Israel’s Ambassador to Deliver Kinus Banquet Address

Dr. Yechiel Michael Leiter, Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, will serve as guest of honor and deliver the keynote address at this year’s gala banquet concluding the Kinus Hashluchim, the Vaad Hakinus announced.

The gala banquet, a highlight of the annual Kinus, brings together close to 10,000 shluchim, along with their supporters, family members and friends, for an evening featuring a full program of speakers and presentations.

Leiter was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. After studying in yeshiva and receiving semicha, he served as a combat soldier in the First Lebanon War. He later became involved in advocacy for Yehuda and Shomron and served as chairman of the Committee of the Jewish Community of Chevron.

The ambassador’s son, IDF Major Moshe Yedidya Leiter HYD, a company commander in the elite Shaldag Unit, fell in battle in Gaza shortly after the outbreak of the war on Simchas Torah.

A short time later, he was appointed as Israel’s 20th Ambassador to the United States, a position he has taken on with great seriousness, becoming a prominent advocate for Israel on the world stage.

Several months ago, his son, Neria, was critically wounded in a terrorist ramming attack by a Palestinian terrorist while serving in the reserves. Following the attack, Yidden around the world joined the Leiter family in davening for his recovery. Although his condition has since stabilized, the family continues to ask the public to daven for Neria Dov ben Chana.

Ambassador Leiter has spoken and spent Shabbos with several Chabad communities across the United States. Earlier this year, he addressed the Living Legacy Conference in Washington, where he spoke about the Rebbe’s influence on his life and leadership.