This past week in Israel was truly an incredible one, yet I want to begin with yesterday, because it marked the tenth yahrzeit of Rabbi Ruben Biermacher zt”l, one of the beloved rabbis of Aish.
When I had only just begun my role at Aish and had been on the job for a very short time, I received a phone call that no one ever wanted to receive. One of our staff members, one of our rebbeim, a teacher in our Spanish program, had been attacked. As you know, Aish is home to the largest Spanish yeshiva in Israel. Rabbi Ruben Biermacher, originally from Argentina, had taught three classes that day. He left the yeshiva and was walking out of the Old City near Shaar Yafo, the Jaffa Gate, when a terrorist brutally attacked him. Rabbi Rosman and I immediately jumped into a taxi and rushed to the hospital. Tragically, by the time we arrived, Rabbi Biermacher had already passed away.
That moment was an extraordinarily difficult one for Aish. Here was a man with a breathtakingly beautiful soul, whose only crime was being a Jew in Israel, literally a rabbi walking out of the Old City of Jerusalem. There was press coverage at the time, and we brought our students to the funeral that very night. We raised funds to ensure that his family would be cared for. Yet one thing from that period has never left me. It was the silence. A major religious institution in the Old City of Jerusalem had lost a member of its clergy to terrorism, and there was very little response from the broader world. I remember thinking then that surely others would reach out, surely the Jewish people would not be standing alone. That silence was deafening, and it left a permanent impression on me.
That experience reinforced a truth that remains with me to this day. Jews must stand up for Jews. We must focus on each other and take responsibility for one another. Over the more than a decade since that tragedy, Aish has endured many trials and tribulations. The most recent has been the war with Gaza, yet there have also been countless terrorist attacks across Israel and particularly around the Old City of Jerusalem. Through it all, we have remained strong.
Yesterday, I was deeply moved to participate in a lunch held in Rabbi Biermacher’s memory and to speak to the students about what it means to remember his life and his values. Rabbi Biermacher was a baal teshuva who journeyed from Buenos Aires to Israel, built a family of seven children, and dedicated his life to teaching Torah. We move forward every single day in his spirit, remembering who he was and what he dreamed for this country and for our people. For Aish, his memory will always be momentous. There is a plaque by the very door through which he walked out on that fateful day. I remember saying then that our response to terrorism would be growth. Our enemies tried to stop Torah learning in the Old City, and our answer would be to increase it.
Today, years later, I am profoundly proud to say that we have built the largest Beit Midrash for Spanish speakers. We have constructed a dormitory in the Old City for that program. This Shabbat, tonight, we will welcome many hundreds of Spanish-speaking students who have come from across Latin America to study Torah. Throughout this entire past week, our building has been filled with Spanish, as large groups of Spanish-speaking college students arrived in Israel to learn. This flourishing reality is a living testament to Rabbi Biermacher and to Aish. We carry the flame forward. No matter what our enemies attempt, we stand strong.
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. We welcomed the new head of our WZO Machlaka (Division), Benny Safra, as we began intensive work on our post-WZC efforts together with our partners. What was remarkable was that nearly every conversation revolved around the Jewish diaspora, university campuses, and how we can help Jewish students navigate the growing challenges they face.
In those meetings, I repeatedly shared the powerful message delivered by our alumnus and former student, Shabbos Kestenbaum, at the World Zionist Congress. In the midst of a chaotic session, Shabbos stood up and reminded the room that while leaders argue and debate, Jewish students on American campuses have felt deeply alone for the past two-and-a-half years. He challenged us to do more for them. I conveyed to every minister and MK that Aish will be deeply focused on supporting Jewish young people on campus. We will help them connect to Israel, strengthen their identity, empower those who already feel connected, and reach those who do not yet feel that bond. This vision lies at the heart of Aish Ha’am as we move forward into an exciting future.
I also had the privilege of introducing one of our new WZO partners to Rabbi Yitzhak Berkovits, our Rosh Yeshiva. After their meeting, he told me that he had not sat with a rabbi of that stature since the passing of Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l. That moment moved me deeply. We must consistently remember that Rabbi Berkovits is one of the great Torah leaders of our generation.
Significant time this week was also dedicated to AishU, the next stage of our online educational platform. Our goal is to take those who engage with us on social media and bring them into a deeper and richer Jewish learning experience. I was amazed by the cutting-edge work we are doing with artificial intelligence. When someone enrolls in a class online, the experience will be tailored to their background and level of knowledge. An unaffiliated student will receive one type of presentation, a marginally affiliated student another, and a more knowledgeable learner yet another. Artificial intelligence is being woven into all of our online education. Everyone can already visit aish.com and experience our AI Rabbi, and this is only the beginning.
We also hosted a powerful gathering of individuals involved in advocacy and combating terror and antisemitism around the world. This group brought together CEOs of companies and organizations, thought leaders, social media activists, some of whom have millions of online followers, and technological innovators, all of whom have one goal: to make the Jewish world a better and safer place. We heard from counter-terrorism experts, global thinkers, and people working each and every day to fight our enemies in the political, legal, and digital spheres. Rabbi Daniel Rowe addressed the gathered crowd and gave everyone some food for thought about tactics and our mission as the Jewish people.
That evening coincided with the inauguration of New York’s new mayor, whose positions on Israel raise serious concerns. On that very same night at the Dan Family Aish World Center, many dozens of people committed to fighting terrorism gathered to learn about the global networks of the Muslim Brotherhood and the systems that fuel modern antisemitism. The presentation was eye-opening and sobering. It made clear that the surge of antisemitism we are witnessing, particularly on university campuses, is planned and has been decades in the making.
In that same spirit, I recently wrote an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post supporting Ben Shapiro for his courageous decision to speak out at the Heritage Foundation and at Turning Point USA AmericaFest against the antisemitism that has taken root in parts of the conservative world. Voices such as Tucker Carlson, Nick Fuentes, and Candace Owens have helped normalize ideas that are deeply dangerous for Jews. That piece became a springboard for many people who wanted to publicly stand behind Ben and affirm that speaking up for the Jewish people matters.
I was also able to speak with a number of online news shows about why this moment required moral clarity and why silence is not an option. I was deeply moved to receive a personal email from Ben thanking me for that support. That experience reinforced something I believe very strongly. When we see individuals taking principled and courageous stands on behalf of our people, no voice is too small. Every voice that speaks up strengthens those who are willing to stand publicly.
Through our podcasts, through our ongoing educational work, and through the thoughtful commentary of voices like Rabbi Daniel Rowe, Aish continues to educate, inform, and mobilize. Teaching Torah remains our core mission, yet standing up for the Jewish people has always been part of who we are. These responsibilities belong together.
On a lighter note, one of the highlights of the week was Israel’s recognition of Somaliland, the first country in the world to do so. I publicly invited leaders and citizens of Somaliland to visit us here in the Old City of Jerusalem, and the response has been overwhelming. Social media messages have been pouring in. This is the world we live in today. The contrast is striking. Somaliland has extended its hand in peace to Israel, and there is joy and optimism in its streets. Iran has dedicated itself to destroying Israel, and today its people are rising up in rebellion. Those who bless the Jewish people are blessed. Those who curse the Jewish people are cursed. This truth has rarely been more visible than it is right now.
Aish is here to make us stronger. Aish is here to remember Rabbi Biermacher’s sacrifice. We will continue to live proudly as Jews, to teach Torah boldly, and to build a vibrant Jewish future together.
