This week on Radio Chavura, we feature an exclusive interview with His Excellency Asterio Takesy, Micronesia’s Ambassador to the United States and Israel.

Micronesia, an international exporter of fish, bananas, and black peppers, is not known for much in the western world except as the periodic answer to an obscure question on Jeopardy.

Yet when Israel is under fire at the United Nations – and when isn’t Israel under fire at the UN? – the Federated States of Micronesia has proven to be one of the Jewish State’s staunchest global allies.

Only the United States, Canada, the Marshall Islands and Palau stand shoulder-to-should with the FSM in defense of Israel when the UN is singling out the Jewish State for rote condemnation.  The track records of other “allies” – including France, England, Germany, Poland, Australia, New Zealand, and all of Central, South and Latin America are nowhere near as pro-Israel as Micronesia’s.

Ambassador Takesy is interviewed by Radio Chavura co-hosts Maxwell and Dean Rotbart.

On this week's edition, we speak with Marcie Natan, the national president of Hadassah: The Zionist Women's Organization of America, about how the 102-year-old organization continues to attract a devoted following - despite the changing times.

The answer - which is well-worth listening to - is that Hadassah has remained true to its pro-Israel and social action values, which traverse generational differences. Indeed, Hadassah is the world's flagship Zionist organization and a prime example of how Jewish medical innovation is saving the lives of Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Posted:  May 4, 2014
Duration: 56 min 39 secs
Photo:  Marcie Natan, Hadassah

On this week’s edition of Radio Chavura, we feature exclusive interviews with two Denverites who will be active participants in the upcoming JNF National Conference, scheduled to be held here in Colorado from October 25^th through October 28^th. 

Our first guest is noted historian Jeanne Abrams.  Dr. Abrams – author of the newly published book, Revolutionary Medicine: The Founding Fathers in Sickness and health – will lead an afternoon session on Sunday the 27^th, during which she’ll share the amazing and at times harrowing tales of Colorado’s early Jewish Settlers. 

After Jeanne, we talk about the Jewish National Fund with Gene Kay, board chair of the JNF’s Rocky Mountain Region.  Gene, along with Stanley Kamlet, are well-known throughout the United States for their tireless work on behalf of the Jewish National Fund.

Both Gene and Stan will be honored at the national conference on Monday morning, October 28^th.

If you haven’t yet registered to attend the JNF national conference, we at Radio Chavura encourage you to do so today.  Simply visit JNF.org and click on the national conference logo.

The JNF Conference, like the JNF itself, is a chance to give of yourself and discover how much personal satisfaction you will reap in return.

The national edition of Radio Chavura is intended to build support for the Jewish National Fund conference to be held in Denver from October 25th through October 28th. The conference will bring together hundreds of committed Jewish leaders from across the United States to learn about JNF's ongoing work on behalf of the land and people of Israel. Those attending will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with committed volunteers of all ages, as well as to contribute their own ideas for enriching the work of JNF.

CREDITS:

Hosts:  Maxwell and Dean Rotbart

Musical Director:  Julie Geller

Audio Production:  Blane Nichols

Additional Audio Elements:  Jason Hickman

Director of Research:  Talya Rotbart

Staff Photographer:  Avital Rotbart

Opening Music (Hinei Mah Tov) and Closing Credits (Elokai):  Julie Geller

Songs:

• Eli Ata Ve'Odecha - Oded Melchner
• Jews Don't Camp - Rocky Mountain Jewgrass
• Lo Yisa Goy - Miami Boys Choir [Support Jewish Day Schools]
• Open the Gates (Pitchu Li) - Rabbi Joe Black - Leave a Little Bit Undone
• Niggun Nevo - Shlomo Katz [Denver Community Kollel]
• Sim Shalom - Talya Rotbart, Vocalist and Gabriela Gottlieb, Pianist - Lu Yehi

JNF Liaisons:  Neta Yoffe and Boaz Meir

Photo:  Dr. Jeanne Abrams

Russell F. Robinson, JNF's CEO and a member of its global board of directors, is the featured guest on this inaugural national edition of Radio Chavura.

Robinson divulges that at this year's national conference, JNF will formally announce an unprecedented 10-year, $1 billion fundraising campaign, that he says will be "the most innovative, most bold campaign" even untaken by a Jewish organization.  

The national edition of Radio Chavura is intended to build support for the Jewish National Fund conference to be held in Denver from October 25th through October 28th. The conference will bring together hundreds of committed Jewish leaders from across the United States to learn about JNF's ongoing work on behalf of the land and people of Israel. Those attending will also have the opportunity to meet and interact with committed volunteers of all ages, as well as to contribute their own ideas for enriching the work of JNF.

"Colorado has a flourishing and vibrant Jewish community which couldn't be more excited to welcome the JNF national conference," says Maxwell Rotbart, co-host of Radio Chavura.

Rotbart notes that the Colorado Jewish community, which predates statehood in 1876, gave rise to the United Way and helped inspire Golda Meir's Zionism during her sojourn in Denver as a high schooler.  Well-known global brands that have Jewish roots in Colorado, include Samsonite Luggage, Hot Pockets, and perhaps most famous of all, the Barbie doll.  (Inventor Ruth Mosko Handler was born and raised in Denver.)

Today, Colorado is an incubator of many cutting edge companies in the technology and health sectors, serving as the global headquarters of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs, which educates and connects biomedical and health innovators who seek to commercialize their ideas, inventions and discoveries.

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, who recently returned from an inspiring visit to Israel, will be the JNF conference's opening speaker on Friday, October 25th.  Other Coloradans scheduled to participate in the program include Rabbi Joe R. Black, spiritual leader of Temple Emanuel; Jerome "Jerry" Tinianow, chief sustainability officer for the City of Denver; and Dr. Jeanne Abrams, an historian and professor at the University of Denver.  

At the breakfast and closing plenary on Monday, October 28th, Ken Salazar, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and a former U.S. Senator from Colorado, will be the speaker.  During the breakfast, longtime JNF lay leaders, Eugene "Gene" Kay and Stanley Kamlet will be honored for their years of service. 

CREDITS:

Hosts: Maxwell and Dean Rotbart

Musical Director:  Julie Geller

Audio Production:  Blane Nichols

Additional Audio Elements:  Jason Hickman

Director of Research:  Talya Rotbart

Staff Photographer:  Avital Rotbart

Opening Announcement: Eugene Kay

Opening Music (Hinei Mah Tov) and Closing Credits (Elokai):  Julie Geller

Songs:

• Zum Gali Gali - Fred Fastow, Jewish Songs for Classical Guitar
• Maym Mayin - Israeli Folk Group, Authentic Israeli Folk Songs & Dances
• Lo Yisa Goy - Miami Boys Choir
• Yism'Chu - Rabbi Joe Black, Sabbatical

JNF Liaisons:  Neta Yoffe (New York) and Boaz Meir (Colorado)