Marital Issues and Family Problems, Challenges of Terrorism, Statesmanship and Security, Jewish Journalism, Orthodox Women in a Changing World, Jewish communities Websites, Changing Jewish Education. Former Soviet Union Communities, Israel-Diaspora Dialogue, Jewish Education

The Orthodox General Assembly is organized by the World Zionist Organization's Center for Religious Affairs in the Diaspora. Assembly Chairman: Mr. Eliezer Sheffer, Head of WZO Center for Religious Affairs in the Diaspora.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT Mr. Yehuda Weinraub: 055-284805, Ms. Karmit Kaufman: 051-718300

Orthodox General Assembly Highlights:

Pre-Assembly, Sat Night Dec. 29, 20:30 Special Prayer Service at Western Wall for State of Israel and Global Security, followed by Melaveh Malkah Celebration at Yeshivat Hakotel

• Sunday, Dec. 30, 13:00 Luncheon: Dr. Ruth Halperin-Kadari: "Orthodox Women in a Changing World", Guest of Honor, Mrs, Limor Livnat, Minister of Education. Chairs: Mrs Sandra Sokol, Amit Women of America & Mrs. Hannah Melamed, Chair, World Emunah
• Pre-Assembly Sunday, Dec. 30 International Congress of Rabbis: "Family and Medicine in Light of Halacha" Prof. Rabbi Steinberg, Sha'arei Zedek Hospital Halachic Perspectives on Medical Advancement."
• 10:45 "Advances in Women's Medicine, Challenges to Halacha." Rabbi Menachem Burstein Director PUAH Institute, Dr. Hahhah Katan Sha'arei Zedek Hospital
• 11:00 "Advising Couples about Marital Issues," Rabbi YosephCarmel, Dean, Erez Chemda Inst., Rabbi Jason Rappaport, Denmark.
• 12:00 "The Exceptional Child" Prof. Reuven Feuerstein
• Pre- Assembly Dec 30 15:00 "Genetics, Stem Cells and Halacha," Rabbi Dr. Yigal Shafran , Hadassah Hospital Medical School, Prof. Yoseph Itzkowitz, Rambam Hospital, Rabbi Dr. Yitzhak Dayan, Chief Rabbi of Salonika, Greece
• 16:45 "Threats to Life Halachic and Legal Concerns," Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan; Prof. Nahum Rakover, Moreshet Institute for Hebrew Law, Jerusalem, Chairman, Rabbi Raphael Everest, Amsterdam
• 17:00 "Paths to Dealing with Family troubles," Dr. Bat-Sheva Hershkovitz, Sha'arei Zedek Hospital, Mrs. Rena Wasserman, Emunah Movement
• SUNDAY, 30 DEC. 20:30 OPENING: Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau: "The Spiritual Future of the Jewish Nation"
  Benjamin Netanyahu: "The Challenges and Tasks of Israel Facing Arab Terror"
• Monday, 31 Dec 15:30 "Differences and Commonalities within the Orthodox World," with Prof. Avi Ravitsky, Rabbi Prof. Nahum Rabinowitz, Rabbi Yisrael Eichler
• Monday, 31 Dec. 19:00 Gala Dinner with Rishon Le'Zion Rabbi Ovadia Yosef; Deputy Foreign Minister "The State of Israel as a Jewish State," Rabbi Eli Yishai, Minister of the Interior
• Monday, 31`Dec. 21:00 "The Revivers of FSU Jewry," with Deputy Minister of Absorption Yuli Edelstein, Jewish Agency Treasurer Chaim Chesler, Rabbi She'ar Yeshuv Cohen.
• Tuesday 1 Jan. 11:00 at President's Residence Jerusalem Prize Ceremony, Awardees: Prof. Menachem Elon, Rabbi Menachem Gottesman, Rabbanit Bracha Kapach Prof. Zeev Lev, Rabbi Prof. Eliyahu Toaff Rabbi Kook Talpiot School Buenos Aires. By Personal Invitation (Journalists contact Spokesperson of President)
• Tuesday 1 Jan. 15:30 Mr. Malcolm Hoenlein: "Security and Statesmanship", Brig. Gen. (Res.) Effi Eitam (Fein)
• 17:00 Chief Rabbi of Great Britain Jonathan Sacks, "From Jewish Renewal to Jewish Responsibility"
• 19:00 Solidarity Assembly: with Sallai Meridor Chairman of the WZO and Jewish Agency; Ehud Olmert, Mayor of Jerusalem, Rabbi Asher Ohana, Minister of Religious Affairs; MK Rabbi Ya'akov Litzman,Chairman of the Knesset Finance Commmittee, Mr. Leon Passman, President , Jewish Community of Rome , Chaired by Dr. Michael Sinclair Wednesday, Jan. 2, 09:00 Conclusion
  "Judaism and Democracy" with H.E. Dan Kurtzer, Ambassador of the United States in Israel

A SPECIAL WORKSHOP AND THINK-TANK SESSION WILL BE ORGANIZED FOR SENIOR JEWISH MEDIA

For further information:
Contact the Office of the Spokesman:
Michael Jankelowitz
Liaison to Foreign Press and Media JAFI
Tel: 972-2-6202780
Fax: 972-2-6202708
Mobile: 972-51-601706