Dear Friends and Leaders of the Jewish Community,

We write to you today with urgency, with heartbreak and with unwavering resolve. The time to unite is now — not tomorrow or next week, but now.

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At a time when antisemitism is rising at a staggering and dangerous pace — on campuses, in the streets, online and, tragically, once again in deadly acts of violence — we must confront a truth: that those who seek to harm Jews do not ask us how we vote, how we feel about Israel or what kind of kippah we wear, if any.

Last Wednesday evening, in our nation’s capital, it was murder. Weeks earlier, it was attempted arson at the home of a Jewish governor. From Pittsburgh to Poway, across North America we are victims of threats, vandalism, harassment and intimidation with a frequency and intensity many of us never imagined we would experience in our lifetimes.

Our community is deeply divided on many issues: on how best to or even if we can fight antisemitism, on the future of Israel and its war in Gaza and on politics more broadly. These are real and meaningful debates, and we must have them in good faith and with respect. But let us be clear: those who hate us rarely make such distinctions. To them, a Jew is a Jew. History has shown us where that logic can lead.

Throughout history, when Jews failed to unite in the face of existential threats, the consequences were catastrophic. The destruction of the Second Temple was not only the result of Roman power, but also of sinat chinam — baseless hatred and infighting among Jews. We cannot afford to repeat those mistakes. Our disagreements, however deeply felt, must not overshadow our shared obligation to protect and uplift the Jewish people. We are all in this together and we must stop fighting each other.

Now is the time to stand shoulder to shoulder — not in uniformity of opinion, but in unity of purpose. This is not the job of one Jewish organization or a few brave leaders; it is our responsibility. We as Jewish leaders choose unity over division.

We the undersigned call upon every Jewish leader — religious and secular, progressive and conservative, young and old — to find common cause in the most fundamental of obligations: to ensure the safety, dignity and future of our people. Let our disagreements not divide us into paralysis or despair. Let them sharpen our thinking and deepen our commitments.

And above all, let us remember that in moments of crisis, Jewish strength has always come from Jewish unity.

Am Yisrael Chai.

With hope and determination,

[listed in alphabetical order]

Rabbi B. Elka Abrahamson
President
The Wexner Foundation

Amanda Abrams
Executive Director
The Zalik Foundation

Marc Baker
President and CEO
Combined Jewish Philanthropies

Josh Donner
Executive Director
The Shapira Foundation

Lisa Eisen
Co-President
Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies

Rabbi Noah Farkas
President and CEO
Jewish Federation of Los Angeles

Jeff Finkelstein
President and CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh

Barry Finestone
President and CEO
Jim Joseph Foundation

Eric Fingerhut
President and CEO
Julie Platt
Chair
Jewish Federations of North America

Deena Fuchs
Executive Director
Micah Philanthropies

Rachel Garbow Monroe
President and CEO
The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

Rabbi David Gedzelman
President and CEO
The Steinhardt Foundation for Jewish Life

Eric S. Goldstein
CEO
UJA-Federation of New York

Michael Hoffman
President and CEO
Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County

Stephen Hoffman
Chairman
The Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation

Steven Ingber
CEO
Jewish Federation of Detroit

Brian Jaffee
CEO
The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati

Jay Kaiman
President
The Marcus Foundation

Karyn Cohen Leviton
Vice President, Jewish Life and Israel Engagement
One8 Foundation

Adam Minsky
President and CEO
UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

Yamit Taragan Nahmani
Israel Director
JooYeun Chang
Managing Director
Aviv Foundation

Lonnie Nasatir
CEO and President
JUF Chicago

Adina Poupko
Executive Director
Natan Fund

Gil Preuss
CEO
Jewish Federation of Greater Washington

Dana Raucher
Executive Director
The Samuel Bronfman Foundation

Erika Rudin-Luria
President
Jewish Federation of Cleveland

Joy Sisisky
President and CEO
Bay Area Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund

Andrés Spokoiny
President and CEO
Jewish Funders Network

Marina Yudborovsky
CEO
Genesis Philanthropy Group