As Jews and Christians around the world have just celebrated the Passover and Easter Holiday this past week, I am often reminded of that strong, vital partnership based on shared values, biblical roots and robust support for the Nation of Israel. Driven heavily by Evangelical Christians, this coalition often focuses on fighting antisemitism, promoting shared Judeo-Christian values in Western civilization, and supporting Israeli security.
When reflecting on that special bond, I can not think of anyone who placed more of an emphasis on this alliance during his lifetime than Charlie Kirk of Blessed Memory. It has been seven months since we heard the heartbreaking news that Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Valley University Utah. Charlie was an American Conservative, political activist, author, and media personality and co-founded the conservative organization Turning Point USA in 2012 and was its executive director. The Washington Post described him as “one of the most prominent voices on the right” in his later years.
Through his organization and media platforms, he successfully energized a new generation of conservative activists and effectively reached younger conservatives on college campuses and online, acting as a counterweight to the liberal politics often dominant in higher education. He helped rally the youth vote for Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, with his organization registering thousands of voters. As someone who is active in both the Conservative and pro Israel advocacy movement, it was an honor to personally work with Charlie and TPUSA. Kirk became known for his campus appearances, often featuring “Prove Me Wrong” debates with students on various issues. This strategy gained him a dedicated following and media attention, in which Charlie was a true Conservative Warrior and Pioneer of our time. The organization was founded to challenge what Kirk saw as the prevalence of “progressive, left-wing Marxist ideas” on college campuses. He often engaged in debates on campuses to challenge these ideas.
My involvement with TurningPoint USA started in 2021 when I was appointed to volunteer as Treasurer and later on President of Turning Point USA Faith in New York. We held Events every year, in which we brought leaders of all Faiths both in the Jewish and Christian community and would have interfaith dialogues on what bonds us with the Judea-Christian Alliance and how we can fight antisemitism and intolerance in today’s day and age. Charlie was a truly gracious and kind soul who stood by his convictions and for what’s right. As the Founder of Turning Point USA, the late Charlie Kirk was an influential American activist known for his staunch, long-standing support of Israel.
Kirk repeatedly expressed solidarity with the Jewish people and advocated for a strong US- Israel alliance. In speeches and on his podcast, he defended Israel’s right to exist and criticized anti-Israel activism, especially on college campuses. He frequently described antisemitism as “demonic” and called on his followers to reject it and regularly debated the Gaza war on college campuses and highlighted US- Israel ties. When a student challenged him on a college Campus in 2019 falsely claiming that Palestinians have no freedom of movement in the “West Bank”, Charlie replied “Sure they do. An Arab in the palestinian Authority can travel to Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, in and out, without any sort of restriction. I’ve been to Judea and Samaria. I’ve been to Hebron. I’ve been to the Golan Heights. As a Christian, thankfully I’m allowed there.”
Charlie took pride in the fact that he was an Israel Advocate who fought against bigotry and antisemitism and he wore that with a badge of honor. To quote the late Charlie Kirk “No non-Jewish person my age has a longer or clearer record of support for Israel, sympathy with the Jewish people, or opposition to antisemitism than I do. I regularly refer to antisemitism as a ‘lie from the pit of Hell,’ because it is”. After his death, numerous Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, offered condolences and praised Kirk as a “lion-hearted friend of Israel” and a “huge ally”. As President of Turning Point Faith New York, I had the opportunity to meet Charlie multiple times in the past and see firsthand the impact that he left. He was a once in a lifetime change maker who left a legacy that inspired future leaders for generations to come. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and he will always be remembered as an American Patriot and a dear friend of the Nation of Israel.
The writer received his undergraduate degree in business (cum laude) from Yeshiva University and his MBA with double distinction from Long Island University. He is a financial advisor who resides in New York City, and is involved in Israel based and Jewish advocacy organizations