Israeli Americans proud one of their own named ambassador to U.S.

Ha'aretz ^ | 08/05/2009 | Raphael Ahren

[forkinsocket]

Some call him the new Moshe Arens, others compare him to Benjamin Netanyahu - either way Michael Oren has become one of Israel's most prominent English speakers since being named the new ambassador to the United States this week. While many in the local Anglo community celebrated their fellow immigrant's success, friends and companions reminisced this week about different aspects of the eclectic scholar-turned-diplomat's personality.

Jewish Agency spokesman Michael Jankelowitz met him in the early 1980s, while Oren was working on his Ph.D. at Princeton University. Jankelowitz, who was an emissary for American campus activity at the time, says Oren often addressed large groups of students. "He was extremely popular and quickly became a pied piper," recalls the South African-born Jankelowitz. He points out that while Oren's affiliation with the Shalem Center identifies him with the political right, he once worked for Labor politician Shimon Sheetrit. "Oren is not a political animal," he adds. "He has views, but he is not the hack of any political party, and that's why he'll succeed in Washington."

Daniel Polisar, the New Jersey-born president of the Shalem Center, a Jerusalem think tank where until this week Oren, 54, served as senior fellow, says he does not know what it takes to be an ambassador. "But what really sets Michael apart from a lot of scholars and public figures I've met is that he has a tremendous liking for people," says Polisar. "I know many good scholars and speakers, but they don't have a natural connection with the people. Whether you are watching him interact with his assistant, whether he speaks to people who come up to him after a talk - he's just a natural people person."

[forkinsocket]

.

[kenavi]

Israel hasn’t had a great spokesman here since Abba Eban.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

[BARLF]

Michael Oren