Sam Yebri
Sam Yebri is an attorney at the law firm of Proskauer Rose, and previously served as a law clerk to the Hon. A. Howard Matz. Sam is the president/co-founder of 30 Years After, a civic action organization whose mission is to promote the participation and leadership of Iranian-American Jews in American political and Jewish life. He serves on the Regional Council of the Progressive Jewish Alliance and the Board of USC Hillel, volunteers with Bet Tzedek, participated in the Jewish Federation’s Geller Leadership Program and New Leaders Project, and is an AIPAC activist. Sam graduated from Yale University and the USC Law School.
The Innovation Ecosystem: Values and Visions of the Emerging Jewish Community
Joshua Avedon,
Melissa Balaban,
Dov Gartenberg,
Sam Yebri
Identity and Responsibility,
Teen Approved
The landscape of new Jewish organizations has multiplied the opportunities to build community and live Jewishly. They include new spiritual communities, social justice organizations, learning initiatives, and cultural collectives. The new organizations are not just important because they provide new entry points to Jewish life for individuals and families that otherwise would not be engaged; they are also the source of many of the ideas that will transform Jewish life in the 21st century. This session is about the strategies, principles and approaches of social entrepreneurs who have launched new organizations in both creative and systematic ways to develop a community that is innovative, engaging, fiscally responsible and sustainable. Meet emerging thought leaders and hear how they integrate their values and their vision to make a difference.
Efforts to Address the Iran Threat and How You Can Avert Nuclear Iran
Marc Carrel,
Sam Yebri
Global History and Culture,
Identity and Responsibility,
MCLE-Eligible
Unless we act now, we will soon wake up to a nuclear-armed Iran. That morning, the world’s leading state-sponsor of terrorism and violator of human rights will have the capacity to carry out its promise to "wipe Israel off the map" and will trigger a Middle East nuclear arms race. Learn what leading Jewish organizations and synagogues in Los Angeles are doing to advocate forcefully for increased American and international economic sanctions on Iran, convince government pension funds and corporations to terminate all business with the Iranian government, and raise public awareness about the threat that a nuclear-armed Iran poses to the entire world. Each of us can make a difference through concerted, unified local activism. Learn how.
Ahavat Yisrael and Tikkun Olam
Identity and Responsibility,
Israel,
Teen Approved
Love and support for Israel is a foundational Jewish value. But who decides what it means to be pro-Israel or Zionist? Why are some Jews losing their connection to Israel, while for some Jews support for Israel -- and the grave threats she faces from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah -- obscures and takes priority over the social and economic challenges facing our city, state, and country? We will explore why it is critical that we expand the definition of a Zionist and make the pro-Israel community more welcoming for social justice activists, and the local social justice community more welcoming for pro-Israel activists.
