This week in Israel was truly jam-packed and deeply meaningful. It began Sunday night with the great honor of welcoming a delegation from Newsmax, led by my good friend, CEO Chris Ruddy. In partnership with the Foreign Ministry and the New Jersey Orthodox Chamber of Commerce, Chris brought over 60 journalists to experience Israel in person. This trip had originally been scheduled for July, but due to the war, it had to be postponed and I was determined to make sure their arrival this time was something special.
We started with cocktails on the AISH rooftop overlooking the Old City, followed by dinner. MK Boaz Bismuth, a dear friend of AISH, joined us and engaged the group in an off-the-record conversation about the war, the situation in Israel, and his personal insights. Rabbi Daniel Rowe shared about the Jewish historical significance and connection to the Kotel, as well as the history of the religious sites visible from our rooftop with the Newsmax delegation, and I had the privilege of addressing the group before dinner began.
Boaz’s talk sparked a lively give-and-take with the journalists, who asked thoughtful, and sometimes tough, questions. It was exactly the kind of honest dialogue that deepens understanding. It was truly an honor for AISH to host such a group.
Over the following days, these 60 media figures traveled south to witness the devastation of October 7th with their own eyes. They visited the site of the Nova Music Festival, saw the burnt cars, and walked among the remnants of that horrific day. Several anchors, many of whom I know personally from being on their shows, told me how profoundly this experience impacted them. There is something very different about reading about tragedy from a distance and standing in the place where it happened. It was clear this trip gave them a perspective they will carry into their reporting.
On Wednesday night, Newsmax hosted a major gala at the Waldorf Astoria in Jerusalem. It was attended by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Ambassador Mike Huckabee, and many prominent figures from both the U.S. and Israeli governments. I was honored to open the evening with a prayer, blessing all those in attendance, and speaking about the moral compass the Jewish people have always provided the world.
I referenced King Solomon, whose unparalleled wisdom was only as valuable as his ability to apply it with moral clarity, something we see is sorely lacking in much of today’s world. I tied this to the way the Jewish people are treated globally and the urgent need for moral clarity in responding to antisemitism.
Chris Ruddy has been a true friend of the Jewish people for decades. Though not Jewish himself, as a college student, he took a summer off to study at Hebrew University. At the gala, he even had his professor from those days join him, a touching moment that showed the lasting impact of those early connections. We also heard from Professor Alan Dershowitz, who spoke powerfully about the challenges facing Israel and the Jewish people today. It was moving to see so much of the AISH staff at the gala as well, standing proudly in support of Israel and our mission.
In the midst of all of this, there was another major milestone I am excited to share. Many of you know that during the last World Zionist Congress elections, we launched our own party AISH HA’AM. We set out to do something different: to engage young people, influencers, Jewish education for all, and leaders from across the Jewish world who might otherwise have been left out of the process. We succeeded in building the largest slate of university students, the largest number of influencers, and an incredibly diverse representation of Jewish voices. We worked tirelessly to get the vote out, reaching communities that had not participated before, and I could not be prouder of the effort we all put in.
From the beginning, I told everyone that once the voting in America concluded, we would begin building coalitions. Unity has been at the heart of AISH HA’AM’s mission from day one. Before the election results were even announced, I wrote in the Jerusalem Post that we would meet with people from across the political and ideological spectrum, anyone who shared our core values: Jewish unity, education for unaffiliated Jews, support for Israel, and the fight against antisemitism. This week, I am proud to tell you that we signed our first coalition agreement.
That agreement is with the New Hope party, led by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. Sitting together in the Foreign Ministry with Minister Sa’ar and MK Ze’ev Elkin, Minister in the Ministry of Finance, responsible for the rehabilitation of the South and the North, and AISH staff members Head of Marketing Aryeh Deverett, Director of PR and Communications Raphael Poch, and Deputy Government Liaison Officer Zev Eretz was a powerful experience. We spoke at length about the values that drive AISH, educating Jews who have no understanding of their heritage, approaching others with love and respect, and taking responsibility for the future of the Jewish people. I was struck by how deeply they cared about Diaspora Jewry and about standing up to antisemitism worldwide. We now have five seats in the World Zionist Congress; they have eight, and together we are a coalition of 13, stronger and more capable of advancing our shared mission.
The foundation of this merger and strategic alliance rests on four key principles that were jointly endorsed by both parties and that will guide the work of the new faction :
- Rejecting left-right political divisions and striving for broad unity in support of Diaspora initiatives.
- Building bridges with other WZC parties, having already identified common ground with many of them through recent outreach.
- Working as a single united faction under Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s leadership to advance Zionist projects in the Diaspora — focusing on public diplomacy for Israel, Jewish education with an emphasis on youth and students on campus, and combating antisemitism.
- Encouraging other parties from across the political spectrum to join forces in pursuit of these shared goals.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge Rabbi Elliot Mathias, who has been the heart and soul of AISH HA’AM from the beginning. His leadership, dedication, and passion made this movement possible. This week, he and his family are making Aliyah, and he will continue his work for AISH from Israel itself. It is a beautiful example of living the values we talk about.
As I reflect on this week, from hosting non-Jewish friends like Chris Ruddy and Ambassador Huckabee who stand firmly with Israel, to partnering with Israeli leaders like Gideon Sa’ar and Ze’ev Elkin who share our vision, I am reminded that our strength as a people comes from the alliances we build. We must always embrace and celebrate those who stand with us, Jewish or not, and continue to seek partners who will help us build a stronger, more united Jewish nation.
This coalition with New Hope is just the beginning. As I wrote in my op-ed, we will continue to meet with anyone and everyone who shares our commitment to unity and the Jewish future. I am grateful beyond words to the AISH community for your constant support of our mission. Together, we are making an impact — in Israel, in the Diaspora, and on the world stage.
May God bless Israel.
May God bless America.
May God bless the AISH community.
And may God bless our new partnership with the New Hope party as we work together to bring light, unity, and moral clarity to the Jewish people and the world.
