Editor-in-Chief Omer Lachmanovitch opened the first-ever Israel Hayom Summit in New York City today with a call for a unified front between the Jewish state and the American Diaspora. Addressing a packed audience, Lachmanovitch described the gathering as a "historic moment" necessitated by the shifting political landscape following "dramatic election results" in the city and a rising tide of antisemitism across the United States.
Video: The Israel Hayom Summit / Credit: Flowmotion
Lachmanovitch explained that the decision to convene in New York, which he called the "Jewish capital of America" – comes after the paper's most recent conference in Jerusalem. "After a war that reshaped our region and redefined Israel's partnership with the United States, we felt this was the moment to bring that conversation here," Lachmanovitch stated, recalling the 2-year conflict that erupted on Oct. 7 with the Hamas invasion and morphed into a multi-front war with Hezbollah, Iran and the Houthis in Yemen. The goal, Lachmanovitch emphasized, is to establish a yearly tradition dedicated to fostering an "unapologetically Zionist, pro-Israel dialogue" in the heart of the world's largest Jewish community outside of Israel.
"We believe this first Israel Hayom Summit marks the beginning of an important tradition - a yearly gathering dedicated to a Zionist, pro-Israel dialogue here in New York," he said. "Over the years, we have brought the American story directly to the Israeli public – through exclusive interviews with presidents, senators, and key decision-makers, and through reporting grounded in facts rather than stereotypes."
Central to the address was the critical role of media in the current geopolitical climate. Quoting Saul Bellow's observation that "there is only one way to defeat an enemy – to write well," Lachmanovitch framed the mission of Israel Hayom not just as journalism, but as a "national mission." he highlighted the outlet's role in bridging the gap between the two nations, ensuring that the American story is brought to the Israeli public through facts rather than stereotypes, while simultaneously providing Americans with an unfiltered view of Israel's reality.
"We are bringing the American story directly to the Israeli public... and standing at the frontline of the battle for Israel's narrative against radical Islam," Lachmanovitch declared. The summit, Lachmanovitch noted, features senior American and Israeli leaders who have spent the last two years in war rooms shaping the future of the Middle East, offering essential insights into the shared challenges facing both democracies.
Lachmanovitch unveiled Israel Hayom's flagship project for the coming year: "The Eleventh Million." This bold new initiative aims to encourage the aliyah of one million Jews from the diaspora to Israel. Lachmanovitch described the project as a vision reflecting "hope, solidarity, and belief in our collective strength," underscoring the deep interdependence between the safety of Jews abroad and the strength of the Jewish homeland.
Lachmanovitch also took a moment to acknowledge the leadership behind the organization, offering special thanks to CEO Amir Finkelstein, and went to pay tribute to the outlet's founders. Lachmanovitch credited the "vision, leadership, and courage" of Dr. Miriam Adelson and the late Sheldon Adelson for creating a media home that "speaks their values, defends the truth, and stands firmly with the State of Israel."
"Our appreciation for their contribution to the Jewish people is deep and enduring. Thank you, Dr. Adelson, for being a guiding light during one of the most difficult moments in our modern history," he said about Adelson, who is also the Israel Hayom publisher.
"Founded eighteen years ago, our mission has remained the same: to bring an unapologetically Zionist voice into the Israeli public sphere;
to serve as a bridge at a time when bridges are fragile; and to work every day for a stronger, more secure future for the Jewish people in our homeland," he said. "May today be a meaningful milestone in the ongoing relationship between Israel, the United States, and the Jewish world," he noted.
"We are reminded that moments like this become part of the story we pass on to future generations," Lachmanovitch said, before welcoming publisher Dr. Miriam Adelson to the stage.
