Dear Friends,
Since the ruthless attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, we have entered a new moment in Jewish history. Israel is at war—against Hamas, against Hezbollah, against the forces of terror that seek to annihilate the Jewish state. And American Jewry has suffered a campaign of organized antisemitism unlike anything we have seen since the 1930s. Of course, we worry about the safety of our Jewish community (especially our sons and daughters on campus), and about the future of the U.S.-Israel alliance. But antisemitism is never just about the Jews—and its rise is a sign of something amiss at the heart of American society and culture.
While Israel fights for its very survival against murderers in the tunnels of Gaza and terrorists in Lebanon armed by Iran with hundreds of thousands of missiles, the Jewish struggle for the soul of America has come to our doorstep. At this year’s Jewish Leadership Conference—which will take place on December 8, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in New York City—we at Tikvah will seek to answer the call.
The JLC is Tikvah’s flagship gathering of Jews, Zionists, and patriotic Americans dedicated to marshaling Jewish ideas and talent to help the United States meet the cultural, educational, and geopolitical challenges of our age. It is an important gathering of Jewish civic leaders and a galvanizing event for our growing community of supporters, students, and friends.
At JLC 2024, we will explore:
• How Jews can help revive American higher education
• Antisemitism and the fate of Western civilization
• The future of the U.S.-Israel alliance and the 2024 election
• Jewish classical education
• How Jewish values can save our children from the corruptions of social media
• The hard-won lessons of Jewish history and their meaning for today’s challenges
• Why we need a strong Jewish-Christian alliance
JLC is also an indispensable benefit event for supporting Tikvah’s ever-growing suite of educational programs for thousands of young Jews. In the coming weeks, we will begin accepting sponsorships for this year’s conference. We’ll also be announcing our full list of speakers, the winners of this year’s Jewish Parents Forum Award, and our 2024 Herzl Prize laureate. I encourage you to keep an eye on your inbox.
The United States of America has been the greatest Diaspora home the Jewish people have ever known. At this moment of challenge to this nation and its values, the time has come for Jews to take responsibility for its defense and renewal. The Jewish Fight for America is here. Will you join Tikvah in leading this battle of ideas?
With best wishes, Elliott Abrams
Chairman, Tikvah
Co-Chair, Jewish Leadership Conference
