From the CEO

I recently saw an online commentator reminiscing about the old days when children played in the streets, and neighbors knew one another, contrasting it with today’s world, where everyone stares endlessly at their phones. Someone responded that this still exists every Saturday in traditional Jewish communities.

I spoke this week with my dear friend Rabbi Warren Goldstein, who founded the Shabbat Project and has inspired so much of the world to reconnect with Shabbat. We both agreed how unprecedented and meaningful this moment feels.

This week, I had the privilege of attending the JEIC conference in Atlanta. It is one of the most inspiring gatherings in Jewish education. The work being done in day schools is critical to the future of our people. The vision of the Mayberg Foundation, now partnered with the Aronov Foundation, continues to shape that future in profound ways.

For eleven years, I have made it a priority to be in Israel for Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut. Those two days, side by side, capture something essential about the Jewish story. They remind us who we are, where we have come from, and what it has cost us to stand here today.

This week, as I send greetings from Jerusalem, I found myself thinking deeply about Yom HaShoah, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day. As the siren sounded across the country and an entire nation stood still, a powerful and painful thought echoed.

Over Pesach, I had the privilege of speaking with so many people, and I kept hearing the same thing. The story no longer feels distant. It no longer feels like something that happened thousands of years ago. It feels immediate. It feels personal.

The message of Pesach is not theoretical. It is the story of a people who stood up to tyranny, who faced Pharaoh, a ruler willing to murder Jewish children, and who walked out of Egypt and out of slavery into freedom with God guiding them.

Missiles over Israel. Rising antisemitism across the world. A constant awareness that there are those who seek our destruction. The current confrontation with Iran feels like a moment where everything is coming together, a culmination of forces that have been building for decades.

Three weeks into this current escalation, Jewish hearts are pulled in many directions. Fear, strength, exhaustion, pride, unity, and longing all exist together. Yet in the midst of everything, something extraordinary continues to reveal itself.

The Jewish people are coming together.

Earlier in the week, we ran our annual campaign called “All In for Aish.” For the past several years, this campaign has been built around a matching challenge. This year we had a three-to-one match. Our goal was to raise six million dollars.

This week, the world witnessed a powerful moment. Israel and the United States stood together and moved decisively against a regime that has threatened both nations and destabilized the region for decades. The timing was striking as Jews everywhere celebrated the story of Purim.

I was on my way to Israel this past Sunday, and throughout Shabbos, I was with many dear friends of Aish. One after another, they asked me whether I was planning to fly the next day. My answer was consistent. Absolutely, barring issues from snow or war. That statement alone captures the moment in which we are living.

This week also included a meaningful and important meeting that connects directly to these themes of unity, relationship, and standing proudly for Israel. Rabbi Meyer May, our Executive Vice President, and I had lunch with the Falic family, together with former Vice President Mike Pence.

This past week was truly exceptional. I feel deeply blessed to have been with so many of you at the Aish Legacy Partner Summit. There are moments in the life of an organization that feel significant, and then there are moments that feel defining. This was one of those defining moments.

I am incredibly energized by where Aish is heading. The work being done with AI, online learning, and social media is extraordinary. I feel very fortunate to be heading back to Miami for several days of meaningful meetings next week. Aish will be holding a special summit with partners, where we will be unveiling exciting developments.

Through the Erber family, who dedicated a Torah in Ran’s memory this past Sukkot, I had the privilege of getting to know the Gvili family. I was recently with Ran’s mother, Talik, and sister, Shira. They are extraordinary people, filled with dignity, strength, and love. Witnessing their reunification with Ran brought everything into focus.

This week, three of our incredible scholars, Rabbi Dov Ber Cohen, Rabbi MZ Dubov, and Rabbi Mathias, traveled to Tel Aviv. A modest venue was arranged in Rabbi Scarr’s apartment, space for seventy people. Registration had to be closed due to overwhelming demand.

Cross River dedicated the Essentials wing of our new women’s building. Cross River is an institution rooted in powerful values. Under the leadership of Yaakov Gade, they helped save more than five hundred thousand businesses during Covid.

This week was filled to the brim with activity. Every single day, I met with elected officials and leaders. I sat with Yaakov Hagoel, chairman of the World Zionist Organization. I met with Minister Mickey Zohar. I spent time with MK Zev Elkin.

This week, we hosted two dozen soldiers from the elite units of the newly formed Chashmonaim Brigade who made a special request to come spend the morning studying in our men’s Yeshiva. We were very happy to accommodate this request and we look forward to more partnerships with IDF soldiers who wish to spend time studying Torah.

As we mourned the souls murdered at Bondi Beach, I found myself once again speaking on news programs as a representative of our community. Many hosts spoke about the condolences pouring in from around the world and from the Australian government. I shared something I have said many times over the last two and a half years. There is nothing stronger in the world than the broken heart of a Jew.

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.