Neighbor News
Living and Traveling In North Africa & Middle East As An American Jew
April 29's Friday Night Speaker Series Welcomes Back Global Businessman And Former Congregant Jerry Sorkin
Congregation Or Shalom’s Friday Night Speakers Series has been a lively one this year with appearances by lawmakers and diplomats. Next up is one of our own – former congregant Jerry Sorkin. The global businessman and consultant has moved back to the Philadelphia region with plenty of stories to tell!
Congregants may recall Jerry from his store, J. M. SORKIN, on Lancaster Avenue. For more than two decades, he operated his Main Line store where he sold Oriental rugs and furniture from around the world. He also delighted Mainliners with his public forums or concerts that brought political speakers and musicians from the Middle East and North Africa.
He returns to Or Shalom on Friday night, April 29 to shares his impressions of what it has been like living and traveling in these regions as an American Jew.
Find out what's happening in Tredyffrin-Easttownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Jerry has been traveling throughout the Middle East and North Africa for more than three decades, and living in the Arab world the last six years. His travels are constant throughout the region, including Iran. His activities have involved tourism, organizing special delegations, serving as a consultant to organizations such as The World Bank and the European Union and simply the joy of travel.
In fact, In December 2015, Conde Nast Traveler magazine named him one of their Top Travel Specialists. If you are considering a trip abroad you are in luck as he is now the Director of Marketing and Product Development for the Gil Travel Group.
Find out what's happening in Tredyffrin-Easttownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Stereotypes and misunderstandings of others often come from a lack of communication,” explains the world traveler, “and/or source materials that have their own built in bias. How Jews and Arabs and Jews and Muslim perceive one another is just one example of this.”
Jerry earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and speaks several languages, including Arabic.
With thanks to Lecture Series Chairman Warren Hyams, the Friday night services-with-a speaker begins at 7:30 pm. Jerry will speak around 8:15 pm. Or Shalom's last two intriguing lectures featured Mid-Atlantic Region Deputy Consul General to the Consulate General of Israel Moran Birman and Pennsylvania State Senator Andy Dinniman. The speaker series is free and open to the public.
