TL;DR: Global Jewry is helping bridge geographic and language barriers across the Jewish world by connecting leaders, organizations, and communities that too often remain disconnected. With growing engagement across Latin America and the wider Americas, we’re creating new opportunities to share ideas, strengthen collaboration, and build a more connected global Jewish future.

Friends, I recall my role as Global CEO of Limmud and the pride among its founders that it was a British-born effort, rather than many global initiatives that emanate from the US or Israel. During my tenure I had the privilege of engaging with Jewish communities across the Southern Hemisphere and witnessing firsthand educational initiatives such as Rosh Hashana Urbano in Argentina, or the plethora of activities at the magnificent Centro Deportivo of Mexico City. 

I wondered why other parts of the Jewish world don’t know about these projects or haven’t yet met the excellent leaders behind them. 

Indeed, Latin America boasts several regional groupings, including the excellent LAZOS young leadership network. And there have been attempts to bring leaders to various international forums. However, there is physical distance to overcome, as well as language barriers and a need to engage more philanthropists who think global. 

I often asked, what if these amazing ventures were to be shared with other communities in different parts of the world? And, how can we ensure best practices benefit our global Jewish family? 

During this period, I had the honour of meeting Ilia Salita, of blessed memory, and learning more about his efforts to empower and support Jews. 

And I had the privilege to partner with Marcos Metta in Mexico, Sandy Cardin, and my former colleagues at JDC. 

I share this context, to hopefully demonstrate the power of connections, and to inspire more people to join Global Jewry  – a network that is uniquely positioned, and committed, to connecting Jews wherever they reside – fostering collaboration and forging ties that support us all. 

For it is humbling to be a fellow named after Ilia, knowing all what he accomplished for our people. 

It is inspiring to partner with Marcos on our Leadership Council – knowing Global Jewry’s Spanish-speaking Fellow, is named after his family’s passion.

And it is an honour to work with Sandy, Maxyne and the Global Jewry team to design the language of the Jewish future. 

Over the past year, under the stewardship of outgoing Spanish-language fellow Erica Zolotow in Argentina, supported by Bryan Jacob De La Cruz Trujillo in Peru, and dedicated lay advisors across the Americas, we have attracted dozens of organisations to Global Jewry and many more to the newly-formed Circle. These entities are engaging in our roundtables, Spanish WhatsApp group and other channels on a regular basis.  

So, this week we first and foremost wish to express gratitude to all who helped thus far. Gracias! 

Soon we will announce the appointment of our new Global Jewry Spanish-language Fellow and are excited by the potential to grow this network further. 

Our hope is that with philanthropic investment we will also be able to gather in-person in each of Global Jewry’s regions – bringing Jews closer together, whilst embracing technology to help us accomplish our mission, and prepare for any eventuality. 

Above all, I believe, that despite all our challenges as a People, we are entering a period of renaissance. We cannot afford to be bystanders; the stakes are too high. Now is the time to rally together – create the connections and shine.

Shavua tov,

Eli Ovits

Ilia Salita Senior Fellow for Global Partnerships, Global Jewry

Have an achievement (e.g. publications, awards, appearances, etc) you would like highlighted in a future GJ Connections? Let us know by emailing sandy@globaljewry.org.

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