Envisioning A Better Future: A Conversation with Daniel Sokatch, CEO of the New Israel Fund

Monday, June 16, 2025, 7:00 pm

Temple De Hirsch Sinai – Bellevue Campus
3850 156th Ave SE
Bellevue, WA 98006

Co-sponsored by Congregation Beth Shalom, Temple Beth Am, and Temple De Hirsch Sinai

When NIF’s CEO Daniel Sokatch came to Seattle two years ago, Israelis were in the thick of protesting Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul and building Israel’s pro-democracy movement. All of that changed months later on October 7, 2023.

The ongoing crisis since October 7 has tested Israeli society like never before. This is an exceptionally painful time, but the fight for Israel’s threatened democracy is vigorous. On the ground, Israeli social change organizations and activists have been leading the charge to fight extremism, defend civil and human rights, and promote Jewish-Arab partnership. There is an alternative to Netanyahu’s endless war, and civil society is working to offer and unite Israelis around a far-reaching, courageous democratic vision for Israel’s future.

Join us to hear from Daniel Sokatch about the challenges facing Israeli society and how NIF works to chart the course towards a better future for everyone in Israel and under its control.

SPEAKER:

Daniel J. Sokatch is the Chief Executive Officer of the New Israel Fund (NIF), the leading organization committed to equality and democracy for all Israelis. Before joining NIF, Sokatch served as the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. Prior to his tenure at Federation, he served as the founding Executive Director of the Los Angeles based Progressive Jewish Alliance. In recognition of his leadership, Sokatch has been named to the Forward newspaper’s “Forward 50,” an annual list of the fifty leading Jewish decision-makers and opinion-shapers, in 2002, 2005, 2008 and 2010. Daniel has an MA from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, a JD from Boston College Law School, and a BA from Brandeis University. He is married with two daughters and resides in San Francisco.

MODERATOR:

Rabbi Daniel A. Weiner believes passionately in building Judaism for the 21st century and in healing the world through social justice. Temple De Hirsch Sinai, where he serves as the Senior Rabbi, has grown to more than 5000 members and 1,600 families in two campuses in Seattle and Bellevue since he took charge in 2001. He has served congregations in Baltimore, Maryland and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His innovations in worship include producing “rabcasts” on video, streaming services on the internet, and leading a rock band in popular Rock Shabbat services.