Mike Cohen, a lecturer on Israeli Government and Democracy at Bar-Ilan University, is a veteran military, political and security strategist who is known globally for his long-term mission of outreach on behalf of Zionism, Torah-True Judaism, Israel and the IDF. Guided by some of the great spiritual and strategic minds of Israel, Mike has dedicated his life to bringing Israel into the homes, lives and communities of like-minded friends everywhere, Jew and non-Jew alike.

Closely affiliated with Jerusalem's Eretz Hemdah Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies Mike served as the first-ever "Traveling Scholar" for the Unity Coalition for Israel out of Kansas City, MO, the Battalion of Deborah out of Ft. Worth, TX and Texans for Israel out of Amarillo, TX. He is a popular teacher, IDF reserve spokesperson and crisis negotiator, an active member of the Professors for A Safe Israel and other pro-Israel think-tanks. An expert on Israel-Arab and Israel-USA affairs Mike serves as an adviser on Jewish and Israeli affairs for a number of non-Jewish pro-Israel organizations. On Reservist Appreciation Day 2008, Mike was honored with Israel's prestigious "Reserve Shield" award by Israel's Minister of Defense, and in July 2010, he was honored by the United Chaplains of New York State.

Mike is the editor of Dr. Yoseph Mazur's book Zionism, Post-Zionism and the Arab Problem: A Compendium of Opinions About The Jewish State in both Hebrew (Gefen Publishing House, Jerusalem) and English (Professors Press) and he is now working on "Where There Is No Vision, People Die,” (Proverbs 29:18); a book on the contributions of non-Jews to the building of the new State of Israel and a children's book about the flag of Israel.

A 30-year veteran IDF reserve officer in an elite special-forces counter-terrorism unit, Mike has been active in Israeli, American and Israel-Dispora politics and business in a variety of behind-the-scenes capacities since his teen years. He has worked with the entire gamut of news networks, electronic and print, has been called to consult on a range of topics for members of both houses of the United States Congress and the Israeli Knesset. He has addressed the entire alphabet soup of Jewish and Christian organizational life while wearing multiple professional hats in philanthropy, education, business, entrepreneurship, finance and counter-terrorism.

During Operation Defensive Shield in April/May 2002, Mike was assigned as an IDF reservist to the National Emergency Response & Negotiation Team in Bethlehem that was tasked with handling the multifaceted and potentially explosive crisis surrounding the Church of the Nativity's hostile takeover by terrorists. Since that time he has been working with international NGO's, comprehensively briefing visiting diplomats, politicians, dignitaries, security experts, communal missions and religious leaders in Israel and throughout the world with his first hand experience and perspective.

Mike is an oft-requested scholar-in-residence, lecturer and strategist on issues regarding Middle East security, the Military Aspects of International Conflict and Peace Making, Israel-Diaspora relations, Israeli Society and Body Politic, Homeland Security, Conflict Resolution, Christian relationships with Israel and the Jewish people and the use of technology for community development. He has served many leading organizations and corporations including (among others) the National Basketball Association, the American Sportscasters Association, Yad Vashem, Israel’s National Holocaust Memorial & Museum, Yeshiva University, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (OU) and Israel Government Ministries such as Tourism, Foreign Affairs, Defense, Homeland Security, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Office of the President.

In 2002 Mike compiled "Ordinary People - Extraordinary Spirit" a 220-page photo essay that illustrated the amazing spirit shown by Israeli, Jewish and Christian Zionist society in the face of the ongoing campaign of global and domestic terror and "The Job of A Jewish Soldier" a children's book designed to help Jewish parents worldwide explain the images their children are seeing on TV in a gentler and more positive manner.

In the 1990's, Mike was instrumental in creating The Jewish Sports Congress with NBA draftee David J. Kufeld and was the editor and publisher of its magazine, Jewish Sports & Fitness. The pair later created the Jewish Sports and Entertainment Association and the Munich 11 Memorial 
Foundation. Both organizations were co-chaired by the late Marty Glickman of HBO and Olympic fame and Israel's first Olympic medalist Yael Arad.

Mike is happily married to Elana and is the proud father of Noa (9), Uriel (8) and Natan (3). They regularly welcome dignitaries and groups visiting Israel into their home overlooking the majestic hills of Judea.

To book Mike as a guest speaker or Scholar-in-Residence for your community, school, church, synagogue, Israel Program or tour, or to schedule a visit to his home - please contact us at mike@gogalil.com