The Most Engaging Speakers in the World
The Most Engaging Speakers in the World
Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, is a diplomat, researcher, writer, lecturer and consultant, dedicated to education through politically-incorrect thinking.
He is an insider on US-Israel relations, Middle East affairs and Jewish-Arab demographics. His weekly articles are published in Israel and in the US. He is a consultant to US and Israeli legislators and their staff.
A graduate of UCLA and the University of Texas at El Paso, Ambassador Ettinger served as Minister for Congressional Affairs at Israel's Embassy in Washington, Israel's Consul General in Houston, Texas, Director of Israel's Government Press Office and Head of Middle East Research Unit in Israel's Civil Service.
As former White House press secretary, Ari Fleischer was the primary spokesperson for President George W. Bush and delivered the daily White House briefings from 2001 to 2003.
He previously served as the spokesperson for the Bush-Cheney presidential campaign. In his almost four years working for President Bush, he served as spokesperson during the historic presidential recount, September 11th, two wars, and the anthrax attack.
His best-selling book, Taking Heat, details his years in the White House and reached #7 on The New York Times Best Sellers list.
Prior to joining the Bush campaign, Fleischer was the national spokesperson and communications director for Elizabeth Dole's presidential campaign. He has also worked on Capitol Hill as a press secretary to three Congressmen and one U.S. Senator.
Fleischer is a native of Pound Ridge, New York and a 1982 graduate of Vermont's Middlebury College. Now president of his own firm, Ari Fleischer Communications Inc., he offers advice to clients in the corporate and sports worlds on how to handle the press. He is also a Fox News contributor.
He resides in Westchester County, New York, with his wife, Becki, and their two children.
Daniel Flesch is a former Spokesman and Senior Advisor to Israel’s Mission to the United Nations, having served under Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations and United States Gilad Erdan and Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon. Serving at the forefront of Israel’s public communications efforts to the UN and American Jewish community, he interfaced with senior diplomats, domestic and international journalists and television personalities to advance policy and communications objectives. His writings can be found in speeches delivered to the Security Council and General Assembly, and articles published in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Jerusalem Post, NY Post, Washington Post, Jewish News Syndicate and other leading outlets.
Daniel previously worked as a Senior Analyst at Avascent, a leading aerospace and defense consulting firm, where he worked with Fortune 500 companies and developed business with Israel defense firms.
Daniel was the Founder and Executive Director of Fuel for Truth – DC, an Israel education and advocacy program for young professionals, where he gave dozens of lectures on topics ranging from Jewish and Israeli history, Middle East regional dynamics, current political issues, and how to combat anti-Israel and anti-Zionism bias.
From 2010-2012, Daniel voluntarily enlisted as a “lone soldier” in the Israel Defense Forces, where he served in the 202nd Paratrooper Battalion and was twice recognized as Outstanding Soldier in the Platoon. During his service, he wrote a much-viewed blog, “From the USA to the IDF”, which was carried by The Jerusalem Post. He has spoken about his service as a lone soldier at various forums.
Following 2014’s Operation Protective Edge, Daniel published “Slandering Americans Who Fight For Israel” in Commentary Magazine on the accusation that Americans who serve in the Israel Defense Forces are anti-American, and was interviewed live on CNN. He has published and interviewed in a variety of other outlets, including The Algemeiner and CNBC. In 2017, Daniel was a featured speaker at the American Zionist Movement’s National Conference.
Daniel received his M.A. in Strategic Studies and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and his B.A. in Political Science and History from the University of Illinois.
Speaking topics include: Israel and the United Nations; Serving Israel: in uniform, in the classroom and in the UN; Making the case: Israel in the media; Regional military and security briefing; A lone soldier’s service in the IDF; Israel’s diplomatic renaissance: how & why; Past, present & future of US-Israel relations; Israeli history: from biblical to modern; How to teach and advocate for Israel
Prof. Chuck Freilich was a deputy national security adviser in Israel. Ever since leaving government, Chuck has “commuted” between Harvard and Tel Aviv University (TAU) and now Columbia, NYU and TAU, where he teaches political science.
Chuck is the award-winning author of Zion’s Dilemmas: How Israel Makes National Security Policy; Israeli National Security: A New Strategy for an Era of Change; the forthcoming Israel and the Cyber Threat: How the Startup Nation Became a Global Cyber Power; and has begun work on a new book on the US-Israeli military and strategic relationship. He is an insatiable author of op-eds and appears frequently on US and Israeli media.
Chuck is a thought-provoking and riveting speaker, combining the hands-on experience of a senior defense official and depth of an academic scholar, with a deep love for Israel and a humorous approach towards the foibles of Israeli life. As an American born Israeli, he truly speaks the language of American audiences.
Chuck’s topics include:
The Iranian nuclear threat and regional expansionism • US-Israeli relations • A two-state solution in 45 minutes • How the start of the nation became a global cyber power • Israel’s national security strategy • Israeli national security policymaking processes • Hezbollah and Hamas
Author | Spiritual Teacher | Inspirational Speaker
Moshe Gersht is a sought out spiritual teacher in Jerusalem. A student of Torah, Kaballah, and Chasidus, he shares ancient mystical and philosophical wisdom in a way that is practical, relatable, and enjoyable.
For nearly a decade Moshe tour the states as the singer and songwriter for a popular Los Angeles based rock band. After a career of licensing songs to MTV, playing the Sunset Blvd circuit at age thirteen, and even performing at MetLife Stadium, Moshe chose to pursue a life of truth and meaning on a different stage.
The next fourteen years were spent in the deep spiritual practice and in-depth study of Torah. Today, Moshe seamlessly connects and expresses these fundamental spiritual ideas with universal principles of psychology, spirituality, and self-development. He understands the true nature of the human mind and our collective struggles and has devoted his life to helping people align with their purpose, peace, and inner joy.
In 2020, Moshe began his social media presence and by the end of the year had amassed over ten thousand engaged followers across six platforms. This includes his growing Youtube channel that has over 150,000 channel views to date.
In February 2021, Moshe releases his second book, It’s All The Same To Me: A Torah Guide To Inner Peace and Love of Life, which has garnered the attention of many other spiritual leaders, Deepak Chopra and Rabbi Manis Friedman among them. A book that promises to deliver a fresh new look at consciousness, happiness, and loving the life you live, he is now reaching a global audience that is captivated by his work. Sensitive and soft spoken, his care for those he teaches and guides is palpable.
Michael Goodwin is the chief political columnist for The New York Post and nypost.com. He writes on national, international and New York subjects in a full-page column that appears each Wednesday and Sunday.
Goodwin also offers regular commentary on Fox News and Fox Business television and on numerous radio stations.
Before joining The Post in 2009, he was the political columnist for The New York Daily News and earlier served as that paper’s Executive Editor and Editorial Page Editor.
In 1999, he led the Daily News Editorial Board to its first Pulitzer Prize in 58 years for a series of editorials revealing corruption at the famed Apollo Theatre. His Editorial Board also was awarded the George Polk Award in 2000 for securing basic rights for migrant farm workers.
He is the co-author of “I, Koch,” a 1985 unauthorized biography of New York’s former mayor, Edward I. Koch. In 2005, Goodwin edited a series of essays called “New York Comes Back,” a retrospective on the Koch mayoralty. The book accompanied an exhibit at The Museum of the City of New York that Goodwin helped organize.
He began his newspaper career at the New York Times, serving as City Hall bureau chief, investigative reporter and sports media columnist, and later spent three years as an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.
A native of Lewistown, Pa., Goodwin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from Columbia. He and his family live in New York.
A veteran of the Israeli army, he recovered from a grave injury. Now he defends Israel while urging Israeli Arabs to integrate into Israeli society.. During the Second Lebanon War, Haddad lost his foot, which was later reattached.
His experiences led him and some like-minded colleagues to found the organization Vouching for Each Other. The group includes Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and Bedouins. The goal of the organization, said Haddad, “is to bridge gaps of mistrust, to help Arab Israelis become more a part of Israeli society.”
Born in Haifa, second son of four children, he moved with his family to Nazareth.
At 18, Yoseph decided to volunteer in the Israeli army. He was accepted to the Golani bridgade where he served and completed a commander’s course receiving an award for excellence, after which he was placed in battalion 51.
In 2006, as Yoseph was nearing the end of his service in the IDF, the Second Lebanon War broke out. During the course of the fighting he lost 3 commanders, seven friends and a soldier under his command.
At a battle in Bint J’bil, four days before a ceasefire was established, a Kornet missile shot at his forces hit a wall near him and exploded. The impact was so strong that he was severely injured; he lost his leg and had multiple wounds all over his body and face.
Rehabilitation was a long process that took about a year. Dedicated treatment, much faith and determination helped Yoseph recuperate and overcome the injuries. Joseph’s leg was reattached in the process and today he can even play soccer once again!
On account of this fateful experience, the injury that he suffered and the rehabilitation process, Yoseph decided to dedicate his life to showcasing the beautiful sides of the State of Israel and the true situation of Israeli-Arabs. He speaks before many audiences, especially students, and he disputes and fights organizations that boycott Israel.
Since he felt that while he was out of the country defending Israel, at home Arab Israeli society was facing a crisis of its own and was not integrating into mainstream Israeli society, he decided to take it upon himself to dedicate his time and efforts to work on this as well.
He established, Vouch for Each Other to that end. His aim is be the catalyst of change, bridging between the Arab sector of Israeli society with Israeli society as whole.
Lahav Harkov, the Senior Contributing Editor of The Jerusalem Post, is JPost’s Diplomatic Correspondent, analyzing and reporting on Israel’s relations with the world, the Prime Minister’s office, the National Security Council, the Foreign Ministry, and more.
Lahav was JPost’s top analyst and reporter in the Knesset for over 8 years and was The Jerusalem Post‘s former News Editor and managing editor of JPost.com. Lahav is an expert on Israel’s domestic and international politics, having interviewed major figures across the Israeli political spectrum, and has the inside scoop on the country’s top lawmakers and diplomats.
Lahav is often invited to lecture on Israeli government and politics in Israel and abroad by organizations like AIPAC, the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, and others. International news outlets have sought her insights and analysis about breaking news. Lahav grew up in New Jersey and moved to Israel at age 17. She lives in Tel Aviv with her husband and two children.
Yoel Hasson held numerous high profile positions in Israel’s Knesset (parliament) for eleven years. He served as Chairman of the coalition, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, Chairman of the State’s Control Committee, Opposition Whip, President of the World Zionist Congress, Chairman of the Betar movement and personal councilor to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
Hasson is a leading influencer in Israeli society and currently heads “The Cabinet” - one of Israel’s most prominent lobby companies with access to the highest levels of government.
Gil Hoffman is the chief political correspondent and analyst for The Jerusalem Post. Well-connected to Israeli and Palestinian leaders, he has interviewed every major figure across the Israeli political spectrum, has been interviewed by top media on six continents and is a regular analyst on CNN, Al-Jazeera and other news outlets.
Called "The most optimistic man in Israel" by Israel Television, Hoffman provides a behind the scenes look at the intrigue and humor in the Israeli political arena. He was raised in Chicago, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northwestern University's School of Journalism, and wrote for the Miami Herald and Arizona Republic before moving to Israel.
A reserve soldier in the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, he has lectured in every major English-speaking country in the world, more than half the Canadian provinces, and recently made history in Hawaii by becoming the first speaker to have lectured about Israel in all 50 US states. He lives with his family in Jerusalem.
Malcolm Hoenlein is the Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, the coordinating body for 53 national Jewish organizations.
He received his B.A. from Temple University and completed his doctoral course work at the University of Pennsylvania where he taught International Relations and was a Middle East specialist at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was the Founding Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater New York and of the Greater New York Conference on Soviet Jewry.
Mr. Hoenlein appears regularly in the media, including three weekly nationally syndicated radio broadcasts, and has lectured and met leading officials throughout the world. A recipient of many awards, including the Guardian of Jerusalem, the highest recognition of the capital city, the Guardian of Zion award, the Defender of Israel award, four Honorary Doctorates, and two honorary Fellowships, he is associated with and serves on the boards of many communal, educational and civic organizations.
He serves as the President of the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, on the board of the Council for Secure America, the Secure Community Network, and as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is associated with several foundations, including the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation and the Mort Zuckerman Foundation.
In 2017, Sarai Idan was crowned Miss Universe Iraq and selected to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. Like her fellow competitors, she embarked on this journey with pride to represent her people on the world stage. However, what she would experience during the pageant would set her apart from her competitors and change her forever.
During the pageant, Sarai posed for a photograph with Miss Israel, Adar Gandelsman, and shared it on her Instagram — a an expression of peace and love. Immediately following the post, Sarah received hostile criticism, hateful comments, and death threats directed at her and her family.
This experience linked Sarai and her Israeli counterpart in a story that sent ripples throughout the entire Middle East region – solely because she, an Iraqi, posed with Adar, an Israeli. Her family was forced to flee Iraq, and Sarah has remained fearful of returning home since.
From this experience, Sarai knew this would only be the beginning of her commitment to connecting Muslims and Jews, Arabs and Israelis, beyond borders, differences in faith, and age-old conflicts, united in amity and common ground.
Often dubbed as the Jewish Indiana Jones, Simcha Jacobovici has achieved world fame through his films that uncover the hidden history of the Jews. A Speaker to the European Parliament, Jacobovici, a three-time Emmy Award winning director/producer, has circumvented the globe in search of hidden mysteries from searching out the Lost Ark of the Covenant to The Lost Tribes of Israel to discovering descendants of “Marranos” (forcibly converted Jews) to finding ancient Jewish civilizations in Ethiopia and Ghana.
His presentations take you on adventures that are seeped in history and modern day excitement. Among Jacobovici's many films exploring the Jewish experience are: Falasha: Exile of the Black Jews (CBC), Deadly Currents (Discovery Channel /CBC), Expulsion and Memory: Descendants of the Hidden Jews (Vision TV/TV Ontario), Quest For the Lost Tribes (A&E/CBC), The Struma (HBO/Channel 4/History Television/Israel Broadcasting Authority) and The Exodus Decoded (History Channel/Discovery Channel).
A New York Times Best Selling author and acclaimed investigative journalist, Jacobovici is also known for his program, The Naked Archaeologist on the History Channel worldwide.
His most recent series is Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (Epix, CBC, BBC, Fremantle), a six-part non-scripted series hosted and co-produced by Hollywood icon Samuel L. Jackson. Enslaved is the most comprehensive series ever made on the transatlantic slave trade. It tells this epic and tragic story using a modern day quest for sunken slave ships as the springboard to the larger narrative.
Avi Jorisch is a seasoned entrepreneur and the author of five books, including Thou Shalt Innovate: How Israeli Ingenuity Repairs the World (2018), which, by 2021, will appear in over 40 languages.
A former official in the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Defense, Avi is a senior fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, a member at the Council on Foreign Relations and the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). He is also the founder of IMS, a merchant processing company that works with clients nationwide.
In the past two decades, Avi has lectured around the world and has published articles in nearly 50 influential outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Foreign Affairs, and has appeared on CNN, CSPAN, Fox News, MSNBC and the 700 club.
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