Israeli Elections 101 Seminar set for Aug. 18
Community program will explore the electoral system and long-term issues before the October election.
As Israel prepares for a national election, the Jewish Community Relations Council of Atlanta (JCRC), in partnership with The Dupree Conference and Education Center, Atlanta Rabbinical Association, and Center for Israel Education (CIE), will present “Israeli Elections 101: Understanding How Israel Votes,” a community educational program designed to explain Israel’s parliamentary democracy, electoral process, coalition formation, and long-term political issues.
No prior knowledge of Israeli politics is required or expected, and attendees are encouraged to bring their questions.
The free program will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 18, at The Dupree. Doors open at 8:15. Registration is required.
The featured speaker will be Ken Stein, CIE’s founding president and chief content officer and a leading educator on modern Israeli history and politics.
Unlike the U.S. electoral system, Israelis vote for party lists rather than individuals, and members of the Knesset are elected through nationwide proportional representation. No party has ever won an outright majority, so coalition governments are always necessary.
“We want to equip community members with a clear, nonpartisan understanding of Israeli democracy beyond ‘Netanyahu good’ or ‘Netanyahu bad,’” says JCRC’s board president, Michael Jacobs.
Register at www.eventcreate.com/e/israeli-elections-101, and visit www.atlantajcrc.org to learn more about JCRC’s work.
In addition to providing valuable knowledge for the Oct. 27 Israeli election, the program will help attendees get the most out of “Israel at a Crossroads: Understanding the 2026 Elections,” a three-part Dupree series led by Rabbis Natan Trief of Temple Sinai and Yitz Tendler of Congregation Beth Jacob, beginning Aug. 26. Get more information and register at www.eventcreate.com/e/israel-at-a-crossroads.
JCRC of Atlanta serves as a common table for the Atlanta Jewish community, convening individuals and organizations to discuss critical public policy issues and advocate for solutions grounded in Jewish values. “Israeli Elections 101” is kicking off JCRC’s fall focus on the Israeli and U.S. elections and the need for civil discourse about them.