On March 3, 2025, the Yeshiva University chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Society hosted an event featuring Elliott Abrams to discuss his new book, If You Will It: Rebuilding Jewish Peoplehood for the 21st Century. Abrams is currently a senior fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, DC. He previously served as deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor under President George W. Bush, overseeing U.S. Middle East policy for the White House, and as Special Representative for Iran and Venezuela during the first Trump administration. 

The event was organized by the chapter’s co-presidents, Yaakov Willner and Gavriel Buchwald, and the vice president, Matthew Minsk. Along with the Alexander Hamilton Society, the event was also supported by the Zahava and Moshael J. Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought. 

Abrams began his talk by explaining how he was inspired to write his book by witnessing the alarming degree of assimilation within the non-Orthodox Jewish community in America. He advocated several strategies to mitigate this trend, such as increased Jewish education, religious observance, and strengthening the connection of American Jews to Israel. 

Following this, Willner interviewed Abrams on domestic and geopolitical policy. He analyzed Iranian foreign policy before and after October 7, along with several possible solutions to the current Israel-Hamas war. Abrams opined that he thought the best solution was a confederation-style government between Jordan and the Palestinians, in a dual-government union, citing the Austro-Hungarian Empire as a precedent. However, Abrams expressed doubts about the feasibility of Trump’s proposed Gaza plan. 

During the Q&A period with students, Abrams addressed a range of foreign policy issues. Abrams expressed optimism about the new Syrian government along with concern for the potential rise of an Islamist government there. Abrams also voiced concern regarding the rising isolationist trend in today’s Republican party, led by J.D. Vance. Abrams admitted that although Vance seems to maintain an “Israel exception” within his isolationism, he is not confident that the pro-Israel community can rely on that position to continue indefinitely. Amongst a variety of other questions, Abrams drew upon his considerable diplomatic experience to offer thought-provoking and enlightening observations on current and future foreign-policy concerns.

Overall, the event provided attendees with an intellectually enriching and stimulating opportunity to hear invaluable insights from an esteemed member of the foreign-policy and diplomatic community.