This past week, I had the incredible privilege of getting back on the road, and there’s nothing like it. Being face-to-face with so many of you, sitting down across coffee tables, sharing stories, laughter, concerns, and dreams. It’s the part of this job that always recharges my soul.
I spent time in Florida and Atlanta, two communities that have always had a strong heartbeat when it comes to Jewish life. This time was no different. I had the opportunity to speak to individuals and groups about one of the most exciting chapters in Aish’s recent history: The Suzana and Ivan Kaufman Aish Institute for Women’s Education.
I know sometimes we talk about buildings and programs, and they can sound abstract. But this isn’t abstract. This is real. In September, we will open a brand-new 200-bed facility exclusively focused on elevating women’s Torah learning right in the heart of Jerusalem on King George Street. I don’t mean that figuratively. I mean it literally: Elevating. Lifting. Expanding. Empowering.
So many of you I met on the road shared your passion for this initiative. You can see the vision. You felt it. The Jewish people are stronger when our women are learning, leading, and lighting up the world with Torah. That’s not a slogan. That’s our history and it’s our future.
After these powerful visits, I made my way to Washington. The energy shifted, same mission, different stage. I was honored to spend time at the White House and meet with some of its leaders, particularly Mr. Martin Marx, who is currently serving as the Jewish liaison to the administration. We had an open, heartfelt conversation about Aish and about what it means to reach Jews who often feel left out of the Jewish story.
As we spoke, I found myself thinking deeply about what it means for us to even be in that room, to sit across from policy makers, to have a voice at the table, and to carry with us the voices of millions who came before and millions who will follow.
In the Bible, we read about Yosef HaTzaddik, Joseph the Righteous, being pulled from prison and standing before Pharaoh. In a matter of moments, he goes from prisoner to Prime Minister, from the pit to the palace. But what’s remarkable isn’t just his rise, it’s what he does once he’s there.
Yosef doesn’t blend in. He doesn’t abandon his values. He brings his Torah, his morality, and his clarity with him into the halls of power. He uses his platform to save lives. To prepare for a crisis. To unify a broken region.
Our rabbis teach us that Yosef’s leadership was a blueprint. When Jews serve in positions of influence, we’re not there to assimilate, we’re there to illuminate. To bring conscience, to bring compassion, to bring Kiddush Hashem into every corner of society.
That’s what I felt in Washington. That’s what we spoke about. I was blessed to thank this administration for their decisive actions in stopping the evil Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons, a regime that has declared, openly and repeatedly, its intent to destroy Israel. These are not political statements. These are existential realities. And on behalf of the AISH community, I expressed our deep gratitude for helping protect the Jewish homeland and the Jewish people.
As we spoke, I found myself thinking deeply about what it means for us to even be in that room, to sit across from policy makers, to have a voice at the table, and to carry with us the voices of millions who came before and millions who will follow.
In the Bible, we read about Yosef HaTzaddik, Joseph the Righteous, being pulled from prison and standing before Pharaoh. In a matter of moments, he goes from prisoner to Prime Minister, from the pit to the palace. But what’s remarkable isn’t just his rise, it’s what he does once he’s there.
Yosef doesn’t blend in. He doesn’t abandon his values. He brings his Torah, his morality, and his clarity with him into the halls of power. He uses his platform to save lives. To prepare for a crisis. To unify a broken region.
Our rabbis teach us that Yosef’s leadership was a blueprint. When Jews serve in positions of influence, we’re not there to assimilate, we’re there to illuminate. To bring conscience, to bring compassion, to bring Kiddush Hashem into every corner of society.
That’s what I felt in Washington. That’s what we spoke about. I was blessed to thank this administration for their decisive actions in stopping the evil Iranian regime from acquiring nuclear weapons, a regime that has declared, openly and repeatedly, its intent to destroy Israel. These are not political statements. These are existential realities. And on behalf of the AISH community, I expressed our deep gratitude for helping protect the Jewish homeland and the Jewish people.
It’s not just institutions. It’s people. It’s leaders. It’s values made visible.
These alumni represent everything we teach: the wisdom of our tradition, the love for every Jew and every human being, and the responsibility to take action when something in the world needs repair. We don’t sit on the sidelines. We step up.
This week reminded me again that every conversation matters. Every soul matters. Whether it’s in a Beit Midrash in Jerusalem, a coffee shop in Atlanta, or the West Wing of the White House, our mission is the same: to connect Jews with their heritage, to illuminate the world with Torah, and to ensure that the values of our people continue to shape history.
Thank you to all of you who opened your doors, your hearts, and your minds this week. Thank you for being part of this journey. And thank you for believing that together, we can change the Jewish future.
Wishing you a week of inspiration, strength, and light.
