Staring into Syria from the border of Israel’s Golan Heights last summer, Mark Dubowitz encountered an unnerving sight—the black flag of ISIL, also known as ISIS or the Islamic State. With civil war and humanitarian atrocities raging just a few clicks away in Damascus, Dubowitz took a 360 degree turn to consider some of Israel’s other neighbors: the home of Hezbollah in Lebanon to the North; the constant threat from Hamas in Gaza to the South; to the East, Jordan, Israel’s once strategic asset now offering tension and uncertainty at best; and reaching further to the East, across Iraq and the havoc of ISIL, perhaps Israel’s most ominous threat of all—Iran.
This is how Mark Dubowitz, executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington D.C.-based foreign policy think tank, set the stage for his talk at the Business & Legal Society of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 4.
Dubowitz spoke to a boardroom filled to capacity at Davenport & Company LLC in Virginia Beach. Forty Business & Legal Society members attended this exclusive event to receive an expert analysis of Iran’s nuclear threat, the strategy of negotiations and economic sanctions, and the future for America and Israel in the face of a nuclear Iran.
“While the subject matter was sobering, Mark Dubowitz was remarkably informative, interesting and passionate as he shared his insider’s knowledge of the global implications of a nuclear Iran to a packed room of captivated Business & Legal professionals,” says Society co-chair, Faith Jacobson.
“I think the question and answer portion could have gone on all afternoon. Everyone was so interested in learning the real story from Mark. It was also wonderful to see so many new faces,” Jacobson says.
Deborah Casey, Society member, says, “I’m so glad that I took the time from a busy business day to attend the Iran briefing. The subject matter is serious and important, and he did a great job of giving us current, relevant information. My understanding was enhanced.”
Society members David Calliot and Byron Harrell, volunteered their Davenport & Company office to host the luncheon.
The presentation was held in collaboration with the Federation’s Community Relations Council, the host of a community- wide presentation that took place the previous evening, as part of its Israel Today series.
The luncheon with Dubowitz was one of many events offered by the Business & Legal Society, an increasingly active and flourishing hub for Tidewater Jewish business and legal professionals, providing more than 115 current members with engaging and relevant programming and opportunities for networking.
The Business & Legal Society will host a pre-event reception on Thursday, Jan. 8 prior to ‘The Rise of Anti-Semitism: A Resurgence of Evil’ presentation featuring Ira Forman, the State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.
For more information, visit www. JewishVA.org/BusinessAndLegalSociety or contact Alex Pomerantz at apomerantz@ujft.org. The Business & Legal Society offers networking, social and philanthropic opportunities for Jewish professionals.
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by Samantha Golden