Skip Navigation LinksHome > JCRC > Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Addresses Record-Breaking Crowd

Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Addresses Record-Breaking Crowd

Michael Oren addresses crowd at the JCC
View photogallery
Despite inclement weather, a crowd of about 700 greater Cincinnati community members filled the Mayerson JCC’s Amberley Room to capacity the evening of Saturday, January 21, to hear Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren speak. At an event presented by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), he spoke for approximately 30 minutes about Israel’s challenges and successes in an environment of uncertainty and then took questions from the audience. He answered the questions—whose topics ranged from the greatest threat to Israel’s security to the lack of positive press about Israel in the United States to cyber-terrorist attacks—frankly and with aplomb. The audience applauded the ambassador with three standing ovations throughout the night.

Dr. Gila Safran Naveh, head of the Judaic studies department at the University of Cincinnati, called Ambassador Oren “electrifying.” She explained, “His crisp, pristine statements about the need for a strong and thriving Israel went to the heart of the matter and energized the audience in a unique way.”

Ambassador Oren, who is the first sitting ambassador to come to Cincinnati since the 1970s, was introduced by his longtime friend, Gary Heiman, president and CEO of Standard Textile and chairman of The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati. The two first met in the late 1970s when they both served in the Israel Defense Forces; they later worked together as spokespeople for Israel during the Second Lebanon War. Heiman spoke of the ambassador with fondness and humor, commending him on his successful career as a historian, an author and a diplomat while also giving the audience a glimpse of Michael Oren, the person. He told the story of a 15-year-old Oren who, driven to make aliyah, claimed to be 17 so he could travel to Israel and work on a kibbutz. Heiman also praised Oren for his love of his family, calling him a dedicated husband and father. (Oren’s older son, Yoav, works for Standard Textile.)

The audience was welcomed by Jewish Federation President Bret Caller, who spoke proudly of the collaborative community in Cincinnati, citing the event’s 30 supporting organizations as an example. He also explained, “The Jewish Community Relations Council builds bridges with religious and civic leaders both within and beyond the Jewish community to promote understanding.” In that spirit, on Sunday, January 22, Ambassador Oren attended a service at New Jerusalem Baptist Church and spoke to Rev. Damon Lynch, Jr., and a crowd of over 500 parishioners.

Congressman Jean Schmidt, Ambassador Oren, Shep Englander, Joyce Garver Keller
Rep. Jean Schmidt, Ambassador Oren, Shep Englander and Joyce Garver Keller, Executive Director of the Ohio Jewish Communities
The JCRC also arranged for Oren to meet with the many civic, religious and community leaders who attended the event, including government officials U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt, U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, State Rep. Denise Driehaus, Hamilton County Commissioner Chris Monzel, Ohio State Auditor Dave Yost and a representative from the office of U.S. Sen. Rob Portman. He thanked them for their support of both the State of Israel and the Jewish community in Cincinnati.

Jewish Federation CEO Shep Englander welcomed the audience as well and drew attention to the Cincinnati Jewish community’s connections to Israel, naming the particularly impressive example of travel grants provided to young adults by The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati. These grants are some of the most generous in the country and have played a large part in helping 52% of Cincinnati Jews visit Israel, compared to a national average of 35%. Also contributing to this remarkable record are a number of targeted mission trips offered by, among others, the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber for groups such as women, young leaders, business executives and more.

Englander also discussed efforts to position Cincinnati as a hub of business partnerships with Israel. In recognition, the ambassador visited Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center during his visit. He met with participants in the hospital’s Israel Exchange Program, which connects medical professionals and scientists from the U.S. and Israel to improve patient care, enhance training and education and advance medical and bio-tech research. Oren mentioned another significant business partnership between Cincinnati and Israel—P&G’s recent joint venture with the Israeli pharmaceutical company Teva. “One out of every five prescription pills that Americans take is manufactured by Teva,” said Oren.

The event was presented by the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati and its Jewish Community Relations Council, in collaboration with the Wolf Center for Arts and Ideas at the Mayerson JCC, and was funded by a grant from the Gettler Family Foundation.