As an Israeli institution, Aish begins its new fiscal year on January 1st, as mandated by law. This timing encourages us to focus on the present and planning for the future. By the time the secular New Year arrives, we have already spent significant time reflecting on our aspirations for the coming year. It’s also a moment to share how deeply proud I am of the incredible team at Aish.
Aish has always been a vital voice within the Jewish community. Over the past 15 months, that voice has been more necessary than ever. Since October 7th, the Jewish world has faced a scale of global persecution that was previously unimaginable.
On Tuesday night, during an interview on Katrina Szish’s New Year’s Eve cable news program, I shared what many of us feel: this has been an incredibly challenging year for Jews everywhere. After the horrific events of October 7th, we hoped for empathy and support in the wake of one of the most brutal, hate-fueled attacks on civilians in Israel’s history. Instead, the world shocked us by rushing to blame the Jewish people, even as the victims in southern Israel were still being mourned.
In response, Aish resolved to stand strong and fight for the Jewish people. Over the past year, we became the leading producer of Jewish content on social media. By combining our unique approach to spreading Jewish wisdom with an unwavering commitment to Israel and the Jewish people, we refused to back down in the face of adversity. Despite enduring relentless hateful comments and cyberattacks targeting Aish.com—on a scale rivaling those faced by Fortune 500 companies—we remained steadfast in our mission to support and protect our global Jewish family.
Yet, as leaders in this space, we know there is always more to do. That’s why I’ve asked our Chief Media and Marketing Officer, Jamie Geller, to step into an even more prominent role. For those who know Jamie, she embodies the strength and spirit of Jewish women worldwide. When we first brought her to Aish, it was to help lead our social media strategy to connect with unaffiliated Jews. Little did we know how critical this strategy would become.
Jamie was the driving force behind two monumental events held on the roof of the Dan Family Aish World Center: the Global Hour of Unity (2024) and the Global Day of Prayer (2023). These events, attended by the families of hostages and viewed by millions worldwide, were filled with heartfelt prayers and solidarity. Many of you expressed gratitude to Aish for providing a space to share and connect during such trying times.
Now, I am thrilled to announce that Jamie has agreed to take on a more public-facing role as Aish’s global spokesperson. She will focus on crafting messages that uplift and strengthen the Jewish people. I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact she has had on so many of you. Many times when walking with Jamie through the Mamilla Mall to the Aish Women’s Seminary countless individuals stop to share how much she has inspired them. Jamie is the perfect person to lead this crucial effort. The Jewish world needs a Global head of PR and I can think of no one more suited for that role than Jamie Geller.
In addition to strengthening our voice online, Aish is stepping up within the broader Jewish world. We are launching a new political slate, Aish Ha’am (“The Fire of the Nation”), to participate in the World Zionist Congress elections. This slate, led by our COO, Rabbi Elliot Mathias, is a call to action for all Jews to unite. Rabbi Mathias, the founder of Aish’s Hasbara Fellowships, has spent 25 years empowering university students to defend the Jewish people on campus—work that has only grown more essential. Recently, our students even met with Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, reflecting on the program’s impact.
Our Aish Ha’am slate includes nearly 200 committed Jews ready to fight for our people. I encourage you to register at aish.com/vote and email us at vote@aish.com to learn how you can get involved. This weekend, I will travel to Norfolk, Virginia, to spend Shabbos with a wonderful Jewish community and launch Aish Ha’am alongside my fellow candidate and good friend Kevin Lefcoe. Together, we will work tirelessly to secure a brighter future for the Jewish people.
The world has changed, yet in many ways, it has stayed the same. The hatred against the Jewish nation, though ancient, seems to have awakened with renewed intensity. But as Jews, we confront these challenges head-on. Aish embodies the indomitable spirit of our people—a spirit that will never die. I invite you to join us in our mission to create a stronger, brighter world for future generations.
