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.
