The need for Jewish unity is more urgent than ever

This time last year as we entered 2024, barely weeks after the October 7 massacre, Jews in Israel and across the diaspora were united. The unspeakable evil of what happened on that day led us to put our differences in perspective. We were united in grief, united in resolve and united in spirit.

A year on, that unity is less firm. Divisions over the conduct of the Gaza war, over politics and over some religious matters have re-emerged – at the very time that the threat to Jews across the world has grown. Synagogues have been attacked, Jews have been assaulted for being Jews and antisemitism has been almost normalised. Such hatred of Jews needs not only a firm and determined response from the authorities – it requires us to remember that what unites us is far greater than what divides us. We need to regain that perspective as a matter of urgency.

Yes, Jews are a disputatious people. But our arguments should always be conducted with civility and respect. In that context Limmud, which has just concluded, is an example set by Anglo-Jewry to the world. Jews of all persuasion are welcome and disagreements are discussed with courtesy and a spirit of inquiry and learning. The president of the Board of Deputies, Phil Rosenberg, has made the quest for unity the hallmark of his term so far – an important task. Likewise, his call this week for an annual Jewish cultural month is welcome. Too few of us are properly educated in Jewish history – and if we are ignorant about the history of our people and of the Middle East and Israel, how can we expect non-Jews to be aware?

In the end it all comes back to unity – to the need for us to stand together, to understand each other’s perspective, and to look with purpose and determination to the future.