For the second year in a row, our Jewish Federation is serving as the fiscal sponsor (meaning we handle the back-office needs) for the Eradicate Hate Global Summit. Thank you to our staff team for picking up this additional workload. It’s one way we help to make this groundbreaking conference in Pittsburgh a reality.
Last year’s Summit was extraordinary. The caliber of speakers and their incredible depth of expertise was astounding. I never fully comprehended how much research and thinking goes on around the issue of hate. For example, last year I attended a fascinating session, which is happening again this year, about how cryptocurrencies are used by haters to spread their destructive beliefs.
This year’s Summit is fast approaching. It takes place from September 19-21 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Downtown Pittsburgh. The cost for registration is so reasonable at $150 that I want to encourage everyone to consider attending. The lineup of speakers (including Jewish Federations of North America Board Chair Julie Platt and CEO Eric Fingerhut) coming to Pittsburgh is a gift to our city. Even if you can only attend some of the sessions, I urge you to consider registering. For the detailed schedule and listing of speakers, check out all the information eradicatehatesummit.org.
On a completely different matter, we held a MEGA MISSION reunion in Schenley Park on Tuesday night. There were hugs, handshakes, laughing and eating (something we did a lot of in Israel) . The highlight for me was hearing a representative of each mission track (young adults, first timers, family buses and those of us who have been to Israel on multiple occasions) speak about not only what was experienced but what was personally meaningful. It was moving and demonstrated the value of traveling to Israel as a community with the intent of building a stronger community.
Wishing all a happy Labor Day weekend. Shabbat Shalom.
Photo by David Bachman