inspiring Jews today

Artificial intelligence is changing the world. But behind every AI chatbot and search engine are enormous data centres moving unfathomable amounts of information every second. As computers became more powerful, moving that information quickly became one of the biggest challenges facing the industry. In 2001, Israeli physicist Dr Michal Lipson began working on an idea that many thought impossible: using light instead of electricity to move information around computer chips.

Widely considered one of the finest Israeli footballers of his generation, Manor Solomon has represented his country on some of football's biggest stages. Born in Kfar Saba, Israel, in 1999, Manor Solomon dreamed of playing football at the highest level. His abilities and determination took him from the Israeli Premier League to major clubs across Europe, while also representing Israel on the international stage. In 2023, Manor signed with English Premier League club Tott

Bari Weiss has built her career around the belief that people should be free to speak, question and disagree. An American journalist and author, Weiss worked at some of the world's most influential publications, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. In 2020, she resigned from The New York Times, publicly arguing that the newspaper had become increasingly intolerant of views that challenged prevailing opinions. Rather than leaving the industry, Weiss cr

Sheryl Sandberg is one of the top business leaders of today. As Chief Operating Officer of Meta (formerly Facebook), she helped grow the company into one of the world's largest technology businesses. A passionate champion of women, Sandberg wrote the bestselling book Lean In, encouraging women around the world to pursue leadership with confidence and break down barriers in the workplace. Following the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, she was concerned by the lack of

Charles Bronfman (born 1931) is a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who has dedicated much of his life to strengthening Jewish identity around the world. After helping build one of Canada's most successful family businesses, Bronfman turned to philanthropy. Rather than simply donating money, he focused on investing in initiatives that would have a lasting impact on future generations. His most significant contribution came in 1999, when he co-founded Birthright Isra

Until October 2023, Rachel Goldberg-Polin was a mother and educator living a relatively private life in Jerusalem. Everything changed when her son, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 attacks. Faced with unimaginable uncertainty and heartbreak, Rachel could easily have retreated into herself. Instead, she became one of the most recognisable voices calling for the release of the hostages. Speaking with dignity, compassion and determination,

Few people are more closely associated with New York than Jerry Seinfeld. Born in Brooklyn in 1954 and raised on Long Island, Seinfeld began his career performing stand-up comedy in New York clubs before becoming one of the most successful comedians in the world. The astronomical success of his television show Seinfeld made him a household name in the 1990s, and one of the most influential figures in modern comedy. Decades after the show's final episode, his humour continues

Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis currently serves as the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, providing spiritual leadership to one of the world's oldest Jewish communities. Born in South Africa in 1956, Mirvis grew up in a family committed to faith, education and social justice. His father was a rabbi who spoke out against apartheid, while his mother trained Black preschool teachers during a period of racial segregation. After moving to Israel as a teenager and receiving rabbinic

A few days ago, chef Raz Shabtai made history. Born in Jerusalem, Shabtai built his culinary career around a simple idea: kosher food should never be seen as a compromise. Drawing on Israeli flavours, local ingredients and family traditions, he created Mutra, a kosher restaurant in Miami that quickly earned a reputation for exceptional food. On the 28th May, Mutra was awarded a Michelin star, making it the first kosher restaurant in the world to hold this prestigious honour.

If Ruth represents the harvests of ancient Israel, Eyal Shani celebrates the flavours of modern Israel. Born in Jerusalem in 1959, Shani is one of Israel’s most famous chefs, known for transforming simple ingredients into something unforgettable. In his hands, tomatoes, cauliflower, olive oil, pita and fresh herbs become something extraordinary. His distinctive, theatrical style has helped redefine how Israeli food is seen around the world. Shani’s cuisine is bold, creati

Born in Ra’anana in 1998 to French Jewish immigrant parents, Noam Bettan had already built a growing music career in Israel before Eurovision, releasing successful singles and a debut album after first gaining national attention on Israeli television. But Eurovision 2026 is his breakout moment. His song Michelle, blended Hebrew, French and English in a dramatic ballad about a toxic relationship. Bettan captivated audiences and earned second place in the public vote, helpi

Yuval Raphael’s journey to the Eurovision stage is one of extraordinary survival and resilience. On 7 October 2023, the then 23-year-old was at the Nova music festival when Hamas terrorists attacked. She escaped to a roadside bomb shelter, where dozens of people crammed inside as gunmen repeatedly returned, firing into the shelter and throwing grenades. Raphael survived by hiding for hours beneath the bodies of those murdered, later speaking in heartbreaking interviews abou

Deni Avdija was born in 2001 in Israel. He grew up around basketball. His father was a professional player, and from a young age he was already competing at a high level. As a teenager, he joined Maccabi Tel Aviv, one of Europe’s top clubs. By 18, he was playing professionally and winning championships. He also represented Israel internationally, leading the under-20 national team to a European Championship title, where he was named MVP. In 2020, he entered the NBA Draft and

J.J. Abrams grew up in Los Angeles, surrounded by the film industry. His father was a television producer, and from a young age he was making his own films. He built his career as a writer and director on projects like Alias, Lost, and Star Trek, learning how to tell big stories and doing so successfully. Then came the opportunity to work on Star Wars. By this point, the franchise had lost some momentum. The earlier films were still loved, but the more recent ones hadn’

If you are of a certain age, you know Debra Messing as the beautiful and spunky Grace Adler from Will & Grace. The show ran for 8 seasons from 1998 to 2006. Debra was one of the biggest TV stars in the world at the time. Her character, Grace was openly Jewish. And Debra herself has always been open about her own identity too. Over the years, she has supported Jewish and Israeli causes, hosting events and backing organisations like Magen David Adom. Debra is a loud and proud

Haviv Rettig Gur is a journalist and senior analyst at The Times of Israel, based in Israel. Born in Jerusalem in 1981, and raised in both Israeli and American contexts, he brings a perspective that connects local experience with an international audience. His role is to explain complex events and provide context, particularly around Israel, history and current events. Since October 7, his voice has become especially prominent. At a time when information has been overwhelming

Martin Seligman was born in 1942 in the United States. He built his career as a psychologist and academic, spending many years at the University of Pennsylvania.For much of its history, psychology focused on what goes wrong. The emphasis was on depression, anxiety and trauma. Seligman changed the question. Instead of only asking how to fix what is broken, he asked what makes life go well. He went on to found the field of positive psychology, the study of what helps people liv

Eylon Levy was born in the UK in 1991 and moved to Israel as a teenager. He studied at Oxford and built a career in media and government communications, including roles in the Prime Minister’s Office. On October 7, he was not an official spokesperson. He began giving interviews from home, explaining what had happened and defending Israel’s position. Those appearances quickly gained attention. Within a short time, the Prime Minister’s Office brought him in as an official g

The lead up to Pesach this year has been anything but normal. Israeli parents have had their children home from school for weeks. Nights have been repeatedly interrupted. For many Israelis, daily life has been punctuated by repeated trips to mamads or bomb shelters. And on top of all that, they prepare for Pesach. Shopping. Cleaning. Cooking. Pesach is usually a time of movement in Israel. Families travel across the country. Flights are full. Homes fill up with relati

Natasha Hausdorff is a British barrister specialising in international law. She comes from a Jewish background and has focused much of her work on legal issues relating to Israel. In recent years, she has become one of the leading voices advocating for Israel in global media. She appears regularly in interviews and public discussions, addressing claims about international law, war and human rights. She is known for her composure in challenging environments. She explains