Extraordinary meetings unfolded this week as incoming U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made a rare visit to the homes of gedolei Torah in Bnei Brak, the result of a long-standing friendship and a shared commitment to the Jewish people. The initiative for the encounter came from Rav Dovid Hofstedter, founder and president of Dirshu, who has maintained close ties with Huckabee for over a decade. Following Huckabee’s request to personally meet Gedolei Yisroel, Rav Hofstedter arranged the visit.
The visit began at the famed Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak, where bochurim were surprised to see a convoy of black, armored vehicles pulling up to the yeshiva campus after Mincha. Under tight security, the ambassador entered the yeshiva grounds.
The friendship between Huckabee and Rav Hofstedter dates back more than ten years, originating when the Dirshu president sought Huckabee’s help in defending the independence of chareidi education in America. Huckabee has since become one of the organization’s staunchest allies, calling himself “the greatest non-Jewish supporter of Dirshu.”
In 2018, Huckabee penned a passionate op-ed in Fox News expressing admiration for Dirshu’s international Torah-learning initiatives tied to the yahrtzeit of the Chofetz Chaim. He praised the “Day of Jewish Unity” as a “brilliant Jewish innovation,” and declared he would join Jews worldwide in praying for peace in Israel. He described the day as a time when “people commit to being more patient with one another and refraining from lashon hara.”
Huckabee has also written about the importance of reinforcing Jewish identity in the face of growing antisemitism in the U.S., repeatedly highlighting Rav Hofstedter’s Torah projects and Dirshu’s massive worldwide siyumim that, in his words, “restore Torah learning to its pre-Holocaust prominence.” On other occasions, Huckabee has publicly hailed Rav Hofstedter’s work as “a powerful example of Jewish unity and spiritual mobilization against hatred.”
It’s no surprise, then, that upon being appointed U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Huckabee chose Rav Hofstedter as the recipient of his first official meeting. That meeting was widely covered in the American media and touched on pressing issues facing Israel and global Jewry. At the time, Huckabee remarked, “There are many ways to serve the public that don’t involve the military,” and suggested that Israel might explore alternative approaches to the draft similar to those used in the U.S. He added, “Without the biblical foundation, there is no basis at all for Judaism or the State of Israel,” underscoring his belief in the Torah as the root of the Jewish people’s connection to the land.
Following his appointment, Huckabee asked Rav Hofstedter to introduce him to Torah leaders in Eretz Yisroel. The first stop of the high-profile visit was the home of Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka. The rosh yeshiva warmly welcomed the ambassador and engaged in a thoughtful conversation, expressing interest in Huckabee’s views and finding that many of them aligned surprisingly closely with the chareidi worldview.
Through Rav Hofstedter’s translation, Huckabee shared that his perspective on the Jewish people and Torah was deeply shaped by their long relationship. Rav Landau asked whether it was Rav Hofstedter who influenced his pro-Jewish stance, to which the ambassador replied, “Absolutely.” Huckabee elaborated on his belief in the intrinsic link between Torah, the Jewish nation, and Eretz Yisroel. Before parting, Rav Landau asked how to say “thank you very much” in English and practiced the phrase several times to the ambassador’s delight, expressing gratitude for the kindness of the American government. The three then met privately for a personal conversation.
The next stop was the home of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch on Rechov Rav Sher 17. As Huckabee and Rav Hofstedter made their way there, hundreds of bochurim from abroad—mostly Americans—surrounded them. Huckabee took great interest in speaking with them and was struck by the simplicity of their living and learning conditions.
The meeting with Rav Hirsch took place entirely in English and lasted over thirty minutes. Huckabee was amazed to discover that the rosh yeshiva had been born in New York. “I’m the ambassador of the United States government in Israel,” Huckabee told him, “but you’re the true ambassador of American Jewry in Israel.”
The discussion ranged widely, with Huckabee asking thoughtful questions about the lives of bnei Torah and expressing admiration for Dirshu’s efforts. He spoke with enthusiasm about his ongoing work for Israel and the Jewish people, including initiatives undertaken in coordination with Rav Hofstedter to combat antisemitism and advocate for Jewish causes within the American administration.
Later, Rav Hofstedter and the ambassador sat down for a private meeting where Rav Hofstedter offered a broad overview of the chareidi community, describing the world of yeshivos and the deep respect that the Torah world holds for acts of kindness and the values championed during President Trump’s leadership. He emphasized the admiration many in the Torah community have for Huckabee’s firm stance in support of Torah principles and his sincere respect for the guidance of the gedolei Torah.
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