Standing together symbolizes unity. We call upon our compatriots to stand with us when we are challenged. But a call to “stand together” can become divisive when “together” quietly means “stand with us on our terms.”
Will you stand by me as I offer a few examples?
Parshat Nitzavim opens with what sounds like a utopian ideal of Jewish unity:
Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem. You stand this day, all of you, before Adonai your God.
But look more closely at that kulchem, that “all of you.” Moses does not describe an undifferentiated crowd. He names leaders, elders, officials, children, women, strangers, even woodchoppers and water-drawers. They are not made the same. They stand together while remaining different.
That distinction has become painfully relevant.
Remember the enormous March for Israel in Washington in November 2023? Roughly 290,000 people gathered around three seemingly unifying propositions: support Israel, free the hostages, and oppose antisemitism. Yet beneath those propositions were very different understandings of solidarity. Some carried “Destroy Hamas, No Ceasefire” signs, while a peace bloc included organizations such as J Street, Americans for Peace Now, NCJW and T’ruah. When Van Jones expressed concern for both Israelis and Palestinian civilians, he was booed. Even the choice of speakers became a source of controversy.
We stood together, but we did not necessarily agree about what standing together meant.
A year later, major American Jewish organizations held another Washington rally actually called “Stand Together,” intended to “stand with Israel” and “strengthen our Jewish unity.” Organizers anticipated tens of thousands. About 2,000 came. JTA suggested several possible explanations, including discomfort with Israel’s right-wing government, exhaustion over the war and hostages, and divisions following the American election.
The language of unity could not resolve the more difficult question: What does standing with Israel require?
Unity is not necessarily neutral. A demand that everyone stand together contains an unstated second sentence:
Stand together around what?
We can stand together despite disagreement. That is pluralism.
We can stand together to protect one another despite disagreement. That is solidarity.
Or we can insist that standing together requires suppressing disagreement. That is conformity.
Judaism has never required the last of these. Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, all Israel is responsible for one another. It does not say kol Yisrael maskim zeh im zeh, all Israel agrees with one another. Jewish solidarity has never required Jewish unanimity.
Yet the Jewish people today, as so often in our history, are divided into religious and political camps that can barely fathom one another. The righteousness of my position can easily become the conviction that I not only disagree with you, but stand morally above you.
Israel divides us. Zionism divides us. Religion divides us. Politics divides us.
Antisemitism has a nasty habit of caring considerably less about these distinctions than we do.
The person who hates Jews is unlikely to pause first to ask whether we are Zionist or anti-Zionist, Reform or Orthodox, observant or secular, left or right. Our disagreements matter enormously to us, and they should. But they need not determine whether we will defend one another.
Perhaps that is the challenge hidden inside the opening words of Nitzavim. Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem. All of you are standing here today. Not because you think alike. Not because your differences have disappeared. Not because one faction has prevailed over another.
You stand together because, ultimately, your futures are bound together.
At a time of resurgent antisemitism and increasing hostility toward Jews, perhaps that is enough reason to rediscover what solidarity means.
I do not ask you to agree with me.
I ask something both smaller and larger:
Will you stand by me?
Rabbi Evan J. Krame
If this reflection resonates with you, consider sharing it on social media—or simply take a moment to reflect on how you can create a better community.
