In a world reshaped by regional conflict, global polarization, and the shifting currents of diplomacy, four Jewish men devoted to diplomacy stand out as beacons of clarity, consistency, and commitment to the Jewish people: Danny Danon, Yechiel Leiter, Marc Stanley, and Charles Kushner.
From the United Nations to Washington’s diplomatic circles, from academic halls to faith-based communities, their influence has been transformational this past year, as Israel and the Jewish people continue to suffer the trauma of October 7 and the multi-front wars it has unleashed. To navigate a complex and stormy world requires key leadership, as these individuals have shown.
Danny Danon: Confronting the world from the podium
Danny Danon is no stranger to the global spotlight. He serves as Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations. This comes at a time when the UN is as hostile to Israel as ever and as countries continue to push for recognition of a Palestinian state.
On September 5, he wrote, “While here at the UN, we are preparing for a particularly turbulent and hostile session of the General Assembly, the people of Israel are demonstrating immense strength. The eternal nation does not fear a long road!”
A longtime member of the Likud party, a former science and technology minister, and a former chairman of World Likud, Danon made international headlines during his first tenure as Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations. He was appointed for a second term in August 2024. “He is the only Israeli ambassador ever to have served in this position twice,” the Foreign Ministry notes.
Danon has played a key role in defending Israel at the UN. He has seen turbulent times there, from the lead-up to the Abraham Accords to the Israel-Hamas War. He consistently challenges UN hypocrisy and highlights Iran’s destabilizing role in the region.
Dr. Yechiel Leiter: The scholar-statesman
A thinker and a practitioner of diplomacy, Dr. Yechiel Leiter represents a unique type of public intellectual with deep policy roots. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, he made aliyah in 1978. He received a PhD in political philosophy from the University of Haifa and has authored several books, including John Locke’s Political Philosophy and the Hebrew Bible (2018).
He assumed his role as Israel’s ambassador to Washington in January 2025. Prior to this essential role for Israel, he served in many other capacities. He was an adviser to former prime minister Ariel Sharon and served as chief of staff to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he was the finance minister.
Ambassador Leiter is a father of eight. His eldest son, Moshe, was killed while leading IDF forces in battle in Gaza on November 10, 2023. Leiter has seen the US-Israel relationship flourish under US President Donald Trump.
He told World Mizrachi that “the new administration immediately put things back on track…. The atmosphere now is one of brotherly love. If we were an estranged brother in the previous administration – we were brothers but estranged, kept out of the inner family circle – now we’re like a younger brother that’s come home, and there’s a feeling of embrace.”
Marc Stanley: The American Jewish bridge-builder
Marc Stanley brings the voice of American Jewry to the global stage. An accomplished attorney from Texas and a former chair of the National Jewish Democratic Council, Stanley was appointed US ambassador to Argentina in 2021 by then-president Joe Biden.
When he was appointed, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency noted that “Stanley, a prodigious fundraiser, is well known among Texas Democrats. He is a former president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association and was chairman of the Texas Public Finance Authority.” As head of the National Jewish Democratic Council, he vocally supported “promoting a secure, democratic Jewish State of Israel.”
When Stanley’s time as ambassador was wrapping up in January 2025, he addressed Argentinians, saying, “I want to thank you all for the memories, friendships, and lessons that will stay with me forever. I love your country, and I hope you’ll come visit ours.”
Speaking to the Buenos Aires Herald in September 2024, he compared the US and Argentina, saying, “We both have what the world needs and wants,” he said. “We both have oil and gas. We both have rare earth minerals. We both have agriculture and livestock. We both have technology. We both have human capital. And we are the perfect partners to feed and fuel the world.”
Charles Kushner: A Force in Jewish philanthropy and diplomacy
Charles Kushner should be a household name in every Jewish community. A real estate magnate, political strategist, philanthropist, and father of Jared Kushner, his influence spans from New York boardrooms to Israeli hospitals and US foreign policy corridors, as the US ambassador to France and Monaco.
As the American envoy, he has stood up for the Jews in France and authored a letter speaking out about antisemitism.
“In France, not a day passes without Jews assaulted in the street, synagogues or schools defaced, or Jewish-owned businesses vandalized. Your own Interior Ministry has reported antisemitic incidents even at preschools.” He said he was prepared to work with French President Emmanuel Macron and Jewish leaders to “forge a serious plan that addresses the roots of antisemitism and defeats it.”
The US president has described Charles Kushner as “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, and dealmaker.”