In just a few months, hundreds of Lions of Judah from all over the world will gather in Israel for the International Lion of Judah Conference, which will be held in Tel Aviv from November 12-16, 2008. If you are planning on attending the conference, we invite you to consider some other special upcoming opportunities as well!

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles is proud to offer an extraordinary pre-conference mission to those women who will be attending the conference. This trip is only being offered by our Federation, to provide some of our most dedicated women with a truly unique experience.

The first part of the pre-conference mission will travel to Istanbul, Turkey, on November 6, for four days, where they will visit historical sites such as the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace, and the famous spice markets, and enjoy a delicious Shabbat meal with the Turkish Jewish community.

The trip to Turkey will be followed by the second part of the pre-conference mission, which will take place in Israel from November 10-12. It is centered in Jerusalem, which will allow participants to visit the Western Wall, shop on Ben Yehuda Street, and enjoy a walking tour through the Jewish Quarter before they leave for the Tel Aviv conference.

Spouses and adult daughters, nieces, and granddaughters are welcome on the mission and to the conference as well. This year’s General Assembly will take place in Jerusalem immediately following the Lion of Judah conference, beginning on November 16, and the GA’s fee has been generously waived for all LOJ Conference participants.

Longtime Lion Evy Lutin, who says she’s honored and delighted to chair the Los Angeles LOJ Conference contingent and pre-mission, is extremely excited about the trips. “You will be thrilled by who you meet and what you see. Besides our time in Israel, this is an incredible opportunity to go to exotic Istanbul.”

Lutin urges women in the community to take advantage of this opportunity. “We all delay certain events in our life and say, ‘I can do it later,’ but we are living through a historic period right now. What an extraordinary time to visit Israel -- this year marks her 60th anniversary!”

Lion of Judah is an international group of women who make a minimum gift of $5,000 in their own name to the Federation’s Annual Campaign. The Lion of Judah pin, worn with pride by tens of thousands of women, is one of the most recognized and distinguished symbols of shared commitment to the strength and vitality of the Jewish people.

If you are interested in participating in the pre-conference mission and/or in the conference, whether you are currently a Lion of Judah or plan to become one, please contact Karen Sternfeld at (323) 761-8224 or KSternfeld@JewishLA.org or John Magoulas at (818) 464-3263 or JMagoulas@JewishLA.org