The entire Jewish world, and nowhere more intensely than in Israel, is still reeling from the heinous and barbaric murder by Hamas of six hostages in Gaza: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Almog Sarusi, Alex Lobanov, Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, and Ori Danino. May their memories be a blessing and a source of profound reflection. Their needless suffering and deaths are stark reminders of the depths of human cruelty. The lack of outrage from the global community is both painful and alarming. History shows us that when the lives of Jews are disregarded, it signals a threat to others as well and casts a shadow over our collective future.

This is why it is crucial for the Jewish people to unite and strengthen our connections as never before. We must protect ourselves and urgently call upon the world to recognize and address the disturbing trends of division, alienation, and xenophobia. Each of us has a role to play in this vital effort.

At Team Global Jewry, we take this responsibility very seriously. Every day, we strive to find new ways to fortify the bonds that unite the Jewish family with the help of the skilled and thoughtful leadership of our advisory board members, the dedicated professionals of our organizational partners, and their devoted volunteers.

Over the past year, we have also greatly benefited from the guidance and wisdom of our outgoing Executive Committee Chair, Richard Levin. Widely regarded as a pioneer in executive coaching, Richard’s contributions have been invaluable. We are deeply grateful for his service and look forward to his continued involvement as Chair Emeritus of our Executive Committee.

We are excited to announce that Maxyne Finkelstein will succeed Richard as Chair. Maxyne’s extensive experience and dedication make her ideally suited to lead Global Jewry forward. Her career, marked by a commitment to Jewish peoplehood and advocacy for Israel, has spanned Montreal, Toronto, and New York. As President of the Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation and a member of our advisory board since our inception, Maxyne’s expertise in strategy, organizational development, and global representation has been widely recognized, including through the Mandelkorn Distinguished Service Award and the Beverlee Ashmele Professional Award of Excellence.

Please join us in expressing our heartfelt thanks to Maxyne for her willingness to lend her time and talent to our cause. Together, we will continue to build a stronger, more unified Jewish community and stand as a beacon of hope and resilience.

Shabbat shalom and may this be the week the remaining hostages return home,

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