It might be surprising to find out that — in his wife’s words — “Israel’s biggest cheerleader” lives in Idaho.
Born in Montana, Moshe Herman moved as a child to Idaho with his father’s job for the Park, then later the Forest Service. When it comes to religion, he says he “didn’t grow up anything,” but in his early 20s he started exploring his Jewish heritage.
“Like every person that’s new to religion,” he told the IJN in a recent conversation, “I went from zero to dati [observant] — if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do this.”
As a college student he went on Birthright-Taglit and “fell for it hook, line and sinker,” he says enthusiastically. After finishing his studies and working for a few years, he made aliyah in 2013 and started ulpan. Ultimately, living in Israel with passable and Hebrew and no family support system he decided to return to the US. Like many, he planned to return to Israel, but life continued with work, marriage and family. For now, Herman has is staying put.
That hasn’t dampened his love of Israel. The executive director of Idaho Israel Alliance hit the ground running when he took on the role over a year ago.
He’d worked for IIA’s founder, Dan Berger, in the tech field and after Oct. 7, 2023 Herman reconnected with Berger asking a simple question: “How can I help?”
“So here I am,” he says.
“It’s crazy how it all goes full circle,” says the father of twin five-year-olds.
When he first returned to Idaho, he also took a step back from religious involvement. “Now here I am, 10 years later, getting reinvolved.”
As a side job, mind you. Herman’s full-time work is still in the tech industry. Somehow, the father of twin five-year-olds finds time for both. His wife calls him a “semi-professional Israel advocate.”
Idaho Israel Alliance works with a variety of community partners, from the Reform congregation Ahavath Israel to non-Jews both secular and religious. One of its board members is a local pro-Israel pastor, David Magera.
“In a place like Idaho, where the Jewish community is very small, that’s where we’re going to find success,” Herman says.
“We work with anybody who’s willing to jump on the ship and be pro-Israel. In a place like Idaho, it’s a pretty easy ask.”
Since the IJN first connected with IIA in May, 2024 for the Israel Independence Day issue, the organization has shifted from being event-focused, because that need was being fulfilled by other organizations. Instead, IIA is working on developing relationships with the state legislature to build pro-Israel sentiment and impact legislation, which is part of why it brought Herman on.
“Nobody was in the advocacy space at the state house,” says Herman.
The IIA established a Jewish Leadership Coalition that meets quarterly with the AJC’s Pacific Northwest office and other groups to share information.
Anti-Israel and anti-Semitic agitation has been low in Boise, compared to other cities, but among the issues the group has addressed was the vandalism of an Anne Frank memorial and an encampment set up on state ground.
The primary organizer of that encampment was eventually arrested. Even though the charges were later dropped, Herman speculates that learning of the potential consequences might have been an eye-opening experience, because that person has not been visibly active since.
IIA has also established an action group to respond and mobilize.
One of its successes came earlier this year when the CEO of the state’s largest construction company used Nazi hand signals at a company meeting. Ultimately, after a milquetoast apology followed by a more sincere one, the person was let go.
The company had been in touch with Berger, and when the new CEO came on board the company decided to include trainings to prevent anti-Semitic behavior.
“In the past there wouldn’t have been an organization that could have reacted quickly to that,” says Herman.
IIA also began work for the Idaho legislature to adopt the IHRA working of anti-Semitism. “We found out that 2025 won’t be the best year for it,” he says, but it’s still on the to-do list in the next years.
The group has also launched a web series in its efforts to build pro-Israel sentiment through education. Its inaugural guest was Californian Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz California, author of The Case for Dual Loyalty. The interview can be seen on IIA’s YouTube channel.
Herman says his wife also was not raised in a religious household, but Oct. 7 galvanized her as it did so many. She wanted an Israeli flag sticker on her car too (Herman has long had one) and she’s talking about visiting Israel for the first time through Taglit-Birthright.
“It sparked her Zionism,” he says, adding, with a chuckle, “But it didn’t hurt that she was married to me.”
Herman’s Israel work leaves him inspired.
“I’ve noticed in my interactions with leaders around Idaho, and specifically around the Treasure Valley (Boise area), there are so many smart, great people who really have Israel’s best interests at heart.
“It’s so awesome to be able to connect with them and, say, ‘Hey, we’re all together,’ and to make sure that the accurate narrative is being heard.
“I feel blessed to live where I live, because with Idaho’s political situation, people have a tendency to be pro-Israel anyway. But we can strengthen that feeling.”
© IJN 2025