We do many, many things at The Birmingham Jewish Federation. Yet, everyday in so many ways, Israel is on our mind.

Today's Update reflects this. There is a story about our ongoing activities to help Israel economically and strengthen the relationship between Birmingham and Israel, and a story about a great opportunity for our community to see the play "Golda's Balcony" in Atlanta.

As we enter the new year, we remain deeply proud of Israel and all of the work that The BJF does on behalf of the Jewish state. We also remain deeply concerned about Israel's difficulties and dilemmas. What we can promise is that strengthening, explaining and supporting Israel will remain central parts of our BJF mission.

As always, we thank those who contribute to our BJF campaign. Your dollars provide the staffing, organizational structure and funding that allow us to do this important work.

By Joyce Spielberger, BJF

One of the things we do best at The Birmingham Jewish Federation is connect people.

In my 10 years working for The BJF, I have had the opportunity to meet many people, in Birmingham and beyond. What is most exciting is when we connect "like minded" people and, in so doing, further our BJF mission -- especially our efforts to help strengthen the US-Israel relationship.

This was the case recently when I accompanied a delegation from the Consulate for Economic Affairs for the State of Israel that came to Birmingham. The delegation's purpose was to make connections in order to develop economic partnerships between Birmingham and Israeli companies.

The delegation included Roee Madai and Jennifer Raskas from the Israeli Consulate for Economic Affairs, based in Houston, Texas; Opher Aviran, Israeli Consul General to the Southeast, who is based in Atlanta, and Harold Hershberg, the Consulate's Director of Economic and Trade Affairs.

Scotty Colson, a member of Birmingham Mayor William Bell's staff, who works in the area of economic development; Diane Weiner, a Birmingham Jewish community member and board member of the American Israel Chamber of Commerce, and I joined the delegation.

"POWER BREAKFAST"

Scotty, Diane and I helped arrange the day's meetings beginning with breakfast with Ken Novak, Vice President for Economic and Community Development for Alabama Power. Ken, who has visited Israel, recognizes the need to share best practices with Israel as global needs for innovation in renewable energy and energy efficiency grow. The meeting gave new meaning to the word "power breakfast."

From there, the delegation spent time with five professionals from the Birmingham Business Alliance Economic Development office. Patrick Murphy, Senior Vice President, gave the delegation a comprehensive overview of the Birmingham business landscape, past and present.

Again, ideas were tossed around, key information shared and more connections were made. The BBA had just hired a Vice President for Innovation and Technology -- Steve Ceulemans -- and it was evident that the Israeli Economic Affairs office can be a great resource for him as well.

VISION & ENERGY

The University of Alabama at Birmingham's name consistently came up in all of our meetings. UAB is not only Birmingham's largest employer but also one of the country's leading medical research institutions.

Lunch with Dennis Leonard, a private consultant who works closely with UAB in the area of innovation and technology, took the group's new found connections to the next level. Dennis, who just finished reading Start Up Nation, which chronicles Israeli innovation, is a man of vision and energy, similar to the Israelis described in the book.

There was not enough time at the lunch table to get through all the ideas and information the group shared. I spoke to Dennis again after lunch and plans were already in the works for follow up on the ideas discussed.

It was an energizing day and I was thrilled that the meetings were meaningful for all. Although I can't tell the difference between a volt and a watt, I could tell that the right people had come to the table and the exchange of ideas and excitement created "sparks."

This is the thrilling work of The BJF; connecting people in ways that not only strengthen our Birmingham community but the Israel-US relationship as well.

Pictured is Roee Madai, of the Israeli Consulate for Economic Affairs, talking with Patrick Murphy, Senior VP for Economic Development of the Birmingham Business Alliance. With his back to the camera is the Israeli Consul General for the Southeast, Opher Aviran.

The Birmingham Jewish Federation has received a special invitation from the Atlanta Jewish community. On Sunday, Oct. 16, the Alliance Theater in partnership with the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival and the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast will host a special night of film and theater.

The evening will begin at 6:30 pm in the Rich Auditorium of the Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center with Rabbi Bradley Levenberg, who will unveil the slate of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival with trailers and film clips. The annual Jewish Film Festival will be February 8-29, 2012 at selected Atlanta theaters.

At 7:30 pm celebrated stage star Tova Feldshuh will reprise her Broadway performance as Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir in "Golda's Balcony." The play follows the life of Golda Meir -- from Russian immigrant to American schoolteacher to the epicenter of international politics as the fourth Prime Minister of Israel. Consulate General to the Southeast Opher Aviran will give the opening welcome.

Through this special invitation, tickets have been discounted by 25% for people from Birmingham who would like to attend. To make reservations, please click below or call 404-733-5000. To receive the discount, use the promo code AJFF25 at checkout.

If you are interested in attending, please email BJF Projects Assistant Samantha Dubrinsky at samd@bjf.org by 5 pm Tuesday, Oct. 11th. The BJF will be happy to connect those interested in attending if they would like to coordinate the trip to Atlanta.

Photo is of Tovah Feldshuh in "Golda's Balcony."