By Rabbi Dr Andrea Zanardo

THE DUTY OF INCLUSION (in memory of Sarah and Yaron)

It is impossible not to think of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. They were the two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington tragically murdered on Wednesday 21. That evening Yaron was about to propose to Sarah. He died with the ring in his pocket. The killer was a fanatic Maoist who, after the double murder, shouted “Free Palestine” over the bodies of his victims.

Yaron was the son of a Jewish father, and Sarah grew up in a Jewish family. They were both builders of bridges, deeply involved in working for a better future for Israelis and Palestinians. As he wrote, Yaron chose diplomacy as a career ‘to expand the circle of peace between the State of Israel and its Arab neighbours’. He was working on the implementation of the Abraham Accords, to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab countries, a significant step towards regional peace.

Sarah believed in dialogue. She was a member of Tech2peace, a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization that promotes peace through innovation.

On Wednesday, just before being murdered, Yaron and Sarah had just attended a reception for young diplomats discussing how to increase aid for the humanitarian crises in Gaza.

Sarah and Yaron, two shining examples of dedication to the cause of peace and Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. Their devotion to making the world a better place is truly inspiring. They could have given so much to improve the lives of the Palestinians and the Israelis.

Yet, we must acknowledge that not all the sectors of the Jewish world will agree to pay them honour. “It was an interfaith couple -we may hear- and we should not encourage this kind of union…” Someone has tweeted that their job at the Israeli Embassy was incompatible with peace and justice. This is disheartening and particularly sad at this time of year, considering that this Shabbat we will read Parashat Bamidbar.

Bamidbar is the first Torah portion of the Book of Numbers. It is the apparently dry account of a census. One wonders whether Yaron and Sarah would have been counted as Jews had they wished so! Right-wingers will consider Yaron’s background with suspicion, and someone on the Left will preach about the duty to boycott Israel.

To which we must answer clearly. This week’s Torah portion teaches us the duty of inclusion!

Rabbis generally regard taking a census with some suspicion. King David himself regretted (2 Samuel 24:10) conducting one for military purposes. But Rashi is very clear on this point: in Parashat Bamidbar, God ordered Moshe to count the Israelites because the Israelites—who had just built the Tabernacle—were God’s beloved people.

Counting Jews is an act of love. Sarah and Yaron deserve to be counted for their dedication to peace and love for Israel.

Judaism has always been a Progressive religion. We have always responded creatively to the challenges of history.

After the expulsion from Spain, the diffusion of Kabbalah changed the liturgy (we owe the Kabbalist the wonderful Lekha Dodi). The Emancipation of the Jews in Continental Europe was matched by the birth of Reform Judaism and our embrace of ideals of progress and emancipation of humanity.

We live now amid the cruellest wave of antisemitism since the end of WWII; we have sadly discovered that we have enemies, many enemies. But this only strengthens our resolve to stand united against antisemitism and hate. We must remember that for every potential Elias Rodriguez (the fanatic Maois who killed Yaron and Sarah), there are countless friends who stand with us in solidarity.

Indeed, in these months, we have also discovered that we have friends. Those who brought solidarity in the aftermath of October 7, those who visit vigils and memorials, those who, together with us, stand against antisemitism and hate, and especially non-Jewish spouses and relatives of hostages, who often lead the campaign for the liberation of the hostages.

Like the Rabbis of the previous generations have been able to answer the calls of history with creativity and genius, so we must find ways to include these wonderful souls, which we have discovered as friends, not only in our Progressive Jewish community -which we largely do already- but in the Jewish community at large. Inclusivity is a core value of our community, and it is crucial that we extend this to all who share our commitment to peace and justice, so that they also can be counted.

We pray that Israel will soon enter an era of peace. We hold onto the hope that wonderful souls like Yaron and Sarah, together with the friends we have discovered, will be counted as they deserve. Our prayers are for a future where peace and inclusivity reign.

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