June 24, 2025
On June 24, ACCESS NY—AJC’s hub for engaged young Jewish professionals—held its Annual Reception at the Consulate General of Argentina, gathering a powerful cross-section of emerging leaders, diplomats, and interfaith partners for an evening rooted in community, advocacy, and purpose.
The evening featured remarks from Ambassador Gerardo “Gerry” Díaz Bartolomé, Consul General of Argentina in New York, who recently returned from AJC Project Interchange’s diplomatic delegation to Israel. Reflecting on his visit, Ambassador Díaz Bartolomé spoke movingly about Israel’s resilience, diversity, and commitment to peace in the face of extraordinary threats from Iran and its terror proxies. He affirmed Argentina’s longstanding friendship with Israel and its Jewish community—the largest in Latin America—and emphasized the importance of moral clarity and solidarity in moments of global uncertainty.
The reception came at a deeply emotional time for the ACCESS NY community. Just weeks earlier, the AJC ACCESS community lost Sarah Milgrim, a beloved ACCESS alumna and AJC leader, in the terrorist shooting at an AJC event at the Capital Jewish Museum. Sarah embodied the very best of ACCESS—she was brilliant, principled, and relentless in her pursuit of peace and Jewish dignity. Her presence was deeply felt, and her memory continues to inspire a new generation of advocates to meet this moment with courage and conviction.
The evening also marked a significant leadership transition. Immediate Past President Alex Lass—who will be honored this fall at the AJC New York Benefit on October 23 with the Omer Neutra Young Leadership Award—formally inducted the incoming ACCESS NY Board. In his remarks, Alex spoke to both the community’s growth and its responsibility to lead with moral clarity, especially in a time when the Jewish people cannot afford silence or retreat.
That sense of responsibility—fueled by both legacy and urgency—is what defines ACCESS NY. What makes the community singular within AJC and the broader Jewish advocacy space is its rare fusion of grassroots energy and global engagement. As the voice of AJC’s young professional network in New York City, ACCESS NY empowers its members to engage directly with diplomats, elected officials, and interfaith allies—representing not just the next generation of Jewish leaders, but a bold generation of global citizens committed to Israel, democratic values, and the future of the Jewish people.
In a year marked by rising antisemitism, geopolitical upheaval, and moments of profound personal loss, the ACCESS NY Annual Reception was more than a gathering. It was a reaffirmation of what ACCESS is, what it stands for, and its commitment to the urgent work ahead.
