British Jews and Israelis gather to mark 30 years since Rabin’s assassination
Crowd in Whitehall told that 'Now is the time to reclaim the language of the Jewish People: hope, courage, morality, compassion, love and peace'
Denominational leaders of progressive Judaism in the UK were among those who gathered in Whitehall on Sunday to mark the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, with a crowd of 300 told that “we stand united with Israel, but we do not stand here united today with the Israeli government”.
Rabbi Charley Baginsky, co-CEO of Progressive Judaism, and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg, Senior Rabbi of Masorti UK, were among the speakers at the event on Sunday afternoon. Sir Mick Davis, former Chair of the JLC and co-founder of the London Initiative – dedicated to building partnerships between Diaspora Jews and Israelis based upon the importance of democracy and liberal values – spoke of Israeli society being at a dangerous crossroads, with its democracy and institutions under attack from within. He described the legacy of Rabin’s efforts to broker peace and the increased urgency of those efforts today in the wake of the Gaza War. He also spoke of the importance of seizing the moment for the good of Jews, Israelis and Palestinians:
“Now is the time to reclaim the language of the Jewish People”, he said.
“The language of hope, the language of courage, the language of morality, the language of compassion, the language of love, and the language of peace.”
Rabbi Baginsky said that “what happens in Jerusalem shapes life in London today. When fear and populism take hold there, they find an echo here.”
Rabbi Baginsky, who along with her co-CEO Rabbi Josh Levy was made to leave the stage at a communal event earlier this year in support of the hostages after some in the crowd reacted negatively to their mentions of Palestinian suffering, emphasised the need for unity among those who are fighting to preserve democracy in Israel,
“When the language of division replaces the language of conscience, the covenant fades”, she said.
“Israel today stands as a dangerous crossroad. We see the erosion of judicial independence, the intimidation of journalists and protestors, the shrinking of civil, civic space.”
Jenny Kananov, co-founder of We Democracy, a grassroots group of British Jews and expatriate Israelis, put forward the opinion that the rally represented the feelings of the most within the British community and in Israel,
“Israelis and Jews everywhere long for leaders who believe in Israel as a strong, liberal democracy and work toward a future of security, dignity, and peace for Israelis and Palestinians”, she said.
“Just as Jews in the Diaspora have stood united for the release of hostages in Gaza, we must now stand with the majority of Israelis demanding change – for the future of Israel, and for the moral soul of the Jewish people.”
The event concluded with a reading of the speech Yitzhak Rabin gave at the rally in Tel Aviv thirty years ago shortly before he was assassinated by a far-right Israeli extremist.
“In coming here today, you will demonstrate together with many others who did not come, that the people truly desire peace and oppose violence. Violence erodes the basis of Israeli democracy. It must be condemned and isolated. This is not the way of the state of Israel in a democracy.”
The organizers of the rally, say that the event marks the beginning of efforts in the UK to unite those supporting Israeli democracy and opposing the current government.
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