1. Nov. 5: “MASHAV-Israel’s Program of Development Assistance to Developing Nations.” Benjamin Krasna, Israel’s Deputy Consul General in NYC. [Please hold for your calendars. Exact time and place is not yet set but will be in early afternoon on the North Campus on Nov. 5.]

Benjamin Krasna joined the Foreign Ministry in 1995. As Deputy Consul General in New York, Israel’s largest mission, he, together with the Consul General, coordinates the political work of the consulate in the

tri state area, developing relations with national, state, and local officials. He also maintains regular contact with those following major foreign policy and strategic issues, including think tanks, and the elite academic institutions. In this capacity he is involved also in furthering ties between the US and Israel on Homeland Security. Krasna was born

in NY, has a BA in Middle Eastern Studies from Rutgers and MA in International Affairs from Johns Hopkins U school of Advanced International Studies. He was posted in Turkey during the big earthquake in 2000 and coordinated

Israel’s rescue and humanitarian efforts there. He has also served in Jordan and the Hague.

2. Nov. 12: 7 PM, “How Mainline Churches View Israel.”Dexter Van Zile, Deacon in the United Church of Christ. 7 PM, JCC Benderson Building, 2640 North Forest Road,

Mr. Van Zile is deacon in the Brighton-Allston Congregational Church in Boston, Massachusetts, and a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ. He is the Christian Media Analyst for the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA). Mr. Van Zile received his M.A. in Political Science/Environmental Studies from Western Washington University and his B.A. in Politics and Government from the University of Puget Sound. In the 1980’s, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Since 2005, Mr. Van Zile has been documenting the manner that mainline Protestant churches have been portraying the Arab-Israeli conflict. He is the author of “Carter’s Faith: Habitat for Hostility,” an article appearing in CAMERA’s recently published monograph “Bearing False Witness.” The chapter details how former President Jimmy Carter has allowed his view of first century Judaism to color his understanding of the modern state of Israel.

In his talk, Mr. Van Zile will address how mainline Protestant churches have remained silent about threats to Israel’s safety while focusing on the force Israel uses to defend itself. The program is sponsored by Greater Buffalo Hadassah, Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo, Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, Buffalo Chapter, Temple Beth El, Temple Shaarey Zedek and Temple Sinai. The program is free and open to the community.