Convention Coordinator Frank Buchweitz calls the
gathering to order on Wednesday night. |
OU Executive Director for Programming Rabbi Moshe D. Krupka,
left, and outgoing OU President Harvey Blitz, welcome U.S.
Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer to a private briefing,
prior to the Ambassador’s address to the Convention. Mr. Kurtzer
affirmed President Bush’s position that Palestinian terrorism must
cease for there to be any progress in the peace process. |
Convention Co-Chair Yitzhak Fund (l) of Jerusalem, shares a
conversation with Israel’s two Chief Rabbis, HaRav Yonah Metzger
(Ashkenazic) and Rishon L’Tzion HaRav Shlomo Amar
(Sephardic). |
Convention Co-Chair Stanley Weinstein of Miami
Beach welcomes guests (and shuts his cell phone) at the Opening
Session. |
Israel’s President Hon. Moshe Katsav, in his Opening Night
address, praises the OU’s efforts to fight assimilation, |
Jerusalem’s Mayor Hon. Uri Lupoliansky
welcomes the OU to his city. |
Rabbi Metzger and OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Tzvi
Hersh Weinreb meet at the opening of the Convention. |
The Israel Defense Forces Choir provides opening night
entertainment.
|
Rabbi Weinreb sets the tone for the programmatic sessions with
his keynote presentation, “The State of the American Orthodox Synagogue
and Community: Crises Defined, Cures Prescribed.” |
The session was chaired by OU Vice President Emanuel J. Adler of
Teaneck, NJ. |
The Exhibit Hall provided plenty of opportunities for Chanukah
shopping. |
Seforim and tapes make excellent gifts. |
Martin Nachimson of Valley Village, CA, Chairman of the OU Board
of Governors, chaired the meeting which elected Stephen J. Savitsky
as President, as well as a full slate of Officers. |
Finance Minister and Former Prime Minister Hon. Benjamin Netanyahu
discusses Israel’s improving economy as well as prospects for peace. |
Rabbi Leonard Matanky of Chicago gives a presentation in the
session “Lev Avot v’Lev Banim: Community Programs for Healing the
Generational Divide and the Adolescent Crisis.” |
Rabbi Donald Bixon of Miami Beach speaks at the session, “Ruach
v”Chazon: Torah Approaches to Spiritual Sterility, Cynicism and Despair.”
The session was chaired by OU Board Member Stanley Rosenberg of
Englewood, NJ, left, and featured Rabbi Yitzchak Sladowsky of
Glendale, NY as a presenter. |
A plenary on “The Israel Diaspora and World Jewry – Relationship
Opportunities for Strength and Meaning,” provides the differing points of
view of, from left, David Landau, Editor-in-Chief, Ha’aretz;
Dore Gold, President, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs;
Professor Sergio Della Pergola of the Institute of Contemporary Jewry,
Hebrew University of Jerusalem; and the moderator, Malcolm Hoenlein,
Executive Vice Chairman, Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish
Organizations. |
HaRav Yisrael Weiss, Chief Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces,
participates in a ceremony honoring Mrs. Terri Barnett of Columbus,
OH, who purchased the 70,000th OU prayer card on behalf of the members of
the Israel Defense Forces. Proceeds from the sale of the cards, at $1
apiece, provide assistance to IDF members in financial need. Senior Vice
Harvey Wolinetz of Monsey, NY looks on. |
Mrs. Bonny Silver is honored at the dedication of the Avrom
Silver Jerusalem College for Adults, named after her late husband. The
Center is the adult educational component of the Seymour J. Abrams OU
Jerusalem World Center (the Israel Center). |
At the Gala Thanksgiving Dinner, newly elected President Stephen J.
Savitsky of Hewlett, NY delivers his Inaugural Address, in which he
spelled out his vision for the next two years at the OU. |
On a patriotic evening, Harvey Blitz delivers his farewell
address as President. At the Convention, he became OU Chairman of the
Board. |
A sit down Thanksgiving Dinner for 800: Americans celebrate the holiday
in their home away from home: Jerusalem. |
Convention Co-Chair Dr. Benzion Krupka of Far Rockaway, NY opens
the Thanksgiving program. |
At the Saturday night Festive Melave Malka, the OU paid tribute to, and
demonstrated solidarity with, the victims of terror and the people of
Israel. The event was co-sponsored by One Family, a group which works on
behalf of terror victims and their families. The event was chaired by OU
Honorary Vice President Fred Ehrman of New York, seen here at the
mike. |
Terror victims and their families were special guests at the Melave
Malka. |
One Family founder Marc Belzberg addresses the gathering. |
Natan Applebaum, who lost his father Dr. David, and sister Nava,
on the day before her wedding, expresses appreciation for the support
shown by the OU to the bereaved families. |
At the Melave Malka, the brothers Krupka share in the warmth. |
A young terror victim is serenaded. |
Dancing was the order of the day … |
…for a lively and boisterous group. |
HaRav Motti Elon, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva HaKotel, delivers an
impassioned address. |
Convention Coordinator Frank Buchweitz celebrates with winners
of the Convention Raffle. First prize winner Martin Nachimson of
Los Angeles stands next to him. The first prize? A trip to Israel, of
course. Convention Co-Chair Stanley Weinstein is at left. |
Davening mincha at Kever Rachel (Rachel’s Tomb) prior to Shabbat. |
Mrs. Aviva Pinchuk, explains the work of the Kever Rachel Fund
prior to the trip there. |
Youngsters, too, enjoyed themselves at the Convention. |
Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander, founder of Touro College, addresses
the Convention. |
Rabbi Weinreb welcomes Rabbi Major Yedidya Atlas, Israel
Defense Forces Liaison to the United States, and his fellow IDF chaplains
to the mobile Beit Knesset, which the OU presented as a gift to the IDF at
the Convention. |
Rabbi Dovid Cohen (center), Director-General of the OU in
Israel, provides a guided tour of the OU Israel Center in Jerusalem. |
Youngsters from the Israel Center’s Makom Balev (Place in the Heart)
program in Maalei Adumim put on a presentation for visiting Convention
guests. This highly successful program brings Jewish education to secular
girls…. |
and boys and all over Israel. |
The Mayor of Maalei Adumim (center, blue sweater) greets OU guests in
the high school in the growing town. |
