Who is Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman and what will he say at Trump's inauguration?

Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University, will be giving the first benediction for newly inaugurated President Donald John Trump following his inaugural speech today (Monday).

Rabbi Berman is the second Jew to give a prayer or benediction at the Presidential inaugural since Ronald Reagan's second inauguration in 1985, and only the second Modern Orthodox Jew to do so - the other being Rabbi Marvin Hier, who did so at President Trump's first inauguration in 2017.

All other Jewish leaders who grave prayers at the inauguration of the President, a tradition which began with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's second inauguration in 1937, were leaders from Conservative or Reform Jewish communities or institutions.

Rabbi Dr. Berman, who became President of Yeshiva University in 2017, will also be the first American-Israeli to deliver remarks at the Presidential inauguration, where he will also pray for the wellbeing and safe return of all the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

Rabbi Dr. Berman said that he "will call for the nation to rise to this historic moment and unite around America's foundational values as a source for realizing our shared dreams of a prosperous, compassionate country led by faith and trust in God."

Taking note of the fact that he will be the only university professor delivering remarks at the event, Rabbi Dr. Berman said that "on behalf of Yeshiva University I am deeply honored to have been asked to deliver the Benediction at this momentous time. As I prepare my remarks, I am inspired by the words of the prophet Jeremiah, who thousands of years ago walked through the roads of Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel, and proclaimed 'Blessed is the one who trusts in God.' I pray that we are all united around the core values of life and liberty, of service and sacrifice, and especially of faith and morality, which George Washington called the 'indispensable supports' of American prosperity."

Rabbi Dr. Berman has been involved in interfaith action and efforts to combat antisemitism following October 7, as well as raising hundreds of millions of dollars for philanthropy.