Zionism 3.0. What Is It, and Why Is It Important?

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ABOUT THIS LECTURE: Join us for a presentation and community conversation about the future of the relationship between Israel and Diaspora Jewry. In this session, we will discuss the need to evolve our Zionist consciousness and the role Israel plays in our communal and personal identities.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Rabbi Amitai Fraiman is the Director of the Z3 Project, an initiative of the Oshman Family JCC in Palo Alto, aiming to foster a healthier relationship between Diaspora Jewry and Israel. Before joining the OFJCC, he founded שזור/Interwoven an organization providing educational programs to Israelis to understand American Jewry better. שזור/Interwoven is the leading organization providing services to the “Reverse Birthright” trips as well as workshops for Israeli emissaries (shlichim) and graduate students. In the past, he co-founded “Jerusalem Midnight Biking”, an innovative bike touring company based in Jerusalem. Rabbi Fraiman has professional and leadership experience in content development, advocacy, and relationship building in his work for Tzofim Garin Tzabar (Israeli Scouts Lone Soldier Program), NYU Bronfman Center (Hillel of NYU), The Arthur Project and LAVAN. Rabbi Fraiman was ordained at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah as well as completed a dual MPA-MA at NYU. Amitai lives with his family in Palo Alto.

Zack Bodner joined the OFJCC as the CEO in August of 2013. Under Zack’s leadership, the JCC completed construction of the campus, transforming it into a community-gathering space where it is filled with people of all ages and backgrounds at all hours of the day. Zack also oversaw the creation of a new Center for Social Impact, which is committed to helping repair the world through initiatives that address poverty, homelessness, disaster relief, multi-culturalism, civic responsibility, and more. The JCC also launched the Taube Center for Jewish Peoplehood, which now hosts the Architects of the Jewish Future Series and sponsors the Judaism Unbound podcast. Additionally, under Zack’s leadership, the JCC began hosting an annual conference called “Zionism 3.0,” and launched the Z3 Movement globally to change the paradigm on relations between Israel and World Jewry.

Before joining the JCC, Zack served for 14 years as the Pacific Northwest Regional Director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), where he oversaw a period of unprecedented growth in community outreach, political advocacy and fundraising.

Zack is an accomplished speaker and writes for publications throughout the U.S. and Israel, including a regular Blog for The Times of Israel. Zack holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy of Religion and Theology from Claremont Graduate University. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Yale University, where he played varsity soccer. Additionally, he spent a semester studying at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and recently participated in Stanford Business School’s prestigious program for Executives in Non-Profit Leadership.

Zack currently serves on the Boards of JCCA of North America, YPO SF Bay Chapter, American Friends of Tel Aviv University Northern California, and the Taube Family Foundation. He lives in Los Altos with his wife Ronit and their three children, Talia, Elie and Orly.