SAN DIEGO, Calif., December 6, 2021 — One of Israel’s most outspoken advocates is set to headline Jewish National Fund-USA’s (JNF-USA) 11th Annual San Diego Love of Israel Brunch, taking place on Sunday, February 6, 2022, at 10:00 am PT at the Port Pavilion on Broadway Pier in Downtown San Diego. Keynote speaker, Matti Friedman — a renowned Israeli-Canadian journalist, award-winning author, and leading expert on Israel’s modern history — will share his perspective on how the media unfairly portrays Israel and what supporters of Israel can do to set the story straight.
As a global media thought leader, Friedman regularly calls out derogatory media bias against Israel and is well-known for reframing the narrative in a factual, historically informed way that is missing from the mainstream narrative.
Matti Friedman
“During his keynote address, Matti Friedman will provide insight into some of the false and negative biases that stem from Western media reports and what has changed over the last two years,” said Event Co-Chairs, Leslie and Shlomo Caspi. “Biased reporting creates the misconception that Israel is a center of major global conflict and division, so we must learn how to tackle these falsities head-on and understand how to speak about Israel in a new and compelling way.”
Several of Friedman’s written works have received numerous awards and international praise. His 2016 book, Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story of a Forgotten War, was selected as a New York Times Notable Book and was included in Amazon’s 10 Best Books of the Year, while Spies of No Country: Secret Lives at The Birth of Israel was selected as the Editor’s Choice of The New York Times Book Review and won the 2018 Natan Book Award. Friedman also contributes to The New York Times Op-Ed section and has written for other esteemed publications including Associated Press, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post.
In addition to hearing from Friedman and joining local San Diegan supporters of Israel for a delicious, festive brunch in celebration of the Jewish Homeland, guests will learn about the impact JNF-USA and the San Diego community have had on the land and people of Israel.
Speaking to her beloved San Diego Jewish and Zionist community, JNF-USA San Diego Board President Debbie Kornberg adds, “The San Diego Jewish community has played a significant role in helping JNF-USA make the impossible possible for Israelis living in the remote northern and southern regions of Israel. What was once a vast, unpopulated desert is now becoming a rapidly developing hub for innovation and tech in Israel’s southern Negev region, and what was once a sleepy agricultural region up north in the Galilee is quickly becoming a vibrant destination for tourism. Your attendance at our Love of Israel Brunch shows your support for Israel and will truly have an impact that is felt on the other side of the world…join us!”
“While we can’t always rely on the media to support Israel and portray the situation in a balanced and fair way, support for Israel among regular people like you and me is at an all-time high,” said JNF-USA National President and local San Diegan, Dr. Sol Lizerbram. “On a national scale, JNF-USA recently closed out another record-breaking campaign year, once again raising well over $100 million that will directly support critical environmental, economic, and quality of life initiatives that promote prosperity for all Israelis regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, or ability.”
An exclusive major donor reception with Matti Friedman and an afterparty for young professionals (ages 22-40) will be held directly following the brunch.
For additional information about the 11th Annual Love of Israel Brunch and to register, visit jnf.org/SDBrunch or contact Monica Suissa, JNF-USA Director, San Diego at 858-824-9178 x 858 or msuissa@jnf.org.
###
Media Contact:
Jennifer Milton
561.447.9733 x 875
About Jewish National Fund-USA
JNF-USA is the leading philanthropic organization for Israel that supports critical environmental and nation building activities in Israel’s north and south. Through its One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade, JNF-USA is developing new communities in the Galilee and Negev, connecting the next generation to Israel, and creating infrastructure and programs that support ecology, individuals with special needs, and heritage site preservation.