Imagine spending years of your life leaving your house each morning before most people wake up and returning late at night after most people come home, to serve your people. You’ve missed celebrations, vacations, family get-togethers, and the simple pleasure of dinner at home. Shabbat is no longer Shabbat, a good night’s sleep is a fleeting dream, and a day off is a fantasy akin to a flight to Mars.
One would think such a faithful servant of his people and his family would be greeted at his home with adoring crowds bearing gifts in gratitude for the sacrifices he had made for the country. Even those who disagree with the policies and decisions of the government would have the decency to acknowledge the efforts of the government official and express their respect.
That thought would be wrong. Instead of being greeted by grateful crowds, Ron Dermer and his family had protesters outside of their home for close to two years, yelling and screaming in uncontrolled rage at all hours. One rabbi even found it acceptable to yell over a bullhorn through the windows of the Dermer home. Their behavior isn’t only shameful; it’s embarrassing.
Ron Dermer, strategic affairs minister and former Israeli ambassador to the US, has been the “quiet architect” of Israel’s survival. A Miami-born visionary whose American savvy and Zionist fire have turned existential threats into strategic triumphs, Dermer has not only fortified Israel’s defenses against Hamas, Iran, and global isolation over the last two years but has redefined diplomacy as moral clarity and unapologetic strength.
Dermer is one of Israel’s greatest unsung heroes, often dubbed “Bibi’s Brain” for his pivotal role advising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Dermer co-authored the bestselling 2004 book The Case for Democracy with Natan Sharansky, influencing global discourse on freedom.
He joined Netanyahu’s team in 2008, crafting speeches that shaped Israel’s narrative, including the iconic 2015 Congress address on Iran’s nuclear threat. As Israel’s ambassador to the United States from 2013 to 2021, he forged key alliances, bolstering bipartisan support amid turbulent US-Israel relations. Appointed strategic affairs minister in 2022, Dermer has excelled in countering Iran’s aggression and advancing Abraham Accords normalization.
Bibi’s confidant was appointed as an observer-member of the five-person war cabinet immediately after October 7, 2023. In this role, he bridged military brass and political resolve, ensuring Israel’s response was both ruthless and righteous. A masterstroke of moral courage, Dermer played an instrumental role in securing the November 2023 ceasefire, convincing a skeptical cabinet to accept terms that freed over 100 hostages. This was the first major diplomatic win against Hamas, blending compassion with strategy.
Dermer had to navigate tensions with Biden admin.
During the first stages of the war, as a vital US liaison, Dermer navigated Biden-era tensions, averting arms embargoes and securing billions in aid amid Gaza’s fury. Despite past Obama clashes, he rebuilt trust, ensuring America and Israel stood shoulder-to-shoulder on eliminating Hamas.
In February 2025, he was elevated to head the hostage-release talks, replacing Mossad Director David Barnea. Dermer inherited a poisoned chalice: 50 captives amid stalled Doha rounds. His strategy pivoted from concessions to total victory.
He insisted on Hamas’s disarmament and the IDF’s retention of the Philadelphi Corridor, thwarting terror’s leverage while advancing partial deals. In 2025’s high-stakes Trump-Netanyahu summits, Dermer mapped the “formula of the century” that linked hostage returns to Gaza’s demilitarization and Saudi normalization, turning despair into a road map for peace.
DERMER HAD to balance the understandable frustration and anger of hostage families with the need to disarm and eliminate Hamas. In an April 2025 speech at a Jerusalem summit, he explained Israel’s strategy of the “three pillars.” Israel aimed to dismantle Hamas, neutralize Gaza threats, and return all hostages within a year.
Hamas’s leader, Yahya Sinwar, had planned the October 7 massacre to stall Israel-Saudi Arabia normalization talks. His plan worked: The longer Israel fought in Gaza, the more reluctant the Saudis were to engage in talks. He revived Abraham Accords momentum, advancing Saudi talks despite the war’s chill. In a September 2025 call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Dermer conditioned normalization on Hamas’s defeat, freezing but refocusing Arab buy-in on Israel’s security.
In the 12-day war with Iran in June 2025, Dermer played a key role as liaison between Israel and America. His diplomatic efforts ensured hand-in-hand cooperation between America and Israel’s political leadership and the two countries’ militaries. The American and Israeli attacks on Iran stalled, if not destroyed, Iran’s nuclear program and defanged Israel’s strongest enemy.
The world watched as Prime Minister Netanyahu, Knesset Speaker Ohana, and US President Trump all recognized and credited Dermer with the recent agreement to end the war in Gaza and return the hostages. His key role in securing Israel’s security, the hostages’ return, and Israel’s diplomatic victories was obvious to all. The recent agreement wouldn’t have happened without his involvement.
Israeli media recently reported that Netanyahu announced during a cabinet meeting that Dermer “will soon finish his role” as a minister in the government. The prime minister said that his right-hand man would remain involved in several unspecified matters. Even if Dermer stays on, helping in certain matters, his downgraded role will undoubtedly weaken Israel’s effectiveness. His contributions have been so crucial to Israel’s success that his absence will be detrimental to Israel.
Dermer is the perfect example of our sages’ description of a public servant, someone who serves the community in faithfulness. Dermer could live a life of ease, without the constant criticism and despicable abuse his family faces whenever they walk out of their homes.
Instead, his dedication to the Jewish people and strong Zionism pushed him to take on roles that forced him to give up his American citizenship, move away from home for over 10 years of his life, and miss out on the normal life he deserved.
The Jewish people owe him a large debt of gratitude. I pray that the Jewish people’s well-known prayer for servants of the community comes true for Ron Dermer and his family. May God pay the Dermers their due reward, remove all illness from him and his family, heal them, and forgive all their sins. I pray God sends blessings and success in all the work of their hands, together with all their brethren in Israel.
The writer is a certified interfaith hospice chaplain in Jerusalem and the mayor of Mitzpe Yeriho, where she enjoys spending time with her family.