Inspīr Carnegie Hill, a senior living residence on the Upper East Side of New York, hosted a talk on Feb. 27 titled “Perspectives on Israel” with Jonny Daniels, a global humanitarian leader and media influencer. Daniels is perhaps best known for having founded From the Depths, a foundation focusing on Holocaust education and survivor support.
Drawing from his background as a former staff sergeant in the Israeli Defense Forces as well as a ministerial adviser, Daniels brought an informed perspective to his presentation. Residents from all backgrounds—Jewish, non-Jewish and even Holocaust survivors—participated in the discussion, focusing on the intricacies shaping Israel’s political landscape and the consequential effects on Jewish communities worldwide. In the discussion, Daniels reviewed the events that have unfolded since the Hamas terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7 and the response of the global population, articulating the current situation from military, social and political perspectives.
He infused a ray of hope to residents, saying: “The battle is dealing with the future—with how to educate people against hatred and toward peacefulness and decency—that’s where Israel is looking. While it may seem that everyone may be despondent during this time, there still is a lot of hope; there is always hope ahead.”
The event concluded with a question-and-answer session; seniors asked about misinformation in the media to the increase in antisemitism by 360% in the three months following Oct. 7, as reported by the Anti-Defamation League.
“While Jonny has primarily focused on educating the younger generation post-Oct. 7, encouraging Jews to embrace their identity and stand proudly, engaging in these conversations with all generations is crucial. Older adults at Inpsīr, whether Jewish or not, hold a rich historical perspective that the younger generation may not fully grasp,” said Hannah Litman, Daniels’s director of communications.
Michele Rubel, director of strategic partnerships and events, added that “Jonny’s wisdom and experience made for a thought-provoking discussion that resonated deeply with our residents from all backgrounds. Fostering this level of intellectual discourse and cultural exchange is core to Inspīr’s mission of enriching the lives of our sophisticated residents.”
