Celebrate Israel

 The Council sponsors and coordinates the following Israel programming:

• Solidarity Mission with Elected Officials
• Israel Roundtable for Volunteers
• Lectures and community gatherings in support of Israel including a new monthly series called “Israel Connection“.
• The Westchester marching cluster in the annual Celebrate Israel Parade on 5th Avenue in NYC.
• “Honors Day” yearly programming in which we pay tribute to Israeli heroes.

and more…

In addition, the Council works in close communication with the Israel emissary/Shaliach from the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) that serves Westchester County. The current Shaliach is Hila Madar Itzkovitz.  She can be reached at HilaMad@jafi.org.

WESTCHESTER BOARD OF LEGISLATORS UNANIMOUSLY PASSES A RESOLUTION UNEQUIVOCALLY SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL

Solidarity Mission with Elected Officials

The November 2023 Solidarity Mission to Israel for Westchester County elected officials was convened to demonstrate Westchester County’s strong and bipartisan support for the State of Israel in its fight against terrorism. Led by Honorary Mission Chairperson, Westchester County Executive George Latimer, mission participants toured Kfar Aza to see the carnage from Hamas’ acts of barbarism firsthand, met with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, and spent time at Hadassah Hospital to offer comfort to the injured, participated in volunteer activities, and met with family and friends of hostages among other meetings and site visits. To view the full album of photos, click here.

Media coverage from this trip:

An x post from President Isaac Herzog – https://x.com/isaac_herzog/status/1729589307579465973?s=46

news12 Westchester interview – https://westchester.news12.com/westchester-county-executive-latimer-shares-emotional-journey-in-israel

Israel Roundtable

A primary vehicle for supporting Israel is the Israel Roundtable for Volunteers, conceived to help increase county-wide consciousness, connections and commitment to Israel, in addition to our Israel Roundtable for Professionals.  Like all of the Council’s roundtables, we also share best practices and plan joint programs.

ISRAEL CONNECTION Series

“Israel Connection”, a monthly virtual series of the Westchester Jewish Council, offers presentations and discussions on diverse topics of interest regarding the culture, politics and society of Israel.  The following is a list of programs held so far:

• Yom HaShoah 2025: The Current Struggles of Holocaust Survivors in Israel by Latet – https://youtu.be/h3WBkicxjPw
• Ha Matzav: Jewish & Israel Identity in our Changing World – https://youtu.be/cglBV97c-Oc
• “Dror Israel’s Incredible Initiatives to Create Schools Amidst the Challenges of Wartime” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eelQlxAzPII&feature=youtu.be
• Tackling Antisemitism in Today’s College Environment with Professor Shai Davidai – https://youtu.be/diMPnK9Z7B0
• “#JewBelong…Getting Out of the Echo Chamber with Archie Gottesman’ – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diMPnK9Z7B0
• “Gaza Plus:  Where We Are and the Road Ahead with David Makovsky” – https://youtu.be/MVhaBAfaYy0
• Israel: A War of Survival with Dr. Eric Mandel – https://youtu.be/XiPCj2mp770
• Israel: Emergency Update & Analysis – https://youtu.be/7QpvAW6rObg
• “Israel at the UN, Past Present and Future” with Mike Wagenheim, i24NEWS Senior US Correspondent – https://youtu.be/cnWUeUoPUhw
• Ukraine Edition with Major (ret) Mike Lyons – https://youtu.be/1ZaRHTMTqjI.
• Life on the Kibbutz (https://youtu.be/m4z17kOzCQg) with Shosh Bederman of SPACA and 3 kibbutz members.
• “Israeli Culture & Identity Reflected in Music” with Abby Pitkowsky, Director, Westchester Region and Israel Education of The Jewish Education Project
• “Where Food and You Come to Life” with Nathan Hoffman, CEO of the Galilee Culinary Institute by JNF.
• “Israel, Gaza and the Media…Whose Version?” with Honest Reporting
• “ISRAEL’S SECURITY CHALLENGES ON ITS NORTHERN BORDERS” with Alma
• “Minority of One” with SPACA
• “Israel’s Elections: What’s Next” with Shahar Zahani
• “The Question of the Upcoming Israeli Election – An Unexpected Answer” with Shalom Hartman Institute
• “Building a Democratic and Inclusive Israel in the Time of Covid-19 ” with NIF
• “From Ethiopia to Israel; Zehava Tesfay’s Journey” with JAFI
• “US Election’s Impact on Israel“
• “Israel and World Zionist Congress” with AZM

Some of these events are available to view by clicking on the title.

Celebrate Israel Parade

The Celebrate Israel Parade will take place on Sunday, May 18, 2025 in New York City. As one of the largest Jewish Communities with over 150,000 Jews, Westchester is known for its cohesiveness and unity. By marching together we display the unique and wonderful community that we all work so hard to maintain. In addition, by marching together as one united community we make it easier for many families to have all members of their families march and travel together.

For more information contact Donna Bartell.

Consulate

The Council maintains ongoing communication with the Israel consulate on behalf of its members organizations.  The Consulate General of Israel in New York represents the State of Israel in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The Consulate General of Israel in New York
800 Second Avenue
New York, NY  10017
(212) 499-5000

View their website here.May 18