TL;DR: As Global Jewry approaches its second anniversary on June 29, we reflect on the vision of Ilia Salita, whose legacy continues to guide our mission of connection, cooperation, and Jewish solidarity. This milestone coincides with his fifth yahrzeit. Ilia believed in building bridges across differences, and his perseverance still inspires us.

As we approach the second anniversary of Global Jewry, we find ourselves not only reflecting on how far we’ve come—but also on why we began this journey in the first place. At the heart of that “why” is an extraordinary individual whose vision continues to inspire us, especially when the road ahead feels uncertain: Ilia Salita, zichrono livracha.

On June 29th, we will mark two years of building bridges among Jewish organizations around the world—working to strengthen our collective future through trust, cooperation, and shared purpose. Just days later, on the 7th of Tammuz, we will observe Ilia’s fifth yahrzeit.

Ilia was a visionary leader and cherished friend. As President and CEO of Genesis Philanthropy Group, he dedicated himself to strengthening Jewish identity—especially among Russian-speaking Jews, but truly across all communities. He believed deeply in the power of connection across language, ideology, and geography. He had a rare gift for seeing untapped potential in people, in ideas, and in partnerships—and for urging us to pursue bold, meaningful change together.

To Ilia, connection wasn’t just a value—it was a strategy, a necessity. He understood that the future of the Jewish people depends on our willingness to listen generously, to disagree respectfully, and to collaborate even when it’s hard. And he knew it is hard: slow, messy, sometimes frustrating. But Ilia met difficulty with perseverance, vision, and grace—and he expected those of us who shared his ideals to do the same.

If he were here today, Ilia would be proud—not because the work is finished, but because we’ve stayed committed. Because we’ve built a platform that amplifies Jewish voices, rewards partnership over competition, and replaces fragmentation with trust. He would urge us to keep going. To dig deeper. To reach further. To do more.

As we celebrate this Global Jewry milestone, we do so with renewed purpose—and with deep gratitude for the friends and colleagues, like Ilia, who gave so much to this mission. May his memory continue to be a blessing and a guide.

Wishing you a meaningful Shabbat—and may this be the week the hostages return home,

Sandy Cardin

Founder, Global Jewry