Meet the key figures shaping the Jerusalem Post Miami Summit

On January 13, the Jerusalem Post Group will hold the second Jerusalem Post Miami Summit, in partnership with The Shul of Bal Harbour and Israel Discount Bank. The Guest of Honor at the event will be Steve Witkoff,  United States Special Envoy for Peace Missions. The event will explore the most pressing issues facing the Jewish and Israeli communities today, with a forward-looking focus on innovation, leadership, and global impact. Prominent voices from government, business, diplomacy, and community leadership will be featured at the conference, with dedicated sessions on the future of Diaspora Jewry, Israel’s role globally, and strengthening US-Israel relations. Amid changing geopolitics and evolving Diaspora-Israel relations, the conference will serve as a platform for powerful ideas, bold discussions, and building bridges across continents.

Inbar Ashkenazi, CEO of the Jerusalem Post Group, expressed her belief that the meeting of the minds that will take place at the Summit will yield positive results for the Jewish world. “At a moment of profound global change, the Jerusalem Post Conference in Miami serves as a vital meeting point for the ideas, leadership, and partnerships that will shape the future of the Jewish world. By bringing together Israeli security leaders, US policymakers, innovators, philanthropists, and global influencers, we are creating a forum that moves beyond conversation toward vision, responsibility, and action. 

Avi Levi, President and CEO of Israel Discount Bank, said the war has tested Israel and proven it to be stronger and more resilient. “Forged through a horrific war and immense cost, Israel was not weakened,” he said. “Instead, the resilience of its society and the agility of its private sector have driven the country to emerge stronger and more determined to succeed. There is meaningful potential for accelerated growth, particularly as we deepen regional integration under the Abraham Accords. However, realizing Israel’s full potential will require focus, discipline, and execution. Investor confidence depends on the rule of law, transparent governance, and regulatory certainty.” 

Conference co-chairs Nancy Jacobson, who heads the No Labels political organization, and her husband, businessman, strategist, and author Mark Penn, said that one of the key aspects of the conference will be the dialogue it generates. “At a moment of division on both sides of the US-Israel relationship, the value of bringing leaders together to exchange ideas, challenge assumptions, and explore partnerships cannot be overstated,” they shared. “The Miami Summit creates exactly the kind of space where dialogue turns into understanding—and hopefully into action.” 

The Jerusalem Post Miami Summit will bring together some of the world’s top business leaders.  Leading participants spoke with the Post about the messages that they want to share at the Miami Summit. 

Israeli-American entrepreneur, industrialist, and philanthropist Uzi Yemin, founder and Executive Chairman of Delek US, said that success comes from a combination of Israeli and American ingenuity. “From Americans, I have learned how to build systems, scale, and dream big. From being Israeli, I learned caution, skepticism, speed, and resilience. American culture is about expansion. Israeli culture is about survival. Together, they create balance.” 

Haim Bibas, head of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, who will be speaking at the Summit, plans to impart the lessons that Israeli municipal leaders have learned in managing urban spaces in the 21st century. “Using the technological tools we have developed—both during the war and beforehand—we can build smarter, safer, AI-driven cities that provide better services and stronger communities. We want to bring this knowledge to municipalities and communities across the US and around the world.” 

Yael Yativ, who represents Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital, said, “My aim for this conference is clear: to highlight the importance and impact of Samson Assuta Ashdod University Hospital – Israel’s newest and most innovative public hospital with over 52 departments, units and clinics of medical excellence and research, while redefining the way public healthcare services should operate and serving as a role model in public healthcare. All this while looking towards the future with massive investment in educating Israel’s brainpower and creating Israel’s leading physicians and scientists of tomorrow.” 

In light of the twelve-day war with Iran in June 2025, and recent threats regarding the possible renewal of hostilities, Israel’s defense systems will undoubtedly be an important focus of discussion at the Miami Summit, and Boaz Levi, CEO of Israel Aerospace Industries, said that his company is ready. “IAI’s operational track record reflects consistently high levels of reliability, performance, and readiness. These state-of-the-art systems have saved countless lives and prevented billions of dollars in damage on the ground from thousands of attacks.” 

Gilad Erdan, formerly Israel’s ambassador to the UN and today the Global President of Magen David Adom, explained that his position with MDA enables him to present Israel in its true light. “As ambassador, I witnessed firsthand the way the United Nations always attempted to delegitimize Israel and portray us negatively. Today, as Global President of Magen David Adom, I am privileged to demonstrate the critical importance of MDA as the backbone of Israel’s resilience and our commitment to saving everyone who needs help. My MDA role has exposed me to the best of Israeli society – the 39,000 staff and volunteers, 90% of whom are volunteers, are prepared to risk everything to help save lives every moment of every day.” 

For Monik Konfino, CEO of the Shalem Foundation, which works to promote and improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in local authorities in Israel, the conference presents a unique opportunity “to connect public policy, local action, and international partnerships. Miami is a central hub of global leadership, innovation, and Jewish–Israeli dialogue, bringing together governments, local authorities, philanthropy, and the business sector. At a time of global social challenges—resilience, inclusion, and shared responsibility—the conference enables professional dialogue, mutual learning, and the creation of sustainable collaborations.” 

Dubi Weissenstern, CEO of ZAKA, Israel’s full-scale emergency response network, who will also be appearing at the Washington Summit, said that his organization views civilian rescue teams as paramount in emergencies. “When disaster strikes, the first responders are almost always the people already there – neighbors, volunteers, and ordinary citizens who refuse to wait for help. On October 7 and again in the north, it was civilian medics and community rescue teams, armed with little more than radios and courage, who ran toward danger and saved lives, often at the cost of their own. These moments prove that the critical window in any emergency belongs to civilians on the ground, not distant systems. If governments do not train, equip, integrate, and support these responders – and recognize those who fall – they are not just outdated, they are failing their people.” 

One of the most critical issues that Israel is facing today is the lack of haredi (ultra-orthodox) participation in the IDF, which has been keenly felt over the past two years. Yossi Levi, CEO of the Netzah Yehuda Association, the founding body of haredi enlistment tracks in the IDF, will be addressing attendees at the Summit. “We are building the next generation of commanders and officers in the IDF,” he said. “We need to bring thousands of haredim into the IDF through hesder yeshivot and mechinot, and we need to hire more therapists to address the issue of mental health. We’re coming to Miami to find partners.” 

World Emunah Director and CEO Meira Lerner said that her goal at the conference is to be the voice for women. “I want to tell the world: We are here. We are this voice for women. There shouldn’t be a struggle to find women leaders. We have them. They’re here and ready to have their voices heard as the incredible leaders they are.” 

Bar Ilan University President Prof. Arie Zaban noted that there are many markers of academic success, and educators must understand the overriding purpose of education. “Growth alone doesn’t define success. The core question is what kind of institution we become. Technology can make us forget people. Efficiency, scale, AI – these are vital, but they are not the reason we exist. We exist to help people improve their lives.” 

Photojournalist Chen Schimmel, whose photos of the massacres that took place on October 7 are featured in her recently released book, “October 7: Bearing Witness,” said, “I want to affirm the values we stand for – moral courage, the sanctity of life, the dignity of every person, and the enduring right of the Jewish people to defend our home. This is the legacy we’ve inherited, and the future we intend to safeguard.”

Leket Israel CEO Gidi Kroch will discuss how Leket, the National Food Bank, contributes to food security. “We are not a welfare organization. We provide an economic solution to food loss. Our primary activity is food rescue. Food rescue is part of food security – that’s not ideology. It’s math.”

Tony Gelbart, Co-Founder and Chairman of Nefesh B’Nefesh, will share the ways in which aliyah has become much more practical in the 21st century. “What was once a journey marked by extreme hardship has become in the modern era remarkably accessible and achievable. Today, we’ve removed and addressed so many of the barriers. We’ve shown that aliyah is possible for virtually everyone, regardless of age or profession.”

Brig. Gen. (Res.) Amir Avivi, founder and chairman of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (Habitchonistim) will be discussing Israel’s next steps in Gaza. “Only Israel can dismantle Hamas,” he stated. “Hamas is at its weakest, and we have all the required conditions to achieve the mission, but without hostages, Israel’s ability to do this is more promising than ever. Only when Israel is strong will there be peace. When we are weak, there is no peace.”

Ido Mahatzri, CEO and Executive Director of TALMA, will highlight how English education empowers Israel’s next generation—academically, professionally, and globally. “Spoken English is a key to opportunity, and in Israel, it can be a meaningful tool for closing social and geographic gaps,” he said. “Our mission goes beyond language acquisition; English is a gateway to confidence, global citizenship, and economic mobility.”

Ester Ben-David, founder and CEO of Zionist Investments, a strategic real estate firm connecting international Jewish families and investors with Israel’s fastest-growing regions, said, “When you invest in Israel today, you are rebuilding communities and restoring continuity. We aim to bring life back to towns and families that had been silenced after October 7. This is our mission.”

Bishop Robert Stearns, founder and Executive Director of Eagles’ Wings, who has mobilized Christian support for Israel, said, “Eagles’ Wings is committed to connecting the next generation of Christian leaders to the Jewish people and the State of Israel. If we do not act now, Israel risks losing the historic and consequential support of Christians who have long championed the Jewish state on the global stage.