Ep 370: The Israeli Bond with Gal Swisa Cohen and guest David Black P3 on hmTv

Ep 370: The Israeli Bond — David Black (Part 3)

In the final installment of this three-part series on The Israeli Bond, host Gal Swisa Cohen sits down once more with David Black for an unflinching conversation about the realities facing Jewish communities in the aftermath of October 7.

David reflects on the immediate global response to the attacks, the surge of antisemitism across the diaspora, and the growing crisis of misinformation and narrative warfare surrounding Israel. Drawing on his decades of leadership in the Jewish communal world, he speaks candidly about institutional responsibility, moral clarity, and the consequences of losing the information war.

The episode also explores David’s widely shared letter “We Accuse,” the role of the “silent majority,” and what individuals can do—practically and effectively—to push back against hate, distortion, and fear. The conversation concludes with a powerful reflection on Jewish peoplehood, Israel’s central role in the future of the Jewish world, and the necessity of connection, education, and resolve.

This episode is not just a conversation—it’s a call to awareness, responsibility, and action.

Transcript

Ep 370: The Israeli Bond

Host: Gal Swisa Cohen
Guest: David Black
Part 3

Gal Swisa Cohen:
Hello, and thank you for joining me today. I’m your host, Gal Swisa Cohen, and on today’s episode of The Israeli Bond on hmTv, my guest David Black joins me for the third consecutive episode.

In this final part of our conversation, we’ll be speaking about the current situation facing Jewish communities in the diaspora, the rise in antisemitism, and the global impact of the events following October 7. If you haven’t yet listened to Parts One and Two, I strongly encourage you to do so—they provide important context for today’s discussion.

David, when October 7 happened, my husband and I had only just arrived from Israel. We were new, we didn’t yet know the community, and everything felt overwhelming. I’d like to ask you to take us back to those first days. Where were you when you heard, and what went through your mind?

David Black:
Like everyone else, I was in shock. But at the same time, I was part of a weekly Zoom call with New York JCC executives—a group that formed during COVID and became its own kind of community. We were all reeling, but many of us had deep personal ties to Israel. Some were born there. Some had children there.

Within the first couple of weeks, I sent out a message asking if anyone would be willing to travel to Israel—not to tour, not to be entertained, but to show solidarity and to understand what was actually needed on the ground.

Ten people raised their hands.

Gal:
Right after October 7, you were already thinking about going to Israel?

David:
Yes. Two goals guided us: first, to make sure we wouldn’t be in the way, and second, to show Israel that it wasn’t alone. We went in November. With the help of JCC Global and colleagues at JCCA, we organized a delegation of about a dozen leaders.

We went to the Gaza envelope. We went north. We didn’t want comfort—we wanted clarity. We wanted to bear witness and then return home prepared to act.

Gal:
What did that action look like?

David:
We identified needs that larger systems couldn’t always reach quickly. Some communities lacked proper shelters. Others needed security equipment, food, or immediate resources. We reported what we saw to UJA, but we also created local emergency funds so smaller communities wouldn’t fall through the cracks.

Sometimes it was as simple as showing up. There were no tourists then. When people saw us, they just said thank you.

Gal:
I remember how meaningful that emergency fund was. Big organizations did extraordinary work, but it was those smaller, faster responses that saved time—and sometimes lives.

David:
Exactly. And something else became clear to me: the alumni of the Center for Israel—the former shlichim, shinshinim, host families—had become a community of their own. They supported one another instinctively. That network mattered more than I had ever realized.

Gal:
In many ways, October 7 revealed the Center for Israel operating exactly as it was meant to.

David:
Unfortunately under tragic circumstances—but yes.

Gal:
I want to shift now to the JCC itself. You led an organization committed to openness, inclusion, and human dignity. After October 7, what did you expect from the institution?

David:
I expected the JCC to be exactly what it is: an unapologetically pro-Israel, pro-Jewish institution grounded in truth and human values. That meant providing facts, encouraging dialogue, and being clear about who we are.

Dialogue is welcome. Propaganda is not.

We held staff discussions. We hosted learning sessions. When individuals tried to distribute political materials without context or permission, they were asked to leave—not because conversation isn’t welcome, but because the JCC is a shared community space, not a free-for-all.

Gal:
Did you anticipate the scale of antisemitism that followed?

David:
No. I had inklings, but I didn’t see it coming at this level. Within days, there were demonstrations that were not just anti-Israel, but openly anti-Jewish. That’s when it became clear: we weren’t just facing a military conflict—we were losing the information war.

Gal:
Why do you think that is?

David:
Israel—and the Jewish world—has failed at telling its story. For decades. Meanwhile, our adversaries are extraordinarily well funded and deeply invested in emotional manipulation. They’ve penetrated Western society, progressive spaces, media, and campuses.

We’ve won battles on the ground. But we’ve lost narrative control—and that must change.

Gal:
You wrote a letter titled “We Accuse.” It was powerful, direct, and unapologetic. What compelled you to write it?

David:
Anger—and clarity. Social media is designed to inflame. Lies travel faster than truth. I wrote that letter to say out loud what many people were thinking but weren’t seeing expressed.

I shared it with rabbis. Some told me it wouldn’t move the needle. They may be right. But I didn’t write it to persuade the extremes—I wrote it to comfort the silent center, the people who know the facts and feel isolated.

Gal:
That silent majority—what can they do?

David:
Educate yourself. That’s step one. Follow credible thinkers and organizations that help people understand how antisemitism and anti-Zionism operate—and how to respond intelligently.

Not every fight is worth engaging online. But every person can contribute—through learning, philanthropy, advocacy, political engagement, or simply standing with Israel and the Jewish people visibly and consistently.

Everyone has a role.

Gal:
I want to close with a final question. Many people describe you as a visionary. Whether you admit it or not, your ideas became realities. What is your vision for the Jewish world in the years ahead?

David:
I don’t think it’s fully crystallized. But I believe this: the future of the Jewish people is ultimately anchored in Israel. Life in the diaspora can continue—but it will become increasingly complex.

Every Jew, wherever they live, must have an active relationship with Israel—through presence, support, engagement, or regular connection. That relationship isn’t optional anymore. It’s essential.

Gal:
Thank you, David. This has been an honest, challenging, and deeply meaningful conversation.

And thank you to our listeners for joining us for this third and final episode of The Israeli Bond on hmTv. Please subscribe, share, and stay connected for more thoughtful conversations.

Until next time—take care and be well.