After two years of staying home due to COVID-19, we have seen an incredible surge in missions and conferences throughout the Federation system over the past year. Thousands of donors and professionals have traveled with Jewish Federations of North America or their local Federation to destinations around the world, including:

·        Over 10 JFNA Missions and Fly-Ins to the Ukraine border, Ethiopia, and Israel.

·        Over 125 Local Federation Missions

·        The 2023 General Assembly in Chicago

·        International Lion of Judah Conference in Arizona

·        Cabinet Study Mission to Budapest and Riga

·        Israel at 75 General Assembly and community missions to Israel

The FRD Leadership Mission is beloved by top campaign leadership and Federation professionals alike for the opportunity to experience first-hand the impact of our Israel and Overseas strategy and work, to learn and share campaign best practices, and to build their peer networks. Participants return home with the tools to inspire people both to give and do, more. Amid so many other missions and travel experiences, it has become clear that we will not be able to achieve these important aspects of the mission this summer and so in order to maximize the experience for our communities and participants, we believe it’s best to pause this year’s program and resume next summer.

We are therefore thrilled to announce the FRD Leadership Mission for 2024 will take place July 15-21, 2024, in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil!

Brazil, with more than 120,000 Jews, is the tenth-largest Jewish community in the world and second largest in Latin America. A community that goes back to the earliest days of European exploration, it is now home to a diverse Jewish community with multiple synagogues and Jewish organizations to serve its Jewish population.

In addition to opportunities to engage with the local Jewish community, a Federation mission to Rio De Janeiro will allow participants to delve into major issues facing this community and the global Jewish community, featuring high-level speakers and site visits. The experience will include contemporary issues such as Israel engagement and education opportunities that connect Brazilian Jews with the worldwide Jewish community. In addition, we will be creating space for local leadership to connect with each other, and share best practices and challenges so that campaign leadership leaves with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and a deeper set of campaign skills which will elevate local fundraising. We are committed to strengthening the lay/ professional partnership through these experiences and will be carving out ample time to foster these important connections.

Additional Upcoming Mission Experiences

International Leadership Reunion, Israel October 23-27, 2023-

Experience this unique moment in Israel’s history with your ILR friends from around the world, with a series of high-caliber events and speakers that only the ILR experience can provide. Meet Israel’s most senior government officials to learn about Israel’s most important current affairs Visit projects dealing with the social challenges in Israel and see first-hand what we are doing together to face them. The International Leadership Reunion is a joint effort of Keren Hayesod and the Jewish Federations of North America for donors who support their local campaigns at the level of $250,000 or more.

United Arab Emirates, January 22-28, 2024

We are thrilled to announce a national mission to the United Arab Emirates. The signing of the Abraham Accords, Israel's establishment of diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, marked the first instance of Arab- Israeli normalization since 1994, when the Israel-Jordan peace treaty came into effect changed the course of Jewish life in the United Arab Emirates, the region, and potentially the world. There was a long path leading to this historic outcome – and the UAE’s Jewish community has been at the heart of it. A small number of Jews had been coming to the UAE for decades, for the most part, leading very private lives. The community, as we now know it, began to meet informally in 2008, when a few families first found each other and started gathering for Shabbat and other holidays. They met in secret, aware of the sensitivities of the country and region. Over time, contact and relationships were established with some government officials and the community has continued to grow. The first new Jewish community in the heart of the Arab world in centuries is now an important destination for Jewish organizations and delegation visits. This mission is open to donors at the King David Society and above. King David Society is a national recognition society for those donors who support their local campaigns with a minimum gift of $25,000.

We look forward to keeping you updated on these and other national mission opportunities as they become available.