Israel Advocacy Day
Florida Leaders
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Altshuler – Rabbi, Temple Beth Sholom in Sarasota
Rabbi Stuart Altshuler serves as the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Sholom in Sarasota following more than a decade of leadership at Belsize Square Synagogue in London, UK. A native of Los Angeles, California, he was ordained in 1980 by the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and was a longstanding member of the Rabbinical Assembly.
Throughout his career, Rabbi Altshuler focused on fostering vibrant, committed Jewish communities centered on learning, tradition, and spiritual engagement. His rabbinic work was marked by a deep passion for Judaism, Jewish life, and the State of Israel, as well as a strong commitment to social justice causes, including his involvement in the Soviet Jewry movement.
Rabbi Altshuler was also the author of From Exodus to Freedom: A History of the Soviet Jewry Movement in America and was known for his enthusiasm for teaching, music, sports, travel, and reading.
Temple Link: Temple Beth Sholom Sarasota
Rev. Patrick and Rebecca Verbeten – Bridges for Peace (USA)
Based in Melbourne, Florida, Patrick and Rebecca Verbeten are integral leaders of Bridges for Peace (BFP), a Christian organization dedicated to fostering Christian-Jewish relationships and supporting Israel. They have a calling to serve both Church and the Nation of Israel.
They bring 14 years of dedicated service to Bridges for Peace, 10 of which were spent in Israel.
Patrick is a licensed minister with the International Ministerial Fellowship and studied at Global University.
Organization Link: Bridges for Peace USA
Pastor Ottis Barnett – Senior Pastor, Calvary Church Inverness
Pastor Ottis Barnett has led Calvary Church in Inverness, Florida, since 2016. With a passion for worship and teaching, he fosters a deep connection to God and community. Ottis has a profound love for Israel and works closely with Jewish leaders and organizations like Eagles’ Wings and the Israel Christian Nexus. His ministry emphasizes Christian-Jewish solidarity, fostering dialogue, and encouraging support for Israel within his congregation.
Church Link: Calvary Church Inverness
Todd Bemis – Executive Pastor, Calvary Church Inverness
Pastor Todd Bemis leads Calvary Church in Inverness, Florida. With over 20 years of ministry experience, he emphasizes community connection and spiritual growth. As Executive Pastor, Todd focuses on discipleship and encouraging the active use of spiritual gifts. His leadership extends to media outreach through church podcasts. Pastor Bemis is also committed to supporting Israel and strengthening Christian-Jewish relations, ensuring that Israel remains a central part of his ministry and outreach efforts.
Church Link: Calvary Church Inverness
Liz Becker – Co-Founder of Strong Voices for Israel
Liz Becker, entrepreneur, communication skills trainer, and creator of an internationally recognized certification program, is a proud Zionist shaped by her family’s Holocaust history. A vocal Israel advocate, the October 7 attacks reinforced her resolve, leading her to publish her father’s Holocaust manuscript, The Little General, and co-found Strong Voices for Israel. Dedicated to combating antisemitism, she empowers IDF reservists and other warriors to share their experiences. A fearless advocate, she is committed to educating and inspiring others to stand for truth and justice.
Organization Link: Strong Voices for Israel
Lourdes Aguirre – Real Estate Leader and Advocate
Lourdes Aguirre, a real estate leader and political advocate, is also an active supporter of Israel. She was appointed by President Trump to the Hispanic Prosperity and Education Commission and has advocated for persecuted Christians and Jews at the U.N. Lourdes also serves on several boards of faith-based organizations, bridging political action with spiritual growth. Her commitment to Israel is reflected in her advocacy work, including public service efforts that support Israel’s right to exist and thrive.
Website Link: Lourdes Aguirre
Laurie Cardoza-Moore – Founder of Proclaiming Justice to the Nations
Laurie Cardoza Moore is a respected “go-to” voice on the frontlines of battle for the ideological, social, moral and religious mind of this generation. As Special Envoy to the United Nations for human rights and antisemitism on behalf of 44 million Christians, to her leadership in statehouses through PJTN’s Antisemitism Awareness Resolution, Laurie is a tireless advocate.
A home-schooling mother of five, Laurie Cardoza Moore’s original “wake-up call” was discovering anti-Semitic, anti-Christian and anti-American content in her children’s textbooks. The revelation of the early seeds of indoctrination of America’s children began her quest to bring awareness and change through every avenue she could reach: legislative, media, advocacy and ultimately the development of PJTN programs and documentaries that are shared and used to educate on a mass level. PJTN programming in support of Israel today reaches over 2 billion potential viewers on a regular basis through a network of close to two dozen TV affiliates and satellite broadcasters.
Organization Link: PJTN
Judy Elias – Heroes to Heroes
Judy Elias founded Heroes to Heroes to provide a spiritual healing and peer support program for combat veterans who had attempted suicide or were on a path to self-destruction due to moral injury.
The program established an international peer support system by sending teams of twelve U.S. veterans to Israel, where they were joined by Israeli counterparts. Over a ten-day journey, participants focused on healing by reconnecting with their Creator, walking in the footsteps of the Bible. As of now, 244 veterans had taken part in the program, with remarkable outcomes under study by the University of South Alabama.
Her specialties included fundraising and organizational development. Judy also has ties to the Chabad movement both in Florida and in New York.
Website Link: Heroes to Heroes
Alexander Blair – Swords Into Plowshares (S2PS) Alexander transitioned into ministry after nearly a decade in the agriculture industry, beginning his journey with prison ministry, reentry counseling, and addiction recovery. He is a certified addiction recovery coach and has served in various pastoral and communications roles over the past five years. Alexander brings a diverse skill set that includes organizational development, process analysis, communications and marketing, project management, and nonprofit administration. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Bible Apologetics at Liberty University and is deeply passionate about his faith. In the pro-Israel space, Alexander serves as Chief of Operations for Swords into Plowshares, a niche consulting firm focused on bridge-building and strategic partnerships in support of Israel.
Overview of our Day on Capital hill:
Our first meeting on Capitol Hill was with the office of Congressman Mark Green, who represents Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Congressman Green is a strong supporter of Israel and has been outspoken in his condemnation of both Hamas and Iran.
We met with his Legislative Assistant, Henry VanderToll, and discussed education reform—specifically the potential to model recent legislative efforts in Florida, such as HB 1285, HB 1557, and HB 1467, which emphasize transparency and parental choice in curriculum decisions.
Henry can be reached at Henry.VanderToll@mail.house.gov or by phone at 202-225-2811. For more information on Congressman Green’s work and initiatives, you can visit his official website: https://markgreen.house.gov or contact his Washington, D.C. office directly at (202) 225-2811.
Our second meeting was with Congressman Daniel Webster, who represents Florida’s 11th Congressional District, which includes parts of The Villages and Central Florida. Congressman Webster is a true friend of Israel and a firm opponent of Hamas and its operations in Gaza.
We had the opportunity to meet with him directly—offering encouragement, sharing insights, and praying with him.
For more information about Congressman Webster’s work or to contact his office, you can visit his official website: https://webster.house.gov or reach his Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-1002.
Our third official meeting was with Congressman W. Gregory Steube, who represents Florida’s 17th Congressional District. This was at the Capitol Hill Club. A strong supporter of Israel, Congressman Steube has been a vocal advocate for policies that confront Islamic extremism and defend Israel’s right to security.
He has introduced legislation such as the PAGER Act aimed at countering radical threats and has consistently urged U.S. leadership—including the Trump administration—to maintain pressure on Iran and support Israel’s defense efforts.
Notably, Rabbi Altshuler, a constituent of Congressman Steube’s district, was present for this meeting. Congressman Steube’s candid and firm stance on defending Israel was both encouraging and impactful.
To learn more about his work or to contact his office, please visit his official website: https://steube.house.gov or call his Washington, D.C. office at (202) 225-5792.
Additionally, we attended the House Education Press Conference, which focused on the growing threat of antisemitism—particularly on college campuses. Throughout the day, we witnessed far-left, anti-Israel agitators creating significant disruption, in stark contrast to the peaceful and purposeful presence of the Pastors and Rabbis for Israel, who moved through the Capitol with dignity and unity.
A highlight of the day was a congressional reception that featured several notable speakers, including Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, the current Ambassador of Israel to the United States. His remarks, along with those of other key leaders, powerfully affirmed the strength of the U.S.-Israel relationship and the importance of continued advocacy.
We were also heartened to see “We Stand With Israel” posters displayed prominently on the doors of many congressional offices—a visual reminder of the broad support for Israel within the halls of American government.
This visit to Capitol Hill was both deeply encouraging and sobering. It showcased the fruit of years of labor within the Israel Advocacy movement, as we witnessed how many public servants are standing firm in defense of Israel and the shared values of democracy and freedom. At the same time, it was troubling to observe the chaos and hostility from those who seek to delegitimize Israel’s right to exist—and by extension, the right of the Jewish people to live securely and freely.
More than anything, this experience reaffirmed the urgent need to deepen unity—across faiths, political lines, and communities—to stand boldly and together for the people of Israel and the principles we hold dear.
Artzenu – Israel’s Lone Farmers
The Ghetto Fighters House – The world’s first Holocaust museum
Swords Into Plowshares 