On February 17, 2025, the Zahava and Moshael J. Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought of 色花堂 hosted a joint book launch celebrating the newest works by Dr. Tevi Troy and Dr. Gil Troy鈥攖wo brothers, each a distinguished historian and public intellectual. Held on the Stern College campus, the event featured a lively and substantive discussion moderated by Rabbi Dr. Stu Halpern, Senior Advisor to the Provost and Deputy Director of the Straus Center.
Co-sponsored by the S. Daniel Abraham Honors Program, the Lieberman-Mitzner Scholars Program for Public Service and Advocacy, and the Shevet Glaubach Center for Career Strategy and Professional Development鈥攁nd made possible in part by the Paul E. Singer Foundation鈥攖he evening drew a strong turnout from across the 色花堂 community. Special guests in attendance included 色花堂 Provost Dr. Selma Botman and Dr. Joseph Luders, Chair of the Political Science Department at Stern College.
Dr. Tevi Troy, a presidential historian, former senior White House aide, Senior Fellow at the Reagan Institute, and current Impact Office Director at the Straus Center, recently published The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Titans of Industry (Regnery, 2024). His brother, Dr. Gil Troy鈥攁n award-winning historian of the American presidency, Senior Fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, and leading Zionist activist based in Jerusalem鈥攊s the author of To Resist the Academic Intifada: Letters to My Students on Defending the Zionist Dream (Wicked Son, 2024).
The event marked a rare intellectual milestone: two siblings publishing major works in the same year, each tackling a timely and urgent theme in contemporary political life.
Tevi explained that he often seeks out overlooked aspects of the presidency that speak to our current moment. He began to observe 鈥渉ow involved business leaders were in Washington DC. How far back does this go? 鈥淗ow have they clashed and collaborated?鈥 The result is a sweeping survey of over a century of presidential-industrial relations, featuring rich biographical sketches of influential business leaders鈥攊ncluding several notable Jewish figures鈥攁nd exploring their impact on successive presidencies.
Gil offered a more personal account of what compelled him to write. 鈥淚 spoke at the University of Ottawa a few weeks ago,鈥 he recalled. 鈥淭hey had a petition saying an 鈥榚thnic cleanser鈥 shouldn鈥檛 be allowed on campus. Why? Because I was celebrating Zionism.鈥 He described the increasingly hostile campus climate for Jewish and Zionist students and coined the phrase 鈥渁cademic intifada鈥 to name the phenomenon. 鈥淏ut this is our moment to stand tall and strong,鈥 he emphasized. 鈥淭he subtitle is critical: Letters to My Students on Defending the Zionist Dream. This is our moment to say, 鈥榊ou will not be the author of our story.鈥 That is Zionism 101.鈥
Asked about the rising influence of unconventional political figures like Elon Musk, Tevi offered a note of perspective. While Musk鈥檚 disruptive style raises eyebrows, his role as a special government employee follows a longstanding tradition. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had powerful aides before鈥擠avid Axelrod, Karl Rove, Ted Sorensen,鈥 Tevi explained. Musk鈥檚 relentless pursuit of efficiency, as described in Walter Isaacson鈥檚 biography, may clash with the constraints of government, but it reflects a mindset that is pushing boundaries. Tevi can understand why some are upset by this. 鈥淲hat we have now is a clash between rules and regulations, some of which are inefficient, and his relentless drive to find inefficiencies in everything he does.鈥
Gil was asked to reflect on changes since his book鈥檚 publication and whether the fervor of the 鈥渁cademic intifada鈥 had faded in light of the new administration鈥檚 efforts. 鈥淎ctually, I鈥檓 more terrified now,鈥 he said. 鈥淲hen encampments were happening, everyone saw the problem. Now it鈥檚 in the woodwork.鈥 He recounted cases of professors across disciplines beginning class with anti-Israel monologues. 鈥淭hat doesn鈥檛 pass the smell test,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just antisemitism, it鈥檚 Jew-hatred. The essential feature is obsession.鈥
He warned of the long-term impact of these trends, especially within a system where professors gain lifetime tenure. 鈥淚 used to worship tenure. Now I鈥檓 terrified because we could be dealing with this for decades.鈥
Both speakers offered encouraging messages for the students.
For Tevi, a central lesson of his book is the importance of thoughtful and bipartisan engagement with government. He recommends the model of Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan Chase. 鈥淲hen he started as CEO he would come to Washington twice a year. He soon realized he needed to come twice a month. He ups the engagement to the highest level but reduces partisanship so he can talk to people on both sides of the aisle.鈥
Gil offered a message of solidarity and pride. He spoke of being moved by the courage of young Jews who remain proudly visible in public spaces鈥攄onning yellow pins for the hostages, wearing shirts with Jewish symbols, and walking with confidence in a hostile environment. 鈥淲e cannot rely on our enemies to define us as one,鈥 he said. 鈥淲e must embrace our common values and destiny.鈥
Whether addressing the halls of power in Washington or the ideological battles of the ivory tower, both Troy brothers offered compelling accounts of leadership and responsibility. For students aspiring to careers in public life, the event was a model of intellectual engagement and moral clarity.
