As we approach the festival of Shavuos, I want to take a moment to reflect with you, not just on the significance of this time, but on the incredible mission we share together.
Shavuos is one of the most powerful moments on our calendar. It’s the day we stood as one nation, with one heart, to receive the Torah. What a gift it was. What other nation can say that you can walk into any of its places of worship, anywhere in the world, open up its sacred scroll, and find the exact same words? That is the miracle of our Torah. It is what binds us across continents and centuries. It is what makes us who we are.
I often think about a moment with my dear friend Danny Danon, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations. When he brought a delegation of ambassadors to AISH, I reminded him how proud I was when, in the middle of the U.N. Security Council, he boldly lifted a Tanach. I said, “Danny, kol hakavod! You brought the Bible into the Security Council!” He laughed and said, “Yeah, now everyone calls me Rabbi Danon.” But then he turned serious. He said, “Without this Book, we have no historical connection to the Land.”
That’s why this matters so much. The Torah is not only a symbol of our history; it is also a symbol of our heritage. It is our mission, our essence, and our unbreakable bond with the Almighty and with one another.
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.
These institutions were founded in the 1970s by giants of Torah and vision: Rabbi Noach Weinberg zt”l, Rabbi Yaakov Rosenberg zt”l, Rabbi Nota Schiller zt”l, Rabbi Mendel Weinbach zt”l. We must honor and remember them. They lit the fire of return for generations of Jews who had never opened a siddur, never read Hebrew, and never heard a word of Gemara.
This year’s event was held in memory of Rabbi Nota Schiller zt”l, who passed away this year. Last year, despite his failing health, he sat in his Beis Midrash in Ohr Someach for the first joint gathering. Because unity meant everything to him, we dedicated this year’s event to his precious neshama.
Rabbi Dovid Rosman, AISH’s Director of Yeshiva, opened the evening with a powerful quote from the Rambam that says that before the arrival of Moshiach, a great wave of teshuva (return) will sweep across the Jewish people. That’s the moment we’re in right now. And if you could have stood in that room, packed to capacity with over 300 young men from secular backgrounds, learning Torah with fire in their eyes, you would have felt it too.
Our own Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yitzchak Berkovits, shlit”a, gave a stirring shiur on the difference between learning Torah and doing mitzvos, how the learning itself is the source of all spiritual vitality. The energy in the room was electric. When all 300 students stood to sing “Acheinu,” it was hard to find a dry eye in the yeshiva.
This night brought our three core values to life:
- Wisdom – Torah is the inheritance of every Jew, no matter their background.
- Love – Real ahavas Yisrael means sitting, studying, and singing together, even if our paths have been different.
- Responsibility – We owe it to every Jew to give them a way back, a seat at the table, a page in the book.
Let no one tell you the Baal Teshuva movement is fading. I invite you to Jerusalem to come see the future. It’s alive, it’s bright, and it’s learning Torah.
At the same time, we’ve just completed an intense season of the World Zionist Congress elections. Thank you to the many of you who supported our party, AISH HA’AM.
But something struck me deeply this cycle. I saw too much infighting. Too many Jews are tearing down other Jews. It hurt.
So I turned to Rav Berkovits, a true master of unity and ahavas Yisrael, and we agreed: We must lead differently. We must make a public declaration that we will work with every Jew. That every soul is precious, no matter their politics, background, or ideology.
That’s why I published an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post this week, stating clearly: AISH HA’AM will collaborate with anyone who seeks to build the Jewish people.
At AISH, we believe Torah wisdom must meet the moment. That’s why we’re investing deeply in AI tools to help make Torah accessible, searchable, and alive for this generation. Imagine a day when any Jew anywhere in the world can ask a deep Torah question and get a real, meaningful answer instantly. That day is coming. And you are a part of that vision.
On Shavuos, this Sunday night, Jews around the world will stay up all night to learn Torah, just as we did at Mount Sinai. Here in Jerusalem, the AISH Beis Midrash will be filled with light, passion, and Torah until sunrise. I encourage you: join us in person or in spirit.
And yes… don’t forget the cheesecake! Our own Jamie Geller, AISH’s global ambassador of flavor and fun, scoured Jerusalem to find the best cheesecake.
Check it out on our site or social channels. You’ll thank us later.
But more importantly, remember this:
Shavuos is why we’re here.
Shavuos is our mission.
Shavuos is our unity.
Shavuos is our Torah.
May you be blessed with a powerful, warm, sweet, and deeply meaningful Shavuos.
