Isaac Herzog Sworn in as the Eleventh President of Israel

The inauguration ceremony swearing in Isaac Herzog, with one hand on the Bible, as President of Israel occurred Wednesday, July 7th. He is the eleventh president, following Reuben Rivlin who served as the tenth president. Isaac Herzog pledged to heal deep divisions in Israeli society as well as to calm things down in his country. He said, “My mission, the mission of my term, is to do everything in order to rebuild hope,” according to the Associated Press.

Isaac Herzog and wife (left) with Reuben Rivlin (right)

Israel has experienced political turmoil, as well as the coronavirus crisis, both deepening tensions between Israeli’s religious, nationalist right wing and its more secular left wing and between the Jewish majority and the Arab minority and also the secular and ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Herzog is 60 years old and previously served as head of the Labor Party and head of the opposition in parliament. He served as head of the Jewish Agency, a nonprofit organization that works closely with the Israeli government to promote Jewish immigration to Israel. His family has been in politics for generations. His grandfather, Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog was Israel’s first chief rabbi. His uncle, Abba Eban, served as foreign minister and ambassador to the U.N. and the United States.

Please pray for President Herzog as well as the Prime Minister Bennett as they begin their new roles in Israel.