Rivlin to speak to Jewish Federations of North America in LA
President Reuven Rivlin will visit the US in an initiative to bridge the gap between Israel and the Diaspora.
By GREER FAY CASHMANUpdated: OCTOBER 22, 2017 13:40President Reuven Rivlin(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
President Reuven Rivlin has acceded to a last minute invitation to speak at the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America taking place in Los Angeles on November 12-14 His attendance was confirmed on Friday.Up until Friday there was no member of the Israeli leadership in politics, academia, economics, hi-tech or even Diaspora relations among the speakers.Rivlin’s office was unaware at whose initiative the invitation to the GA was sent, but Rivlin agreed to deliver the keynote address on November 13 because of his concerns about the growing rift between Israel and some sectors of Diaspora Jewry.This will be his first major address outside of Israel to an American Jewish audience, and it will also be the largest Jewish audience to which he speaks.The president is first due to fly to Spain, in the first week of November, to celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries; his visit will take place between November 5 and 8.