By Lenore Walker
Last summer, I received an invitation to participate in a new ‘thinktank’ called, The Voice of the People (VOP) under the auspices of Israel President Herzog. Our job was to advise the President on the future of Israel. No further specifications as to how that was going to happen. As I was both curious and adventurous, I submitted an application thinking there was little chance they would select me, an over 80-year-old Jewish feminist who has never worked in Jewish philanthropy. So, I was surprised when, after several Zoom interviews, I was chosen to be one of the 50 delegates from North America. Another 50 delegates were from Israel, and 50 more from other countries with substantial Jewish populations. Most were like me, non-affiliated with Jewish organizations, but unlike me, under the age of 40.
We were quickly assigned to 10 groups of 15 each to solve one of the problems selected as critical to Israel’s future. My assignment was to create a better relationship between Israel and the Diaspora (countries where Jews lived). I had no idea what that really meant, but enjoyed meeting the other 14 members of my group and our appointed facilitator, Shai Shatran, who is an Israeli academic psychologist on assignment to the IDF reserves since October 7th.
After a few organizational meetings, we learned we were signed up for two years and would be attending an all-expense-paid weeklong conference in Israel with the 150 delegates. In March 2025, we gathered at a hotel in Haifa, where I met some of the most incredible people from all walks of life, who have become life-long friends, as we try to figure out how to help Israel survive, have better relationships, help young Jews develop a strong Jewish Identity, and cure antisemitism. In two years.
During that awesome week, we traveled to pay our respects to the South visiting the site of the Nova Music Festival and Kibbutz where 1200 people were brutally slaughtered and 250 kidnapped by Hamas which began the Gaza war. We visited a military base learning about the iron dome, spent time hearing about the amazing innovative entrepreneurial efforts of Israeli, and met with movers and shakers in everyday life there.
We helped the Israelis understand that whatever happens in Israel affects those of us in the Diaspora. We also helped our Israeli counterparts understand the rising antisemitism in the U.S. and other countries. At the gala celebrating the conclusion of our weeklong adventure, we hobnobbed with the funders of this event, both government dignitaries like President Herzog and major philanthropists.
When we returned home, we began our Sunday meetings for my group where we were tasked with designing innovative projects to help better our relationships. With two others from my group, I’ve embarked on designing a new children’s video series where we help them understand the history of Jewish children in different countries and Israel. Its exciting.
Others have equally challenging projects that we will ‘pitch’ to the staff and funders in November. Those who are chosen will be funded so they can move forward. Meanwhile, we continue to work together to create a new army of Israel supporters who want Israel to survive and thrive in this crazy world that seems to have difficulty understanding who Jews are and how we can live with our Jewish Identity strong enough to withstand the barbs from the rest of the world. Am Israel Chai!
