Our 41st National Convention, “Rock with NA’AMAT” was jam-packed with exciting speakers, NA’AMAT USA departmental reports, new videos, trips to museums, interactive sessions and gala evening sessions with great entertainment! The 4 days were energizing, informative, interesting and a chance to meet with NA’AMAT USA members from around the country as well as NA’AMAT leaders from Israel, Brazil and Canada. Special thanks to Chellie Goldwater Wilensky, Convention Chair, who truly made all this possible!

To see our 2013-2016 NA’AMAT USA National Executive Board 2013-2016 and Area Coordinators: CLICK HERE!

Liz Raider, NA’AMAT USA, National President

FROM NA’AMAT ISRAEL PRESIDENT GALIA WOLLOCH AND STAFF!

The 41st Convention of NA’AMAT USA was really a worthwhile and important experience for all of us. Meeting all the Haverot and participating in all the events was very important for us. We appreciate the good spirit and the friendship that we felt. The sessions were interesting and informative and the cultural events were really heart-warming, especially the evening with the Israeli flags all around. We felt very proud to have such a committed and devoted sister organization with so many wonderful Haverot involved.

We believe that this is a critical time for the future of NA’AMAT USA and we appreciate all the efforts that are made and are planned for the coming years to benefit and to strengthen the movement by outreaching to recruit new members and to find creative ways to advance to the future.

We want to convey to all of you, and especially to Liz Raider, your President, and to your new National Board much appreciation and our best wishes for success. We will do our utmost to continue our most valuable partnership.

Thank you very much for your warm hospitality and for your friendship. 

Galia Wolloch                Masha Lubelsky                Shirli Shavit

ATTENDEE COMMENTS

I would like to share some comments from attendees:

“I came home with a wonderful experience…..and I will carry this experience through my entire life.  This convention wasn’t just the physical information shared with us, more important, it was the SPIRIT during the event”   — Rahel H.

“As soon as we meet people from all parts of the country and world we are part of this wonderful family” — Hilary B.

VIDEOS:

PHOTOS

These photos were taken during the NA’AMAT USA 41st National Convention “Rock with NA’AMAT” July 21-24, 2013 at the DoubleTree by Hilton East, Beachwood, Ohio

ADVERTISING

Thank you the Jewish Daily Forward for launching an amazing media blitz to support Convention.

PRESS

NA’AMAT Cleveland members devoted to Israel
CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS
Posted: Friday, July 12, 2013 9:45 am

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS
Ambassador expresses optimism about Israel’s future
Posted: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 12:38 pm | Updated: 8:11 am, Fri Jul 26, 2013.

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS
Social media stressed during NA’AMAT Convention
Posted: Monday, July 22, 2013 4:50 pm | Updated: 8:57 am, Tue Jul 23, 2013.

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS
41ST ANNUAL NA’AMAT USA NATIONAL CONVENTION / JULY 21-24 / BEACHWOOD: Women ready to rock and roll here for first time in 54 years
Posted: Friday, July 12, 2013 9:30 am

CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS
Former Clevelander highlights city’s strengths
By Sue Hoffman
Posted: Friday, July 12, 2013 9:00 am

Miami’s Jewish Community Paper
The Community Post
EVENT posted 07/11/2013

FINAL RELEASE

NA’AMAT USA 41st CONVENTION CONCLUDES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 1, 2013

NA’AMAT USA 41^st National Convention, “Rock with NA’AMAT” a success 

Convention highlights included election of officers and keynote speaker Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York

(Cleveland, OH) NA’AMAT USA, a member of the International Movement of Zionist Women recently staged its 41^st National Convention at the Doubletree by Hilton Cleveland East in Beachwood, Ohio.  Delegates from across the United States, Canada, Brazil and Israel took part in this convention themed, “Rock with NA’AMAT.”

Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York, delivered the keynote address on Sunday, July 21, 2013 at the opening plenary.  Aharoni touched on several points concerning Israel’s bright future and why he believes this is a critical time in Israel’s history.  His optimism about Israel’s future stems from the “reinvigoration” of the peace process in the Middle East, Israel’s self-sufficiency in the area of water—a scarce resource through much of the state’s 65-year history, the discovery of “huge deposits” of natural gas and oil in the region, and the growing “creative class” in Israel.  Aharoni concluded by expressing Israel’s gratitude to NA’AMAT USA “for all the work you did in the past, but more importantly, for all the work that you will do in the future.”

Aharoni has been a member of Israel’s Foreign Service since 1991 with positions in both New York and Los Angeles.  During his tenure in Israel’s diplomatic corps, he has served as the head of Israel’s brand management, and has been senior advisor to Israel’s Foreign Minister in charge of media and public affairs.

The conference’s opening plenary session also featured a special video address from U.S. Congressional Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz who welcomed attendees, and advocated for economic justice and equality for women in Israel and the United States.  Wasserman Schultz represents Florida’s 23^rd Congressional District and serves as the ranking member on the Legislative Branch Committee, which determines the funding level for the entire legislative branch.  She is a tireless supporter of women and families and the first Jewish Congresswoman ever elected from Florida.

Aharoni and Wasserman Schultz joined an impressive slate of convention speakers including:

• Galia Wolloch, NA’AMAT Israel’s new President and Shirli Shavit, Director of NA’AMAT Israel’s International Department who updated delegates about the latest projects in Israel and encouraged the signing of the Charter of Women’s Rights which advocates for just and equal representation and compensation for women in Israel.

• Masha Lubelsky, World Zionist Organization (WZO) Executive Committee Member – Ms. Lubelsky spoke on “Leadership in Zionism in Times of Crises.”  She is a former NA’AMAT Israel President and a former member of Israel’s Knesset, serving as a deputy minister to Yitzhak Rabin.

• Mark Raider, American Historian and Professor of Modern Jewish History at the University of Cincinnati, focused on the history of “American Jewish Women and the Zionist Enterprise.”  He is the co-author of the similarly titled book published in 2005.

• Yaron Sideman, Consul General of Israel to Mid-Atlantic Region, related the growing involvement of Israeli women in the IDF and the Israeli workforce, while noting that much more growth and advancement is needed.

• A dynamic panel discussion on the “War on Women” including Laurie J. Wasserman, a prominent employment law attorney practicing in Chicago, and Ohio State Senator Nina Turner, former Cleveland City Council member.  Turner articulated in detail how legislatures throughout the country are chipping away at women’s rights, particularly women’s reproductive and medical rights.  Sharon McGowen, a former national NA’AMAT USA board member, moderated the panel discussion.

Participants were entertained by Israeli-born artist Shlomo Haviv, a popular singer and songwriter, local Cleveland entertainer Cantor Kathryn Wolfe Sebo of The Temple-Tifereth Israel, and the Yiddishe Cup, a top Klezmer band.  Special visits were arranged to the renowned Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage and the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.”

New national NA’AMAT USA officers and board members were elected at this triennial event.  National President Elizabeth Raider of Woodland Hills, California, was re-elected to a three year term, who stated, “I am pleased to continue my service to NA’AMAT USA in a national leadership capacity.  In working closely with NA’AMAT Israel, we strive to create new opportunities for women and children in Israel.”

(List of elected officers and national board are included on a separate page
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT)

Chellie Goldwater Wilensky of Chicago, Illinois, served as national chairperson of the convention, while Gail Simpson of Agoura, California and Marcia Weiss of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania were national program co-chairpersons, with Dr. Linda Schoenberg of Cleveland Heights Ohio on the national convention committee.  Greater Cleveland resident Robin Lieberman served as the local convention chair.

NA’AMAT USA has been enhancing and improving the lives of women, children and families in Israel for more than 88 years.  Its name, NA’AMAT, is the Hebrew acronym for “Movement of Working Women and Volunteers.”  Originally named Pioneer Women, NA’AMAT USA was founded as a sister movement to NA’AMAT Israel.

NA’AMAT is comprised of 350,000 members worldwide, with branches in the United States, Israel and nine other countries.  Together with NA’AMAT Israel, NA’AMAT USA provides affordable daycare to nearly 18,000 preschool-aged children.  NA’AMAT reaches at-risk youth through their 20 alternative high schools and at risk preschool-aged children through its 23 multipurpose daycare centers, provides scholarships for women seeking college and higher education degrees and operates five women’s right centers and a domestic violence center.  NA’AMAT stands out as the leading advocate for women by providing core social services including legal counseling, education, child care and health care.

The NA’AMAT USA National office is located at 505 Eighth Avenue, Suite 2301, New York, NY, 10018.  For more information on NA’AMAT USA, visit www.naamat.org, call (212) 563-522, or email naamat@nullnaamat.org.

Photo caption:

Ambassador Ido Aharoni, Consul General of Israel in New York, was the keynote speaker at the opening evening of the NA’AMAT USA 41st Convention. Welcoming him are l. to r. Masha Lubelsky, WZO Executive Committee Member, Galia Wolloch, NA’AMAT Israel’s President, Shirli Shavit, Director of NA’AMAT Israel’s International Department, and Elizabeth Raider, NA’AMAT USA National President.

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OPED PIECES
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