The Israel Hayom summit, scheduled for next week in New York, will spotlight one of the most significant and ambitious initiatives discussed in Israel in recent years – "The 11th Million." This wide-ranging vision seeks to advance a national goal in the coming years to bring a million Jews from around the world to Israel within a decade, as part of a strategic effort to strengthen the economy, demographics, and connection with the diaspora.
The discussion will be led by three of the most influential voices in the Jewish and business arena – World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder, philanthropist and entrepreneur Sylvan Adams, and senior tech investor Michael Eisenberg. They will be joined by leaders of the Jewish community in New York, the city where much of the global Jewish discourse is currently taking shape. The combination of voices with influence from the business, diplomatic, and community worlds is expected to make discussions with them highly significant.
The initiative comes at a time when Israel faces a growing need to strengthen human capital, alongside a desire to renew trust and connection with world Jewry. According to the vision's architects, millions of Jewish people currently live in centers where Jewish identity faces challenges, partly due to rising antisemitism and political shifts in New York. Israel seeks to become a destination offering security, community stability, and exceptional professional opportunities.
Omer Lachmanovitch, editor-in-chief of Israel Hayom, explained the importance of the move. "Israel stands at a critical crossroads. 'The 11th Million' is not just a Zionist vision but a growth engine. Suppose we know how to make Israel a home for engineers, entrepreneurs, educators, medical professionals, and young families from around the world. In that case, we will create a strategic advantage for an entire generation. This is an opportunity we cannot miss. We at Israel Hayom are proud to take part in turning the vision into reality," Lachmanovitch said.
Beyond the "11th Million" initiative, the summit, hosted by Dr. Miriam Adelson, will address a broad range of issues at the center of the Israeli and Jewish agenda. Among the central focuses are Israel-US relations in an era of political and geopolitical tensions, rising antisemitism across the US, Israel's economic challenges in the two years following the war, and the role of the technology industry in driving national recovery. Senior administration officials, security experts, heads of leading companies, academics, and community leaders will appear on stage to offer diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of the period.
Michal Cohen, CEO of Rashi Foundation, who will participate in the summit, said, "The State of Israel, especially the north and south, is still in trauma and stands at a critical decision point. Our ability to respond to the crisis is being tested now. We must not allow a situation where we settle for rehabilitating buildings and physical infrastructure and leave our society as it was, only more scarred. Physical rehabilitation is certainly required, but what is needed here most of all is growth with a long-term perspective."
"Philanthropy has an important role in being more than just an economic resource. It has the power, flexibility, resources, and boldness to act in partnership to create high-quality infrastructure that will ensure growth for decades to come. Precisely in a country where crisis follows crisis, stable anchors must be created to secure the future. A genuine combination of forces from all sectors – public, business, and social – is the most powerful catalyst for change," Cohen said.
Participants in the summit will also include businesswoman Ofra Strauss, Shazar Center CEO Avigdor Kahalani, Minister Amichai Chikli, former ambassador Gilad Erdan, HaShomer HaChadash CEO Yoel Zilberman, Rashi Foundation Chairman Shaul Shani, Reichman University founding president and board chairman Prof. Uriel Reichman, Ministry of Heritage CEO Itai Granek, El Al communications and government relations head Michal Gerstler, and others.
