Levi Shemtov
One of the last emissaries appointed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe before his death, Rabbi Levi Shemtov is one of the world’s preeminent Chabad rabbis. Based in Washington, not only does he act as the rabbi for the local Jewish community, but also for government and diplomatic officials.
Shemtov, the face of Chabad’s annual menorah-lighting ceremony in Washington every Hanukkah, has often been called the rabbi of Capitol Hill. As the founder and rabbi of The Shul of the Nation’s Capital, Shemtov offers a community for Jews of all stripes, even politicians from opposing parties. This requires staying apolitical and nonpartisan in a city more defined by partisanship than arguably any other in the world. Consequently, this has led to him being embraced by both sides of the aisle.
Elliot Cosgrove
Most know Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove for his leadership of the Park Avenue Synagogue, one of the leading synagogues and congregations of Conservative Judaism.
But Cosgrove is a man of many hats, and his presence can be seen in nearly all aspects of Conservative Judaism. This includes membership in the Jewish Theological Seminary Chancellor’s Cabinet; the New York Board of Rabbis; and the executive committee of the Rabbinical Assembly.
Cosgrove has also been vocal on the challenges facing Jews today, from complex feelings about Israel to the dilemmas in the US. In his recent book For Such a Time As This: On Being Jewish Today, he reiterates the difficult and multifaceted nature of a post-October 7 Jewish identity, as well as the need to balance empathy and compassion for Israelis and Gazans with a need for vigilance and self-defense.
Few in the Conservative movement can boast such a measure of influence, touching the hearts, minds, and souls of Jews the world over.
Nitzan Reuven
Being someone with widespread respect in the criminal underworld is not normally seen as a good thing. But for Rabbi Nitzan Reuven, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The head of Mosdot Ahavat Shalom in Holon, Reuven first made waves in 2023 after negotiating a truce of sorts between longtime rival criminals in the city – a deal that has continued to hold two years later, with violent conflict averted.
In the two years since, his following has grown to include several Israeli celebrities, such as singer Eyal Golan and soccer player Omer Atzili – in fact, according to a Mako report, Reuven was instrumental in Atzili’s decision to sign with Beitar Jerusalem over Maccabi Haifa.
Reuven is not a man who longs for the spotlight, but claims to be approachable to anyone. As he explained in an interview with Mynet Holon, being raised in a secular home has meant he understands the secular world and the people in it. Whether as a marriage counselor, mediator, adviser, or a bridge between Jews across the spectrum of religiosity, Reuven is a man who can form connections and unity for all who come to see him.
Dov Landau
An avid anti-Zionist and pillar of ultra-Orthodoxy, Rabbi Dov Landau looms over Israel and the haredi Jewish world.
Landau heads the Slabodka Yeshiva in Bnei Brak and the Council of Torah Sages for Degel Hatorah, the Lithuanian faction of the United Torah Judaism Party. In this capacity, he has a major say in the party’s policies and actions.
This is especially notable due to his actions in 2025, where he threatened to force his party to leave the government over the contentious issue of drafting yeshiva students into the IDF.
The 95-year-old Landau has been extremely vocal in his opposition to the haredi draft and Zionism, having called for Arabs to rule over Israel as well as the withdrawal of all haredim from Zionist organizations. And in early August 2025, in the wake of draft dodgers being arrested, he and other haredi leaders said that the State of Israel “declared war on Torah scholars” and called for the haredi community to launch a global resistance.
With a legion of followers and the authority to back it up, Landau’s influence – for better or for worse – is undeniable.