Congregation Ohav Shalom welcomes members of the congregation and the greater Capital District Jewish community to hear local scholar and security expert Dr. Victor Asal address attendees after Shabbat services on Saturday, March 23, 2019. The lecture will be followed by a question/answer session and group discussion, and will begin at 12:30 PM.
A widely recognized leader in the field of public policy, Asal will speak to attendees about issues surrounding democracy in Israel. He has been a guest speaker at Ohav Shalom on several occasions.
“It is a pleasure to welcome back Dr. Asal,” says Rabbi Rena Kieval. “We live in a time of constant change and uncertainty, in Israel and in many parts of the world. Dr. Asal’s expertise and field of knowledge offers the insight we’re all seeking.”
Asal is a political science professor at the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College, as well as chair of the public administration department. His coursework is focused on world and comparative politics, political violence and oppression, negotiation and research design. Asal’s research centers, in part, on state supported political discrimination against sexual minorities, women and ethnic groups, as well as the impact of nuclear proliferation. His has worked with the Department of Homeland Security and National Science Foundation, and has served as a negotiation trainer in a variety of academic, governmental and military settings.
“As American Jews and Zionists, Israel is never far from our hearts,” says Rabbi Dan Ornstein.”We are very lucky to have someone of Dr. Asal’s stature keep us updated on the status of democracy in the Jewish state.”
