This emergency webinar is being held as we continue to watch the unfolding events in Ukraine. The JCRC of Greater Washington will host Dr. Anna Borshchevskaya, Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and Sam Sokol, Ha’aretz journalist, for a discussion moderated by JCRC’s Executive Director Ron Halber on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The webinar will focus on reasons behind Russia’s invasion, geo-political ramifications, Israel’s relationship with the two countries, implications on the local Jewish community and more.
We will also be joined by Zack Briton, Development Officer for The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. He will share JFGW's efforts in supporting the Ukrainian Jewish community.
Location
Zoom
Speakers
Dr. Anna Borshchevskaya Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute
Dr. Anna Borshchevskaya is a senior fellow at The Washington Institute, who focuses on Russia's policy toward the Middle East. In addition, she is a contributor to Oxford Analytica and a fellow at the European Foundation for Democracy. Previously she was with the Atlantic Council and the Peterson Institute for International Economics. A former analyst for a U.S. military contractor in Afghanistan, she has also served as communications director at the American Islamic Congress. Her analysis is published widely in publications such as Foreign Affairs, The Hill, The New Criterion, and Middle East Quarterly. She is the author of the 2021 book - Putin's War in Syria: Russian Foreign Policy and the Price of America's Absence. Until recently, she conducted translation and analysis for the U.S. Army's Foreign Military Studies Office and its flagship publication, Operational Environment Watch, and wrote a foreign affairs column for Forbes. She is the author of the February 2016 Institute monograph, Russia in the Middle East. Dr. Borshchevskaya holds a doctorate from George Mason University.
Sam Sokol Reporter, Haaretz
Sam Sokol is a Journalist for Haaretz. He was previously a correspondent at the Jerusalem Post and has reported for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the Israel Broadcasting Authority and the Times of Israel. He is the author of the book Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews, and has received the 2015 B'nai B'rith Diaspora Reportage Award for his work on the Jews of revolutionary Ukraine. Sam is also a Research Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy.
Ron Halber (rhalber@jcouncil.org) Chief Executive Officer
Ron Halber is the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and a highly-sought-after speaker on Israel and Jewish affairs, both locally and nationally.
Having served as executive director since 2001, and in previous roles at the JCRC since 1997, Ron has developed a wide range of strategic initiatives and partnerships to position JCRC as the leading voice on Jewish advocacy and fighting antisemitism in the Washington, D.C. region. An expert in strategic organizational planning and widely respected for his sharp political acumen, Ron has received numerous awards for professional excellence and community impact.
Under Ron’s innovative leadership, the JCRC has secured tens of millions of dollars for local Jewish agencies, successfully advocated for the passage of state and local legislation, planned and executed several new pro-Israel initiatives and bolstered relationships with other faith and community organizations. His fundraising efforts have enabled the JCRC to dramatically expand its staff and footprint throughout the region, making it one of the most influential and respected Jewish advocacy organizations in the nation.
Ron has had numerous op-eds published and is frequently interviewed by local, national and international media outlets on a range of topics facing the Jewish community, including current events in Israel and the Middle East, the rise of antisemitism and security needs for Jewish institutions, and legislative and political affairs at the local, state and national levels.
Ron previously worked in politics and political campaigns, including a stint as an aide to U.S. Senator Charles “Chuck” Schumer. He holds a master’s degree from Georgetown University and bachelor’s degree from the University of Albany in New York.
Ron and his wife, Michelle, live in Germantown with their three children.