Opinion
Our community is in pain – we must stand together
Even if we disagree with them, we must allow different voices to be heard
August 12, 2025 12:56
1 min read
Even if we disagree with them, we must allow different voices to be heard
August 12, 2025 12:56October 7 changed something within each and every one of us, whether religious or secular, Ashkenazi or Sephardi, Orthodox, Masorti, Reform or Liberal.
Waking up on that Shemini Atzeret morning and hearing the news, be that on your phone or through uncertain whispers at Shul, felt like a punch in the gut. Emerging from Simchat Torah to learn the full scale of the horror that took place was truly sickening.
Almost two years on, 50 hostages remain in captivity, while peace seems further away than ever. The pain we all feel has intensified, and it is no surprise that our community is sensitive. For many, any condemnation of Israel can feel like a direct attack on their identity and a betrayal of the hostages.
For others, the Israeli government’s escalation of the conflict is just as much of a betrayal. Indeed, Sharone Lifschitz, the daughter of Oded Lifschitz, who was murdered in Hamas captivity, has been one of the most vocal critics of the Israeli government within our community.
At Sunday’s March for the Hostages, our community came together to demand the release of all 50 remaining hostages and to protest the UK government’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state while they remain in captivity.
But unity does not mean uniformity. At the march, Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky, the co-CEO Rabbis of the newly formed Progressive Judaism, expressed some thoughts about Palestinian statehood and the Israeli government that were rejected by some of the crowd. That is, of course, how free societies work, but how we express our disagreement matters.
In the words of Rabbi Sacks Z’’L, whose guidance and moral clarity is sorely missed in this most challenging of times, leadership must come with “the willingness to work with others to achieve what we cannot do alone; to speak, to listen, to teach, to learn, to treat other people’s views with respect even if they disagree with us”.
The JLC is proud to have Liberal and Reform Judaism as members, alongside the United Synagogue, Masorti Judaism, and the S&P Sephardi Community. As an organisation trying to represent the broad spectrum of Jews across the UK, reaching a consensus on our position regarding Israel can be difficult.
Ultimately, all of us are supporters of Israel, all of us wish to see the hostages return and all of us want to see peace in the region. How that will be achieved is complex and there are many differing opinions.
At times like this it is vital that our community allows different voices to be heard. We must continue to stand together even when we disagree.
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