By Carl Zebrowski
Editor

Retired Israel Defense Forces lieutenant colonel Jonathan Conricus will be visiting the Lehigh Valley from Israel on the evening of September 10 to speak to our community about his experiences as the IDF’s international spokesperson during the war with Hamas and his firsthand knowledge of how antisemitism influences war reporting.

An Evening with Jonathan Conricus is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and StandWithUs, an international nonprofit supporting Israel and fighting antisemitism. The evening, at Temple Beth El, will kick off the Federation’s 2025 Annual Campaign for Jewish Needs with a VIP reception for major donors at 5:30 p.m. The event will then open up for a dessert reception for everyone in our community at 7:00 p.m. who has donated at least $365 to the 2025 campaign (the NextGen minimum is $180). Conricus will speak at 7:15 p.m.

Jeri Zimmerman, executive director of the Jewish Federation, said, “We are privileged to host Jonathan Conricus, and we look forward to hearing his analysis and ‘insider’ briefing on the current situation in Israel.”

Conricus served in the IDF for 24 years as a combat commander in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, military diplomat, foreign relations expert, and spokesperson. In his most recent role, as the IDF’s international spokesperson, he directed the IDF’s global media efforts in traditional and social media.

He has delivered hundreds of security and strategic briefings from various locations along and beyond Israel’s borders to foreign groups and dignitaries, ranging from heads of state and military professionals to students and civic groups. He’s known for his ability to tell a complex story simply, using scenery as props, and leaving his audience with a compelling package of information to remember and act on.

Conricus said he has dedicated his whole professional life to representing the State of Israel to the world and defending its name. And he can do all this in five different languages—native in Hebrew, English, and Swedish, and intermediate in German and Arabic.

Visit the event page for information updates and a registration link. We hope to see you there!