Rabbi David Meyer, CEO of Partnership for Jewish Schools (PaJeS), was honoured to be selected as one of the torchbearers for this year’s Israeli Independence Day ceremony.
The Diaspora Torch this year highlights Israel’s’ appreciation for the contribution of world Jewry since October 7th, mobilizing from all corners of the world to help the State of Israel and Israeli society at its time of need.
Rabbi Meyer’s selection as a torchbearer underscores his remarkable contributions to unifying diaspora Jews and combatting antisemitism. His unwavering commitment to Jewish education and fostering unity and resilience within the Jewish community has earned him this prestigious recognition.
This is also a significant accolade for PaJeS where through his tenure as CEO, Rabbi Meyer has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advocating for Jewish education and promoting cultural understanding. His efforts have not only strengthened Jewish schools across the UK but also contributed to a deeper sense of identity and belonging among students and educators.
He has also played a significant role in supporting schools and educators in the diaspora and has been a leading advocate for the promotion of Jewish identity especially when we are seeing such a significant rise and anti-Semitism across the world.
Rabbi Meyer is a member of UnitEd’s Advisory Committee and works closely with UnitEd and the Israeli Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. He has over three decades of educational expertise, having served as Executive Headteacher of Hasmonean High School, where his leadership garnered Outstanding ratings in both Ofsted and Pikuach assessments.
A celebrated public speaker, Rabbi Meyer’s influence extends globally, having presented at conferences in the UK, Israel, USA, Europe, and Australia. His impactful insights resonate with audiences, reflecting his commitment to strategic development, teaching and learning, and comprehensive school services.
In the words of Rabbi Meyer,
“I am humbled by this honour which is an accolade for all educational leaders from across the Diaspora. It is particularly poignant to see this recognition at these dark and challenging times when the our school leaders and teachers are working tirelessly to protect and educate our children.
It is for this reason that I dedicated this honour to all Jewish educators in the Diaspora.
As we celebrate Israeli Independence Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to preserving our heritage and values and our unwavering solidarity and resilience in the face of adversity.”
The torch bearing ceremony, is one of the highest honours awarded in Israel and a symbol of hope and perseverance. Taking place on Israeli Independence Day it commemorated the nation’s journey towards freedom and sovereignty. Rabbi Meyer’s participation served as a beacon of inspiration for Jews worldwide, embodying the spirit of unity and resilience that defines the Jewish community.
Transportation Minister Miri Regev, overseer of Israel’s 76th Independence Day events, and the selection committee announced their acceptance of the Diaspora Affairs Ministry’s recommendation of the two candidates.
The other torchbearer was named as Deborah Silverstein, a member of Chicago’s Jewish City Council. Under her guidance, Chicago became the first major city to condemn Hamas following the October 7th massacre and assert Israel’s right to self-defence.
