What a travesty this week has been for British politics. There is a mixture of sadness, outrage and of course fear following the ridiculous motion passed last Sunday by the Green Party. Zionism is not racism, obviously. A party telling a minority community how to identify itself is racist. Every Jew and many others understand the multi layered history of Zionism and the yearning for a homeland that predates this current government by millennia. Our prayers are seeped in that focus towards Jerusalem, and the word Zion holds such preciousness. How can it be a racist act to attend or be part of Zionist synagogues and institutions? Many, many Jewish Greens feel utterly betrayed and obviously homeless right now. This is a deeply offensive and worrying step, ironically unlikely to help a single Palestinian whilst so many Zionist Jews who have been engaged in such important work are now branded racists. The path to a just and possible solution is of course harder now, as is the mood and fear for British Jews.
For me, our Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat will stand up to affirm his inheritance and identity with an extra poignancy. I am profoundly proud of him and us as a community who will continue to pray, argue, disagree and gather. In this week’s Parashat Bereishit, we hear:
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־קַ֔יִן אֵ֖י הֶ֣בֶל אָחִ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א יָדַ֔עְתִּי הֲשֹׁמֵ֥ר אָחִ֖י אָנֹֽכִי׃
GOD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” And he said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מֶ֣ה עָשִׂ֑יתָ ק֚וֹל דְּמֵ֣י אָחִ֔יךָ צֹעֲקִ֥ים אֵלַ֖י מִן־הָֽאֲדָמָֽה׃
“What have you done? Hark, your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground!
We may well ask that question this week, especially as we have just marked the third anniversary of the 7th October massacre. But these days have also offered a reminder of solidarity from many of our allies and friends. May we take strength from them.
At our beautiful memorial service last Sunday evening, Rabbi Yael Vurgan explained that sometimes out of deep suffering comes moral responsibility and care. I remain inspired by our colleagues in Israel who lead with such thoughtfulness and breadth and who make space for so much as they continue to lead and comfort.
May the memories of those who died be for a blessing and an inspiration.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca
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