Five highly regarded Israeli Knesset Members recently spent a week in California, as part of the Knesset Project, an initiative of the Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Committee (JCRC), which aims to promote cross-cultural understanding between Israeli and Californian elected officials.

Ophir Pines-Paz and Nadia Hilou present a gift to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

MKs Yoel Hasson and Shlomo (Neguse) Molla from Kadima, Nadia Hilou and Ophir Pines-Paz from Labor-Meimad, and Moshe Kahlon from Likud spent March 23-30 in California and Sacramento, where they shared dialogue, made connections, and discussed similarities between Israel and California with different elected officials throughout the state. Their visit was an opportunity to discuss shared social, economic, and cultural issues facing both states, while providing Los Angeles natives unique insight into Israel’s political culture.

The Knesset Project also includes the JCRC’s annual Legislators’ Mission to Israel, in which delegations of Californian elected officials have the opportunity to meet with Israeli officials and leaders and learn firsthand about Israel. This trip was the Federation’s effort to reverse the state legislators’ experiences by bringing the Knesset members to California.

The group also attended a meeting with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

While in Los Angeles, the group of MKs visited and toured Jewish and city institutions. They participated in a meeting with outgoing Beverly Hills Mayor Jimmy Delshad and newly elected Beverly Hills Mayor Barry Brucker, visited City Hall, where they were honored at
a coffee reception hosted by Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti and Los Angeles City Councilman Jack Weiss, and attended a dinner at The Jewish Federation Goldsmith Center with Congressman Brad Sherman.

The Israeli Knesset members with former Beverly Hills Mayor Jimmy Delshad and current Mayor Barry Brucker at a breakfast meeting in Beverly Hills

The delegation also had the unique opportunity to meet with several high-profile elected officials, including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. These meetings were beneficial for both the Knesset members and the elected officials, as the groups discussed and
shared ideas concerning issues such as the environment, security, technology, and other matters of importance to both states.

Now back in Israel, several of the Knesset members reflected on their time in California. “This was a wonderful opportunity,” said Nadia Hilou. “Our group came home with a greater understanding of politics in California, and hopefully we were able to shed more light on Israeli politics, as well.”

“The Federation was instrumental in helping us make these connections and develop new relationships,” added Yoel Hasson. “We were able to begin a dialogue between members of our Knesset and many important leaders in California, and I feel the ideas we discussed will continue to benefit both Israel and California in the future.”

For more information, please contact the JCRC at
(323) 761-8145 or LAJCRC@JewishLA.org.