In Parshat Re’eh, Devarim 12:10 we read: “When you cross the Jordan and settle in the Land that God is apportioning to you, and He has granted you peace from all your enemies around and you shall live secure.”

According to Glilei Zahav, if we, the Jewish people can get along with one another from within our own camp instead of forming separate camps that are looking to attack one another, then we will have nothing to fear from all of the enemies around us.

It has been taught by Chazal: If the Jewish people could all get along and form one solid group, no other nation would be able to try to control them.

Unfortunately, we are at a point where the Jewish people in Israel are very much divided.

Every day we read another story about Jews in Israel who are not getting along.

We are not reading about the Jews who do get along.

For the past two weeks, Israel has had the privilege of hosting the 19^th Maccabiah games. Nine thousand Jews from around the world came together to represent their countries and show their commitment to Israel.

Meeting the athletes and their families, one only sees love for the Jewish people and the Land of Israel.

Although they were competing against each other, the players made an effort to make friends with players from all of the different countries and learn about their similarities and differences.

Standing for Hatikva together with so many different Jews from around the world who love Israel so much showed me that there is hope for unity.

At the end of the day, it was the Israelis who went home with the most medals and nobody complained.

We can  all learn a lesson from the Maccabiah participants and try to make more of an effort to strengthen what unites us rather than what divides us.