Less than two years after making aliyah, Justin Hayet, a Baltimore native who grew up in Owings Mills, was recently honored as one of Forbes Israel’s “30 Under 30” for 2023.
The list — which received more than 3,500 nominees and applicants — recognizes young women and men who have made their mark in such fields as science, media, sports, technology, the military, culture and sports.
Since 2020, Hayet, 28, has served as chief operating officer of the Bnai Zion Foundation, a New York-based organization dedicated to promoting Israel through digital media. He lives in Tel Aviv.
Hayet is a former Baltimore participant of the Diller Teen Fellows program. He is a graduate of Binghamton University, where he received a bachelors in political science and a masters in public administration.
From 2016 to 2019, he served as senior advisor to the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations. During his time in New York, Hayet was named as one of the most influential Jewish gays in New York by the New York UJA Federation and the Israeli Consulate.
Jmore recently spoke with Hayet, a 2012 graduate of the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology in Towson, about being recognized by Forbes Israel.
Jmore: How does it feel to be named one of Forbes Israel’s top 30 under the age of 30? How did this honor come about?
Hayet: I was a bit shocked when I found out. It was a bit strange because I had to wait six hours to tell my family back in Baltimore due to the time difference. I guess this is part of the bargain for living on the other side of the world!
Nonetheless, it’s a big deal for me. I moved here 18 months ago, and to be recognized with some of the brightest and most promising minds and practitioners in my new country across many fields is really an honor — and a bit of a shock. I knew a few friends and mentors in Israeli politics, journalism and the nonprofit sector were nominating me, but I didn’t think it was a realistic possibility at all.
For the past month, I’ve been celebrating with friends in Tel Aviv and I am excited to celebrate with my family in Baltimore at the end of the month. My family and I have become used to these types of delayed celebrations, whether it’s Forbes or birthdays. We make do and just love our time together!
Tell us about your work with Bnai Zion.
Our organization is one of the oldest Zionist organizations in America. Under the leadership of my colleague and friend Rabbi Dr. Ari Lamm, Bnai Zion has transformed into an organization dedicated to strengthening the Jewish people and State of Israel through media and entertainment.
In my role, I manage the organization’s day-to-day operations in addition to managing special projects and our many relationships on the ground here in Israel, ranging from government officials and major players in the Israeli entertainment scene.
Why did you decide to make aliyah, and how is it going so far?
Aliyah was always on the table for me. I worked for three years at the Israeli mission to the United Nations in the ambassador’s office. This challenging experience thickened my skin and gave me the confidence to embrace my inner chutzpah.
I was living in Baltimore for most of COVID and I think it was easier making aliyah from Baltimore than it would’ve been from New York. So far, aliyah has been wonderful. In the hustle of New York living, I found it’s hard to make new long-lasting friendships (most of my friends in New York are from college). But in Tel Aviv, it’s impossible not to make new connections and friends each week, whether at coffee shops or the beach.
A year ago, I read Yossi Shain’s ‘The Israeli Century.’ The general thesis of the book is that Israel is becoming the epicenter of the Jewish world. It’s a thrill to be in the eye of the Jewish story.
Do you miss Baltimore? New York?
Sometimes. My family lives in Baltimore and my closest friends live in New York. I miss them all, but Facetime and WhatsApp help shrink the miles between us. I come back pretty often for work and life — and weddings! I have two weddings this year of couples I am very close with that I am really looking forward to.
I surprisingly miss Goldberg’s Bagels a lot more than I miss my bagel shops in Manhattan. I don’t miss the subway. Now, every morning, I start my day with a run on the Tel Aviv Tayelet [promenade] alongside the Mediterranean (sometimes I even run on the sand itself next to the water). A true upgrade from the 2/3 subway line from the Upper West Side to midtown Manhattan.
I do wish Tel Aviv had better sushi though.
Where do you envision yourself in 15 or 20 years?
My hope is to be either Israeli ambassador to the United Nations or the United States. It’s a scary thing to share your dreams, but it empowers me. It holds me accountable, it keeps me focused.
I think it’s silly for us to expect the world to be a mind reader. If we don’t share our dreams out loud, how can we expect the world to listen? And if I fail, I guess that just makes me human. We’ll see.
A committed philanthropist and community leader, Russel was president of R&H Motors.
The mother of four was a native of Winchester, Virginia, who spent most of her life in Northwest Baltimore.
The remaining 6,000 members of the community are expected to immigrate by 2030.
The Columbia resident worked on the Gemini and Apollo space missions.