Daniel Gordis Selected as “One of the 50 Most Influential Jews” by The Jerusalem Post

Daniel Gordis, Shalem Senior Vice President and Koret Distinguished Fellow, was selected by The Jerusalem Post as one of the “most influential Jews of 2014” in its yearly roundup of individuals who “have worked tirelessly for the improvement of humanity and, in doing so, have made their mark on history.” Described as a “passionate believer in the future” of Israel, Gordis, who came in at number 42, is noted for his eloquent advocacy on behalf of cultural particularism, the theme of two of his recent works, Saving Israel: How the Jewish People Can Win a War That May Never End and The Promise of Israel: Why its Seemingly Greatest Weakness is Actually its Greatest Strength. The former work was awarded the National Jewish Book Award in 2009.

In addition to his role on Shalem’s executive leadership, Gordis—whose new book Menachem Begin, a biography of the former Israeli Prime Minister, has just been released to critical acclaim—also serves as the head of the Core Curriculum Department, which comprises a unique course of study in the seminal works of the Western and Jewish intellectual traditions. Learning both side-by-side is a challenge, Gordis admits, but one that he believes holds the key to turning Shalem’s graduates into the sort of citizens who can address their country’s and people’s challenges “with sensitivity, and most of all, success.”