Adam Milstein, an author at the Times of Israel and executive at Hager Pacific Properties says young Jews have a role to fulfill as ambassadors for a strong Israel and its identity, and parents should encourage them to be courageous and proud to be Jews. Israel has overcome a lot of opposition to remain strong in the Middle East, and though many years have passed since the days of Judas Maccabeus, a hero that Milstein has talked about often, the need for modern-day Maccabees is still there. Jews over the years have been among the world’s top thinkers with many of them attending prestigious universities, holding high executive positions and even being elected to office in the government.
Adam Milstein says pride in Israel is one of the first steps to Jewish prosperity not only in the homeland but also in the global community. He says pride is exhibited in what he calls “Israeliness“ which means Jewish people are proud of their identity and show it, and they also look out for each other. And courage is foundational to being strong because it empowers Jews and Israelis to take their enemies head-on in every struggle.
Adam Milstein was born in Israel in 1952 and is the oldest of three sons, and his young adult life included four years in the Israeli military and being deployed to fight against the Egyptian forces in the Yom Kippur War. He came to the US after finishing his bachelor’s degree at the Israeli Institute of Technology – Technion and attended graduate school at USC. Several years later he helped found Hager Pacific Properties and over the last 30 years has made that company the managing agent of over $1 billion in properties.
Adam Milstein is also the founder of the Israeli-American Council, and through partnerships with AIPAC, Hasbara Fellowships, Hillel International and StandWithUs he’s given a voice to the Israeli-American community. He and his wife Gila also started Sifriyat Pijama B’America, a program that has made learning Hebrew easier for Jewish families who are brand new to it. He is also a father to three daughters and has several grandchildren as well.