This time of year, millions of Americans are swept up in the excitement of March Madness, as 68 college basketball teams battle for the national championship. The tournament earns its name not just from the intense competition but from the passion and frenzy it ignites among fans.

But while basketball fans are fixated on brackets and buzzer-beaters, another kind of March Madness is unfolding—one with far greater consequences. In Israel, the war with Gaza has resumed, political tensions are at a fever pitch, and what was meant to be a unifying moment—a global gathering in Jerusalem next week to address rising antisemitism—has instead become yet another source of division.

Why? Because the Jewish world is deeply fractured, including over fundamental disagreements on how to fight antisemitism. Some see unity as an urgent necessity in the face of growing threats, while others believe certain political alliances or strategies are unacceptable, even for a shared cause. The result? A conference meant to rally the Jewish world has instead become a flashpoint, exposing just how divided we are at a time when we can least afford it.

Disunity doesn’t happen overnight. It is the product of long-standing divides, eroded trust, and a lack of meaningful engagement across ideological lines. We cannot afford to wait until moments of crisis to come together. If we want to bridge our differences, we must build the relationships that make real dialogue possible—long before tensions reach a breaking point.

That is precisely why we launched Global Jewry in the summer of 2023, another period of great unrest in Israel, even before the heinous events of October 7th.

Global Jewry was founded on a simple but urgent belief: relationships must come before crises. If we want to tackle our greatest challenges together, we must invest in connection, cooperation and trust right now—not look for them when division is already deepening. That work starts with open conversations, genuine listening, and a commitment to seeing one another as partners, not adversaries.

A key part of this effort is helping Jewish organizations break out of silos, strengthen collaboration, and build lasting relationships. Too often, our institutions duplicate efforts or struggle to work together, even when facing common threats. But in a world where antisemitism and other challenges demand coordinated action, we must do better. We must move from reaction to relationship, from fragmentation to cooperation.

In just 18 months, nearly 400 Jewish organizations and 800 leaders worldwide have joined Global Jewry—not because they all think alike, but because they believe that trust and respect are the foundation of Jewish resilience. Like Nachshon in the Exodus story—the Israelite who stepped into the sea before it parted—they are choosing to lead, to engage, and to move forward together.

We cannot let division define us, nor can we allow others to divide us. The future of our people depends on the steps we take today to strengthen the bonds between us. The work is ongoing, and it must start now.

March Madness, indeed. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Now is the time to rise above our disagreements and reaffirm that, despite everything, we are one people. Our togetherness has never been more important.

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

Sandy Cardin

Founder, 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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