The Jewish Future Is Ours to Build Together

From India to Ethiopia, Mexico City to Madrid, I have encountered Jewish communities whose connection to their identity transcends geography, language, and culture. I have accompanied new immigrants on their journeys to Israel and witnessed the emotion of arriving in a place they had long considered home. These experiences reinforced something fundamental: We are an extraordinarily diverse people, but we share a responsibility to one another that extends far beyond national borders.

That responsibility has been tested profoundly since October 7, 2023. The attacks and their aftermath brought unimaginable suffering to Israeli families and communities, while Jews worldwide confronted rising antisemitism and questions about their security and identity.

Yet I have also witnessed the immense capacity of the Jewish collective to respond. Communities have mobilized resources, volunteers have traveled to Israel, and organizations have worked together to meet urgent needs. This demonstrates an important lesson about leadership: Good intentions and generosity must be matched by strong institutions capable of turning shared purpose into lasting impact. Such institutions are built over generations through relationships, cooperation, and trust.

As I conclude my four years as Chairman of The Jewish Agency for Israel’s Board of Governors, these experiences have reinforced my belief in the power of Jewish collective responsibility.

In truth, this journey dates back to my childhood. I grew up surrounded by builders. My father, and the generation of Jewish leaders who shaped my understanding of community, believed in creating something that would endure. Building was about more than constructing homes or businesses. It was about strengthening communities and ensuring that future generations would inherit something stronger than what came before.

That philosophy has guided my decades of involvement in Jewish communal life, from my early leadership experiences in New Jersey to The Jewish Federations of North America and, most recently, with The Jewish Agency.

One particular conviction continues to grow stronger: The future of the Jewish people depends on our willingness to build it together.

My years in the Jewish federation movement taught me the importance of collective action. From the movement’s mobilization of support for Jews leaving the former Soviet Union through Operation Exodus to helping Jewish communities navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, I witnessed what becomes possible when institutions unite around a shared purpose. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Jewish organizations and communities again mobilized to help families fleeing the war, provide humanitarian relief, and assist those seeking refuge in Israel and elsewhere.

More recently, over the course of my leadership role with The Jewish Agency, some of the most meaningful lessons have come from encounters with individuals. At a summer camp bringing together Israeli teenagers affected by October 7 with their American peers, I remember sitting with one of these young Israelis over lunch, talking about sports and the kinds of things teenagers ordinarily discuss. Here was someone who had experienced extraordinary hardship, yet for a moment, he could simply enjoy being a teenager. I could sense how meaningful it was for him to be surrounded by peers who wanted him to know he was not alone.

That moment captured something essential about the Jewish collective. Its strength is measured not only in the resources we mobilize, but in the relationships we create and the reassurance we offer one another during difficult times.

As the son of Holocaust survivors, I recognize something familiar in the determination of Israelis to rebuild after tragedy. My parents and their generation endured unimaginable suffering, yet remained committed to rebuilding and looking forward. Witnessing that same spirit among Israelis today has deepened my admiration for them and my sense of responsibility as a member of the global Jewish family.

These experiences have reinforced my belief that leadership is not about any one individual. When I visit a family affected by terror or meet a new immigrant, I represent the countless people whose generosity and commitment make that support possible. The message is not that one leader or organization stands with them, but that the Jewish people stand with them.

Looking ahead, our collective responsibility must extend beyond responding to crises. We devote enormous energy to confronting antisemitism and defending our communities. That work remains essential, but the Jewish future cannot be defined solely by the threats we face. It must also be shaped by the communities we build, the traditions we sustain, and the connections we forge with one another.

This is especially important for the next generation. Programs that bring young Jews to Israel and connect the Jewish State with world Jewry are investments in the relationships and identities that sustain Jewish peoplehood. I have been encouraged by the passion of young Jews around the world. Our responsibility is not simply to inspire the next generation, but to give young people the opportunities, relationships, and leadership roles that will allow them to shape the Jewish future themselves.

One of my priorities at The Jewish Agency has been strengthening leadership development and ensuring that people from different backgrounds, communities, and generations have a meaningful place around the table. Collective responsibility does not require uniformity. The Jewish world has always contained differences of opinion, identity, and religious practice. Seeking common ground is an essential expression of Jewish peoplehood.

As I transition from my role as chairman, I remain committed to this work. I am proud to continue, alongside my wife Jane, through chairing The Jewish Agency’s Centennial Campaign, helping strengthen the foundation for its next chapter.

Our responsibility as Jewish leaders is not simply to preserve the legacy we have inherited, but to strengthen it for those who follow. By investing in our young people and embracing shared responsibility, we can build a Jewish future that is stronger, more connected, and more resilient.