More than 300 philanthropists from across the globe gathered for the 2007 JFN International Conference in Atlanta from March 18th to 20th, joining together to discuss the theme: "Circles of Commitment - Is Passion the New Obligation?"

The conference was held at Atlanta's Intercontinental Buckhead, where participants heard from such leading thinkers and philanthropists as James Wolfensohn, former president of the World Bank; Raya Strauss Bendror, president and co-owner of the Strauss Investment Company and co-owner of Strauss-Elite Group; Professor Leon Botstein, president of Bard College; Charles Bronfman of the Andrea and Charles Bronfman Philanthropies; and Professor Amitai Etzioni, founder of the Communitarian Network.

Conference participants grappled with the question of Jewish obligation in a world where Jewish identity is becoming increasingly diverse. In such a rapidly changing environment, how are commitments to being Jewish—and giving Jewish—formed? Is there a new or emerging concept of peoplehood that can bind together the patchwork quilt of contemporary Jewish identity? What effect does that diversity of identities, and the motivations and commitments that flow from it, have on the collective Jewish future? In a globally networked and connected world, how is the Jewish whole affected by the increasing diversity of its parts? Where does that connectivity lead us?

We encourage you to click on the links to the right for access to the text of JFN President Mark Charendoff's address to the 2007 JFN Conference, audio recordings of conference sessions, and complete media coverage of the conference proceedings. Be sure to check back for further updates, including video of the conference plenary sessions and information about our upcoming 2008 JFN International conference in Israel.