Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

More than 3000 people joined the IAC National Summit and 125 participants joined the Orlando-Tampa delegation this year at South Florida, The Diplomat Beach Resort. The Summit featured a one-of-a-kind combination of inspirational sessions, insightful dialogue, thought-provoking panels, and professional networking, creating the spirit and atmosphere of Israel for three dynamic, stimulating, and energetic days. Speakers included world leaders, Israeli and American thought leaders, decision makers, change makers and cultural icons from business, philanthropy, technology, innovation, education, politics, and activism. Politicians such as Labor Party Knesset member Nachman Shai, Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, and the Likud Party MK Mir Barkat, were both interviewed on stage during Thursday’s plenary, telling the audience of their importance to Israel and Defense Minister Benny Gantz key noted Friday’s plenary. All expressed their belief in the importance of strengthening relationships with the Jewish Diaspora in the United States and elsewhere. The Summit was exceptional in its multigenerational approach, bringing the entire family together for this shared experience through our theme “Israel. Together” — Together as a united community, together in our unconditional love for Israel. Teens, college students and young professionals had their own events during the summit, which focused more on entrepreneurship, networking and how to represent Israel in the hostile anti-Israel environments they find themselves in their schools or among peers. For a few days, a high-rise beachfront resort became what many guests described as “little Tel Aviv” as thousands of Israeli Americans, Israelis and American Jews attended the Israeli-American Council’s 2021 National Summit.

— Idit Lotringer, IAC Orlando regional manager