Chancellor Schwartz’s Trip to Israel: A Meaningful Week

November 4, 2025

Read Chancellor Schwartz’s reflections on the World Zionist Congress.

Chancellor Schwartz spent a meaningful week in Israel as the lead delegate of the MERCAZ slate at the World Zionist Congress. This year’s gathering featured the largest MERCAZ/Masorti delegation in history, representing Conservative/Masorti communities from more than 15 countries.

Read more about her inspirational week:

At the opening of the conference with Eric Fishman and Rabbinical School student Chris Penello 

During her time at the Congress, Chancellor Schwartz participated in a thought-provoking panel, “Between Progressivism and Antisemitism,” alongside Adv. Jeremy Leibler, President of the Zionist Federation of Australia; Prof. Michal Bar-Asher Sigal, Vice President for International Affairs at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; and Tali Barsh-Gottlieb, CEO of the Israeli Opera. The discussion was moderated by Yuna Leibzon, journalist and anchor at Channel 12 News.

Pictured here is the diverse American delegation to the Congress—spanning generations, experiences, perspective, and geography. Representing 22 states, the delegation included public servants, educators, community leaders, and 75 rabbis, all united by a shared commitment to Israel.

In committee sessions, Chancellor Schwartz took part in deliberations and voting on key resolutions focused on combating antisemitism.

Other highlights of the week included witnessing Rabbi Gesa Ederberg (incoming president of the Rabbinical Assembly) speak before the vote in favor of one of the MERCAZ/Masorti sponsored resolutions and Hazzan Joanna Dulkin (JTS alum and immediate past president of the Cantors Assembly) leading the delegates in a powerful Hatikvah at the conclusion of the voting. 

Listen to Chancellor Schwartz reflect on her participation in the World Zionist Congress and underscore the significance of advocating for the State of Israel and shaping its future.

Meeting with students is always a highlight of Chancellor Schwartz’s trips. In Jerusalem, she and Vice Chancellor and COO Randy Michaels enjoyed an evening with students spending a gap year in Israel before entering List College next year. Over dinner at the home of Dr. Abigail Uhrman, Director of the William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education, they shared stories and reflections about their transformative experiences in Israel thus far.

Another memorable evening included dinner with Division of Religious Leadership (DRL) students studying in Israel for the year, followed by time at the JTS-Schocken Institute with Dani Hacker, its General Director. JTS has been the custodian of the Schocken Library and its remarkable collection of rare manuscripts and archives since 1961, making each visit a truly special experience. The Institute sponsors public programs and graduate-student research and publishes scholarly works, all of which advances Jewish learning in Jerusalem.