Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University, delivered a powerful benediction at President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025. Wearing a yellow ribbon symbolizing solidarity with the hostages from the October 7th attacks, Rabbi Berman offered a heartfelt prayer for their safe return and for healing in a fractured world.
In his speech, he emphasized the values of faith, unity, and moral responsibility, urging the nation to uphold these principles in the years ahead. Rabbi Berman’s prayer marked a historic moment as he became the first American-Israeli and only the second Orthodox rabbi to participate in a U.S. presidential inauguration.
