President Obama will make his first remarks as president to a Jewish organization next month when he appears at the United Jewish Communities/Jewish Federations of North America’s General Assembly.
The president will speak Monday, November 9 at 11:30 a.m.,at what should be the highlight of the Nov. 8-10 conference in Washington, D.C.
The speech comes as many American Jews and Israelis have been encouraging Obama to do more to explain his Middle East peacemaking efforts — although Obama could also choose to discuss domestic issues such as health care and other social services that UJC advocates for in Washington.
Obama replaces Vice President Joe Biden, who had been announced earlier this month as a speaker at the event in an e-mail by the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington but had never confirmed publicly by UJC officials.
In a story this past summer, we looked at the possibilities for Obama’s first big speech to a Jewish group, and UJC seemed to be the likeliest choice.
After the jump, the press release from UJC:[[READMORE]]
President Obama to Address Jewish Conference
President’s Remarks first to Jewish Community as President
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will deliver his first formal remarks to the Jewish community since taking office on Monday, November 9, 2009 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel at 11:30 a.m. at the 2009 General Assembly of UJC/The Jewish Federations of North America. The GA is one of the largest annual Jewish communal gatherings on the continent.
….
“We are honored to be hosting President Obama at the GA,” said GA North American Chair Dede Feinberg of Washington, who along with her husband Kenneth is serving as the GA’s North America co-chair in partnership with International Co-Chair Leonid Nevzlin of Israel.
“The voice of President Obama will surely expand our thinking and stretch our perspectives,” said Joe Kanfer, Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Jewish Federations of North America.
The GA will be held from November 8-10 at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel. In addition to President Obama, the GA will host members of Congress, top Israeli government officials as well as business and philanthropic leaders from across North America and Israel. This year’s GA, with the theme “Remember When You Thought Anything Was Possible? It Still Is,” highlights the ability of The Jewish Federations of North America to make a difference for the Jewish people worldwide.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
