Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the new Hebrew year. It's a day when we open a new page, with an opportunity for spiritual renewal and correcting our actions. Unfortunately, immediately after Rosh Hashanah, we will mark, with a heavy and broken heart, one year since the chilling date of October 7th.
Naturally, we Israelis are very preoccupied with what's happening in our country, but we must not forget our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, who will sit around the holiday table like us in hundreds of cities around the world. During the past year, Jewish communities worldwide stood by Israel, without conditions and without hesitation. Jews all over the world were subjected to severe verbal and sometimes physical attacks and witnessed countless antisemitic incidents, including hate graffiti and desecration of tombstones and synagogues. Even in workplaces, public events, and social gatherings, our brothers in the diaspora encountered calls and insults condemning the war in Gaza and Israel.
But all these did not weaken their resolve. They defended Israel, fought it's just war, and continued with all their might to support it - both morally and financially. Hundreds of delegations of youth, students, and organized groups came to Israel to volunteer, help, support, and see with their own eyes the magnitude of the horror, so they could continue to tell what happened during the terror attack and since. In addition to all this, we are also witnessing an amazing phenomenon - the increase in immigration to Israel over the past year.
Even today, despite all the challenges they face as individuals and as a community, Jews in the diaspora do not stop fighting for Israel and do so together. It doesn't matter which community they belong to - secular, ultra-Orthodox, Orthodox, or Reform, diaspora Jews are united for the State of Israel, for its success in the war, for the return of the hostages, and for the future of the Jewish people.
If there's something we in Israel need to learn from our brothers and sisters in the diaspora, it's the unity of ranks around a common goal. Concern for Israel is shared by all groups in diaspora Jewry – regardless of their ideological or religious affiliation - and is the common denominator for all.
Empowerment of Young Jewish Men and Women
These efforts and activities of diaspora Jews are partly the fruit of public effort. Ambassador Ronald Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, identified the great importance of training and empowering young Jews from around the world and invested considerable resources in developing and implementing special programs over the years. These programs were designed, among other things, to strengthen the connection between Israel and diaspora Jewry - from programs for high school students, through college students, to diplomatic training for more advanced ages. This investment has proven itself over the past year, as hundreds of young people from Jewish communities mobilized for Israel. Their mobilization alongside Israel is not without criticism, and our ability to criticize and examine ourselves is one of the important qualities that exist in us, but at the moment of truth, they stood as loyal soldiers in the service of the nation and acted as goodwill ambassadors, and advocates for Israel on all fronts.
It should be noted that there is important work being done by Israeli citizens and of course also by the government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs, in various areas of public diplomacy and as a part of overall fight against antisemitism. But this work is not enough to meet the needs of Jewish communities and should be increased and intensified.
Unity for a Common Purpose
Unity is not an empty word meant to cover legitimate disagreements. It needs to be expressed on a daily basis despite differences of opinion. I feel that recently we have returned to a divisive, polarizing, and very dangerous discourse within our state, while we are at war on seven fronts. It seems to me that almost everyone encounters this in the public sphere. I personally am shocked to experience this, when I meet people who are unwilling to speak to each other due to political disagreements, or encounter fierce arguments over support or non-support for the government.
Such discourse echoes the division and hatred that characterized the Jewish people throughout generations and especially on the eve of heavy disasters. From this time and place, I call upon my fellow Israelis: We must avoid this, if only because of the sharp historical lesson. Let us learn from diaspora Jewry a lesson on how to live together despite differences of opinion.
I call on Israelis to appreciate our brothers and sisters abroad, to strengthen them and embrace them, and to learn from them what unity for a common purpose is, for the continuity of the Jewish people and for the success of the State of Israel – "The beginning of our redemption's", as mentioned in the "Prayer for the State of Israel".
A New Beginning, A New Hope
Rosh Hashanah is considered the day when God judges all human beings and all of creation. But despite the aspect of judgment, Rosh Hashanah is also a day of hope. We pray for a good and blessed year, for abundance, health, and peace. Rosh Hashanah is a multifaceted holiday that combines spirituality, tradition, and customs. It invites us to self-reflection, repentance, hope, and a new beginning.
Let us hope that in the year 5785, which comes upon us for good, we will soon see the hostages return to their homes, families, and friends healthy in body and soul. That we will see Israel returning to itself, strengthening, fighting its enemies, and continuing to strive for peace and prosperity. Correcting itself and its failures and renewing its economy. May it be that in the coming year we will know how to embrace one another and strengthen our brothers and sisters in Israel and in the diaspora.
Only in this way, in light of true unity, will we merit as a nation a renewed revival that will bring blessing to the individual and to many. May it be so.
