Does Unconditional Support For Zionism and Israel Still Matter? 

Tuesday, November 19, at 7:15pm

Featuring Dr. Saba Soomekh

Dr. Saba Soomekh is the Assistant Director of Interreligious and Intercommunity Affairs at the American Jewish Committee (AJC)-LA and a lecturer at UCLA, where she teaches Religious Studies, Middle Eastern History, and Women’s Studies courses. She received her B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, her M.A. in Theological Studies from Harvard Divinity School, and her Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Dr. Soomekh teaches and writes extensively on world religions, women and religion, anti-Semitism, the impact of intersectionality on the Jewish community, and the geo-politics of the Middle East. She is the editor of Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews in America and the author of From the Shahs to Los Angeles: Three Generations of Iranian Jewish Women between Religion and Culture. Through AJC’s Leaders for Tomorrow program, Dr. Soomekh helps high school students develop a strong Jewish identity and trains them to advocate for Israel and combat anti Semitism while in college and beyond. She also works as a consultant for numerous schools in Los Angeles focusing on creating honest dialogue about cultural issues.

Moderated by Rick Entin

Rick is a long-time member of Kehillat Israel, where he formerly served as a member of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Israel Matters Committee. He was recently certified as a facilitator by Resetting the Table, an organization dedicated to creating courageous communication across divides.  He currently serves on the LA Leadership Council of Birthright Israel. Rick’s past leadership positions include chairing the Board of Hillel 818 and the Real Estate & Construction Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Rick is also a Wexner Heritage Fellow.