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.

Some worked behind the scenes during the war, others drafted past understandings, and all have direct access to decision-making centers. The goal is to understand whether Israel stands at the threshold of renewed war or whether the ceasefire remains stable and Hezbollah's disarmament is still on the table.

Tickets here: https://tickchak.co.il/Israel1

In one of the summit's central sessions, Morgan Ortagus, the deputy to the special envoy for the region, will appear and, for the first time in a public forum, detail the dramatic events that occurred in recent months in the northern and American arenas. Alongside her will appear Amos Hochstein, who served as a senior American envoy for agreements between Israel and Lebanon and is considered among the closest figures to managing negotiations behind the scenes. The two are expected to shed light on the question occupying both Israel and the US: Can the escalation still be stopped?

Many diplomats appearing at the summit, some with direct involvement in the issue past and present, will expand on the topic – including UN Ambassador Danny Danon, former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, and former ambassador Gilad Erdan.

The summit, which will take place on Tuesday at the Hilton Midtown Hotel in Manhattan, will also feature a lineup of additional senior figures from the political, security, and economic establishments. Alongside the Lebanon issue, speakers will discuss Israel-US relations, the rising wave of antisemitism in the US, the future of the Jewish community, and the global challenges facing the Jewish world after the war.

Alongside a focus on the northern arena, the summit will also address the civilian dimension of the war, which has become a front in its own right. Thousands of families were evacuated from their homes, dozens of communities were damaged, and entire systems were forced to deal with burdens, gaps, and crises. Within this reality, civil society organizations, alongside philanthropic institutions and major organizations, became central players in rehabilitation. The summit will present new models of civilian organization, community responsibility, and partnerships that strengthened Israel's social resilience in the most challenging moments.

KKL-JNF Chair Ifat Ovadia-Luski, who will also speak at the summit, said, "The summit takes place during one of the most challenging periods for the entire Jewish people, a period in which not only the State of Israel faces a test, but also our communities around the world, dealing with a worrying rise in antisemitism. Since October 7, the Jewish National Fund has worked tirelessly to rehabilitate communities damaged in the south and north, and has simultaneously strengthened diaspora communities, which have also mobilized and significantly assisted rehabilitation efforts in Israel. Now we bear the duty to transform that Zionist spirit of the Jewish National Fund into a building force – for state rehabilitation and deepening the connection between Israel and the diaspora."

Masa Israel Journey CEO Meir Holtz, who will also participate in the summit, said, "The Israel Hayom summit takes place at one of the important and critical times for the Jewish people and the State of Israel and represents an opportunity for us to meet, look forward, and strengthen our shared commitment to Israel and the next generation of the Jewish people. At Masa, we see this as a central mission – shaping the future generation of Jewish leaders worldwide, who in turn will make our community stronger and more united. Therefore, we're excited to launch Masa's 2025 influential alumni list at the summit – inspiring young people who took the values and skills they acquired here and transformed them into meaningful action across various fields. Each one of them leads real change and proves that a Jewish generation you can rely on has grown here."

Also participating in the summit: CEO of Hashomer Hachadash Yoel Zilberman, Rashi Foundation Chairman Shaul Shani and Rashi Foundation CEO Michal Cohen, Reichman University Founding President and Board Chairman Prof. Uriel Reichman, former American envoy in the Biden administration Amos Hochstein, Heritage Ministry CEO Itay Garnek, activist Malcolm Hoenlein, El Al head of communications and government relations Michal Gerstler, Deputy US Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, and others.

The event will take place on Tuesday, December 2, at the Hilton Midtown hotel, while the entire city remains occupied with a shifting political map, heated campaigns, and identity questions concerning more than two million Jews living there.

Tickets here: https://tickchak.co.il/Israel1

At the center of attention stands the meeting President Donald Trump and Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani held over the weekend. The meeting, which became a publicized and jarring political event, marked the beginning of a new era in the city – an accelerated governmental transition process, a tense security and social agenda, and especially a sense of uncertainty regarding the Jewish community's status in a reality where antisemitism is raising its head across nearly all of America.

The Israel Hayom summit, hosted by Dr. Miriam Adelson, arrives at precisely this juncture. During a full day of discussions, in-depth conversations, and panels, a long line of central figures from the American and Israeli arenas will convene. The goal: to sketch a clear picture of shared challenges and examine how the two countries can maintain a strategic alliance amid enormous political upheaval.

Among prominent speakers will be New York Mayor Eric Adams, Senator John Fetterman, philanthropist Sylvan Adams, Ambassador Danny Danon, Adam Neumann, Ofra Strauss, former Ambassador David Friedman, Avigdor Kahalani, Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli, and many others.

Alongside personal interviews, extensive discussions will also take place on the intensification of antisemitism, the future of American Jewry, the cost of war, the hostage struggle, Israel's standing in the international arena, and the day after the Iron Swords war.

One of the summit's highlights will be a conversation with two captivity survivors, who will share their story on stage before the local Jewish community. This event will stand at the heart of a broader session dealing with hostage families, the cost of war, and difficult questions that remain open for both Israel and the Jewish world.

At the day's conclusion, a series of panels will address the media's role in wartime and the Jewish future in the coming decade.

Former Minister and Ambassador Gilad Erdan, serving as President of Magen David Adom Worldwide and appearing at the summit, said, "As ambassador, I was exposed to the tremendous contribution of American Jewry to Israel's resilience. At MDA, we strengthen this partnership on the basis of mutual responsibility, and I marvel at each visit to see the immense commitment of our brothers here to strengthening MDA and saving lives in Israel. Thanks to them, we established the world's most advanced blood bank, and I believe there is currently enormous potential to expand the alliance and partnership to many additional fields."

Also participating in the summit will be: CEO of "New Shomrim" organization Yoel Zilberman, Rashi Foundation Chairman Shaul Shani and Rashi Foundation CEO Michal Cohen, Reichman University Founding President and Board Chairman Prof. Uriel Reichman, former American envoy in the Biden administration Amos Hochstein, Heritage Ministry CEO Itay Garnek, activist Malcolm Hoenlein, El Al head of communications and government relations Michal Gerstler, Deputy US Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, and others.

Buchdahl criticized "His false claims of genocide, his reluctance to label Hamas a terrorist organization, his unwillingness to condemn phrases like globalize the Intifada, and absolute opposition to Israel as a Jewish state."

Buchdahl herself is under heavy pressure, according to the New York Times. She declined to sign a petition that more than 1,100 rabbis nationwide signed condemning Mamdani. In her Friday sermon, she reiterated her decision not to sign and not to recommend a candidate, but said she shares the concerns.

The Satmar split

Meanwhile, a dramatic split was revealed Sunday in the anti-Zionist Satmar Hasidic sect over candidate support.

I was honored to receive the endorsement of Rabbi Moshe Indig and Ahronim leaders in Williamsburg today, where we were joined by my friend @LincolnRestler.

Together, we will fight the scourge of antisemitism and build a city that works for every New Yorker. pic.twitter.com/hPyAh5k3MH

— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 2, 2025

The local Jewish newspaper, Forward, first reported that Mamdani secured the faction's endorsement for his candidacy, publishing a photo of Mamdani with the faction's political activist, Rabbi Moshe Indig. Mamdani subsequently posted photos from the meeting, writing on X, "I was honored to receive the endorsement of Rabbi Moshe Indig and Ahronim leaders in Williamsburg today. Together, we will fight the scourge of antisemitism and build a city that works for every New Yorker."

Concurrent with the photo's publication, three senior faction leaders released a counter-declaration signed as "Satmar Williamsburg," urging voters to support Cuomo on Tuesday. The statement noted that "the progressive movement's crusading agenda is a threat to our ability to live as Torah Jews and educate our children with the same values." Cuomo responded with a post on X, "Sincerely honored by the endorsement of my good friends in the Satmar community."

A poll by Atlas Intel polling institute published Sunday places Mamdani in the lead with 40.6% of voter support, while Cuomo has 34% – the narrowest gap between the two candidates yet. Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa receives 20% of the vote. Cuomo responded, "The gap is closing rapidly – we feel it on the ground everywhere. At this pace, we will win the race."

Among Jewish voters, the picture proves more complex. A Quinnipiac poll found that Cuomo enjoys 60% support among Jews, compared to 16% for Mamdani and 12% for Sliwa. This represents a dramatic improvement for Cuomo compared to an earlier Fox News poll from mid-October, when Cuomo received 42% among Jews compared to 38% for Mamdani.

While Mamdani attempts to soften his anti-Israel image and deflect accusations of antisemitism, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) branch – an extreme left faction within the party with which Mamdani is affiliated – has announced that it will hold an online event featuring Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader of Britain's Labour Party. Corbyn himself was shamefully expelled from the party after losing its leadership, following an internal audit report finding he had been negligent in handling antisemitism that developed within the party under his leadership.