On Thursday, September 6, 2012, the Jewish Federation’s Combined Jewish Appeal, Community Relations and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs are hosting a special guest to Winnipeg: Dr. Jonathan Fine. He will present a comparative analysis of Holy War in Judaism, Christianity and Islam during a public lecture at 7:00 pm in the Berney theatre of the Asper Jewish Community Campus.

Dr. Jonathan Fine is the undergraduate advisor of both the international program in Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy at the Raphael Recanati International School and the Lauder Government School at the IDC the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzlyia, Israel. He is also a researcher at the ICT - The International Institute for Counter Terrorism. Dr. Fine was recently appointed as the academic advisor to the joint program between the IDC and the Maxwell Government School at the University of Syracuse USA. He is a member of the International Counter-Terrorism Academic Community and the The International Center for Study of Radicalization and Political Violence in Kings College, London. Dr. Fine is also a former advisor on arms control and conflict resolution at the IDF strategic division planning branch. He often lectures Elite IDF units and courses such as the IDF air force pilot course, naval officer course, IDF Commando units, and the IDF Tactical Command College.

 Dr. Fine received his PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and is a graduate of the Executive Course in Counter Terrorism at the ICT, and the special program in Intelligence Services and International Security sponsored by the University of Cartagena in Spain. In 2006 he was also ordained as Conservative Rabbi at the Solomon Schechter School for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. He has a wide background in History, Comparative Religion, Political Science and International Relations, and specializes in comparative politics with special emphasis on the transition from secular agenda political violence to religious agenda political violence, focusing on both global and regional perspectives, with special emphasis on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and their concept of Holy War. He is also an expert on the Middle East and Israeli Studies, with special emphasis on US and EU policies in the region, arms control, and the transition from colonial rule to independence, focusing on government structures on a comparative regional level.

 Dr. Fine published in numerous academic journals such as the Middle East Quarterly in Washington and Middle Eastern Studies in London and has several chapters in books, both in Israel and abroad. His first book dealt with the establishment of the Israeli governmental system, and its English version, entitled The Israeli Governmental System: the Establishment of a Sovereign State, 1947 – 1951, is forthcoming at the State University of New York – SUNY Press. Another book which is forthcoming in the Texas University Press at Austin is titled: "Holy War in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – a Comparative Analysis: Past & Present ".

 Dr. Fine has been a visiting Professor to both, academic and government agencies around the world on behalf of the IDC and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in The US, Europe, Latin America, The Russian Federation, and South Africa, where he was also interviewed by the local media. Among other places, he has lectured at Georgetown University Edmund A. Walsh School for Foreign Service in Washington D.C., Chicago University Harris School of Government, Minnesota University's Hubert Humphrey Institute for Public affairs, Layola University - Chicago, The Sam Nunn School for International Affairs, Georgia, the Universities of Calgary, Carlton, and Queens in Canada, the University of Leipzig in Germany, the Universidad Pontifica Cartagena and Universidad Pontifica Comillas in Spain, ITAM University in Mexico, and the universities of Belgrano, UADE, and Cordoba, in Argentina.

 Between the years 2009 – 2011 he lectured at the following Government and Academic Canadian institutes on the Middle East, Terrorism & Counter Terrorism: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Parliament, Department of National Defense, Department of National Defense & Research, Public Safety Canada, Privy Council Office (Prime Ministers Advisors on The Middle East and Terrorism), Carlton University (Ottawa), Queens University, Calgary University, and The Royal Canadian Military Center (the Mackenzie Institute).

We are delighted to host Dr. Fine for what will undoubtedly be a remarkable community event.