This year’s General Assembly (GA), the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) national conference, will be held in Washington, D.C. from Nov. 8-10. The theme is “Think forward.” More than 30 members of the Chicago Jewish community will be attending and leading sessions. Former Board member Michele Sackheim Wein is chairing JUF’s delegation from Chicago.

Speakers will include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ambassador Dennis Ross, former Congressman Barney Frank, members of the Israeli Knesset and Canadian Parliament, former NBC moderator David Gregory, and actress Debra Messing. The Emmy-winning star of Will & Grace , she now stars in The Mysteries of Laura .

One of the breakout speakers this year will be David Brown. Now JFNA’s Chair of Global Operations: Israel & Overseas, Brown is on the JUF Board and its immediate past chairman. An attorney, Brown is chairman of the Chicago-based law firm Much Shelist, P.C. He also just completed his eleventh Chicago Marathon, running this time on behalf of JUF. His topic: ” Outside Your Backyard: Domestic Advocacy, Overseas Initiatives and Your Campaign .”

Also from Chicago is the GA’s co-chairman, Alan Solow, a member of JUF’s Board of Directors. JUF’s Senior Planning Advisor Peter Friedman and David Prystowsky, JUF Vice President, Campaign, will be presenting as well. Amy Kirsch and Michael Teplitsky will be recognized for receiving the Davis, Gidwitz & Glasser Young Leadership Award for lay leaders under 40, which they were given at the JUF Annual Meeting in September.

Registration is $499 for general admission, $399 for Jewish communal professionals. To register, visit generalassembly.org .