Five years ago, I walked into the World Zionist Congress for the first time as a lone delegate. I was not officially representing AISH yet, since we did not have our own slate, but I felt the weight of representing our community, our people, every step of the way. Since then, I have spent years learning the inner workings of the World Zionist Organization and its affiliates, trying to understand how this massive system can unite Jews from across the globe. I spoke to leaders, colleagues, and friends both inside and outside of AISH, about the idea that our movement and our mission needed its own voice at the table. AISH touches millions of Jewish lives every year. It was time for those voices to be heard. That is how Aish Ha’am was born.
I am deeply grateful to Rabbi Elliot Mathias, who led our campaign in the United States with such passion and vision. Thanks to him and to so many of you who stepped forward, we made history by creating a slate that brought the values of AISH to the World Zionist Congress. This week, that dream became a reality as I had the honor of leading our Aish Ha’am delegation to Jerusalem. It was a remarkable experience. Our group was made up of passionate, intelligent, and inspiring individuals, delegates and alternates alike, who represented the best of who we are.
The night before the Congress began, we gathered at AISH, which coincided with another extraordinary event. We were hosting a group of Sheikhs, Imams, and Muslim community leaders from the United States, leaders who stand courageously in support of Israel. One of them, Sheikh Musa Drammeh from New York, shared that he had even received death threats for his stance. That evening, on our rooftop overlooking the Kotel, we broke bread together, shared stories, and built bridges. Later, I spoke with an Imam from Fort Worth, Texas, who told me that at the start of the Gaza war, he had been deeply angry, but after asking questions and learning more, he realized much of what he had been hearing was not accurate. He asked for my number so he could reach out when he wanted to understand the truth. That simple, sincere request moved me profoundly. In a world flooded with misinformation and hostility, real peace begins with honest conversation. That night reminded me that the only way forward is through connection, dialogue, and courage.
The next day, we entered the World Zionist Congress with that same spirit of connection and purpose. Everywhere we went, people recognized AISH. Nearly everyone had been on Aish.com or experienced our programs in some way. The warmth and excitement were overwhelming. Over and over, people asked what Aish Ha’am stood for. I told them what I tell everyone. We are built on three eternal Jewish values: wisdom, love, and responsibility. Our mission at AISH is to deepen Jewish education with Torah, to take responsibility for the global Jewish people, and to do it all through love and unity. That is what we brought to Jerusalem.
I was so proud of our delegation. In every session and every interaction, they represented AISH with integrity, energy, and depth. I want to especially thank Steve Rosedale, who has been a constant advocate for Jewish unity.
I watched with admiration as delegates like Bari Erber took time out of Congress sessions to teach at the Erber Family Gesher program at the Suzana and Ivan Kaufman Aish Institute for Women’s Education, and as others spoke passionately about Jewish responsibility and Torah values.
One moment that stood out was a session on antisemitism, where I sat alongside delegates Ari Ackerman, Shabbos Kestenbaum, and Lizzy Savetsky.
The chair of the committee, from Latin America, paused the discussion to recognize AISH and to thank us for the impact we have had worldwide. I felt immense pride watching our team contribute so meaningfully. Ari, who is one of the owners of the Florida Marlins, spoke powerfully about combating antisemitism online and in sports. Shabbos and Lizzy, two of the first people I called when we were forming our slate, have both become symbols of courage and commitment: Shabbos for his stand against antisemitism at Harvard, and Lizzy for her fearless voice in the social media world. They, and so many others, embody what AISH represents: unapologetic Jewish pride, deep faith, and a modern voice for timeless truths.
Throughout the week, I was struck by how often people came up to us to say that AISH was leading the way in reaching the next generation. They spoke about our technological approach, our embrace of AI, our dynamic presence online, and our vision for the future. I shared with them the exciting plans for Aish University, our accredited online institution that will bring Torah learning to Jews everywhere. With leaders such as Rabbi Daniel Rowe as president and Dr. Akiba Covitz, formerly associate dean of Harvard Law School and a founder of edX, serving as dean, we are building something revolutionary. People around the world want to be part of this family, your family.
All of this fills me with deep pride and even deeper responsibility. The Congress may have ended, yet our work has only begun. Over the next five years, we will expand our reach, grow our numbers, and strengthen our voice. We will build networks of AISH ambassadors in every city across the globe, Jews who embody wisdom, love, and responsibility, who carry the light of Torah and Israel wherever they go. That is how we will shape the future of the Jewish people.
This week’s Torah portion adds even more meaning to what we experienced in Jerusalem. G-d tells Abraham, “Lech Lecha,” to go forth to the Land of Israel. That moment was not only the beginning of Abraham’s journey, it was the beginning of ours. Our connection to Israel runs deep within our very essence. It is not a modern attachment or a recent dream. It is the foundation of who we are as a people. Every step we take in Jerusalem, every conversation we have about the future of the Jewish world, echoes that original divine call to Abraham to come home.
In many of my interviews this week, reporters asked me what role I see AISH playing in the years ahead. I told them something that has been on my heart for a long time. The last time I chaired a committee at the Congress was during the height of the debate over judicial reform in Israel. The division and anger I witnessed were heartbreaking. Then came October 7. Since that day, we have seen what happens when the Jewish people come together. We have seen heroism, unity, and love beyond measure. My fear is that we will lose that unity as time passes, that we will drift back into old divisions. That would be a tragedy. We must fight with everything we have to preserve that sense of shared destiny.
There are always voices trying to divide us, trying to tell us that there are good Jews and bad Jews. This week in New York City, there is a mayoral candidate named Zoran Mamdani who has made statements that I believe are openly antisemitic, framing his hatred as selective, claiming to oppose only Jews who support Israel. That kind of rhetoric is poison. The moment we let anyone separate Jews from Israel or Jews from each other, we begin to unravel as a people. Torah and Israel are inseparable. Our destiny depends on both. When we stand together, we are unstoppable.
I left Jerusalem with renewed faith that AISH will be at the forefront of building that unity. I believe that through wisdom, love, and responsibility, we will strengthen Jewish identity, defend Israel, and bring light into this world. My dream is that one day we will all stand together, every member of the Aish Ha’am family, in a rebuilt Jerusalem, united in purpose and in heart.
