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December 16th, 2020 
Awake Goy Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz were among the Israeli leaders who signed a Jewish unity document on December 14.
The document is a declaration from Our Common Destiny, an initiative from The Genesis Foundation in partnership with Israeli Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and guidance from Israeli President Reuven Rivlin’s office. The declaration states, “Throughout history, even as we emerged from horrific death camps, we never abandoned our principles. Nor did we forsake our prayer and hope to return to our Land and establish an ideal society. We strive to be a nation that will bring blessing to all nations, promote peace and prosperity the world over, uphold our values and traditions, and maintain our commitment to keep the ‘Ways of G-d, ways of righteousness and justice.’”
The declaration goes on to acknowledge that the Jewish community worldwide is “experiencing the challenges of shifting Jewish identities and diminishing affiliation. In view of these concerns we believe that the time has come to rise above internal disputes.” In order to achieve Jewish unity, the declaration focuses on five principles: security and well-being, mutual responsibility and connection, strengthening Jewish identity, light unto nations and world development and improvement.
“For the sake of our People we seek peace and we seek goodness, and we believe that we must act together for the benefit of the entire world,” the document concludes. “We make these pledges because of our commitment to our shared destiny and to the enduring and eternal significance of the People of Israel.”
The signing of the declaration took place at the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem; Netanyahu attended the event via Zoom since he has to quarantine after being exposed to someone who has COVID-19, The Jerusalem Post reported. Netanyahu called the document signing an “important day” and that he was “excited” to see public menorah lightings happen across the world.
“There are still phenomena of racism and antisemitism and we must fight them with fearless determination,” Netanyahu said. “But the light is immeasurably greater than the darkness. If we continue to adhere to the policies we have pursued to strengthen Israel’s power, we will bring more achievements and more peace alliances, more prosperity and pride for us and our brothers and sisters abroad.”
Gantz, who attended the event in person, said, “We are only as strong as we are united beyond our differences. We belong to one another and to the larger story of our people. The Hanukkah holiday symbolizes the story of the common destiny that we mark today, our eternal concern for our brothers and sisters, the understanding that we are connected to each other, our willingness to act for Our Common Destiny.”
Another attendees in-person and virtually included Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Omer Yankelevich, New Right Knesset Member Naftali Bennett, Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Leon and Genesis Philanthropy Group co-founder and trustee Mikhail Fridman.
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