While geopolitical turbulence dominated the discussions at The Jerusalem Post 2026 New York Conference, Mark Levenson offered a masterclass in anchoring stability through raw economic power. Speaking on the "Leading through Uncertainty" panel, the Co-Chair of the New Jersey-Israel Commission shifted the spotlight away from crisis management and toward a quiet transatlantic powerhouse: the ironclad alliance binding the Garden State to Israel.
Levenson demystified the unique state machinery behind this alliance. "The New Jersey Israel Commission is actually the only commission [of its kind] in the United States," he said. "It's a state-funded entity, it's not a federation, it's not a chamber of commerce, it's funded by the state, and our goal is to enhance the economic relationship between Israel and New Jersey." This direct government backing has yielded massive dividends, quietly fueling an average of $1.5 billion annually just in bilateral trade of goods.
Yet, the architecture of this bridge extends far beyond corporate balance sheets. Levenson emphasized deep academic synergy, pointing to high-level research collaborations connecting the New Jersey Institute of Technology with Ben-Gurion University, and Rutgers University with Tel Aviv University. This intellectual pipeline is reinforced by unparalleled physical logistics, boasting the highest volume of daily peacetime flights connecting Israel to the New Jersey region.
Ultimately, Levenson stressed that the bond is deeply human. New Jersey hosts the largest Israeli expat community in the northern suburbs, flanked by the country’s top-ranked public education system. Crucially, this solidarity transcends partisan politics. Every New Jersey governor, regardless of their side of the aisle, actively fights antisemitism and champions Israeli investment. "It's important for the State of New Jersey," he asserted, "but it's also the right thing to do."
Levenson closed with an open invitation to Israeli entrepreneurs looking to scale globally despite regional uncertainty, promising the commission's full operational support. "We want the jobs, we want the business, we want the relationship," he declared.
Written in collaboration with the New Jersey-Israel Commission