Wednesday, Nov. 18, 7:30 pm, Reba and Sam Sandler Family Campus
The Community Relations Council of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater and community partners’ fifth annual Israel Today series includes three visiting experts under the age of 40, beginning with Josh Kram and followed by Olga Meshoe, founder and CEO of Defend Embrace Invest Support Israel and then Matti Friedman, former Jerusalem Bureau reporter for the Associate Press.
The director for Turkey and Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Kram is responsible for developing and executing programs and policy initiatives related to U.S. trade and investment in the region. He also serves as executive director of the Middle East Commercial Center (MECC), a newly established, private sector-led alliance of business leaders working to advance intraregional business and address economic impediments. In addition, Kram directs the Chamber’s U.S.-Israel Business Initiative, the premiere organization advancing commercial relations between the United States and Israel.
Before joining the Chamber, Kram founded Foxhall Strategies Consulting, LLC, a boutique strategic advisory firm that provides corporations, NGOs, and associations with international government affairs, public affairs, regulatory, and strategic advice and support.
Previously, Kram was the Washington director for the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, where he led the government affairs program and advocated on key public policy and international issues before Congress, the administration, and foreign governments. He also served as deputy political director and Middle East adviser to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign and later worked for Obama for America. Kram began his career with the America Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Building strong commercial relations between the U.S. and Israel is an ongoing effort, but does it really matter? Kram says yes. He’ll explain why in a conversation with moderator Danny Rubin.
RSVP today for this free and open to the community event by calling 757-965-6107 or emailing crc@ujft.org. For more information on the CRC’s Israel Today series, visit www.JewishVa.org/CRCIsraelToday.