At the same time, honesty matters. The past few months have been challenging.
Israel’s economy has shown remarkable strength through incredibly turbulent times. Real estate continues to climb. Markets remain strong. The shekel has surged to historic levels against the dollar. That strength, while a national blessing, creates real pressure for organizations like ours. We raise funds in dollars and operate in shekels. When the exchange rate shifts from 3.7 to 2.9, the impact is dramatic. Every tenth of a point affects our budget by approximately $500,000.
Those financial pressures have been compounded by ongoing travel challenges and the natural strain that comes after a decade of unprecedented growth, including the expansion into our beautiful women’s seminary building on King George Street. These realities have required us to pause, reassess, and realign. We have taken a hard look at priorities and budgets, always with one goal in mind: to remain absolutely faithful to our mission.
Gratitude has never felt more real. Our staff has responded with dedication that is nothing short of inspiring. Our board has shown strength and clarity at every turn. The commitment across the organization has only deepened.
Everywhere I go, I am reminded why this work matters. It is almost impossible to meet a Jew today who has not encountered Aish in some way. That connection might come through social media, through Aish.com, or through a visit to our center in Jerusalem. Our responsibility is to be there for every Jew, to educate, to inspire, and to uplift.
There is also so much to be excited about.
This summer will mark a major step forward with the launch of Aish University. We are building a powerful AI-driven learning platform that will transform how people engage with Torah. Classes will adapt to the individual, shaped by a person’s background, interests, and level of knowledge. Content will be available in languages we have never been able to reach before, opening doors to communities across the globe. We are already beta testing, and what we are seeing is extraordinary.
At the same time, our expansion into podcasts and digital media continues to gain momentum. Rabbi Rowe’s “Rabbi Rowe Reacts” is reaching audiences in remarkable ways.
Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen, Jamie Geller, and others are producing content that is engaging, thoughtful, and impactful. Our new studio is alive with creativity and purpose.
The yeshiva and seminary remain our crown jewel. Young men and women continue to come, learn, and leave transformed, ready to change the world. Our core values guide everything we do: wisdom, love, and responsibility. Wisdom must be accessible to every Jew. Love must define how we treat one another. Responsibility must compel us to act.
These months have not been easy. The financial pressures are real. The adjustments are ongoing. Every day, however, begins with a sense of purpose and a commitment to continue building what has been built for over half a century.
I want to thank each of you. Your support sustains this work. Your partnership makes everything possible. Anyone who feels moved to deepen that support at this time would be helping us meet very real challenges, and that partnership is deeply appreciated.
This email goes directly to me. There are no layers, no filters. I value the messages, the feedback, and the conversations that come from it. I am accessible, and I treasure that connection with all of you.
This week, I had the privilege of attending the JEIC conference in Atlanta. It is one of the most inspiring gatherings in Jewish education. The work being done in day schools is critical to the future of our people. The vision of the Mayberg Foundation, now partnered with the Aronov Foundation, continues to shape that future in profound ways.
Manette Mayberg delivered a keynote that was deeply moving. One line stayed with me: “Every student should graduate with an A-plus relationship with G-d.” That idea captures something essential. Jewish education cannot be reduced to information or performance. Torah and mitzvot are a means to an end. The end is a relationship with God. When that connection is missing, something fundamental is lost.
There is a growing challenge, even within deeply committed communities, where observance exists without connection. People may keep Shabbat and kosher as part of their environment, yet feel distant from G-d. That gap must be addressed. It must be spoken about openly. It must be at the center of our efforts.
Education, at its core, is about connection.
The conference also honored JEIC Managing Director Sharon Freundel as she retires after years of extraordinary leadership. The gratitude expressed was powerful. Teachers shape lives in ways that cannot always be measured in the moment. My wife, Rachel, spent decades teaching first grade, and to this day, adult former students approach her to share how she impacted them. Teaching is one of the highest callings a person can have.
Rabbi Weinberg taught that the moment you learn Aleph, you must teach Aleph. The moment you learn Bet, you must teach Bet. Every Jew is a teacher. Every conversation is an opportunity. Every interaction carries the potential to bring someone closer.
That spirit was embodied by longtime Aish community member Mr. Dick Horowitz, who would meet Jews on airplanes, build relationships, and guide them toward deeper connection. He did not wait for people to come to him. He went to them. That is the Aish way.
The conference also placed a strong focus on artificial intelligence. The technology is here, and it will shape the future. Torah does not change. The way we deliver it must evolve. Meeting people where they are has always been our approach. That is why we are on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The message must reach people in the language and format they understand.
Aish does not wait for Jews to come to us. Aish goes to where Jews are. That commitment defines who we are and who we will continue to be.
The challenges are real. The mission is stronger.
Thank you for walking this journey with us. Thank you for believing in what we are building together.
