Elad Strohmayer✓

RT @IsraelinChicago: For the final stop of his Chicago visit, @peter_paltchik spent an evening with the BJBE community for an open conversation about ambition, setbacks, and what comes after an Olympic medal. 🇮🇱🥋 Speaking with Rabbi Adam Wright, Peter discussed the difficult beginnings of his career, handling disappointment, and finding the motivation to set new goals after achieving a lifelong dream. Questions from the audience brought another opportunity to hear his perspective firsthand. The evening closed a busy three days that brought Peter into schools, community centers, and gatherings across Chicago. We’re grateful to everyone who made time to meet him and brought their own questions and experiences to the conversation. Thank you to BJBE and Rabbi Adam Wright for hosting the evening, and to Yossi Melamed for helping make these three days possible. Peter, it’s been a pleasure having you in Chicago. Thank you for the honest conversations and the enthusiasm you brought to every stop. 💙🇮🇱

RT @IsraelinChicago: Different perspectives. A voice for every voter. 🇮🇱🗳️ It’s Election Day in Israel! Across the country, citizens are heading to the polls to cast their ballots for the party lists they want to represent them in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. From first-time voters to those who have cast ballots for decades, each vote is a chance to have a say in the country’s future. Israeli democracy in action.

RT @IsraelinChicago: Israel is heading to the polls! But how does a ballot become a seat in the Knesset, and what happens next? 🇮🇱🗳️ This Election Day, take a closer look at Israel’s parliamentary democracy, from voting for party lists to forming a government. Swipe through for a quick guide to how it works. ➡️

RT @IsraelinChicago: Last week, we had the honor of bringing @peter_paltchik together with Chicago’s Jewish LGBTQ+ community for an event with Ami Institute for Jewish Life to share his Olympic journey and the pride of competing for Israel. 🇮🇱🥋🏳️‍🌈 Peter spoke openly about the work behind his achievements, the disappointments along the way, and how he found the confidence to keep going. His experiences led to a conversation about believing in yourself and staying committed to something you care about, even when progress is difficult. During the Q&A, attendees had the chance to ask about his life and career, hear more of his story, and learn more about what drives him. We’re grateful for opportunities like this to connect people in Chicago with Israeli voices and experiences. Thank you to Adam Soleymani and Antonio Musillami at Ami Institute for Jewish Life for your ongoing partnership and for making everyone feel so welcome.

RT @Israel: #NewProfilePic

RT @AlexGandler: Extremely disappointing to hear of the failures of BBC personnel, the complete lack of empathy and the rigid ideological thinking. 378 people were murdered at the Nova festival by Palestinian terrorists. Another 44 were kidnapped into the hell of captivity in Gaza. Yet the @BBC PR team reportedly thought it was “too political”. Remembering the victims of a massacre should be a matter of basic humanity.

RT @IsraelinChicago: For many at @jccchicago, meeting @peter_paltchik was a chance to speak with someone they had cheered on from thousands of miles away. 🇮🇱🥋 Peter began the final day of his Chicago visit by sharing his story with members of the JCC community. Participants shared their own stories, too, telling him what it had meant to follow his journey and watch him win for Israel. Those personal conversations became a meaningful part of the visit, giving Peter a chance to hear how his achievements had resonated here in Chicago. He also spoke about the fund he established to support promising athletes working toward the Olympics, and his efforts to help others get the opportunities they need to move forward in their sport. Thank you to our partners at JCC Chicago for the warm welcome, for making these conversations possible, and for the work you do to keep our communities connected.

RT @IsraelinChicago: The medals tell one part of @peter_paltchik story. At Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School @BZAEDS, students had the chance to hear what it took to earn them. 🥋🇮🇱 In small-group conversations with sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders, Peter shared the story behind his Olympic journey: years of training, personal sacrifices, injuries, and the determination to keep going through setbacks. He also spoke about what it meant to compete for Israel in the aftermath of October 7. The conversations gave students a chance to ask about his experiences on and off the mat, while student reporters sat down with Peter for an interview for The Eagle, the school’s newsletter. Throughout the visit, Peter encouraged students to pursue their own goals with courage and dedication, sharing how the lessons he learned through judo have shaped his life beyond competition. Thank you to the Bernard Zell faculty and staff for putting so much care into the visit, and to the students for their thoughtful questions and enthusiasm!

RT @IsraelinChicago: Hillel Torah turned Peter Paltchik’s visit into a celebration! 🇮🇱🥋 Students lined the hallways waving Israeli flags, singing “Am Yisrael Chai,” and dancing as they welcomed the Olympic medalist. Peter @peter_paltchik shared his story and the training, perseverance, and challenges behind his Olympic journey. Students watched highlights of his matches, asked questions, and a couple even joined him to try a few judo moves themselves. The school also came together to sing Hatikvah with Peter. Thank you to Hillel Torah’s students, educators, and leadership for such an enthusiastic welcome, and to Lior Kakon for helping bring the visit together!

RT @EladStr: Great to join the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator (MIBA) in Detroit last week for the launch of the U.S.-Israel Innovation Exchange (USIIE)! While states and regions naturally compete for investment and business opportunities, they also recognize that working together makes everyone stronger. This new national network will connect organizations across the U.S., share resources and expertise, and create more opportunities for Israeli innovation and American businesses. Especially now, strengthening our economic ties and demonstrating the value of U.S.-Israel cooperation matters more than ever. Proud that @IsraelinChicago has been a partner in this initiative from the very beginning. Thank you to MIBA, Mark Davidoff, Howard Handler, Gary Torgow, Huntington Bank, and all the partners who made this possible. This is just the beginning! 🇮🇱🇺🇸

RT @TheMossadIL: Hey @grok. Which 20th-century political party most prominently claimed its people were suffering because an out-group was draining national resources and harming them?

New @RebellionPac ad dropping in Michigan. We have to suffer here at home, so Israel can get all its wars. That’s why they buy politicians like Mike Rogers. He promised to serve Israel “unconditionally,” but never made that promise to you.

RT @WalshFreedom: Peace is impossible with people who believe Israel must be wiped off the map. The rest of the world needs to wake up to this. Peace is impossible with Muslims who can’t accept the fact that Israel exists.👇

Former Egyptian Ambassador to Israel Atef Salem explains the deep frustration Muslims carry because Jews are alive and Israel exists. Even without any land dispute, Muslims in Egypt are fed up with their lives and want to wage war against the Jews nearby. He says they cannot stop hating the Jews and Israel. The mere existence of Jews living next to them is intolerable. Peace is impossible not because of borders or security wall, but because the presence of living Jews itself demands blood. What is your response to him?

RT @Israel: How do elections work in Israel? Who gets to vote? And how is Israel's prime minister chosen? 🇮🇱🗳️ Here's a simple guide to Israeli democracy, from casting a ballot to forming a government.

Today, as we mark 31 years since the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, we remember a man who devoted his life to Israel: as a soldier, IDF Chief of Staff, diplomat and prime minister. His service helped shape our country, its security and its pursuit of peace. I was a teenager when he was murdered. I went to the square during the shiva, returned for the thirty-day memorial, and attended every anniversary rally in the years that followed. Those gatherings are part of how I grew up, and how I came to understand how much our country means to me. I think about the future we imagined then, and the one we still want to build. I understand more today than I did as a teenager how difficult peace is to achieve, and how much Israel’s security demands of us. But the difficulties cannot be a reason to stop trying. A strong, secure Israel, living in peace with its neighbors, remains a future worth working for. “Seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalms 34:14)

Apparently, at the Chicago Teachers Union, free speech depends on who is speaking. CTU canceled a screening of Screams Before Silence, Sheryl Sandberg’s documentary about Hamas’s sexual violence on October 7, followed by a panel I was scheduled to join. Their stated reason? The organizers supposedly failed to disclose my participation. The organizers say they informed CTU on September 28 and were told there was no problem. My presence was grounds for cancellation. Yet just months earlier, the same venue accommodated a conference where speakers praised October 7 and supported Iran’s “axis of resistance.” That is a disgrace. I am the son of a kindergarten teacher and the brother of a school principal. My mother chaired the local teachers’ union in my hometown. I grew up understanding why unions matter and why public education matters. Teachers deserve representation. Students deserve an education that encourages questions and open discussion. CTU’s political activism serves neither. I spend my days trying to build dialogue in Chicago, including with people who strongly disagree with Israel. Criticism of Israel is legitimate. I am willing to have difficult conversations. Canceling an event because an Israeli voice will be in the room shuts those conversations down before they can happen. And this screening was about giving a voice to victims of sexual violence. At a time when Hamas’s sexual crimes are denied and dismissed, CTU chose to cancel an opportunity to hear their testimony. What happened to believing survivors? Does that principle disappear when the victims are Israeli? Excluding Israeli voices and silencing testimony about atrocities against Jews deserves to be called out for what it is: discrimination and antisemitism. CTU owes an explanation to Chicago’s teachers and students, and to the victims whose voices it chose to silence.

RT @IsraelMFA: On October 27, Israel’s biggest decisions begin with one small slip of paper. 🗳️🇮🇱 In a region where many cannot choose their leaders, Israelis of all backgrounds and faiths cast their votes. Discover Israeli democracy in action. Read more below.

RT @Israel: What happens when Americans come to Israel to explore our climate tech solutions? 🇮🇱🇺🇸 Through the 50 States 1 Israel program, US professionals attended a climate tech conference and visited Israeli companies to see their technologies firsthand and explore how partnering with Israel can create new opportunities for the US while tackling global environmental challenges. 🌱 📷 Eran Yardeni #climatetech #innovation #sustainability #cleantech #renewableenergy

RT @HenMazzig: BREAKING: Israel has banned United Airlines pilot Sina Amjadian from flying aircraft into Israel after numerous pro-terror posts were found on his social media accounts. He praised Hezbollah and the regime in Iran. Would United let him fly their planes into New York City?

RT @avraham_nir: The UN’s Betrayal - Me Too, unless you're a Jew. When it comes to Israeli women, the UN is betraying its mandate. ​Allow me to translate a post by Yael Sherer, the the Director of the Israeli Lobby for Victims of Sexual Violence on October 7th. Following October 7th massacre and crimes, Yael was exposed through her role to the atrocious sex crimes committed by Palestinian terrorists that day. ​I had the honor of hosting Yael in Oslo during my time as Ambassador there, accompanying her to meetings where she recounted those horrific, chilling crimes. ​The UN has betrayed Israeli women. ​The UN has betrayed its mission. ​The UN has betrayed the very values it is supposed to represent. Here is the translation of her post: "The UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women is furious about a Telegraph article documenting her negligence regarding the rape and sexual violence committed on October 7th and subsequently by terrorist organizations. Yet, she fails to explain why she omitted all these reports from her own reports, claimed there was no verified evidence of rape despite the findings of the UN commission of inquiry, and insisted she was willing to meet and hear from victims and female representatives. I haven’t seen such a blatant lie in a long time. When I myself was in Geneva, Reem Alsalem flatly refused to meet with me, she has never answered my emails to this day, and she didn’t bother to show up at an event on sexual violence and its health impacts because the keynote speaker (myself) was Israeli. So, for the record, she is lying."