One Family

Later this summer, my four-year tenure as Israel’s Consul General to the Midwest, based here in Chicago, comes to a bittersweet close. It has been a journey marked by challenge, intensity, and profound purpose. It has been a transformative experience for me – diplomatically, professionally, and personally- one that will remain etched in my heart forever.

From the moment that my wife, Ayelet, and our children arrived in Chicago, I had a clear objective: to fortify the relationship between Israel and the Midwest in every arena. Together with an exceptional team, I identified three strategic pillars for our mission: to deepen bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel alliance among elected officials at the national, state, and municipal levels; to cultivate honest, respectful dialogue with communities I believed needed to know more about us-particularly young progressives, as well as Black and Latino communities; and to transform Israeli innovation, from agriculture to the emerging frontier of quantum science, into meaningful business partnerships.

Over these past four years, I traveled across nine Midwest states to advance this mission. Along the way, we engaged with governors, members of Congress, mayors, faith leaders, community organizers, entrepreneurs, business executives, journalists, and many others to spark dialogue, foster understanding, and build enduring partnerships.

And then came October 7.

The horrific attacks irrevocably altered our world. From that day on, our mission pivoted to one of urgent necessity: to defend Israel’s truth, to share our collective pain, and to stand resolutely for our people’s undeniable right to live in peace and security. We ceaselessly engaged with media outlets, through social media platforms, and in direct dialogues with elected officials, faith and university leaders, and communities in our region. At times, when the gravity of the moment and the callousness of those I was engaging with left me no other choice but to speak undiplomatically from the heart.

We were also confronted with a grim new reality: a dramatic rise in antisemitism, coupled with the erosion of something fundamental-the recognition of Israel’s right to exist as the homeland of the Jewish people. The denial of Israel’s legitimacy, and the questioning of the Jewish people’s historical and moral right to self-determination, have become both alarmingly visible and disturbingly more acceptable in public discourse. This is a reality we must confront with unwavering courage and clarity.

What has sustained me through these difficult months is the rock-solid support of this extraordinary Jewish community. The solidarity has been profound: rallies, prayers, letters, and advocacy. It was a lifeline. And it wasn’t just symbolic-this community took action. We saw tens of millions of dollars raised. Volunteers flying to Israel. Support for soldiers, hostages’ families, and hard-hit communities in Northern and Southern Israel. Grassroots efforts and quiet acts of kindness that reminded us daily- we are not alone.

One truth stands out above all: We are not two Jewish communities separated by geography-we are one family. Our bond is real and essential. The future of our people depends not only on Israel’s strength, but also on the vitality of Jewish life in America. Strengthening that bond is a strategic imperative.

My family will carry the deep personal connections we’ve forged here- the lived experience of belonging to a community that didn’t just stand with us, but made us feel truly at home. We were welcomed and embraced with warmth, generosity, and love that exceeded anything we could have hoped for. Through day schools, synagogues, and summer camps, this community wove itself into the fabric of our lives. The relationships we’ve built here will stay with us always.

As we prepare to return to Jerusalem, we do so with full hearts-grateful beyond words for the love we’ve known, forever changed by a community that became our second family, and confident in our shared future.

In honor of Consul General Cohen’s service to our community, JUF has named one of its Israel Experience Scholarships in his honor. Every year, one worthy young Chicago-area young adult will receive the Yinam Cohen Scholarship to support their year of study or service post high school in Israel.

Yinam Cohen has served as the Consul General of Israel to the Midwest since 2021.