JFNA chair calls for unity ahead of Rosh Hashanah in Jerusalem Post column
Israeli publication The Jerusalem Post published an opinion column by Gary Torgow, chair of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), in which he called on Jewish communities to preserve unity and mutual support ahead of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The author linked this appeal to the traditions of the Days of Awe, the "Unetaneh Tokef" prayer, and the sounding of the shofar.
The shofar and shared responsibility
Torgow recalled that the sounding of the shofar consists of three calls: tekiah, shevarim, and teruah. In his view, these sounds form a shared call that the community hears together. He noted that the Days of Awe begin with personal reflection on one’s actions, relationships, and responsibility, but should not be limited to that.
The columnist stressed that unity does not mean the absence of differences. He defined it as recognizing that what people share is more important than what divides them, and cited the phrase k’ish echad b’lev echad — “as one person with one heart.”
Examples of community support
According to Torgow, the past year has been difficult for Jewish communities in Detroit and other countries because of manifestations of antisemitism. The author asserts that such manifestations have become more visible on university campuses, in government institutions, and on the streets.
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At the same time, he gave examples of mutual assistance. In Montreal, 440 trained volunteers and the federation’s coordination center helped ensure the security of Jewish institutions. In Washington, more than 400 community leaders from 41 states gathered on Capitol Hill to advocate for the security of Jewish life in the United States.
Torgow also mentioned assistance from the North American federation system to families and communities in Israel that are rebuilding their lives after October 7. Separately, he noted the support provided by the Detroit community to Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
A time for repentance
In the author’s view, the period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur is a time to honestly acknowledge one’s own mistakes and the possibility of repentance — for an individual, a community, and an entire people. He called for remaining vigilant about threats without allowing them to cause division or fear.
