Jewish education and identity, when brought into the world of cybersecurity, can empower Jewish leaders with a strong moral compass and instill values such as tikkun olam (repairing the world), helping to bring positivity into the world, Israeli cybersecurity researcher and analyst Keren Elazari told JNS on Wednesday.

“When you look at entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley and pioneers of technology, many come from a Jewish background,” she said. “Jan Koum, the co-founder of WhatsApp and one of the world’s largest Jewish philanthropists, developed WhatsApp with the belief that communication should be free, democratized and secure.”

Elazari also pointed to Anne Neuberger, one of the world’s most senior cybersecurity advisers, who serves as a top adviser to the president of the United States and holds a senior position at the National Security Agency. Neuberger, she noted, grew up with a Chassidic educational background in Borough Park, one of Brooklyn’s most Orthodox communities.

For Elazari, there is no contradiction between Jewish life and technology. On the contrary, she said, growing up in Israel meant being surrounded by innovation and by people constantly engineering new solutions.

“Even the concept of Shabbat elevators is a technological invention,” she said. “I don’t see a contradiction at all. I see the crucial role Jewish education played in my own upbringing—the values my family, my school and my country instilled in me about using technology for good.”

Elazari participated in the Yael Foundation’s fourth annual summit, which opened on Tuesday, and delivered a lecture on Wednesday titled “Harnessing the Hacker Mindset,” linking cybersecurity, innovation and leadership.

“We need to invest much more in technological education, because technology is part of our world,” she said. “Artificial intelligence is transforming society, and one of the most important roles for Jewish educators is to help students develop the capacity and moral compass to work with technology—and with AI—in an ethical, safe, productive and creative way.”

She said she feels fortunate to have grown up in Tel Aviv in the 1990s, where her school provided early access to technology, including computer and robotics labs, as well as internet access as early as 1993.

“My parents enabled me to explore and learn independently and benefit from the technological education and opportunities available to me,” she said.

“Even today, not every child around the world—or even in Jewish institutions—has access to technological education, and I believe that access is critical,” she added.

In Israel, Elazari said, children grow up immersed in technology while also understanding that the country lives in a constant state of conflict and must defend its borders and civilian life. Digital self-defense, she noted, is part of that reality.

“I know there are several groups and initiatives in Israel teaching young children digital self-defense tools,” she said. “Cybersecurity has become a highly sought-after profession and career path for many young people.”

Israel is home to hundreds of cybersecurity startups and thousands of professionals developing new technologies in the field, Elazari added. “It is certainly a strong point for our nation and for the Jewish people globally.”

Addressing the fight against rising antisemitism, Elazari said technological literacy has become a “superpower,” particularly in the age of artificial intelligence, when critical thinking is essential to distinguish between what is real and what is fake.

“We can empower the younger generation to be vigilant online, to protect themselves, and to help combat antisemitism and negative narratives on the internet,” she said. “We can also empower them to help their elders.”

“I can envision a future in which young Jewish leaders use technology to help older generations connect to digital tools, benefit from AI in a safe way, and spread positive messages—both Jewish values and the positive impact Israel has in the world,” Elazari said.

“If more people are sharing and embodying that message online,” she added, “we can make a significant positive impact on the world and in the fight against antisemitism.”

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