Hello!

I am Rabbi Hirshel Jaffe—known to many as “The Running Rabbi”—a five-time cancer survivor whose journey of faith and resilience has taken me from marathon finish lines to some of the most dangerous places on earth.

At the height of the Iran hostage crisis, I traveled to Tehran to visit the 52 Americans held captive—a mission that became the subject of a BBC documentary. During that visit, I came dangerously close to becoming the 53rd hostage myself when militants accused me of receiving a secret message from one of the captives.

A steadfast supporter of the Iranian people’s fight for freedom, I have long stood with those seeking regime change and a better future.

When the hostages were finally freed, President Ronald Reagan invited me to join him in welcoming them home. In a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden, I was humbled to receive the Award of Courage from President Reagan himself.

Years later, at the Presidential Prayer Weekend in Washington, D.C., President Bill Clinton invited me to address world leaders on the theme: “Let us bridge the gulf between us.”

In gratitude for the gift of life, I have devoted myself to serving as a prayerful friend to people facing illness and adversity. Through my book, “Why Not Me? Searching for God When We Suffer,” and an inspirational website that reaches over 25 million followers worldwide, I aim to bring hope and healing to those in need.

The fighting words are engraved on his ID bracelet: NEVER GIVE UP!"