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Operation Exodus: The Rescue of Jews from the Former Soviet Union and Resettlement in Israel

Instructor
Ronald Friedman
W1174
Video Catch-up
Available

Course Description

In the early 1990s, Operation Exodus was initiated by the United Jewish Appeal (now called Jewish Federations of North America) to rescue Jews from their arduous lives in the Former Soviet Union and to resettle them in Israel.  The initial phase was completed, yet it was uncovered there were still many Jews remaining in dire need of rescue.  UJA asked Ron Friedman to lead an initiative to rejuvenate Operation Exodus and to complete the campaign of rescuing approximately one million Jews.  This lecture will focus on the strategies and tactics undertaken to complete Operation Exodus.  What was learned from this undertaking and the approach is even more important in the wake of increasing anti-Semitism worldwide and the enhanced exodus of Jews from Russia and Ukraine to Israel as a result of the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine.  Included in the presentation will be a video that dramatically shows immigrants leaving Uzbekistan and their resettlement in Israel and public relations and advertising generated in support of this final phase of Operation Exodus.

Course Info

  • Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Date: Wednesday, January 17
  • Location: Friedberg Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Building
  • Fees: Member - $30
    $100 for any combination of four events, members only
    Non-member - $35
    One-time guest pass, Member or Non-member at the door - $35.

About the Instructor

  • Ron Friedman is an accomplished professional with strong credentials in non-profits, the private sector, and the public services arena. His disciplines include leadership, management, marketing, strategic planning and fundraising. In the private sector, he was Vice President of Marketing for American Express Card for the merchant categories and headed task forces for the Chairman and CEO. Previously, he served in account management positions in major advertising agencies. In the non-profit sector, he created and led a team for Operation Exodus for United Jewish Appeal (now called Jewish Federations of North America) which culminated in rescuing approximately 1 million Jews from the Former Soviet Union and resettling them in Israel with about $1 billion raised in support of the effort. He was Managing Director of State of Israel Bonds and Chief Operating Officer of the Anti-Defamation League. His consulting experience includes health care where he created and led a private sector team that identified $500 million in net revenues/savings for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, the largest municipal health care system in the US. Ron served as an Adjunct Professor of Marketing at the Fordham University Graduate School of Business Administration. He earned an MBA with Distinction from the New York University Graduate School of Business Administration and graduated first in his class. Ron has a BA from Brooklyn College. He is a veteran of the US Air Force and the Air National Guard.