By COLlive reporter
On January 14, The Algemeiner unveiled its 11th annual J100 list of the “top 100 people positively influencing Jewish life” at a gala at Gotham Hall in New York City.
This year’s honorees represent a diverse range of fields, including writers, educators, public servants, and NGO leaders, each contributing to the global Jewish community.
The release comes amidst a backdrop of heightened challenges, with Israel enduring daily threats and Jewish communities worldwide facing a surge in antisemitism, particularly following the October 2023 Hamas attacks on southern Israel.
The list highlights leaders who inspire resilience and unity, serving as a testament to the enduring strength of the Jewish people. The Algemeiner emphasized that while this list captures remarkable contributions, countless unsung heroes in everyday life also shape the Jewish future.
Among the world leaders listed were Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President-elect Donald Trump, incoming US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, U.S. Congressman Ritchie Torres, Argentine President Javier Milei and Canada’s Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
Listed in the category of activism:
Rabbi Uriel & Shevy Vigler
In 2010, Rabbi Uriel & Shevy Vigler invited a group of wounded IDF veterans for a 10-day all-expense paid trip to New York City. “We felt the soldiers could boost morale and might appreciate recognition from their American Jewish friends.” Little did they expect the true impact the trip would have. The Vigler’s heartfelt gesture of solidarity and support was the root of Belev Echad. Since then, the program has developed into a global organization that is dedicated to helping IDF veterans thrive. At its annual gala in New York in November 2024, boxing champion Floyd Mayweather, freshly returned from a meeting with wounded IDF soldiers in Israel, donated $100,00 to Belev Echad — a boost to the organization as its efforts have, in its own words, “gone into overdrive with over 4,600 soldiers wounded in the past 14 months.”
In the category of religion:
Rabbi Zvi Kogan
Chabad Rabbi Zvi Kogan, of blessed memory, was abducted and murdered in the United Arab Emirates in November 2024 by three Uzbek extremists with possible ties to Iran. The Jerusalem-born rabbi had been working as an emissary to the growing Jewish community in the UAE, running “Rimon,” a local supermarket specializing in kosher products. The murder was not the first time that Kogan’s relatives had experienced tragedy; his wife, Rivky, was the niece of Rabbi Gabriel Holzberg, who was murdered in a brutal 2008 attack by Islamists on the Chabad center in Mumbai, India. As Kogan was laid to rest on Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives in a ceremony attended by hundreds of mourners, his grief-stricken father told the gathering, “Zvi was innocent, and that’s how he arrives in heaven.” Separately, Sephardic Chief Rabbi David Yosef mourned that the “whole world is shaken by your murder — they hate us around the world because we are Jews.”
Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky
The chairman of the educational arm of the Chabad movement, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky began his career as an emissary of the legendary Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Krinsky served as the face of Chabad for several decades, interfacing with both media and government, having been appointed by the Rebbe back in the 1950s to direct the Lubavitch News Service, including disseminating the Rebbe’s talks around the world via satellite. In November 2024, Krinsky led the Chabad movement in mourning the abduction and murder of Chabad emissary Rabbi Zvi Kogan in the United Arab Emirates. “The targeting of Rabbi Kogan was an attempt to destroy the sacred Jewish values that he represented: light, goodness and kindness,” he stated. “No country, no community, no society can afford the loss of these sustaining values.”
Rabbi Mayer Stambler
The chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine (FJCU), Rabbi Mayer Stambler, has been at the forefront of defending the European nation in its response to the brutal Russian invasion of February 2022 in front of domestic and global audiences. In November 2024, following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States, Stambler told the Jerusalem Post that Ukrainian Jews were confident in Trump’s ability to facilitate peace in their country, while “preserving our territorial integrity and standing firmly against forces that threaten the peace of the free world.” Stambler added that the “Biblical values” that Trump “champions will undoubtedly guide the world toward a better future through measured and responsible leadership.” As a result of the Russian invasion, Ukraine’s 220,000-strong Jewish community has been steadily depleted, with more than 10,000 members having made Aliyah to Israel. “We are hopeful and pray for an era of justice, truth, righteousness, and peace, where global security is enhanced for all — heralding the way toward universal harmony and redemption,” Stambler said.
And in the category of Voices:
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky is a dynamic leader advancing Chabad’s global mission to reach “Every Jew Everywhere.” As director of Merkos 302 and the International Conference of Shluchim, he has launched impactful programs like CTeen, CKids, CYP, and Chabad on Call, addressing key challenges such as antisemitism, intermarriage, and medical care while fostering Jewish identity in 111 countries. Under the guidance of his father, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky — who spent over 50 years building the Chabad global network — Rabbi Mendy works closely with Chabad’s central committee and visionary partners to champion a “Judaism on the offense” approach. This forward-thinking strategy emphasizes Jewish pride, education, and empowerment, inspiring Jews at all stages of life to actively embrace their heritage and shape a vibrant Jewish future.
Great People doing great work
wow i never knew that my uncle is such a ”Great Man”
Love you guys