RKYHS seniors had the opportunity to hear from Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer. Ambassador Dermer spoke to students from North American Jewish Day Schools on the topic “Private Conversations with Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer” hosted by Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools. Ambassador Dermer reached out to Prizmah offering an exclusive conversation for any eighth or 12th-grade student whose Israel trip had been canceled due to COVID-19.

Students asked about his favorite sports (he likes football, not soccer), his thoughts on the peace process, anti-Semitism, Israeli elections and American political leadership. Sitting in the “Golda” room of the embassy, next to an Andy Warhol painting of Prime Minister Golda Meir, the ambassador shared how he grew up in Miami, Florida and fell in love with Israel at a young age before making aliyah in his 20s. He passionately described his love of America and how that informs his service in Israel—fighting for shared values of freedom and community. “The stronger we are, the closer to peace we will be. My hope is that Israel continues to be strong and that ultimately all of our Arab neighbors will make peace with us,” said the ambassador.