This past week was profoundly momentous in so many ways. There are moments that stand out in history. Moments when everything shifts. Moments that remind us that we are not alone in our mission. This was one of those moments.
We are incredibly thankful to the United States of America for standing with Israel to ensure that the tyrannical regime that governs Iran would not achieve nuclear capability. The importance of this cannot be overstated. It is not just a political act. It is not merely a strategic win. It is a defense of goodness, of morality, and of decency in the world. It is a statement that evil will not be allowed to prosper in silence.
This partnership was especially powerful for us as Jews, because we know what it means to stand alone. In 1981, Israel struck Iraq’s nuclear facility under Saddam Hussein. The entire world condemned us. Even America. Yet, that act was necessary. That act saved millions of lives. In 2007, Israel bombed the Syrian nuclear plant to prevent the Assad regime from achieving nuclear capabilities. Again, we acted alone. Again, we were scorned.
This time was different. This time, the United States stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel. This time, we were not alone. This time, the greatest democracy in the world said to the Jewish people, we have your back. We are forever thankful.
Our hearts were filled with hope. We felt a new dawn. Yet, as always, the Jewish story is layered with joy and pain all at once. Just days later, our hearts were shattered by the brutal killing of seven Israeli soldiers, all traveling in one military vehicle. One moment we were rejoicing in the success of a critical mission, and the next we were mourning more precious lives lost. There is no greater pain than the pain of a grieving nation. We still have hostages in Gaza. We still have soldiers in Gaza. We still have mothers and fathers praying for their sons to return. We cannot look away.
So even as we celebrate a victory on one front, we must storm the gates of Heaven and continue to beg God for peace, for safety, for the return of all our captives, for the protection of every single soldier. We must remember that no matter how advanced our technology, no matter how wise our generals, it is ultimately Hashem who watches over His people. It is the Almighty who delivered this miracle.
Across Israel, the morning after the bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites, people said Hallel. From north to south, east to west, the Jewish people stood together and sang praises to the Almighty. We gave thanks not to missiles or pilots or allies, but to the God of Israel who never sleeps, never slumbers, never turns away from His children. It was a profoundly spiritual moment, a reminder of who we are and whose we are.
This week is especially emotional for me personally. I am marking ten years as the CEO of Aish. That is ten years of working every single day with the greatest team in the world. Ten years of dedicating myself completely to the future of the Jewish people. Ten years of building, dreaming, believing.
I have worked in the Jewish world for over thirty-five years. I have worn many hats. I have been blessed with opportunities around the globe. But taking the helm at Aish was the pinnacle. It has been the honor of a lifetime. When I came to Aish, I was new. I did not grow up in this movement. I had to learn every corner of the organization, every piece of history, every lesson Rabbi Noach Weinberg left behind. I dove deep into the walls of the Old City, into the heart of our students, into the soul of our mission. What I found was an extraordinary movement that had been waiting to reawaken.
From the very beginning, I was determined that Aish would be an organization you could all be proud of. That is why I write “Dear Aish Family” every single week. Because that is what we are. We are not just a team, not just supporters, not just students. We are a family. One people. One heart. One mission.
I am so proud of what we have accomplished. Our Yeshiva and Seminary have grown to be world-class institutions. We are now the second-largest overseas program in all of Israel. More than that, we are a center of Torah learning that changes lives. Our students go on to lead, to teach, to advocate, to transform the world.
Just this week, I returned to the States to raise funds for the Suzana and Ivan Kaufman Aish Institute for Women’s Education, in our magnificent, new seminary building. I traveled through Egypt, through Sharm El Sheikh, across the desert, and back to America. I met with a supporter and showed them a short video of our construction progress. The video was produced by Jamie Geller and beautifully captures the spirit of what we are building. The person began to cry. They told me that in these dark times, seeing us build a sanctuary for young women in the heart of Jerusalem was a ray of light. It moved them. It moved me too.
Ten years ago, in my first year, one of our Rebbeim was murdered in a terrorist attack. We have seen tragedy. We have endured a pandemic. We have been tested by war. But we never stopped. We never slowed. We kept moving forward.
Five years ago, we launched our ambitious AISHVision2030. We aimed to build relationships with three million Jews. Today, we have surpassed that goal. Millions of Jews have encountered Torah through Aish. They have studied. They have learned. They have connected.
We are now working on deepening that connection. We are preparing for a monumental summer. We are going to roll out a brand new academic-level Torah learning experience on social media. The Jewish world has never seen anything like it. It will be engaging. It will be meaningful. It will be transformative. Because we must meet every Jew where they are and we must give them the tools to come home.
We have watched in horror as so many young Jews have turned against Israel. They march with our enemies. They chant against our existence. They do not know their history. They do not know their heritage. That is why our mission has never been more urgent. That is why we must reach every Jew in the world. Every single one.
That is why our core values matter more than ever. Wisdom. Love. Responsibility. We must bring Jewish wisdom to every Jew. We must love every Jew unconditionally. We must take responsibility for the Jewish people in every way. Physically. Emotionally. Spiritually. This is not optional. This is who we are.
There have been so many milestones in the last ten years. We have made Torah a priority at the highest levels. We launched Aish Ha’am as a political party in the World Zionist Congress, ensuring that Aish has a voice in the parliament of the Jewish people. We have met with leaders in Washington and in Jerusalem.
Through it all, it has been a privilege to work alongside so many extraordinary people. I want to thank the Aish Board, especially the Vaad (Executive Board) comprised of my partners, Stuart Hytman, Louis Mayberg, and Jake Aronoff, who have walked with me every step of the way. I want to thank every donor, every student, every supporter, every partner who believes in this mission.
As I reach this ten-year milestone, I am thinking about the future. I am reflecting on the path ahead. I hope and pray that God will grant me many more years to serve His children. I think often about the words of Simon Wiesenthal. “When my life is over and I meet up with the victims of the Holocaust, I shall have the privilege of saying to them, I have never forgotten you.” That is my dream. That is my promise. I will never forget any Jew. I will never stop seeking them. I will never stop loving them because we are family.
Family cares for each other. Family protects each other. Family lifts each other up.
Thank you for letting me be part of the greatest Jewish organization in the world. Thank you for letting me into your hearts. Together, we will continue to build. We will continue to shine. We will be the light unto the nations. We will bring the world back to God. And we will one day welcome the Mashiach in Jerusalem and rebuild the Beit HaMikdash, speedily in our days.
