The Blogs: Gam Yachad: A Worldwide Jewish Unity Commission

Gam Yachad: A Jewish Unity Commission to Rebuild a Fractured Nation

Mission Statement:
הִנֵּה מַה-טּוֹב וּמַה-נָּעִים שֶׁבֶת אַחִים גַּם-יָחַד
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers and sisters to dwell together in unity! Tehillim 133:1

Gam Yachad—which means “Together, in Unity”—seeks to restore the strength of Jewish unity in the wake of the disunity that marked the summer of 2023 and the catastrophic events of October 7, 2023. The tragic attacks revealed deep societal rifts and a lack of civil dialogue between diverse segments of the Jewish community, both in Israel and the Diaspora. Our proposed GAM YACHAD UNITY COMMISSION is committed to fostering meaningful, respectful dialogue between Jews of all backgrounds—left and right, secular and religious, Sephardi, Ashkenazi, and Ethiopian, so we can come together to heal and build a more unified, resilient future.

Embed from Getty Images

Gam Yachad will organize town hall meetings across Israel and in Jewish communities worldwide, creating a platform for civil discourse, mutual understanding, and collective problem-solving. Together, we will find paths forward that strengthen our community, safeguard our values, and ensure the future of Jewish peoplehood.

Embed from Getty Images

Objectives of Gam Yachad
1. Foster Civil Dialogue
2. Build Consensus
3. Promote Jewish Resilience
4. Leverage Technology for Global Engagement

Embed from Getty Images

Steps to Unity:

Launch of Regional Town Halls: Host the first round of town hall meetings in major cities in Israel (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Be’er Sheva) as well as in major Diaspora communities such as New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Buenos Aires.

Inclusivity: Engage local Jewish leaders, educators, and community members in the planning and execution of these events to ensure diverse representation. The presenters who will speak at the town hall meetings will be individuals representing only themselves, and will not represent organizations, to reduce entrenched pollical biases.

Community Outreach: Advertise in local synagogues, community centers, youth groups, and universities, to ensure broad participation across all segments of the Jewish population.

Embed from Getty Images

Appoint Dialogue Facilitators: Train and employ skilled facilitators who are experts in conflict resolution, ensuring that each town hall meeting remains constructive, respectful, and solution-oriented. These facilitators will be tasked with guiding discussions, ensuring all opinions are considered, and steering the conversation toward collaborative solutions.

Create a Digital Platform for Ongoing Engagement: Launch a website and social media channels for Gam Yachad, where participants can follow updates, share their thoughts, and keep the conversation going long after the town halls are over.

Publish Findings and Recommendations: After each round of town halls, compile the insights and solutions shared into a public report, which will be distributed to Jewish leadership and organizations worldwide. Use the findings to create programs that promote unity, tolerance, and social cohesion.

Call to Action
The events of October 7, 2023, have illuminated the fractures that threaten the unity of our people. But these divisions also present an opportunity for dialogue, rebuilding, and ensuring that we stand stronger and more united in the face of future challenges. Gam Yachad is an invitation to all Jews, no matter their political, religious, or cultural background, to join in the work of healing and strengthening our community.

Embed from Getty Images

We must rebuild the common values that have historically bound us together. We must respond to division with dialogue. We must respond to distrust, with education and dialogue. Gam Yachad is our path forward.

Let us work together, even with our differences, to ensure a united, thriving Jewish future. Together, in Unity. Gam Yachad.

—

If you want to work on this project please contact Rabbi Yisroel Roll at gamyachad2025@gmail.com