I am writing to you today with a broken heart. The Jewish world has endured unimaginable pain over the past seventeen months. The return of the bodies of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, and Oded Lifshitz is a moment of profound national mourning. The fact that Shiri wasn’t returned and in her place, a random body was delivered by Hamas to Israel is maddening. As we lay these three holy souls to rest, we must commit ourselves to remembering their sacrifice. My prayer is that the Almighty strengthens us both spiritually and physically so that we never again experience such tragedy.
At the same time, it is clear that G-d is watching over the Jewish nation because He knows our hearts have had our fill of grief. Even though multiple buses erupted in explosions set off by Hamas terrorists in central Israel, not one person was injured or killed and two additional bombs were found and defused. “Behold, the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.” הִנֵּה לֹא-יָנוּם וְלֹא יִישָׁן, שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל – Psalms 121:4
This week, I had the privilege of attending a series of critical meetings at the Knesset, led by Aish’s Global Spokesperson Jamie Geller. Aish’s exceptional legislative team, headed by our Director of Political Affairs Yanky Schwartz, and our new Deputy Director Yael Bierig, is working tirelessly to advance our mission. We began the week with a meeting with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, where we discussed global antisemitism and the urgent need to deepen Jewish engagement.
We briefed him on AISHVision 2030, our ambitious initiative to connect every Jew in the world to Jewish wisdom and heritage. His support was immediate and unwavering so much so that he recorded a video with Jamie on the spot, which you can watch here.
We also met with MK Matan Kahana, a man who has served both in Sayeret Matkal and as an F-16 squadron commander, a true warrior for the Jewish people. Our conversation centered on the need for Jewish literacy and the role of our new World Zionist Congress party, Aish Ha’am. He not only endorsed our mission but also shared actionable ways the Knesset could support us.
Later, we rushed back from the Knesset to meet with Michal Cotler-Wunsh, a former MK who now serves as Israel’s Foreign Ministry Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism. She spoke about the disturbing rise of global antisemitism, particularly in the U.S., and shared heartbreaking stories of how some of the most vocal anti-Israel protesters are Jews. We agreed that Jewish education is the key to ensuring every Jew understands and embraces their heritage. I highly encourage communities to invite Special Envoy Cotler-Wunsh to share her wisdom and insights.
One of the most memorable moments of the week was my meeting with the Argentinian Ambassador to Israel, Rabbi Shimon Axel Wahnish. We discussed Aish’s Spanish-language outreach, which has made a tremendous impact across Latin America. Aish also proudly operates the largest Spanish-speaking yeshiva in Israel. We explored opportunities to collaborate with other Latin American ambassadors and discussed President Javier Milei’s unwavering support for Israel. Rabbi Axel Wahnish is a longtime friend of Aish and a passionate advocate for the Jewish people.
Aish’s global impact is rooted in our international branches, which bring Jewish wisdom to communities across the world. This week, we held our annual Global Branch Summit, where rabbis and rebbetzins gathered in Jerusalem to learn, strategize, and recharge under the guidance of our Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits. A crucial component of the summit is professional development, generously supported by the Mayberg Foundation.
I had the honor of addressing the gathering, focusing on the three core values of Aish: Responsibility, Wisdom, and Love. These values are the foundation of our movement and the driving force behind everything we do. I also spoke about the upcoming World Zionist Congress elections and the vital role our community must play through Aish Ha’am. If you haven’t yet registered, please do so at aish.com/vote.
One of our most pressing discussions was the urgent need for more Jewish educators. There is a global shortage of leaders who can teach the Almighty’s wisdom, and Aish must step up to meet this challenge. While our digital outreach has been revolutionary, we must never lose sight of the power of in-person connection. To that end, I am thrilled to share that starting this summer, our COO, Elliott Mathias, will oversee the expansion of Aish’s in-person learning experiences.
My friends, we have so much work ahead. The Jewish people are extraordinary. From the leaders in the Knesset to the heroes running Aish branches worldwide, we are truly a Nation of Leaders. The Jewish mission “to spread Jewish wisdom and morality to the world” has never been more urgent. But we can only fulfill that sacred calling if our people are strong.
Join us. Be a part of this movement. Register at aish.com/vote, and together, let’s build an inspired and passionate Jewish nation.
