Business & Mindset Conference “Ascend 2026” — Jerusalem (Photo Essay)

By BJLIfe/Sharon Altshul
Posted on 02/09/26

Jerusalem, Israel - Feb. 9, 2026  - On February 9, 2026, the Business & Mindset Conference — Ascend 2026  was held at Binyanei HaUma, the International Conference Center, in Jerusalem, Israel. Entrepreneurs, creatives, and business professionals gathered to network and build knowledge on the theme of the power of artificial intelligence when paired with intentional direction and human strategy.

The day opened with a keynote from Dov Maisel, co-founder of United Hatzalah and CEO at UH Innovation, who set the tone by stressing the importance of purposeful innovation and calm leadership in today’s fast-moving business environment.

A standout of the conference was a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Shanna Fuld, CEO of Israel Daily News. Joining her onstage were: Omer Eliaz, Director of Organic Growth at Fiverr; Miriam Schwab, Director of WordPress at Elementor; and Moe Mernick, tech entrepreneur and creator of the Epic Storytelling newsletter.

The panelists discussed how their businesses grew. Combining authentic storytelling, they offered practical insights to the audience. Working hard is necessary for start-ups, Mernick said; however, he added it is also important "to pray."

Across sessions, speakers shared actionable strategies for marketing, scaling a digital presence, and leveraging AI responsibly.

The sponsors who presented briefly included Dr. David Leitner, Debbie Sassen, Michael Horesh with Shari Pilo, Shosi Davis, and Tara Horn, offering practical perspectives on leadership, branding, storytelling, and business growth.

Attendees took advantage of networking breaks and interactive discussions, leaving with fresh ideas and concrete next steps for applying what they learned to their own businesses.