HOLLYWOOD, FL.—The Israeli-American Council announced the opening of four new regional offices throughout the country: Orlando, Florida; Austin, Texas; Orange County, California, and IAC Midwest (based in Columbus, Ohio). Through its 20 chapters across the country, the organization is expecting to be operating in more than 60 communities in 2019. The rapid expansion of the IAC—which has emerged in recent years as one of America’s fastest growing Jewish organizations—comes ahead of the IAC’s Fifth Annual National Conference, to take place from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, 2018, at the Diplomat Beach Resort in South Florida.

“The IAC is thrilled to announce new regions to our coast-to-coast community, which continues to engage, inspire, and connect thousands across the country around the common spirit, values and culture we describe as ‘Israeliness’,” said IAC Co-Founder and CEO Shoham Nicolet. “We look forward to welcoming delegations from across the nation and Israel to the IAC National Conference this fall. Once again, this one-of-its kind event will provide an immersive experience that will transport attendees to Israel, while providing an important venue for open and meaningful dialogue between Israelis, Israeli- Americans, and Jewish-Americans.”

He added, “This year we will focus on providing tools for our attendees to cultivate communities, rooted in the Jewish heritage, with Israel in their hearts, and Israeliness in their spirits. We believe that our movement can help to shape a better future of the Jewish people and Jewish State.”

The IAC’s unique approach to community building—focused on cutting-edge leadership and Israeliness—will be launched in each new region and will include the IAC’s signature initiatives and programs. The organization has sought to build deep and ongoing partnerships with Jewish American institutions across the nation. To this end, the IAC Midwest regional office has launched a full-fledged partnership with the Jewish Federation and the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Columbus.

The IAC has become an important convener for Israelis, Israeli-Americans and Americans Jews at a time when many leaders have expressed concerns about the growing rift between the world’s largest Jewish communities.

Issues that have contributed to this rift, such as the Nation-State law and the role of the Jewish State in the lives of millennials, will be examined at the Conference. Key decision makers, community leaders, and experts from Israel and the Jewish world will engage in frank, “Israeli-style” dialogue on these crucial issues.

Israel’s Speaker of the Knesset, Yuli Edelstein will make history at the conference. He will become the first speaker of Israel’s Parliament to make a special trip to the U.S. to address the Israeli-American community. Additional confirmed speakers include Minister of Justice, Ayelet Shaked; Israel Prize Winner, Miriam Peretz; Jewish Agency for Israel Chairman of the Executive, Isaac Herzog, and leading Jewish philanthropists from both sides of the political aisle, including Dr. Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, as well as Haim Saban.

The IAC National Conference is the largest forum of its kind, which brings together American Jews, Israelis and Israeli-Americans around the spirit and energy of Israel. This is the first time that the Conference will be held in Florida, home to one of the largest and fastest growing Israeli-American communities in the nation.