Massachusetts Community Leaders to Explore Economic Ties to Region
(BOSTON) – The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Boston will continue its long history of leading Massachusetts community leaders on a study tour of Israel, providing state officials with an in-depth look into the political, security, and economic challenges and successes facing Israeli society.
From December 3-13, members of the Massachusetts Senate will travel throughout Israel, learning from government officials and religious, academic, media and business leaders.
“This trip will allow Massachusetts leaders to deepen their understanding of Israel’s politics and culture and examine some of the business and economic ties that bring Israel and Massachusetts together,” said Jeremy Burton, Executive Director of JCRC of Greater Boston. “The best way to deepen those ties is through a mutual understanding of our common interests.”
“Massachusetts and Israel have significant economic and cultural ties,” said Senate President Stan Rosenberg (D-Amherst), who is Chair of this year’s trip. “According to a recent study by the New England-Israeli Business Council, Israeli-founded companies contributed $6 billion in direct revenue and over 6,600 jobs to the state’s economy in 2012. Citizen Diplomacy, where we can learn directly from other cultures, businesses, and government officials by traveling to their country is a valuable tool in strengthening ties between Massachusetts and Israel. I look forward to the upcoming trip to gain more firsthand knowledge about how we as legislators can continue to build our on important economic and cultural ties with our Israeli counterparts.”
The Massachusetts officials will:
- Meet with government officials and other influential leaders from all sectors of Israeli society
- Visit Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and the Palestinian Areas.
- Discover the growing economic ties between Israel and Massachusetts
- Gain new perspectives on modern day Israel
- Develop a nuanced understanding of the complex political and security challenges facing Israel
- Encounter Israel’s economy, including its booming research, development, and tech sector
The trip is being paid with a grant from the nonprofit Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston. Participants will be paying a registration fee for the trip from their own funds.
Following are the participants in the 2015 Study Tour of Israel.
- Senate President Stan Rosenberg (Trip Chair)
- Senator Michael Barrett
- Senator Eileen Donoghue
- Senator Benjamin Downing
- Senator Anne Gobi
- Senator John Keenan
- Senator Barbara L’Italien
- Senator Richard Ross
- Senator Karen Spilka
- Senator Dan Wolf
About Jewish Community Relations Council
JCRC defines and advances the values, interests and priorities of the organized Jewish community in greater Boston in the public square. Visit us at www.jcrcboston.org.
