Yakir
YAKIR
Join us!
Upcoming Program · Sukkot 2026
BUILDING BRIDGES, STRENGTHENING ISRAEL
YAKIR
YAKIR
"I pray that Yakir will thrive, as it ensures that our relationship with the Jews will be not only a covenant of blood, but also a covenant of life!"
— SHEIKH NUHAD SEIF - FATHER OF FALLEN POLICE OFFICER ZIDAN SEIF Z"L
The Magic of Yakir
A short film on building bridges and celebrating our shared future across faiths and communities.
By embracing the non-Jewish Israelis, who serve and sacrifice, Yakir expresses core Torah values of Hakarat Hatov and Kiddush Hashem, and we strengthen the State of Israel.
Honor the fallen
of the IDF and Israel Police heroes from minority communities; embrace their bereaved families with sustained presence.
Achieve multi-faceted achdut
through celebrations and ceremonies that unite citizens of all faiths who serve and sacrifice for Israel.
Inspire the next generation
of Druze and other minority Israelis to continue serving and sacrificing for the country they love.
Empower zionists around the world
to make transformative contributions and forge deep bonds with the people of Israel.
Nurture deep friendships
with the underappreciated champions of Israel — Druze, Bedouins, Christians, and Muslims who stand loyally with the State.
YAKIR: MANY FACES. MANY FAITHS. ONE LOVE. ISRAEL.
Through trailblazing programs, we:
Yakir in the media
Yakir nurtures unexpected relationships between Israel supporters of diverse backgrounds - Druze Galilee Arabs; American gap year students; Yeshiva students; new Olim; educators; wounded soldiers; tourists; rabbis; secular kibbutzniks; IDF brass; settler teens; families of terror victims; German Christians.
Since October 7, Yakir has been blessed by the generous partnership of:
RABBI YAAKOV KERMAIER, FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Yaakov Kermaier made aliya with his family in July 2015 from New York City, where he served as senior rabbi of Manhattan's Fifth Avenue Synagogue (2003–2015), as a dayan on the RCA's Beth Din for Conversion and as President of the New York Board of Rabbis.
Rabbi Kermaier served as rabbi of Hong Kong's Ohel Leah Synagogue (1997–2003), and he continues to serve on the boards of numerous organizations. A sought-after teacher and public speaker, his writings have been published in both scholarly and popular journals, and he is a frequent guest on television and cable.
He received rabbinic ordination and an MA in Jewish History from Yeshiva University and an executive MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.