Doug Seserman

Apply for a Blog

Dec 2, 2024, 10:53 PM

David Ben-Gurion takes us back to the future

David Ben-Gurion in the Negev desert. Photo courtesy of Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU).

What will allow for a “full recovery” from these atrocities, while providing hope and optimism for the future of Israel and the Jewish people? It may sound cliché to suggest that the solution involves stepping into a time machine,...

May 14, 2024, 7:17 PM

What to do when your alma mater doesn’t reflect your values?

Americans for Ben-Gurion University CEO Doug Seserman (pictured in back, at right) with fellow alums of Northwestern University. Credit: Courtesy.

As has been widely publicized, the situation at American universities in the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas terror attacks on Israel is a real mess. Sadly, my alma mater, Northwestern University, is no exception. It seems to be...

Apr 17, 2024, 5:05 AM

A University Community’s Resilience Leads the Way Forward for Israel

Americans for Ben-Gurion University (A4BGU) CEO Doug Seserman at Kibbutz Be'eri. Credit: Courtesy.

Remarkable resilience. After participating on a recent leadership solidarity mission to Israel for the first time since the October 7 attacks, those two words seem to encapsulate the state of the Israeli people at their darkest hour. They also offer...

Nov 17, 2023, 8:29 PM

The Negev: Now and the Day After

(From left to right) President Harry Truman, Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Abba Eban, and Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion during the Israeli officials visit to the U.S. on May 1, 1951. Credit: National Photo Collection of Israel/Government Press Office.

October 7, 2023, the Black Saturday of Simchat Torah, will forever be known for the single-largest massacring of Jews since the Holocaust. The death count in Israel is more than 1,200, and the number of hostages is most recently...

Apr 13, 2023, 7:13 PM

Israel at 75: Rally Around What’s Right and Celebrate the Remarkable

Many supporters of Israel in the U.S. and around the world are asking themselves: How should we celebrate the modern state’s milestone 75th anniversary, especially this year in a time of historic controversy? The truth is that at a moment...

Mar 8, 2023, 9:11 PM

Worried about Israel? Five options to consider

US and Israeli flags are flown in preparation for a media event during Austere Challenge 2012 in Israel Oct. 24, 2012. (US Air Force photo by Maj. Stephanie Addison/Released)

Israel’s founder and first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, famously said, “The test of democracy is freedom of criticism.” By this standard, there can be no doubt concerning the robust nature of Israel’s democracy. Ben-Gurion’s words ring truer than ever...

Nov 28, 2022, 4:37 PM

Why Bring Ben-Gurion Day to the USA?

Like most American Jews of my generation, I grew up with a special connection to Israel. For me, this was a result of years of Hebrew school, Jewish summer camps, and Jewish youth group (in my case BBYO). It’s...

Aug 30, 2022, 10:25 PM

Twenty-First Century Zionism: Not your great-grandfather’s Israel

The days when people support Israel “just because” are mostly over. From disengaged Gen Z to polarized Boomers to struggling millennials, the challenge of creating connection to and engagement with Israel spans across generational divides and has never been harder. For...

Feb 18, 2019, 1:46 PM

A Presidents Day comparison: Washington and Ben-Gurion

Both founding fathers were distinguished military leaders with a passion for intellectual pursuits

Load more

About Me

Doug Seserman is the CEO of Americans for Ben-Gurion University. An award-winning nonprofit executive known for his creative business vision, Doug was named one of The Jerusalem Post’s 50 Most Influential Jews in 2023 for his vision and impact as a thought leader and changemaker in transforming the conversation around 21st Century Zionism.