This past week began for me in Israel, on the heels of the World Zionist Congress. I attended the meetings of the Jewish Agency, where I am privileged to serve as a member of the Board of Governors. I was joined there by my good friend and fellow delegate, Steve Rosedale. It is always inspiring to see so many people from every corner of the world gather together to discuss the mission and the purpose of the Jewish Agency. These are activists who care deeply about the Jewish people and who come together to think about our collective future.
Much of the discussion right now focuses on rebuilding and moving forward from the tragic events of October 7th. The Jewish Agency has played an instrumental role in helping the Jewish people navigate this moment, offering support and leadership in countless ways. I am especially thankful to Steve Rosedale, who has devoted himself so fully to assisting the Nir Oz community, and whose passion and dedication have made such a difference.
One of the sessions that I attended, together with Steve, was about Jewish unity. It was on the schedule, and I thought it sounded appropriate given everything our people are going through, though I was not quite sure what to expect. When we walked into the room, I immediately felt that something special was happening. On every table there were cards printed with quotes from Rabbi Moshe Hauer, of blessed memory, who recently passed away suddenly on Shemini Atzeret. Rabbi Hauer served as the Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union, and his presence had always been felt at these gatherings. I can vividly recall him standing up at some point during the program to deliver a passionate message about Jewish unity. He believed deeply in bringing Jews together, across differences, for the sake of our shared destiny.
Seeing his words printed on those cards and watching as several diverse members of the Jewish community stood up to speak about his influence was profoundly moving. Each speaker described the unique impact he had made on their lives and on the broader Jewish world. It was a fitting tribute to a man who never sought the spotlight, yet whose presence illuminated every room he entered. Rabbi Hauer represented something rare and precious in our community. He was an Orthodox rabbi from Baltimore, filled with Torah, warmth, humility, and love for every Jew. He was approachable, deeply knowledgeable, and respected by all. As I sat there, I thought about how important it is that people like Rabbi Hauer are present in those rooms. It matters that we show up. It matters that people see us there, committed to unity and to the Jewish future. That presence alone is a message, a testament to our shared purpose.
After the Jewish Agency Board meetings concluded, something extraordinary happened at AISH that, for me, felt like the culmination of my entire career. During the first twenty-two years of my work for the Jewish community, I was privileged to serve with NCSY, the youth movement of the Orthodox Union. Over time, I became the International Director of NCSY and later the Managing Director of the Orthodox Union. One of my earliest and most formative roles was as the Director of West Coast NCSY. That position covered an enormous region, from San Diego all the way up to Vancouver and Calgary, and even out to El Paso, Texas. I was still in my late twenties at the time, a young man suddenly responsible for staff, hiring, management, and budgeting. To be completely honest, I had no idea what I was doing at first. I dove in, organizing the region and creating strategies to help Jewish teens connect more passionately to their heritage. Still, there was so much I needed to learn.
At the end of my first full year, I became friendly with some people involved in the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which to me represented the pinnacle of Jewish organizational life. It was the leading Jewish organization in Los Angeles and one of the most respected in the world. They were organizing a mission to Washington, D.C. that June, just a few months before September 11th. I joined that trip, and it was there that I met Rabbi Meyer May, who at the time served as the Executive Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. For reasons I may never fully understand, he took a liking to me. I was a young man trying to make my way, and he saw something in me. From that trip forward, he became my mentor. During my five years in Los Angeles, he became my teacher, my advisor, and my example of what a true leader looks like. I would go to him with every question I had about running an organization, about managing people, about understanding philanthropy. He was the consummate mensch, kind, patient, insightful, and humble. No matter how busy he was, whenever I called, he always made time for me.
One story in particular stands out in my mind and has stayed with me for over two decades. After Simchat Torah one year, there was a concern in Los Angeles about teens drinking and engaging in activities they should not have been involved in. My wife, Rachel, and I decided that the following year, we would open our home to all the teens in the community, giving them a safe and welcoming place to celebrate. Hundreds of teens came through our doors. My wife prepared mountains of food, and we created an environment filled with joy and safety. It was exhausting, yet it felt deeply meaningful. Afterward, I realized that no one had really noticed what we had done. No one said thank you. I was not upset; it was simply an observation. We did it because it was the right thing to do. Still, I mentioned it in passing to Rabbi May, not expecting anything to come of it.
A short while later, after one of our large regional NCSY conventions that brought together over seven hundred teens for an incredible Shabbaton weekend, I received a call from Rabbi May early Monday morning. He asked if I could join him for lunch. I was exhausted from the weekend, yet I immediately agreed. I went home, put on a suit, and met him. We had a pleasant meal, and as we were finishing, he looked at me across the table and said, “The reason I asked you to lunch is because I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for taking care of so many young Jewish teens across the West Coast. I heard it was an amazing weekend.” I was taken aback. His kids were not at the Shabbaton, he had no direct connection to it, yet he remembered what I had said about no one saying thank you. He took it upon himself to express gratitude on behalf of the Jewish community. That moment taught me more about leadership and character than any class or book ever could.
After leaving the Orthodox Union, I was blessed with the honor of working under Rabbi Meyer May at the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the most extraordinary Jewish institutions in the world. Founded to fight antisemitism and defend the Jewish people, it became the international gold standard for advocacy and action. Under Rabbi May’s leadership as Executive Director, the Center grew into one of the most powerful organizations confronting hatred and injustice worldwide. It was involved in exposing antisemites wherever they tried to hide, including Nazis who had fled around the world. It produced educational programs and documentaries that reached millions and brought global awareness to the dangers of hatred. The Wiesenthal Center is the only Jewish institution ever to have won not one, but two Academy Awards for its groundbreaking films. Its world-renowned Museum of Tolerance has taught millions of people how to be kind. For decades, Rabbi May was the driving force behind it all. He built the Wiesenthal Center from the ground up and made it into one of the most respected moral voices in the international arena. He has always been a man who combined vision, compassion, and courage, and the legacy of his work there continues to uplift the Jewish people.
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. In terms of love, Rabbi May has embraced Jews and non-Jews alike wherever he has traveled. Countless world leaders and people from every background look to him as a friend and as someone who embodies compassion and moral responsibility. He has literally carried the Jewish community on his shoulders since he was a young man, speaking out against antisemitism, confronting evil, and fighting for justice. His sense of responsibility extends far beyond any professional title, shaping his personal life in Los Angeles and influencing Jewish communities around the world. He is the living embodiment of what AISH stands for, uniting wisdom, love, and responsibility in everything he does.
When Rabbi Marvin Hier, the longtime Dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, retired, I saw an opportunity. I approached Rabbi May and said, “Now is the time. I have an amazing organization that is touching millions of Jews around the world. We are based in Jerusalem, and we are ready to reach even higher. I want you to come join me. Be my partner. Mentor our next generation of staff and students. Help us take AISH to the next level.” Through many conversations, and perhaps a bit of persistence on my part, he agreed.
This past Tuesday was his first day at AISH. We welcomed him to Jerusalem, held a town hall meeting, and introduced him to our team. He has officially joined us as Executive Vice President. Watching him interact with our staff brought me right back to my younger years, seeing how quickly people are drawn to his wisdom, humility, and kindness. The same way he shaped me as a young leader, I could already see him inspiring those around me.
I feel incredibly blessed as I reflect on the team surrounding me today. Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits, our Rosh Yeshiva, provides deep Torah guidance and clarity of purpose. Rabbi Daniel Rowe, who is completing his doctorate in the philosophy of mathematics, leads our educational revolution as President of AISH U. Now, with Rabbi Meyer May joining as Executive Vice President, I feel in some ways that the circle has been completed. I am surrounded by brilliant partners who each bring something extraordinary to the table. It has been my philosophy throughout my career that the people sitting around the table with me should always be more talented than I am. That is one of the things I take the most pride in.
What I see every day at AISH fills me with gratitude. Everyone here wants to make the world better. There is no ego, only purpose. Everyone listens. Everyone seeks advice and strives to improve. That is exactly what Rabbi Noach Weinberg, of blessed memory, envisioned when he created AISH, an organization built on passion, humility, and a shared mission to inspire the Jewish people. We are partners in this sacred work, philanthropic partners, programmatic partners, spiritual partners. We all walk this path together.
Originally, when we created Aish Vision 2030, our goal was to educate three million Jews, which represented twenty percent of the world’s Jewish population. As our reach has grown, we have realized that our vision must grow with it. Today, AISH content receives more than a million video views every single day on social media, and our community of followers numbers 4 million. We have therefore shifted our goal. Our new mission is to ensure that every single Jew in the world is learning Torah and Jewish wisdom. We want the study of Jewish wisdom to be inseparable from what it means to be a Jew. When someone thinks about what defines a Jew, we want them to instinctively associate it with the pursuit of Torah learning and the depth of Jewish values. That is the heart of Aish Vision 2030, to ignite the spark of learning and meaning within every Jew, everywhere in the world.
Having Rabbi May with us now feels like a gift, not only to me personally but to our entire community. Together, we will continue building toward that vision. Our seminaries and yeshivas are overflowing. Our online content reaches millions every single day. Our students are filled with light, drive, and faith. I am so proud of what we are building, and even more excited for what lies ahead.
As I write this, I am traveling from Israel to Great Neck, New York, and I am looking forward to joining the Great Neck Synagogue community for Shabbos. Anyone who will be in Great Neck for Shabbos, I invite you to please join me and my family as we spend an incredible twenty-five hours with one of the most vibrant communities in the country.
