We witnessed something extraordinary. 150 council members, 10 facilitators, 10 fellows, and leaders gathered for the first-ever Voice of the People conference.
From the moment everyone arrived, the energy was undeniable. There was curiosity, inspiration, and a deep desire to connect. Even outside of structured sessions, council members actively sought out one another, exchanging ideas, stories, and experiences. As one council member shared, “I was so honored to be in the room with so many exceptional change-makers – talking about issues that matter deeply but rarely get discussed openly.”
Many described this experience as life-changing, highlighting not only the diversity of the council but also the meticulous attention to detail in organizing the event. As one attendee put it, “Every aspect was so thoughtfully considered; it was truly the best conference I’ve attended.”
In late 2024, Voice of the People conducted a global survey, gathering insights from over 10,000 submissions. “Diversity of voices matters – only if it utilizes the wisdom of the crowd,” one council member shared, reflecting on the importance of how these topics were chosen. From these responses, the five core topics selected for our first cohort to tackle over the next two years are:
One of the most profound moments of the conference was visiting the Nova Festival site, where innocent lives were tragically taken on October 7th. Standing there together reinforced why our work matters so deeply. It was a powerful reminder of what’s at stake.
To support the efforts of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum , you can contribute here.
Our CMO & CPO, Neta Danciger, presented an engaging session focused on the results from our global survey, diving deep into critical insights to inform the council’s work ahead. “The data presentation was eye-opening – not just for its content, but also for the interactive way it engaged everyone in the room,” noted one attendee. This detailed data report will be publicly available soon.
Inspiration Day at the Madatech in Haifa, Israel’s national science museum, brought the council face-to-face with trailblazing organizations solving complex challenges. Presentations included Innovation Africa, Rafael’s Iron Dome, Healthy.io, BeeHero, Project 929, the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, CitiZone, Imagry, and Belkin Vision. It was a chance for council members to hear directly from innovators who turned problems into tangible solutions, exemplifying the core purpose of Voice of the People.
The conference culminated in an unforgettable gala, MC’d by council member Tiffany Harris, featuring an exclusive interview with President Isaac Herzog and Tzvika Klein – Editor-In-Chief of The Jerusalem Post (read the full transcript here). The evening was enriched by artistic performances and a deeply moving poem from council member Aija Mayrock who was then joined on stage by council members Chama Mechtaly, Rachel Kesner and Rabbi Chaim Danzinger. We wrapped up the evening with a beautiful performance of Hatikva by council member Michael Valdes.
“The gala beautifully combined reflection, inspiration, and a powerful sense of community,” one council member noted.
For more highlights and content from the conference follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Linkedin. We’ll continue sharing exclusive moments from this historic gathering over the coming weeks.
We extend heartfelt gratitude to President Isaac Herzog for joining us, not once, but twice, and to our dedicated partners – the Azrieli Foundation, Wilf Foundation, and Drahi Foundation – for making this landmark event possible.
As we look forward, we’re reminded of one attendee’s powerful words: “The Jewish people are alive and well – both in the Diaspora and in Eretz Yisrael!”
This is just the beginning. We’re ready for what’s ahead.
