It is a profound characteristic of our people that we come together, both in the normal course of events and especially when we need comforting. Not only do we come together, we stand together. Whatever differences we may have fall away.

As the Chief Rabbi has often said, our unity is our strength. After October 7, as the full horror of Hamas’ barbarity began to emerge, for many of us there was a need – a longing, even – to be around other Jews.

Families came together. Young adults returned home. Synagogues reported huge numbers of people attending Shabbat services, and events that would normally attract dozens were seeing hundreds. In November, the March Against Antisemitism brought the whole community onto the streets.

In Israel, meanwhile, after months of acrimonious divisions over the proposed judicial reforms, the country united in grief and defiance as it faced down the most depraved enemy in its hisory.

As time passed and the war ground on, however, the old disunity came creeping back. In recent weeks and months, deep schisms have emerged both within Israel and in the diaspora. We seem to be squandering the drive to stay together in the face of enemies who seek to destroy us. Indeed, the pressure is making factions turn on each other.

There is great danger in such division. Many believe that it was no accident that the October pogroms were launched after Israel had been rocked with months of bitter demonstrations against the government, which was seeking to push through a set of corrosive judicial reforms.

Many have also observed that Jewish infighting led to the demise of the previous two Jewish kingdoms in the Land of Israel, that of King David and the Hasmoneans.

For all our differences, we Jews have an instinct to support each other when it matters. It has never mattered more than it does now. We must stand united.