"You know what I'd want most?" Almog asked those present without waiting for an answer. "For at least a million Jews to come here, a real ingathering of exiles. Send WhatsApp messages to friends and families, and tell them there's a country at war here and that we need as many as possible, to be big and strong. If any of you need help with Aliya issues with authorities and the Ministry of Interior – contact me, don't be shy."

M, a soldier who came to Israel from Miami, asked Almog why a decorated warrior like him chooses to deal specifically with Aliya issues. "Almost everything that happens with me is thanks to my son Eran, who was born disabled and never spoke or called me 'dad,'" Almog quickly answered. "Eran, who was completely dependent on the mercy of others, taught me what love, kindness, and Judaism are. Weak Eran, who was called 'retarded,' is the Jewish people during 2,000 years. With him, we discovered what racism and discrimination are: a child nobody wants. I once went with him to a country club in Nes Ziona, and someone shouted, 'Take him out of here.' My son taught me what it means to be weak and what tikkun olam is. Fighting in battle is important and existential, but tikkun olam is the most important thing."

Almog asked those present why they chose to come to Israel in the midst of war. M from Miami volunteered to answer, "On October 7, I was living in New York, and there were lots of demonstrations against the war and against the hostages. Every day, I crossed the Brooklyn Bridge, and sometimes they hung a huge Palestinian flag there. I felt helpless, and that pushed me to enlist."

S from New York also left his 14 brothers and sisters to come to Israel. "October 7 was the final push for me. Because of it, I got the courage to leave everything behind. There you can't contribute, here you feel you have a purpose."

P from Paris told Almog that for him, enlisting was always the goal. "I came to Israel for vacations, and when I saw soldiers, I wanted to be like them. From age 12, I started nagging at home about enlisting, until at 18 I studied for a year at a yeshiva in Israel and said, 'it's time.' After October 7, my mom was really worried, but I explained to her that if I don't do it now, I'll regret it all my life."

Asher from Sydney, "I'm 20, and I thought I'd come to Israel for a year at a yeshiva and then return to university in Australia. But here I felt I belonged. After I saw antisemitic videos from the university where I was supposed to study, I said, 'there's no way I'm going back.' My two sisters also immigrated, and after that my parents, who didn't want to stay alone."

Speaking of which, Almog recalled a visit he made to Australia recently with his wife, Didi. "Because of things I did as Southern Command General, 20 years ago, they issued three arrest warrants against me in England. When we arrived in Australia, someone caught on to this and asked the Minister of Justice there not to give me a visa. Fortunately, the minister didn't respond, but there were still protests against me. We met with the Jewish community in the major cities, and protesters followed our vehicle. Since October 7, more than 40,000 Olim have arrived in Israel, with assistance from the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Aliya and Absorption, including 15,000 young people aged 18. Many enlisted, and unfortunately, some were also killed."

Who was Judah Maccabee?

D from Bnei Brak suddenly asked for permission to speak. "My family opposed my enlistment," he said. "I have brothers who protest against the army, and when I go home, I sleep at my sister's. My father doesn't like the idea, and my mother is also afraid, she doesn't think I should serve."

Almog: "If you get married, will your parents come to the wedding?" D: "Yes, even though I don't talk much with my father, because the conversation always ends with 'how bad the army is.'" Almog: "I'm sure your father loves you and is proud. Maybe not now, but one day he'll tell you that."

Later, when we parted from the soldiers, Almog explained, "Some of the stories are painful. Look at this, a child goes to fight, and maybe give his life to defend the country, and the parent sees him as a traitor to the faith."

Is this a problem that can be solved?

"Tears within the nation have existed throughout history. We must slowly persuade them, too, that for the only Jewish state, one must enlist, each in a different way. Take, for example, Judah Maccabee. Is he a yeshiva head? No, he's a warrior. Whose calls were 'Whoever is for God, to me'?" We need to hurry, because the army currently lacks manpower."

"We need to talk to them. David Ben-Gurion decided to give them exemptions: 'Torah study is their occupation.' He probably thought these would be few, maybe a few hundred, but didn't imagine the number would reach hundreds of thousands and that this would be a disaster for generations. It cannot be that an American Orthodox Jew works for a living, because he understands he lives according to US laws, and here there's a group that enjoys the benefits of government and doesn't serve. Why did I ask D if his parents would come to the wedding? Because this rift is in the deepest place."

Major E, commander of Company Chetz, gave a glimmer of optimism when he recounted that the company celebrated the last Passover together, despite all the limitations. "Every commander here understands that he has a professional and national responsibility to show that it's possible to recruit orthodox Jews," he explained. "As a secular person, I learned and understood new things, such as the differences between types of kosher certifications. We were used to sending the Chabad followers home, because of food restrictions, but this year everyone celebrated the holiday at the base in a great atmosphere. I learn from them what spirit is."

When Almog asked soldiers what was most difficult for them, besides being away from home, H from Raanana replied that the greatest difficulty actually lay in the fact that they "aren't fighting enough" on the northern border, which is currently considered calm.

Almog, the veteran warrior, immediately reassured him, "Don't worry, war doesn't run away, and it doesn't come by invitation. You can sit at an outpost, and suddenly they'll ambush you at 2:00 at night, when you're least prepared. I enlisted in 1969, two years after the Six-Day War, and I was angry because I thought the battles were over. You are a generation that unfortunately has many wars."

"This place is more precious than we are"

Almog, who next month will celebrate his 74th birthday, was born in Rishon LeZion and enlisted in the IDF in 1969. He was a company commander in Battalion 202 during the Yom Kippur War, and in the midst of the battles was informed that his younger brother, tank corps Lieutenant Eran Avrutsky, was killed in the Golan Heights, about 18 miles from where he now met with the soldiers of Company Chetz.

In Operation Entebbe, 1976, Almog led the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit. In the First Lebanon War, 1982, he commanded the spearhead force of the brigade that first reached Beirut. Among other roles, he commanded the Shaldag Unit, the Paratroopers Brigade, and the Southern Command. He admits it's a "great miracle" that he now stands in one piece and on two healthy legs.

Before joining the Jewish Agency in 2022, Almog was known for founding in the south in 2006 "ADI Negev – Nahalat Eran," a rehabilitation village for children and adults with disabilities, an idea that took shape inspired by his son, Eran, who was born with severe intellectual and developmental disabilities and passed away in 2007, at age 23. For his contribution to society and the state, Almog received the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement in 2016.

Almog, who spent 34 years in uniform, shared with the soldiers the personal and family pain he experienced in the military. "My brother Eran was a platoon commander 2 in Company D, Battalion 82 in Brigade 7. In the Yom Kippur War, he fought in the southern Golan Heights and was hit by a Syrian tank. He was thrown out, lay for a week next to his tank, begging for help, and no one came. My brother Eran was the reason for my long service, and to this day, I'm hurt that I wasn't with him. I always had the feeling I could have saved him. Until my last day, I'll live with guilt for not being beside my brother when he bled to death."

After the meeting with the soldiers, Almog suggested we conduct the interview near the memorial he built at the end of that war in memory of his brother, exactly where Eran's tank was hit. A few weeks after the Yom Kippur War, Almog took steel plates from the damaged tank, along with a mortar barrel he found among the charred armored vehicle skeletons, and brought them to Alex the welder from Moshav Ramat Magshimim. Alex created a modest memorial that stands intact to this day, not far from Tel Saki.

We sat on a rock by the memorial, in minimal shade, and Almog read a poem he wrote a few years ago in memory of his brother, "On Yom Kippur I am wrapped in a tallit of deafening silence / On Yom Kippur I lie with you next to the burning tank, wrapped in torn tanker overalls / And your screams cut through me, and your dying pleas are swallowed in the roar of war / I try to rescue you with all my might, clinging with my nails to basalt rocks, pulling you from the fire / And your voice grows weaker, growing cracked / And we are embraced together and your heart beats in my body / And our body is wrapped in a blood-soaked tallit, and around is deafening silence."

"Guilt isn't rational," he admitted after finishing the reading. "Eran was two years younger than me. I'm the eldest, the experienced fighter. He lay wounded, injured in his left leg, and could have been saved if someone had applied a tourniquet. This is a feeling I'll take with me to my last day."

Despite the 51 and a half years that have passed since?

"My brother Eran would say, 'you're right, but there's no one to justify you.' Yesterday, David Hodak called me, a prominent attorney. In a photo from the officers' course, my brother stands next to him. Eran remains a young man of 20, and Hodak is now 72. He has achieved great economic prosperity, and still tells me, 'We must influence democracy here, connect me to Jewish communities worldwide, I want to help, I want a liberal, progressive society here.'"

"You see, I'm bleeding from the Yom Kippur War, but the question is what do we do with the pain? Do we find formulas that will keep us together despite our differences – or do we want to highlight the differences and create rifts?"

We need to assure the soldiers we met a bright horizon.

"You can't promise anything. Do you know what will happen tomorrow? Everything is connected to something internal that drives, like salmon swimming upstream against the current. My family, Avrutsky, came from Ukraine in 1910 because of the pogroms there. Did someone promise them? They decided to buy land under Turkish rule. My parents were born here during the British period, and I grew up in a home where there was an understanding that this place is precious, even more than we are. That we need to be ready to give our lives to protect the only Jewish state."

That many feel is now being destroyed from within.

"The greatest danger is from within, and I hope we'll come to our senses and find what unites. That we'll understand diversity can be a promoter of hatred and division, as in the destruction of the First and Second Temples. The great danger is not from the Iranians or Hamas, but from the perception that the truth is only mine and only I am right. We are in a terrible place in terms of internal atmosphere. We must find a way to bring hearts closer."

We are closer, God forbid, to civil war.

"I'll do everything so it doesn't happen, but we must enter a period of healing and rehabilitation, so we need to act differently and calm things down. I hear terrible statements toward the hostages' families and toward kibbutz members who live near Gaza. What happened in the kibbutzim was their fault? I would expect them to embrace the hostages' families, and if they want to speak in the Knesset for 48 consecutive hours, then let them, because you don't judge a person in their grief. The children were kidnapped, raped, and murdered because the state failed."

You raise and educate about values and ideals. Does anything of them remain today?

"The reality is concerning. It's concerning that there's erosion and lashing out at state institutions, the Supreme Court, the army, and the Shin Bet. In the end, with all due respect to leadership, security comes from those willing to risk their lives. On October 7, there was a terrible failure, from the prime minister down, but who took responsibility without saying 'I am responsible'? The fighters.

"People were willing to give their lives, and showed heroism. Many other countries would have collapsed in the same situation. France in World War II, and Poland, which fell, because they didn't have a fighting spirit. We are in a terrible crisis – but it's not the only one we've gone through, and not the first time trust has collapsed."

You mean the Yom Kippur War in 1973?

"And also the First Lebanon War. I led the paratroopers then from the landing on the Awali River to Beirut. We were there for years. Friends were killed, and there were demonstrations in Jerusalem against the government. And what did we go to fight for? For a new order, like in Gaza. We thought we'd let the Christians rule and they would manage, but when we arrived, we discovered they were driving Mercedes and not fighting. They wanted us to fight for them. There aren't many countries that have successfully appointed a government in another country."

We need a radical change in Gaza for us to continue living here.

"I spent ten years of my life in Gaza. Hamas is a strong force. There's talk of implementing a civil administration that will bring civilian companies into the Strip, but what will they do? They'll take locals who will distribute bread and build houses. Who are the locals? Hamas."

"We can talk about continuing the military move. We can hit Hamas a bit more. But I was the commander of the Gaza Division, and there was always terrorism there. Today, there are more than 2 million residents in the Strip. I guarantee you that even if we kill another 200,000, there will still be 100,000 Kalashnikovs left, and we won't get to the last rifle. The question is whether we act wisely. I've long said we should have built a strong defense system, made a deal to return all the hostages, and stopped the war when the right of defense is on our side. Whenever we want, we'll enter based on intelligence. If we stay inside, we'll pay a heavy price. The main threat comes from Iran anyway."

Oath on the graves

The Almog family has known quite a few tragedies over the years. In the attack at Maxim restaurant in Haifa in October 2003, five family members were killed, Doron's uncle Zeev Almog, his wife Ruth, their son Moshe, and their grandchildren Tomer Almog and Assaf Shtayer. Two decades later, in the October 7 massacre, the family suffered another blow when Nadav Goldstein-Almog and his daughter Yam were murdered in Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Chen, Nadav's wife (and daughter of Doron's cousin), was kidnapped with their three children, Agam, Gal, and Tal, and all four were released in the first hostage deal.

"When they were released from captivity, I cried," says Almog. "I was very worried they would kill them because of me. For 51 nights, I didn't sleep. I was constantly in touch with Major General (Res.) Nitzan Alon (commander of the intelligence effort in the area of prisoners and missing persons), and he used to tell me, 'Don't worry, they're fine.' I collapsed.

"Before the funeral of Yam and Nadav, I called the head of IDF Field Security and the then-IDF spokesperson, Daniel Hagari, and consulted with them about whether to eulogize, because I knew it would reach the networks. In the end, I eulogized."

At the open grave of his family members, Almog said, "We are not people of revenge and punishment. Here, in the Shefayim cemetery, next to the bleeding graves of Nadav and Yam, here I swear with you to rebuild Kfar Aza, together with all the communities near Gaza."

"What Golda did"

Next to the memorial for his brother, Almog continued, "In January, when they returned Emily Damari, Doron Steinbrecher, and Romi Gonen from captivity, they published the list of terrorists being released in the deal. Number 9 on the list was Sami Jardat, the terrorist who planned the attack at Maxim. I sent the news to Oren Almog, who was blinded in the attack and lost his father, Moshik, his brother, Tomer, and his grandparents. He was then 10, today he's 32. Oren wrote to me 'I saw, thanks. It's difficult, but the hostages can be returned, and the dead cannot. Let's hope they'll hold the terrorists accountable in the future, and that the released hostages will have happy lives.' I replied, 'I think exactly like you. A big hug, I love you very much.'"

As someone who fought in the Yom Kippur War, what's the situation today, in your opinion?

"Much more difficult, because the failure is greater. Then communities weren't captured. It's true that in the first 24 hours, the Syrians conquered the Golan Heights and reached the Sea of Galilee – but on October 9, we already went on the offensive, and very quickly, we reached 25 miles from Damascus. There were soldiers taken prisoner, but there weren't women who were raped. The failure of October 7 was much, much greater. Some of the components of pride are similar, including the feeling that the other side was deterred."

You didn't believe in the concept?

"I studied Gaza for ten years. In the First Lebanon War, we wanted a new order, and what? The Iranians and Hezbollah entered there. After the Oslo Accords, we met Arafat's seven brigades. One was called 'al-Quds,' the second 'al-Aqsa,' the third 'Kastel.' I asked what the names meant, and they answered, 'Until we get there, we won't stop fighting.' When I asked General Nasser Youssef why their families remained in Yemen and Iraq, he answered, 'Until you return Ashdod and Sheikh Munis to us – we won't bring them.' They said clear things, and we were somewhere else."

"I was there when the political echelon decided on joint patrols and offices, and they killed us. In 1994, IDF Chief of Staff Ehud Barak was with me when one of our policemen was killed by a Palestinian policeman's fire near the Erez checkpoint. Barak was the prime minister when I presented him with the investigation into the death of an officer killed in Khan Younis by a bomb planted by a Palestinian policeman. Yitzhak Rabin was the one who told Arafat 'fight Hamas' – and nothing happened."

"There's a common denominator of not understanding the Middle East. We stopped listening to what happens beyond the fence and what they talk about in mosques. Yahya Sinwar said 'destruction of the State of Israel,' and they continue to talk about it even today. Who strengthened Hamas? The IDF Chief of Staff? The Attorney General? It's a decision of the Israeli government. You can't boast and say 'the security echelons are subordinate to us' only when convenient."

This issue of taking responsibility pains you?

"It's a terrible breach, the ABC of leadership. I have quite a bit of criticism of Golda Meir, but a month and a half after the Yom Kippur War, she appointed Judge Agranat, and on April 1, 1974, the first report of the state commission of inquiry was already issued. IDF Chief of Staff Dado resigned, and Golda resigned.

"What the current government should have done, two months after October 7, was to announce 'we have failed the greatest failure of the state since its establishment, and therefore, 1 – we are appointing a state commission of inquiry, and 2 – we will soon go to elections and do everything to continue hitting Hamas and returning the hostages and achieving the objectives.' There should have been a different leadership statement."

Some have already taken the heat.

"I look at the IDF Chief of Staff who retired, Hertzi Halevi, who gave all his years, and at Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, who, despite all the failure,s brought successes and targeted eliminations. Did he betray all these years? He fought for the state. Is he free from mistakes? Of course not. There is no one who hasn't sinned. People made mistakes and said, 'I failed.'"

"Let's not forget that a leader's job isn't just to take credit for successes. And it hurts, because who brought intelligence for the targets? Who are the pilots? Those who care, and therefore there's no truth that belongs only to one side. Take Ben-Gurion. In the Declaration of Independence, he didn't want to write the word 'God,' so instead he wrote 'Rock of Israel,' which is supposed to satisfy everyone. We need to find formulas in the style of 'Rock of Israel' about how to continue living here together."

"We haven't missed the train"

Why didn't you go into politics?

"I don't want to be there. I thought I'd dedicate my life to the wounded and disabled, like my son, until I received a phone call asking me to be chairman of the Jewish Agency. I come from a connecting place, trying to fix things. You see, my son Eran had no place in a prayer quorum. Someone in his condition isn't included in the count of ten for a minyan."

"In contrast, in the synagogue we built in the 'ADI Negev - Nahalat Eran' village there can be nine people with severe disabilities, like Eran, and one more who will pray. Is this a religious ruling? No. But that's how it is with me, and I'll also give a moral rationale for it. Who are you praying for – for the strong and healthy? And you are ephemeral, who in a split second could be confined to a wheelchair. And then what? For me, the minyan is for the sick and the weak and the hostages."

And you call on people to come and immigrate to this conflicted place.

"We are in a great crisis, but we'll emerge from it, first of all, thanks to the excellent youth, and thanks to the fighting spirit and unconditional love that Jews who immigrate to Israel have, and millions who live here have. I hear the Religious Zionist people, how much they're pained by the heavy price they paid, and how much it hurts that others aren't willing to share the burden. Where does this come from? From love. Eventually, there will be a coming to senses here. When? I don't know, but I'm convinced we haven't missed the train."

The post 'We need a million more Jews in the IDF': Jewish Agency chairman speaks to Olim soldiers appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

In the year since October 7, 2023, the Jewish people have faced unprecedented challenges. The attack, which Doron Almog, Chairman of the Jewish Agency, calls "the Simchat Torah War," became a watershed moment that shook Israel and the Jewish world. In an exclusive interview, Almog reflects on the attack's devastating impact and offers hope for recovery.

Doron Almog stands as a prominent figure in Israeli society. A retired major general, social activist, and current Chairman of the Jewish Agency, his distinguished military career includes leading complex operations such as the Entebbe raid, where he was the first soldier to set foot on the airport tarmac. While his military service led to key positions including head of the Southern Command, it was his civilian work, particularly establishing the Aleh Negev-Nahalat Eran rehabilitation village for people with disabilities, that made him a symbol of dedication and service in Israeli society.

His appointment as Chairman of the Jewish Agency in August 2022 placed him at the helm of Israel-Diaspora relations during an exceptionally challenging period. "This role demands both broad vision and deep sensitivity," Almog said. "We face challenges unlike any we've seen before." Oct. 7, as we all witnessed, emerged as the most formidable challenge for Israelis and Jews worldwide in recent decades.

From joy to mourning

"This represents Israel's gravest crisis since the War of Independence and the Jewish people's most significant challenge since World War II," Almog said with visible pain. He described the haunting scene in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where he found sukkahs with tables still set and white tablecloths in place – silent witnesses to the Jewish holiday celebrations that ended in tragedy. "We were preparing for celebration," he said quietly.

The Oct. 7 attacks, Almog acknowledged, represent "a catastrophic failure at every level," but he emphasized that alongside the tragedy emerged "an unprecedented mobilization of the Jewish people." Thousands flew to Israel for solidarity missions, volunteering, and military service. The first days saw more than $1 billion in donations – a record-breaking response.

The personal toll weighs heavily in Almog's words. He speaks of his brother, Eran, killed in the Yom Kippur War and left in the field for a week before recovery, and five family members lost in the 2003 Maxim restaurant bombing. "My family is no stranger to grief," he said.

During the brutal Hamas attack on Oct. 7, tragedy struck again when two of his family members were murdered and four were taken hostage. Hamas terrorists broke into the Goldstein-Almog family home in Kfar Aza, where Nadav and Chen had hidden with their four children. They killed Nadav and their eldest daughter Yam (20). The mother Chen and their three children – Agam (17), Gal (11), and Tal (9) – were later freed in a hostage exchange after 51 days in captivity.

"The pain runs deep," Almog said, "but we must press forward. When you hear Agam Goldstein-Almog speaking about returning to Kfar Aza, after watching her father and older sister murdered and enduring captivity – that shows extraordinary strength. This embodies 'in your blood, you shall live' [Ezekiel 16:6] – moving forward and rebuilding despite the devastating loss. Through compassion, generosity, and solidarity, we continue strengthening both our people and our nation.

"The residents of communities near Gaza have always stood firm in defending their homes – a commitment dating back to the 1950s after the murder of Roi Rotberg [whose murder by Gazans and Egyptian policeman in 1956 in kibbutz Nahal Oz shocked the nation]. Today we face the same challenge, and despite this horrific attack and its uncertain duration, we maintain our conviction in ultimate victory."

Almog shared a poignant conversation with John Polin, father of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken hostage and killed. "At the shiva, when Rachel, Hersh's mother, needed solitude and retreated to the house, I stayed with John. Holding his hand, I told him about my brother Eran, ho was killed in the Yom Kippur War – the reason behind my extended military service. I explained how our shared grief, our struggle with loss, becomes a wellspring of strength," he recounted. "We emerge stronger, more dedicated to our values and our homeland."

Building bridges, not walls 

Since the war began, the Jewish Agency and its partners, particularly the Jewish Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod, have launched an unprecedented support effort for Israel's recovery. This includes emergency grants for thousands of families through the Fund for Victims of Terror, emergency loans and grants for businesses near Gaza and in the north, support for reserve soldiers, and organizing solidarity missions.

"Our rehabilitation work includes creating lasting partnerships between Jewish communities abroad and communities near Gaza," Almog explained. "This goes beyond financial support – we're building deep human connections that strengthen the entire Jewish people."

Almog views aliyah as a key driver of growth and central to national recovery. "Since the war began, we've welcomed tens of thousands of olim from dozens of countries, working alongside the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration," he reported. "We've seen a marked increase in aliyah applications from Western countries."

He emphasized the caliber of these newcomers: "These are young, mostly highly educated individuals with extraordinary determination." Almog notes their courage in choosing Israel despite the current challenges. "They're coming during our most dangerous period – facing missile attacks, threats to Israel's existence, confrontation on seven fronts, rising global antisemitism – yet they still come. This demonstrates the unbreakable bond between the Jewish people and Israel."

The situation for Jewish communities abroad presents complex challenges. While Almog acknowledges rising antisemitism, he views it through a historical lens. "Antisemitism has always existed in cycles. It either simmers low or boils high. Right now it's boiling, but this too shall pass," he offered with measured optimism.

Yet Almog points to the Jewish people's improved position compared to previous eras. "During World War II, we had no state. Six million Jews perished in the heart of Europe," he reflected. "Today, despite our challenges, we have a strong nation capable of self-defense."

The remarkable solidarity between diaspora Jewry and Israel carries special significance given that before the war, relations had reached a historic low point. "We had become complacent, telling ourselves that Israel's strength meant we could go it alone. Whether others chose to make aliyah or donate seemed irrelevant. We even discouraged talking about immigration."

He acknowledges this as a misguided approach, born of what he calls "excessive pride" and "hubris." Almog believes the war has fundamentally shifted this dynamic, highlighting the essential nature of diaspora relationships. "Our task now is to build bridges, not walls," he emphasizes.

"The Wall belongs to everyone"

Almog points to the Western Wall compromise plan as a critical example of bridging divides between Jewish denominations. He recalls an incident early in his tenure when a Reform bar mitzvah celebrant from the US faced harassment during his ceremony at the Wall.

"I reached out to the family via Zoom and emphasized that the Wall belongs to everyone," Almog said, stressing the need for "fostering a new culture of mutual respect, where we learn to embrace our differences while living together." He sees the Jewish Agency as vital to connecting diverse streams of global Judaism.

The hostage crisis remains at the forefront of Almog's and the Jewish Agency's efforts. "We're marshaling every resource to support the hostages' families and advance their return," he said. "This crisis touches every member of the Jewish people, both in Israel and worldwide."

Almog described deeply moving encounters with hostages' families and drew inspiration from their resilience. "They demonstrate extraordinary human spirit," he said. "Their struggle represents all of us." The Jewish Agency provides comprehensive support to these families, including psychological care, financial assistance, and international advocacy. "We're leveraging every connection to keep this crisis in the global spotlight," Almog said.

From the Chairman's perspective, the war also presents an opportunity to reconnect with younger Jews in the diaspora. He emphasizes the importance of honest, respectful dialogue on even the most challenging issues. "Disagreement is natural," he said. "What matters is maintaining open, respectful communication."

Throughout the conversation, Almog returned to the principle of "in your blood, you shall live" – the imperative to build and grow despite profound loss. "Every initiative we undertake must answer two questions: How does this strengthen the Jewish people? How does this build a better future? This gives practical meaning to 'in your blood, you shall live' today."

Despite current hardships, Almog maintains his optimism. "I draw hope from the remarkable spirit of renewal we're witnessing," he said. The Agency Chairman expressed confidence that the Jewish people will overcome this crisis as they have previous ones.

"These days, nearly every conversation with Jews abroad ends with 'Am Israel Chai' – 'The People of Israel Live.' What does this mean? I'm mortal, but Am Israel Chai – that's eternal."

The post 'I'm mortal, but Am Israel Chai is eternal' appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

In a powerful demonstration of commitment and Zionism, Dr. Eugene Rapaport, a 58-year-old anesthesiologist from California, has realized his decades-long ambition of immigrating to Israel. Despite the current conflict, Rapaport arrived in the country two weeks ago, eager to contribute his specialized medical skills to Israel's healthcare system during this crucial period.

For three decades, Rapaport, an accomplished anesthesiologist at Californian hospitals, harbored a dream of moving to Israel. That dream became reality two weeks ago when he landed in the country with his daughter, Shira, who is thrilled to celebrate her bat mitzvah in the Jewish homeland. His other daughter, Rebecca, had already made the move to Israel about three months prior. "This is an extraordinary time to be in Israel, and I'm elated to be fulfilling a 30-year dream," said Rapaport.

Rapaport's connection to Israel runs deep. He studied medicine at Tel Aviv University until 1993, a period he remembers vividly for its geopolitical tensions. "It was during the time when Saddam Hussein was threatening to destroy half of Israel," he recalled. After completing his studies, Rapaport moved to the US to establish his career, but the aspiration to return to Israel never faded.

In 2017, Rapaport began the arduous process of getting his medical credentials recognized in Israel. Twice he nearly gave up, discouraged by the bureaucratic hurdles. However, the outbreak of war galvanized his resolve. With assistance from Nefesh B'Nefesh and in collaboration with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, KKL, and JNF USA, Rapaport finally made the move. His goal now is to secure a position as a physician at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital).

When hostilities broke out, Rapaport immediately sought ways to help. He volunteered as an anesthesiologist at Hadassah Hospital for about two weeks. "I was added to a WhatsApp group called 'Volunteers for Israel,' managed by a Hadassah doctor," he explained. "On October 7, I believe many Jews worldwide were asking themselves what they could do to assist. The anesthesiology community is small, and my greatest contribution is my expertise in anesthesia, particularly in cardiac-thoracic procedures, which are critical and in high demand."

Rapaport described his volunteer stint at Hadassah as "an incredible opportunity." He added, "As a senior physician in Los Angeles, I wanted to ensure that those defending Israel would receive care from a skilled doctor." He recounted a particularly poignant experience: "We treated a soldier whose hand was injured by an RPG. When he complained of post-operative pain, I administered a nerve block to ensure his comfort. That moment alone made my journey to Israel worthwhile. This soldier had risked his life fighting for Israel. If I can help those who put their lives on the line for this country, it's an honor for me as a physician."

Ofir Sofer, minister of aliyah and integration, praised Rapaport's decision: "Dr. Rapaport and his daughter Shira have immigrated to Israel with the express purpose of strengthening the nation during wartime and saving lives. In partnership with the Jewish Agency, the Zionist Organization, and Nefesh B'Nefesh, we are actively working to bring Jews who wish to contribute to Israel's strength, with a particular focus on recruiting medical professionals to bolster our healthcare system."

Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B'Nefesh Rabbi Yehoshua Fass shared his personal encounter with Rapaport: "I had the privilege of meeting Dr. Rapaport a year ago at our MedEx event, which helps doctors expedite their licensing and job search processes. I was struck by his impressive character, strong principles, ambition, and exceptional skills. It's inspiring to see Eugene's long-held dream of moving to Israel and contributing as a doctor finally come to fruition, even after 30 years. We warmly welcome him!"

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While Dan Elbaum, The Jewish Agency for Israel's Head of North America and President and CEO of Jewish Agency International Development (JAID), is certainly dismayed by the at times violent protests on college campuses, he's still optimistic that there is much to be salvaged with today's youth. Elbaum sat down with Israel Hayom and spoke about why there are many students worth reaching out to who have compassion for Jews on campus and why the spirit of Jewish students remains high despite the struggles they're facing.

 1. How do you explain these massive protests on campuses across the United States and how they turned into what we are seeing today?

What we are seeing is a perfect storm of three things. First, a simplistic and almost cartoonishly false portrayal by the media and on social media of Israel's legitimate steps to protect its population and free its hostages from an enemy, a terrorist organization, bent on their destruction. Second, a history of universities encouraging all conflicts, regardless of their nuances and individual characteristics, to be neatly pigeonholed as a struggle between oppressors and the oppressed. And third, a systematic disregard of the opinions and rights of Zionist students on the campus community.

When we look at the situation from that perspective, the question really becomes one of not why did this happen, but rather, why did it take this long to reach this point?

2. What is your assessment of how university leadership have handled these protests? What more could they do to enhance the safety of Jewish students?

I will answer in generalities as there have been several universities that have behaved in an exemplary manner.  Yet, it has been shocking to see the complete lack of moral clarity and blatant insensitivity shown to Jewish and Zionist students when the request is as simple as merely asking the University to enforce their own rules and regulations. Please understand that I am not a person, nor is my organization an organization, that lightly makes these types of statements. Yet, it is difficult to imagine any university treating any other minority's safety, feelings, and emotional and physical wellbeing as cavalierly as so many Universities have treated their Jewish students. Sadly, this has been true since October 8 and remains true to this day.

This would be egregious under any circumstances yet is somehow even more hurtful for two reasons. First, many of those harassing Jewish students are not even students. And, secondly, there has never been any community in American history that has revered the university system more than American Jews. Our story is one of overcoming quotas and other hardships to become a part of this system and supporting it every possible way. I really do not know a better way to describe it than nothing less than shameful.

3. What are The Jewish Agency's campus emissaries, known as the Israel Fellows, doing on the ground right now as a resource for Jewish students? How have their activities and approaches changed since October 7?

If there has been a ray of hope on our college campuses, it has been our Israel Fellows and the Jewish students involved with Hillel and other pro-Israel organizations. At its simplest level, the fellows are there to answer hard questions, be a resource to Jewish and pro-Israel students, present a human face of Israel, and instill pride in our shared history, culture, and background.

Bear in mind that nearly every single one of our fellows has family and friends who are serving or have served in this war. Many have lost family and loved ones on October 7 or in the months afterward. Yet in the face of the largest challenge that their country has ever encountered, they have been there for American Jewish students every step of the way.

4. Hundreds of students have been arrested, suspended, put on probation, and, in rare cases, expelled from colleges in the US due to the protests. Do you think this is an appropriate form of punishment? When do protesters' actions cross the line from free speech to behavior that necessitates disciplinary action?

This is not a complicated question. Indeed, President Biden said it well the other day. You have every right to say and believe anything that you wish as long as you are not threatening others. You do not have the right to bar Jewish students from going to class; you do not have the right to break into university buildings, you don't have the right to damage things that do not belong to you and you do not have the right to call for genocide.

I do think that it is striking that universities have not seemed to care that much about free speech when the rhetoric was directed against other minorities. Many of the same institutions that were quick to expel students, correctly in my opinion, when the speech was directed against African American or LGBTQ students, suddenly find the issue somehow more complicated when Jews are the victims. In that situation, it is not only important that Jews ask why that is, but that we encourage our allies to do the same.

5. Have you had a chance to visit any US campuses since October 7 and see for yourself what's happening?

Yes and in every case, I must say that as shocked and saddened that I was by some of what I saw and heard, I left inspired by the Jewish students at Hillel, Chabad as well as our Israel Fellows. This is not what they signed up for, but this is what they are doing. For all of those older American Jews who are discouraged by what we see from the next generation, I would urge you to speak to some of these Jewish students. You will feel a lot better.

I also want to point out something relatively new that truly bears watching. It has been the voice of Israeli students on campus as well as Israeli Americans who grew up in America with one or two Israeli parents. They have been a crucial voice of leadership on many campuses and another inspiring part of Jewish life on campus.

6. What advice would you give to Jewish students navigating their final days of the academic year while these protests are occurring?

I would tell them three things:

1.      Be proud of who you are and don't let anyone else define you. You have worked hard to get to where you are and do not allow others to derail you and all that you are doing.

2.      Know that you are not alone and that there are resources at Hillel, Chabad, their local Jewish federations, and other good people who have your back.

3.      You will always remember this time in your life and look back on it in a way that is different than maybe any other time after. Ask yourself how you want to remember what you did during this time and do your best to act accordingly.

Also, I think that it's important for students to remember that the overwhelming majority of their fellow students are not antisemites nor are many of them involved in this movement. There are a great deal of reachable people, and we must never forget that.

7. How do you think these protests will influence students' and parents' decisions when enrolling in colleges and universities for the next academic year? Do you think a significant number of prospective students may stay away from schools that have been hotspots for protests, including Ivy League or other elite institutions?

It is early to say, but I cannot count how many parents have identified the current atmosphere as an important factor in their child's college decision. College is a place where you should be exposed to other ideas, and we should not shy away from schools for allowing students to articulate views with which we disagree. But it is appropriate and proper for us to ask the question of how much that school prizes our children's safety and make sure that we are satisfied with the answer. Shamefully, many universities have failed that test and I do think that they have considerable work to do if they want to regain our community's trust.

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For Israel's milestone anniversary, the Jewish women's movement is launching a social media campaign that spotlights women who have integrally shaped Israel over the last 75 years. Momentum, a global movement that inspires Jewish women to connect with Israel and their Jewish values, has launched a year-long campaign highlighting the accomplishments and contributions of eight intrepid Jewish women to celebrate Israel'smilestone 75th anniversary.

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The social media posts on Instagram and Facebook are showcasing highly stylized illustrations of these pioneering figures, including judoka Yael Arad, the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal; noted Israeli scholar and commentator who rekindled broad interest in Bible study, Nehama Leibowitz; Israel's first and only female head of government and the first woman to lead a government in the Middle East, Golda Meir; Zionist leader and founder of Hadassah and the Women's Zionist Organization of America, Henrietta Szold; activist and prominent public figure in the movement to free Soviet Jewry, Avital Sharansky, who fought for the release of her husband Natan Sharansky; Rita, one of Israel's most iconic singers; Alice Miller; who broke the glass ceiling for women serving in the IDF as pilots, and Dr. Miriam Adelson an influential and visionary philanthropist who is one of the world's best-known supporters of Jewish causes.

The campaign illustrates how these women have been integral in shaping Israel over the last 75 years. Israeli women have changed the face of Israel. From Avital Sharansky being a key figure responsible for liberating Jews stuck behind the Iron Curtain, to Rita singing moving songs in her native Farsi that have shown the world – and even Iran –the cultural diversity of Israel, to Dr. Miriam Adelson's inspiring broad support for Israel and the Jewish community through philanthropy, to Golda Meir blazing the trail for the female political leaders who have followed her, these women are not only examples of Israel's inclusivity but are responsible for helping shape the entire country and its global impact.

Momentum will share the campaign across its social media channels as well as integrate it into its immersive in-person experiences like the Momentum Fellowship and the Momentum Yearlong Journey. During the Momentum Yearlong Journey, which begins with an eight-day trip to Israel, participants are encouraged to walk in these figures' footsteps, learn from their accomplishments and understand how they, too, can be agents of change. The organization will post about a new figure every month, with the launch taking place on Yom Haatzmaut, Israel's Independence Day.

"Despite the many obstacles women have faced over the course of history, we've continued to be trailblazers in a myriad of disciplines," said Lori Palatnik, Momentum's Founding Director. "With this campaign, we hope women will be able to recognize aspects of themselves. Each one of us has the ability to lead, guide, and contribute. We sometimes just need a little inspiration. And what better way to get that, than through women who have lived their lives based on Jewish values? We believe that a world that empowers women is beneficial to all." Also taking place this month, Momentum will kick off its 2023 immersive trips to Israel, with about 600 women from 12 countries including France, Argentina, and Spain. And, coming in May is their first-of-its-kind exclusive French trip in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel.

The yearlong social media campaign builds on Momentum's growing foray into the digital world. Last year it launched Yomm, the first mobile app exclusively tailored for Jewish women, in an effort to create the world's largest social network. Israel's Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism handpicked Momentum to establish Yomm, understanding that Momentum'ssubstantial reach and diverse network of more than 20,000 Jewish women from 35 countries make the organization the ideal partner for cultivating a global Jewish sisterhood. With its undisputed expertise in profound Jewish learning experiences, Momentum is uniquely situated to expand into the digital space. Founded in 2009, Momentum's four central goals are connecting to Jewish values, engaging with Israel, taking action, and fostering unity without uniformity.

Dr. Miriam Adelson is the publisher of Israel Hayom. The Adelson family owns the company that is the primary shareholder in Israel Hayom.

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A new joint initiative was established in cooperation with The Jewish Agency for Israel, Israel's Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, together with the Nefesh B'Nefesh and Qualita Aliyah organizations, to assist new Olim to receive recognition from the appropriate welfare offices prior to their Aliyah enabling immediate servicing upon their move to Israel. This breakthrough will also enable Olim with disabilities to better understand the services and resources that would be available to them immediately upon their Aliyah and ease their acclimation accordingly.

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The new joint initiative will revolutionize the Aliyah process for people with disabilities, enabling them to exercise their right to immigrate to Israel and more easily integrate into Israeli society. Most notably, the initiative will aid immigrants with disabilities in starting the process with the Ministry of Welfare prior to their Aliyah, i.e., in their country of origin. The goal, therefore, is to institute their rights even prior to immigrating to Israel, as well as to allow their integration to be adapted to their individual needs.

Until now, a new Oleh with a disability would need to arrive in Israel and, only then, begin the process of qualifying for recognition of the disability and receiving the assistance they are entitled to from the state, which can take an extended amount of time. As a result, the Aliyah process for families and individuals with disabilities would be severely delayed or prevented altogether due to major uncertainty regarding the rights they deserve from the Ministry of Welfare, and furthermore, the fear that they will not find adequate solutions upon their arrival in Israel, was a deterrent from fulfilling their Aliyah dreams.

"This is a major step in the revolution we are leading for the rights of people with disabilities," said Minister of Welfare and Social Affairs, Meir Cohen. "The new initiative will make it much easier for Olim with disabilities to settle in Israel, and it will prevent a situation in which the Aliyah of people with disabilities is delayed and/or prevented due to a challenging process. From now on, every immigrant who arrives in Israel and lives with a disability will receive full rights immediately upon arrival. I thank the Chairman of The Jewish Agency, Doron Almog, for his commitment to the issue of integrating people with disabilities, as well as Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Pnina Tamano Shata, for her cooperation."

"We have the obligation and moral responsibility to make things as easy as possible for new immigrants, in particular for the individuals and families of immigrants with disabilities, and to correct a long-standing reality that has hurt an entire, voiceless population that is already struggling with many other hardships," said MK Pnina Tamano Shata, Minister of Aliyah and Integration. "I thank the Minister of Welfare Meir Cohen and Chairman of the Jewish Agency Doron Almog for their cooperation in finding solutions that will benefit many families."

"This new initiative is a breakthrough that will help potential olim with a special- needs family member, in immeasurable ways.  Over the last twenty years, I have seen families unable to fulfill their Aliyah dreams due to this tremendous challenge. We are all excited to share the news with all the families who have been waiting for this new law," said Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Nefesh B'Nefesh. "I applaud all of our partners as well as the various governmental entities for joining together to make this change happen."

Major General (Res.) Doron Almog, Chairman of The Jewish Agency and founder and chairman of the rehabilitation village "ADI Negev-Nachalat Eran", which has become a model for integrating people with disabilities, commented, "My son Eran, who was born with a severe mental disability, was my greatest life teacher and taught me more than anything about the place of the weak in society. We must do everything in our power to allow people with disabilities to exercise their right to make Aliyah and facilitate the process of integrating them into Israeli society immediately following their arrival in Israel. Parents of a child with a disability have many difficulties and concerns about immigrating to Israel, and now we can ease their concerns and provide them a sense of certainty and security. This is our Zionist and moral duty."

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Marking its 19th anniversary, Masa – with the help of the Jewish Agency and the Israeli government – is poised to bring 14,000 young people from the Diaspora to Israel on various programs, citing the high demand.

"This is an addition of 2,000 young Jews between the ages of 16 and 35 from five different continents around the world who will come to Israel with the aim of integrating into Israeli society, for programs spanning between a few months to a year, for internships, to teach English, career development programs, academia, and community volunteering," a statement by Masa read.

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According to the release, there was also an increase of about 220% in fellows of the "Masa Doctors" program, as over 200 Jewish doctors from Eastern Europe and Latin America will arrive this year for a training program and integration into the Israeli healthcare system.

Ofer Gutman, CEO of Masa Israel stated: "We clearly recognize that there is a direct impact of long-term programs in Israel on young Jews in the Diaspora, and in the United States in particular. Israel gains dedicated supporters and loyal ambassadors; Jewish communities gain engaged members and contributors." At the opening event of the 19th year of Masa's activity, the organization hosted representatives of the Israeli government, the Board of Governors of the Jewish Agency, and about 3,500 Masa fellows and alumni.

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A Russian court refused to dismiss the case brought against the Jewish Agency in Russia, paving the way for a trial on the charge that it has violated the law by allegedly collecting citizens' information.

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The trial's first hearing will commence on Aug. 19th, with the implication being that the ongoing political tension between Israel and Russia will likely continue for the time being, even if the Jewish Agency will continue to operate for now.

Israel dispatched a legal delegation to Russia this week in an effort to resolve the dispute, but there was little expectation that the court would not let the case move forward. Officials in Jerusalem are working under the assumption that the decision to go ahead with the trial was in fact made by senior levels in the Russian government rather than by the presiding judge.

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Aliyah to Israel surged by 30% in 2021, with 27,050 new immigrants having moved to the Jewish state from across the globe compared to last year's 21,820 olim, according to statistics published on Thursday by the Aliyah and Integration Ministry, The Jewish Agency for Israel, and Nefesh B'Nefesh.

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This past year also brought a record-breaking 4,000 olim from the United States, who arrived in Israel with the assistance of Nefesh B'Nefesh. This immigration from the US constituted a 30% increase over 2020 and the highest annual number of new arrivals from the USA since 1973. Another 400 olim arrived this year from Canada, bringing the expected total of new immigrants from North America in 2021 to over 4,400.

The aliyah numbers also show a 40% jump in immigration from France this year compared to 2020, with the arrival of 3,500 French Jews, the highest number of arrivals from that country in the last four years.

Elsewhere around the world, aliyah figures for 2021 included 7,500 olim from Russia this year, an increase of 10% from 2020; 3,000 immigrants from Ukraine, up 5%; and 1,636 immigrants from Ethiopia as part of "Operation Tzur Israel."

Other significant sources of aliyah this year include 900 olim from Argentina, an increase of 55% over last year and the highest number of immigrants from that country since 2003; 650 immigrants from the United Kingdom, an increase of 22% over 2021; 550 new arrivals from Brazil; 550 olim from South Africa, a dramatic increase of 72%, particularly in comparison with figures from the last decade; and 290 Jews from Mexico, a 55% increase.

The growing popularity of aliyah among the younger generation continued as well, as 55% (14,620 olim) of all this year's new immigrants olim were under the age of 35. Further, 16.5% of arrivals were ages 36-50; 13.6% were 51-64; and 14.7% were 65 and older.

The city welcoming the most olim in 2021 was Tel Aviv, where 2,870 immigrants chose to make their new home, followed by Jerusalem, with 2,760 arrivals, Netanya with 2,710, and Haifa with 2000. Other cities where new immigrants arrived in 2021 included Ashdod (940), Bat Yam (920), Raanana (880), Beit Shemesh (860), Nahariya (825), and Beersheba (750).This year also brought olim with diverse professional backgrounds, including over 1,100 doctors and paramedical professionals who will join the Israeli health system; 1,670 olim from the fields of technology and engineering; 960 from the fields of accounting and law; and 750 educators.

Aliyah and Integration Pnina Tamano-Shata said: "Despite the pandemic and its limitations, aliyah to Israel did not stop and we're happy to welcome tens of thousands of olim who chose to make aliyah this year. Olim are an incredible growth engine for the Israeli economy and are a national, economic, and moral powerhouse for the nation."
Yaakov Hagoel, acting chairman of The Jewish Agency concurred.

"We are thrilled to see a sharp increase, of tens of percentage points, in aliyah from countries, such as the US, France, Argentina, Britain, South Africa, Australia, Germany, Italy, Belgium, and more," he said. "Growing interest in aliyah continued this year, with The Jewish Agency's Global Aliyah Center, which provides aliyah information throughout the day in six languages, opening almost 32,000 new aliyah files. However, the best is yet to come – we haven't yet maximized on the potential aliyah"

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B'Nefesh said, "After an incredibly challenging year, we celebrate each and every oleh who made the courageous move and overcame the many difficulties and ever-changing factors over the last year and made aliyah.

"The resounding interest in aliyah that we witnessed in 2020 has borne fruit this past year, translating into an actual surge in aliyah. As we look to 2022, our organization's 20th year, we are excited about the future of aliyah and look forward to helping thousands more North Americans realize their Zionist dreams," he said.

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Michael Oren says he has been "integrally linked to the Jewish Agency" for years. The former Israeli ambassador to the United States and former Knesset member is one of eight candidates to head the organization. He has a long history with the Jewish Agency for Israel, which he hopes will continue – with him at its helm.

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According to Oren, 66, the Jewish Agency used to be viewed "as a sinecure for politicians."

"That practice seriously impaired [its] image and effectiveness," he said. "It would be tragic if now, at this most critical time for the Jewish people, the position were again to be given to politicians who have limited familiarity with the Jewish world."

He acknowledged that former Jewish Agency heads Natan Sharansky and Isaac Herzog did manage to elevate the organization.

Oren had kind words for his competition, telling JNS that he has "high regard for the people running against him" and that this is a race "between very qualified people," which "says a lot about what happened to the agency over the last decade."

On Tuesday, Intelligence Services Minister Elazar Stern withdrew his candidacy for the chairmanship of the Jewish Agency. This now leaves a smaller field of just eight candidates and raises the chances of those who might have lost to Stern.

Aside from Oren, other candidates include former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations and World Likud head Danny Danon, former member of Knesset Michal Cotler-Wunsh, Diaspora Affairs Minister Omer Yankelevich, Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahum, Bar-Ilan University law professor Yaffa Zilbershats, former head of IDF Central Command Uzi Dayan and Irina Nevzlin, the wife of former Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein.

Oren made aliyah through the Jewish Agency, resided in an absorption center and served as a lone soldier. He also went to the Soviet Union with the Jewish Agency, and years later, he worked with the agency as an ambassador and then a member of Knesset.

He is a well-known figure in the Jewish world, a self-described "political centrist" and a "traditional Jew with strong ties to both liberal and Orthodox Judaism," who views himself as "uniquely acceptable to all streams."

Oren addressed the growing chasm between American and Israeli Jews, saying "we are at a crisis point. There is no other organization or institution that brings us back from that brink other than the Jewish Agency. The question is how."

'Young Israelis meeting young American Jews'

Oren went on to list a number of ways the Jewish Agency could lead the next generation of Jews. "The first thing we need to do is to recalibrate the way we reach out to young American Jews," he said. "They aren't in the synagogues or in Jewish organizations. We need to reach them where they are on social media with a Zionist message that they can understand because they are being bombarded by messages that say Israel is an apartheid state, that it is committing genocide. We need to address that."

"The chairman must lead the agency in reaching out to young Jews online with a message of inclusiveness, of both unity and respect for diversity, and a re-energized Israel education designed to preserve and strengthen Jewish identity, and Israel-Diaspora relations," he added.

Another avenue to reach young Jews, according to Oren, is to "increase the number of shlichim – the number of young Israelis who are meeting young American Jews."

Oren believes that the impact of Birthright "is as great if not greater on the Israelis who accompany the tourists as it is on the Americans who go on the tour."

"For many Israelis," he said, "this is the first encounter with Jewish peoplehood. They know Israeli national identity, but they don't know what they have in common with their cousin 'Josh' in Long Island. It's transformative. We need to increase that number."

Oren said he was the first Israeli ambassador to meet quietly with the haredi leadership of North America and noted that some want to be closer to Israel. "We have to reach out to them as well," he said.

Oren said his dream is to inaugurate a "Haredi Birthright."

"They have a growing population, and a large part of it seeks a different relationship with Israel," he said, emphasizing, of course, that "it will be different than the current Birthright. We're not going to take them to nightclubs in Tel Aviv. But we can show them Israel in a different way. Think about the music scene and how many great haredi musicians there are in this country."

"We are not going to change their way of life in any way," he said. "It would be geared specifically towards them. It is not just an opportunity; it is an obligation."

While the idea of a haredi birthright or even Zionism won't resonate with a significant portion of haredim, there are also non-haredi American Jews who are close to, if not already, beyond the pale.

"The Jewish world is in crisis," said Oren. "At a time of swiftly rising antisemitism, vast numbers of Jews, especially young people in the United States, have become alienated from Jewish identity, Jewish peoplehood and the Jewish state. The Jewish Agency has the unique ability and historic responsibility to defend the Jewish people and bring us back from the brink."

"There are processes underway in the United States that have nothing to do with us," said Oren. "We didn't invent critical race theory or 'woke'-ism and yet Israel is on the receiving end. It's been shocking to me."

He said he tried as much as possible to meet with 16- and 17-year-olds, graduates of Jewish schools during his time in the United States. "They are steeped in this, on the 'apartheid state.' It is shocking. They are surrounded by it, marinating in it."

Oren emphasized it is not too late for the agency to reach these youth and show them the true face of Israel.

"That is the goal of the Jewish Agency," he said. "The government cannot do it. The Jewish Agency needs to be as inclusive as possible; not divisive. That is not easy to do today with so much polarization."

With regard to the BDS movement on American campuses, Oren said he does not believe it is a lost cause, "but we are losing it."

He called on Israel – and the Jewish Agency, in particular – to reach out to Jews and pro-Israel activists on campuses.

"We have a responsibility to the pro-Israel activists on these campuses," he said. "We can't abandon them. We have to be there for them. It is a monumentally challenging period and will be for a long time to come. I don't see any change on the horizon."

'Sit around and talk'

Asked about the divide between the Reform, Conservative, Orthodox and Chassidic communities in America, Oren said he wants to expand the dialogue between these groups through a program he used to run as ambassador called "The Tishes." (A "tish" is a gathering, usually of Chassidic Jews, around the leading rabbi during which they engage in spiritual discourse).

As ambassador, Oren said he had instructed all nine consulates across North America to set up "tishes" around which would sit representative leaders of all the different streams of Judaism.

"The idea was to sit around and talk," he said. "By and large, they were overwhelmingly successful. Many of these rabbis had never met one another."

Now, said Oren, he wants to expand this project "manifold."

"It was only under the auspices of Israel that they would come around the table because Israel was neutral," he said. "I want to do it all over the world."

Oren said he is interested in expanding his "tish" idea and is particularly committed to his idea of a haredi birthright.

He said the Jewish Agency has played a significant role in "a great part" of his life. "I know the Jewish Agency very well," he said. "Frankly, I am indebted to it."

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