Rudy Rochman

Rudy Rochman is a Jewish-Israeli activist, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and international speaker recognized for his work combating antisemitism, strengthening Jewish identity, and fostering dialogue about Israel and the Jewish people. Through public speaking, social media, documentary filmmaking, and campus engagement, he has become one of the most prominent voices advocating for Jewish self-determination and education on the history of the Jewish people.

Born in Paris, France, Rochman spent his early childhood in Israel before moving with his family to the United States. He served as a paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces and later studied at UCLA before earning a bachelor's degree in political science from Columbia University. While at Columbia, he founded the university's chapter of Students Supporting Israel (SSI), leading initiatives to engage students in conversations about antisemitism, Zionism, and Jewish identity.

Rochman is the creator and host of "We Were Never Lost," a documentary project exploring isolated and lesser-known Jewish communities around the world. During production of the series in Nigeria in 2021, he and two fellow filmmakers were detained for nearly three weeks before being released without charges, bringing international attention to both their work and the communities they were documenting.

As a speaker, Rochman has addressed audiences across North America, Europe, Israel, Africa, and Australia on topics including antisemitism, Jewish identity, Zionism, Israel, leadership, social media advocacy, and intercultural dialogue. His videos and online educational content have reached millions of viewers, and he is widely known for engaging directly with critics of Israel through respectful, face-to-face conversations intended to encourage understanding across ideological divides.

Following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, Rochman returned to active reserve duty with the Israel Defense Forces while continuing his public advocacy and educational work. His presentations draw on his experiences as a soldier, activist, filmmaker, and global traveler, encouraging audiences to think deeply about history, identity, and the future of Jewish communities around the world.