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Since the founding of the State of Israel, the aspiration to preserve collective memory and shape a unified national consciousness has been one of the cornerstones of the Zionist vision. In schools, official ceremonies, memorial sites, and history books, we made it our mission to tell our story. But in today's fast-paced world, where attention spans are short and the truth struggles to rise above a sea of competing narratives, the rules have changed.
Social media is no longer a supplementary tool – it has become the primary battlefield for memory, spirit, and narrative. This reality demands that we not only commemorate the past but also actively fight for the present and secure the future of Israeli memory and heritage.
In a world where every individual is both a content creator and a potential audience, and where influence is just a click away, those who are not present in the digital sphere simply do not exist. Israel cannot afford to vanish from global discourse. We must learn to use social media not as an echo chamber for internal dialogue but as a strategic platform for preserving memory and fortifying the Israeli spirit against its adversaries.
The power of memory in the digital age
Initiatives like "Eva's Story," which told the tale of a Jewish girl murdered in the Holocaust through Instagram stories, demonstrated the revolutionary potential of digital memory.
No longer confined to polite ceremonies for limited audiences, memory was transformed into a living, emotional experience that resonated with the language of a younger generation, linking historic events to the personal realm of every viewer.
Similar projects have proven that the smart use of social media does not dilute memory—it amplifies it. They enable personal stories to break through the walls of cynicism and connect directly to the most basic human emotions.
In a world where everything is fast, fleeting, and often superficial, the ability to create an authentic, emotional memory experience holds tremendous power. And that power is in our hands.
If we apply this same approach to Israel’s ongoing struggle—to tell a story of resilience, morality, strength, and hope—we can generate a meaningful and lasting echo in a global environment that is increasingly susceptible to disinformation and sophisticated anti-Israel narratives.
Winning the Battle for Consciousness – Through Strategy and Patience
However, a compelling story is not enough. Ensuring the victory of the Israeli narrative requires a coordinated, professional strategy:
First, we must define a clear vision of victory in the digital arena—not a short-term tactical goal, but a comprehensive vision spanning 18–24 months ahead, and then five to ten years. A vision that asks: What will the global consciousness look like if we act correctly, and what will it look like if we fail?
Second, we must craft a precise and consistent narrative, anchored in clear core values—not a series of reactive responses to events, but a coherent story positioning Israel as a moral, humane society that values life, standing against forces that glorify destruction and violence.
Third, we must unify all efforts—informational, diplomatic, digital, and cyber—under a coordinated campaign, complete with a clear playbook, structured protocols, and comprehensive responsibility.
Israel can no longer afford to operate in a fragmented, emotional, impulsive manner.
Finally, we must work with patience and persistence. Not to be swayed by momentary reactions, not to chase fleeting trends, but to build gradually and deliberately, as one would build a cathedral: not for the present moment, but for future generations.
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Self-check: leaving the ego at the door
One of the greatest threats to such an undertaking is personal ego. Israeli public discourse is filled with talented individuals, but sometimes also with conflicting interests and credit wars.
Nili Goldberg At this juncture, it is worth recalling the simple sign Quincy Jones posted on the studio door when he brought together dozens of music superstars to record "We Are the World":
"Leave your ego at the door."
That was the key to the success of that historic night, and it must be our key as well: understanding that this battle is not personal, not political, and not for PR—this is existential.
Only through true unity of purpose can we preserve the memory of those who perished and ensure that Israel, with all its values, its story, and its dreams, will not be forgotten.
Nili Goldberg is a tech entrepreneur, author, and a leading acceleration strategist for companies and investors.