Submitted report
Stephanie Schneidler, dinner host; Joachim Bodenstaff, Adenauer participant; and Barbara Rabin at Shabbat dinner
From July 15 to 17, AJC Dallas hosted a delegation of German leaders through the AJC-Konrad Adenauer Exchange.
For more than 35 years, this program has built bridges of understanding between Germans and Jews.
Following several days of meetings and programs in Washington, D.C., and New York, the 14 participants arrived in Dallas. Highlights of their visit included attending services at Temple Emanu-El; Shabbat dinners hosted by AJC friends and board members; trips to the Bush Library, Sixth Floor Museum and Fort Worth Stockyards; a tour of the Aaron Family JCC; and a panel discussion on the history of Jewish Dallas moderated by Debra Polsky, director of the Dallas Jewish Historical Society, and featuring Kenny Goldberg, Sheryl Fields Bogen and Florence Shapiro.
For nearly 10 years, AJC Dallas’ Jewish/Latino Alliance has brought together the Jewish and Latino communities to network, advocate, and create lasting bonds between leaders. On Sunday, Aug. 7, JLA held a seminar to provide insight and best practices in the areas of coalition building, legislative advocacy and accessing leadership development opportunities in North Texas. Nearly 50 participants attended the sessions. The seminar was graciously hosted by Jackson Walker LLP.
Speakers included Dina Siegel Vann, director of the AJC Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs; Consul General of Mexico Francisco de la Torre; Jorge Baldor, founder of the Latino Center for Leadership Development; and keynote speaker Jorge Ferraez of Latino Leaders Magazine.
On the Thursday evening before the seminar, more than 80 Jewish and Latino leaders attended a networking reception at the Consulate General of Mexico. The evening provided seminar attendees with an opportunity to connect with one another as well as with leaders from the Jewish community.
“These were eye-opening events,” according to JLA Steering Committee member Gustavo Bujanda. “We were at the same time informed and inspired to grow and strengthen our Jewish/Latino Alliance and subsequently magnify our impact across DFW and beyond,” he added.
AJC Dallas will co-sponsor the Aug. 30, 2016, screening of Labyrinth of Lies as part of the 20th Annual Jewish Film Festival of Dallas. This free screening will take place on the campus of UTD, in the Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology Lecture Hall.
This 2014 film, based on a true story, tells the story of young prosecutor Johann Radmann and his drive to lead his country to come to terms with the legacy of the Holocaust by pursuing justice against former Nazis. RSVP by Friday, Aug. 26, to schwitzerj@ajc.org.
Recently AJC launched its Governors United Against BDS Campaign. Texas Governor Greg Abbott was the first governor to sign on to the AJC statement condemning the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and has been named a co-chair of this important effort along with Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (the second and third signatories). To date, 14 U.S. governors have signed the statement. For a full list, visit http://bit.ly/2bgCmKK.
AJC is also working with Governor Abbott on legislation countering BDS and strengthening Iran sanctions for the 2017 legislative session.
— Submitted by Joel Schwitzer