One of the great privileges of my career has been the opportunity to spend Shabbatot with Jewish communities across North America. This past Shabbat, I traveled with my son, Natan, to Norfolk, Virginia—a city known for hosting the largest naval base in the world and a Jewish community deeply rooted in tradition.
We were warmly hosted by my dear friends Amy and Kevin Lefcoe. Kevin is a candidate on the Aish Ha’am slate, and on Motzei Shabbat (Saturday Night), the Lefcoes graciously hosted an engaging discussion about the upcoming World Zionist Congress elections.
On Friday I had the opportunity to visit the JCC and the local Jewish Federation to see the beautiful unity that exists throughout the community. Over Shabbat, I spoke at B’nai Israel Congregation, where I was welcomed by Rabbi Eisenberg, a true spiritual leader and an incredible host. At the close of Shabbat, my good friend Jordan Slone asked what I thought of the community. The phrase that immediately came to mind was Mivakshei Hashem—“seekers of G-d.” While not everyone praying in shul was on the same level of observance, they all shared a deep desire to grow closer to the Almighty.
In my mind, there is no greater compliment for a community than to be described as growth-oriented. The greatest challenge for any Jew is stagnation. If we aren’t actively moving closer to Hashem each day, we risk moving backward. Norfolk is a beautiful, dynamic community that I encourage anyone seeking a meaningful Jewish experience to visit.
At Aish, we also strive to grow every day. Last week, I shared that Jamie Geller, our Chief Media and Marketing Officer, has transitioned to the role of Chief Communications Officer and Global Spokesperson for Aish.
Shortly after the news was made public we received a call from our friends at the Knesset who said they needed Jamie to testify. As a result, her first assignment was to testify at a hearing at the Knesset’s Committee for Immigration, Absorption, and Diaspora Affairs to discuss the alarming rise in global antisemitism.
Before the hearing, Jamie was interviewed by the Knesset’s social media team, who shared her insights widely. During the session, Aish was invited to speak immediately after the ADL and JFNA. Jamie shared a critical perspective: with 70% of American Jews unaffiliated with any Jewish organization, many feel isolated and unprepared to face antisemitism. This isolation has led to a troubling trend of young Jews hiding their Jewish identity, particularly on university campuses.
Thanks to Aish’s new initiative, University Students United Against Antisemitism, sponsored by Cross River Bank, we are reaching young Jews at a pivotal moment. Our message is clear: Jews must understand why they are Jewish to find the strength to stand proud in the face of adversity.
The feedback was overwhelming. Many speakers at the hearing quoted Jamie, including MK Amichai Chikli, the Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, who emphasized the centrality of Jewish education in fighting antisemitism. Aish’s voice brought a fresh, much-needed perspective to the proceedings.
Later, at the Voices of Iron award ceremony, chaired by Aish alumnus MK Dan Illouz, Aish Ha’am candidates Shabbos Kestenbaum and Elizabeth ‘Lizzy’ Savetsky were honored for their tireless work combating antisemitism on campus and online. Both exemplify what it means to lead with passion and purpose. That is why they are at the top of our Aish Ha’am slate of candidates. I urge you to visit aish.com/vote to pre-register for the upcoming World Zionist Congress elections.
At Aish, we refuse to stand still. Like the community in Norfolk, we are growth-oriented every single day. Every staff member at Aish enters the Dan Family Aish World Center with one goal: to do more today than we did yesterday.
One of our core values is responsibility. We are responsible for bringing Jewish wisdom to every Jew in the world. Every Jew. No matter where they are, no one gets left behind. Every Jew is precious—a child of the Almighty, our brother or sister.
This is the mission of Aish. This is our mandate. With love as our foundation, we are spreading Judaism’s timeless wisdom to every corner of the globe. The enemies of the Jewish people are fueled by hatred, but we know that love—love for our people, for Torah, and for Hashem—is infinitely stronger.
Join us. Visit aish.com/vote and become part of the movement that is reigniting the flame of Judaism in every Jewish heart.
