From the CEO

As Hanukkah approaches this Sunday night, I find myself entering another round of conversations with the media, both Jewish and non-Jewish. Journalists, podcasters, influencers, traditional outlets, digital creators. They all want to understand Hanukkah.

This past week, we experienced one of our most innovative programs and I was blessed to participate in it. The program was Mominary (also known as AISH Ignite).

The week began with conversations with leaders of the Hesder community, of which AISH is a proud member. It continued with time spent with our dedicated staff and passionate students. It concluded with AISH and AISH Ha’am taking on a significant role within the WZO.

My journey began last Friday night in Bergenfield, New Jersey, where I had the great honor of attending an alumni Shabbaton of the Young Women’s Erber Family Gesher educational program. We are now in our fourth year of this remarkable initiative, and we have been privileged to witness the emergence of so many outstanding young women who carry the values of AISH into their lives and communities.

I encourage every one of you to find a Jew you do not know and invite them for Shabbos. The Shabbos Project, which was created by one of the most loving Jews in the world, the Chief Rabbi of South Africa, Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein, was celebrated last week and reminded us of the beauty of reaching beyond our usual circles.

One of the amazing things about Rabbi May is that he truly espouses all three of the core values of Aish. In terms of wisdom, he is not only a rabbi, he is also a scholar who has devoted his entire life to learning and teaching. His wife, Rebetzin Shulamit May, is also a master educator known around the world for her extraordinary teaching skills and her ability to reach students on every level.

This week, a dream became 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.

After landing in New York on my way back from Israel, I joined an event organized by Rabbi Saj Freiberg of Aish’s Jewish Wisdom Society in Manhattan. He hosted a conversation between former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Elisha Wiesel, the son of the legendary Elie Wiesel, who was a close friend of AISH.

As an American citizen and a proud Jew, I love both the United States and Israel. Watching these two nations stand shoulder to shoulder was profoundly moving. Seeing the hostages return home as a result of President Trump’s efforts and the cooperation between these two great democracies filled me with hope and gratitude.

Shehechiyanu v’kiyemanu v’higiyanu lazman hazeh is such a beautiful blessing that we say around the holiday time, thanking God for allowing us to reach this day. I feel deeply emotional and profoundly grateful to be here in Jerusalem as word spreads that the final hostages will be coming home from Gaza.

The highlight of my year has always been spending Yom Kippur at AISH. From the very first day that I began this journey, Yom Kippur has stood out as the moment that touches my soul more deeply than anything else

This past Tisha B’Av, we released a powerful documentary film telling the stories of hostages, bereaved families, and heroes who gave everything for the Jewish people. One of those stories was about Rabbi Avi Goldberg zt”l, who was killed while serving in miluim, reserve duty.

This past Sunday I traveled to Los Angeles for the Jewish American Summit, an extraordinary program put together by AISH LA under the incredible leadership of Rabbi Aryeh Markman and Az Aharon.

This week, I celebrated the birth of my granddaughter. I taught Torah to our students. I met leaders of nations. I mourned the murder of a friend of Israel. And through it all, I was reminded again: our strength is in our unity, our families, our Torah, and our G-d.

Over the last few weeks, I have had the privilege of working on projects that I know are going to shake the world in the very near future. One of them is the Jewish American Summit, the brainchild of AISH Los Angeles.

From my office window, I gaze upon the Kotel Plaza and beyond to the Temple Mount, the holiest site in the world for our people, and I am reminded daily of the profound privilege it is to be rooted in this sacred place.

I am especially inspired by the opening of the Suzana and Ivan Kaufman Women’s Educational Institute, an eight-story home for Torah in the heart of Jerusalem, dedicated to women’s learning.

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.

Our Chief Communications Officer and Global Spokesperson Jamie Geller is hosting the largest Jewish online speed dating event ever. Our target is 10,000 Jewish singles, ages 18 and up, from every continent and every Jewish background.

The digital revolution is changing the world. People are no longer searching for information the way they used to. AI is increasingly replacing traditional search engines. That’s not a threat, it’s an opportunity. At AISH, we are committed to infusing these technologies with Jewish wisdom, love, and responsibility.

This past Shabbos, I had one of the most beautiful and uplifting experiences in recent memory. My wife Rachel, my partner in everything I do, created something extraordinary. Alongside our dear friends Josh and Aviva Brody and Rabbi Yoni and Shulamith Zakutinsky, Rachel has helped lead a movement of couples growing together on their Jewish journey.

This past Sunday marked the beginning of the Three Weeks, a time on the Jewish calendar when we take a step back and collectively mourn some of the greatest tragedies in our national history. I had the merit to speak at Camp Mesorah, delivering words of reflection to a group of Jewish teenagers during Mincha.

There’s a particular energy among our people, an energy of passion, purpose, and positivity. That is the AISH feel. It’s our love for Hashem. It’s our commitment to learning. It’s our refusal to cower in the face of hatred. We won’t respond with anger or bitterness but with pride. With joy. With strength.

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

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

As we enter this second Shabbos of our war with Iran, as hostages remain in Gaza, and as evil still lingers, we storm the gates of heaven. We turn to the Almighty, our Supreme Commander, and we beg: Be with Your people. Stand with us.

Over the past few years, Aish has developed a warm relationship with the Armenian community in the Old City. Recently, they invited me to a symposium at Hebrew University about the Armenian Genocide.

I had the great privilege this year to spend the holiday of Shavuos in Israel. Remarkably, in my ten years at AISH, this was actually my first time being in Jerusalem for Shavuos and it was absolutely exciting.

This past week, AISH had the incredible honor of hosting something very special. For the second year in a row, five legendary yeshivas that have been at the heart of the Baal Teshuva movement came together under one roof: Shapell’s, Machon Shlomo, Machon Yaakov, Ohr Somayach, and AISH HaTorah.

This past Sunday, I had the great privilege of attending a very personal and meaningful event. My daughter-in-law, Sydney Burg, graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. It was a beautiful day, a moment of pride for our family, and a truly joyous occasion.