'We are one,' Israeli president tells Conservative movement

Israeli President Isaac Herzog received an honorary degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary during a ceremony in Jerusalem on Wednesday. In his remarks, Herzog told the Conservative Judaism institution, "We are one."

Herzog said Israel and Diaspora Jewry each face distinct challenges, yet share a common future. "The State of Israel and Diaspora Jewry are both facing their own challenges, but the Jewish people have a shared destiny and a shared responsibility," He stated at the President's Residence. He added that fostering unity among Jewish communities worldwide is a core priority of his presidency, and pledged to ensure that the Jewish people "stand together in the face of these challenges."

The president's remarks come amid heightened solidarity within the Jewish world following increased global antisemitism after the Hamas massacre of Oct. 7, 2023. However, theological divisions persist between Israel's Orthodox establishment and more liberal Jewish movements, including the Conservative movement, which has significant presence in the United States.

Herzog characterized the award as a symbolic connection between communities on both sides of the ocean. "It sends a message from Jerusalem that we - on both sides of the ocean - are inseparable. We are one."

Shuly Rubin Schwartz, chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary and the first woman to lead the institution in its 140-year history, praised Herzog as "a sterling exemplar of love for and service to the entire Jewish people," And described him as "the embodiment of true leadership." She noted his commitment to building understanding among groups with historical differences and commended his response to recent crises: "In the most trying of times, you offered a soothing and healing voice that emphasized unity and courage."

Herzog has deep historical ties to the Conservative movement, having attended Camp Ramah, the seminary's affiliated camping network, during the 1970s while his father served as Israel's ambassador to the United Nations. He also attended the Modern Orthodox Ramaz School in Manhattan.

For attendees, the recent surge in antisemitism resonated strongly. Christopher Penello, a 29-year-old rabbinical student from New York who spent the past year studying in Jerusalem, said returning to Israel provided relief from the spike in antisemitism affecting New York and other diaspora communities.