What Would You Like to See Happen in the Coming Year?

A unified striving for peace is the most crucial goal we can pursue this year. To achieve peace, we each need to actively work toward the cultivation of peace in every aspect of life, to identify tendencies that breach peace, and seek ways to get rid of them. Unfortunately, we lack a unified methodology, theory or even a simple call for peace.

When we face various expressions of divisive attitudes that put spokes in the wheels of any motion toward peace, we must nevertheless continue to strive for a unified state above the division. It is because there is no alternative for achieving a good life for everybody. I therefore see that we have no choice but to strive for unity to prevail and bring about peace.

Confusion currently sweeps the world, and there is a dire need for a collective effort in which society willingly participates. When we face various expressions of divisive attitudes that put spokes in the wheels of any motion toward peace, we must nevertheless continue to strive for a unified state above the division. It is because there is no alternative for achieving a good life for everybody. I therefore see that we have no choice but to strive for unity to prevail and bring about peace.

Today’s global situation is precarious as the potential for escalations to more and more wars looms in the atmosphere. It is a major cause for concern as everyone would feel the consequences. Despite some contemplating the idea of sitting it out, such a luxury might not be an option. We thus need to prioritize how we can move to a harmonious and peaceful state worldwide, and the threat of catastrophe should infuse us with the urgency to do so.

The need to activate a unifying spirit in place of a divisive one is the main call to action I see in our times, that each person seeks how they can contribute toward such a spirit, and that we pave a new path out of our decline into crisis to a harmonious and peaceful world.

What Has Changed in the People of Israel since October 7?

Following the tragic events of October 7 and the ongoing war ever since, the people of Israel have become much more united. I sincerely hope that we will continue increasing our unity to its fullest possible extent, i.e., a state of “love your neighbor as yourself” through which the tendency to unite will spread throughout humanity.

At any given moment, a sabotaging thought can take us by surprise, making us reject and distance ourselves from each other. It is precisely at this juncture that we need to fight for the success of our unity over division.

Despite the anguish that has led us to unite, it is nonetheless beautiful to discover a sudden upshot of mutual concern and appreciation.

Such states bring upon us certain corrections. Many people from all walks of life suddenly feel that the best position to be in is a unified one. Soldiers feel it on the battlefield, that it is their place, voluntarily wishing to remain, and feeling better than if they were in the center of the country. There have been several instances of soldiers returning home for a few days, saying that they feel much more alive when they are with their friends on duty.

Who would have thought that in our generation, people would willingly leave thriving urban centers and pleasant suburban neighborhoods for dangerous combat zones, putting their lives at risk? We are learning a major lesson and I hope it will remain with us. I thus pray for this newfound togetherness to strengthen, that we will not return to divisiveness, and that the power of unity will spread throughout humanity.

More important than the external conflicts that erupt out of necessity are the inner conflicts against the true enemy: the egoistic inclination dwelling within. At any given moment, a sabotaging thought can take us by surprise, making us reject and distance ourselves from each other. It is precisely at this juncture that we need to fight for the success of our unity over division.

I trust, though, that as we become more aware of the harm we cause ourselves by letting our divisive drives materialize, we will become readier to better manage them. We will then voluntarily push in the opposite direction—to support, encourage, respect and care about each other—and infuse a fresh new positive unifying spirit among us and into the world.