By Jeremy Dery, Political Analyst and Co-Host of The Rabbi Avi Schwartz Podcast

Some men live history. A rare few forge it with their own hands. Rabbi Avi Schwartz is one of those men—a Modern Renaissance Man whose life bridges Torah brilliance, cinematic vision, groundbreaking AI innovation, social revolution, and an unshakable devotion to the Jewish people.

I have stood beside Avi—whether in the streets of New York organizing a rally, or today as his podcast co-host—and I can say this with certainty: he is a once-in-a-generation Jewish leader whose influence is only beginning to blaze across the world.

A Legacy of Heroism and Vision

Avi is the son of a Palmach war hero, the legendary Motke “The Axeman” Schwartz, a fighter whose courage helped carve out the State of Israel’s very existence. That same bravery and devotion to Am Yisrael flows through Avi’s veins, shaping his mission to lead, protect, and inspire.

Raised in New York, Avi excelled academically, graduating from the prestigious Bronx High School of Science before entering the political science department at Queens College, one of America’s top programs. There, he studied under the renowned Professor Manislaw Maneli, a world authority on diplomacy and ethics, sharpening his understanding of power, leadership, and Jewish destiny on the global stage.

Scholar and Philosopher

By 26, Avi’s brilliance was recognized internationally as he became the only foreign student to receive the Chaim Perelman Award in Philosophy from Brussels University. Later, as a close disciple of HaGaon HaRav David Feinstein, zt”l, he received semicha (rabbinic ordination), grounding his intellect in Torah truth.

A proud Chassid of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Avi embodies the Rebbe’s vision of fearless Jewish leadership—one that leaves the comfort of the Beis Midrash to light up the world with courage and action.

Fighting Hatred – “Silence? Never Again!”

In 2014, long before antisemitism resurged globally, Avi sensed what was coming. Together, he and I organized the first New York City March Against Antisemitism, boldly titled “Silence? Never Again!” The rally sent shockwaves through the community, declaring that Jewish silence in the face of hatred would never again be an option.

It was a turning point—a declaration that Jewish leadership must be fearless, prophetic, and unafraid to stand in the streets when the world needs truth.

A Dual Pillar of Torah Learning

Today, Rabbi Schwartz’s Torah scholarship thrives in two prestigious kollels in Zichron Yaakov:

• Ner Mordechai Kollel, where his chiddushim are considered groundbreaking by leading scholars.
• Tiferet Levi Yitzchak Chabad Kollel, the city’s first advanced Chabad learning center, where Avi’s penetrating insights inspire fellow scholars and students alike.

Every Shabbat, his Dvar Torahs draw growing crowds, offering clarity, courage, and deep wisdom that speaks to modern challenges. Even across oceans, he teaches students in Florida via Zoom, refusing to let time zones or exhaustion limit his mission to spread Torah.

Beyond teaching, Avi frequently prays for others at the Kotel and other holy sites, carrying the burdens of his people to Hashem with sincerity and love.

Cinema with Prophetic Power

Few rabbis conquer the cinematic world. Avi has done more: he has made cinematic history.

• Uncle Chaim challenged stigma toward mentally challenged Jews, changing hearts and minds.
• The Computer Tower of Babel, produced with the OU, brought Torah storytelling to life for children worldwide.
• Just Call Me the Justice Animal foresaw fake news, racial unrest, and online chaos 15 years before reality caught up.
• The Quest – Get Back Your Ex, a cultural phenomenon, is now listed on Rotten Tomatoes, one of the world’s highest benchmarks in cinema.

For context, Rotten Tomatoes is the same platform where the works of Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, and the greatest filmmakers in history are cataloged. Only a select fraction of films and creators achieve this honor, placing Avi Schwartz among an elite group whose work is permanently recognized in global cinematic history.

Hollywood legends noticed: Roseanne Barr declared, “I love the show. It’s fantastic. I wish I made it,” while Pat Boone called it “a must-see.”

Artist and Visionary

Beyond film, Avi’s paintings and drawings have been praised for their emotional depth and prophetic power. Each piece tells a story of Jewish destiny, divine struggle, and human hope, reflecting the same passion he brings to his Torah and leadership.

AI and Global Education – Building a Self-Sustaining Engine

Rabbi Schwartz is also creating AI-powered educational apps based on his breakthrough English-teaching method for Hebrew speakers—a system already loved by families and students in Israel and abroad.

Pre-launch interest is growing rapidly, with parents, schools, and language learners asking to be first in line once the apps are available. Designed to expand into multiple languages, these tools will break barriers for Jews and non-Jews alike, opening doors to communication, trade, and connection worldwide.

The revenue model is built to be self-sustaining, fueling Avi’s grassroots initiatives—from the Torah Palmach Youth Center to his Shepherd Attends the Sheep movement—proving that vision and values can build lasting change on a global scale.

A Revolutionary Leadership Model – Shepherd Attends the Sheep

Through his initiative “Shepherd Attends the Sheep,” Avi is reshaping leadership itself. Inspired by Moshe Rabbeinu, he teaches that true leaders go to the people, meeting them individually, understanding their struggles, and offering solutions directly—instead of forcing people to beg institutions for help.

Building Tomorrow’s Jewish Leaders Today

At the Torah Palmach Youth Center, Avi mentors brilliant and talented young adults in Torah, discipline, leadership, and self-defense, forging a generation of proud, strong, and spiritually anchored Jews. Combined with his educational vision and modern tech, this is giving youth the tools they need to lead Israel and the Jewish world in the decades ahead.

The Warrior Rabbi

A volunteer 2nd Sergeant in Israel’s elite Special Operations Police Unit, Avi walks the talk. He serves on patrol, protecting his community, and trains others—including an IDF paratrooper, a therapist, and local residents—in combat and self-defense.

Those who serve beside him often remark that his courage, bravery, and unwavering dedication to protecting Am Yisrael mirror the legendary heroism of his father, Motke “The Axeman” Schwartz. Senior police commanders have repeatedly noticed and praised Avi’s relentless commitment and fearless presence on every mission, saying his leadership and instincts set him apart even among elite volunteers.

For Rabbi Schwartz, Torah leadership is not just about words—it is about action, sacrifice, and the willingness to stand on the front lines for the Jewish people, just as his father did before him.

Single, Driven, and On a Mission of Destiny

Currently single, Rabbi Schwartz carries a personal vow: one day to build a strong Jewish family that continues the legacy of his heroic father and beloved parents, brother, Yehuda and grandparents. Since returning to Israel two and a half years ago—and especially after a profound turning point this past April—his energy has been unstoppable, his vision sharper than ever, his mission undeniable: to ignite a new era of Jewish courage, leadership, and greatness.

The Jewish World is Watching