In a moving ceremony filled with warmth and purpose, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee officially presented his credentials to Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog, formally assuming his post as the United States Ambassador to Israel. Held on Monday, April 21, at the President’s Residence in Yerushalayim, the event marked not only a diplomatic milestone but the fulfillment of a decades-long relationship rooted in faith, values, and an enduring love for Eretz Yisrael.
President Herzog welcomed Ambassador Huckabee with admiration, referring to him as a “dear brother of Israel” and drawing a powerful comparison to Avraham Avinu, who traveled with conviction and divine mission. “This isn’t just a political appointment,” Herzog remarked. “It’s a continuation of your life’s calling.”
Among the select guests were members of the Brody family—longtime Jewish communal leaders whose close friendship with Huckabee spans years and numerous missions to Eretz Yisrael. With deep roots in both Great Neck and Yerushalayim, the Brodys have helped connect American political leadership to the Israeli experience in personal, heartfelt ways.
Present at the ceremony were Dr. Paul Brody, President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) of Nassau and Queens; his wife, Drora; their children, Dana Brody Glass, Esq., and Joey Brody; Limor Brody Oratz of Katamon; Ben Glass of Baka; and Drora’s mother, Chana Aharoni of Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Janet Huckabee, the ambassador’s wife, was seated beside Israel’s First Lady, Michal Herzog, Esq.—a symbol of the familial dignity that framed the day’s proceedings.
In his address, Ambassador Huckabee did not shy away from the regional threats facing Israel. “It has always been their desire that Israel would be the opening act, and then it would be America’s turn,” he said, referencing the Iranian regime. “To put it simply—Israel is the appetizer, and the United States is the entrée.”
President Herzog echoed the urgency of these words, emphasizing the need for unwavering strength in the face of Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional aggression. He also called attention to the hostages still held by Hamas, describing their captivity as “the most despicable crime against humanity.”
Fulfilling a request from U.S. President Donald J. Trump, Ambassador Huckabee visited the Kosel HaMa’aravi earlier that day to place a handwritten note from the president in the stones of the holy site. The message, in Trump’s signature handwriting, read: “For peace in Israel,” signed simply “DJT.”
Reflecting on the significance of the day, Huckabee said later, “This isn’t just a role I’m filling—it’s a mission I’m embracing. I am here to stand with Israel, for peace, for liberty, and for the future we all believe in.”
More than a typical diplomatic assignment, Ambassador Huckabee’s appointment carries with it decades of sincere engagement, faith-driven advocacy, and public expressions of support for Israel. His tenure is expected to strengthen the spiritual and strategic alliance between the two nations.
For the Brody family and others in attendance, the ceremony represented not just a formal recognition—it was a celebration of friendship, loyalty, and shared Jewish and American values.
To watch the official ceremony, visit: youtube.com/watch?v=47e7LFJeUUU.
By Shabsie Saphirstein
