In Memory of Yaron Lischinsky z'l and Sarah Milgrim z'l
- Mark Sandler
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
It was devastating to learn about the targeted murder of two young Israeli embassy staff members, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. This heinous act—ostensibly carried out in support of a Free Palestine and Gaza speaks volumes.
Some may describe the assassin as a "lone wolf." But there is a long list of those who are morally complicit in this crime or in creating or permitting an environment in which hate-filled rhetoric is normalized, hate crimes fueled by such rhetoric are excused or condoned and Jews and Israelis are demonized. The killer apparently said he did this for Palestinians, but as is invariably the case, this is yet another act of terrorism that does nothing to advance the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians.
It didn't take long for hatemongers to take to social media to justify and celebrate these killings. Failed Green Party candidate Jayden Baldonado wrote on social media accounts that the murders were “100% justified,” and that "peaceful protests have failed and the people have to start fighting back, against those in positions of power.”
Charlotte Kates, international coordinator of banned terror entity, Samidoun was also quick to justify these killings on social media.
The fact that Kates continues to spew hatred with impunity despite unequivocal evidence that she committed hate crimes in Canada helps to explain why Canada is regarded as a haven for extremism.
As for Baldonado’s toxic rhetoric, it appears that he regards all Israelis collectively responsible for the war in Gaza, even victims departing an event reportedly focussed on regional diplomacy, dialogue and humanitarian cooperation.
This same illogic would appear to justify Hamas's murder of peace activists, Jewish and non-Jewish, the slaughter of children, the burning of whole families, the rape of Israeli women, the torture and premeditated killing of hostages, including children. Are these the so-called "people in positions of power?"
As for the purported failure or inadequacy of peaceful protests as a justification for terror, a position also promoted by Kates, I need only point out two things: 1) the celebration and martyrdom of terrorists is hardly deserving of being labelled peaceful protest (regardless of whether it is characterized as a crime) and 2) Hamas engaged in no peaceful protests before it embarked on multiple terror campaigns, often indiscriminately targeting civilians, culminating in the October 7 barbarities.
The most relevant protests now taking place are those by courageous Gazans against Hamas (generally ignored or downplayed in the West because these protestors undermine the portrayal of Hamas as Palestinian freedom fighters) and the large protests of Israelis in the streets of the region’s only democracy against the conduct of the war.
Canadian Jews hold differing views about the conduct of the war. But I know no Jews who welcome the deaths of any innocents in Gaza, although many, including me, are deeply disturbed about the widely-circulated misinformation, often calculated, about the events in Gaza.
The conduct of the war is a legitimate topic for critically important dialogue. However, that cannot take place with those who demonize all Zionists, all Israelis, and the vast majority of Jews who support Israel’s right to exist. That cannot take place with jihadists in our midst (whose presence in Canada is frequently understated). Nor in fairness, can it take place with members of the Jewish community who are unprepared to tolerate any criticism of Israel, its government and policies of the same type as may be levelled against any other country. Indeed, some of the Israeli government’s harshest critics are Israeli Jews.
I won’t say that the Washington, D.C. murders should be a "wake up call" for Canadians. Too many wake up calls have come and gone unheeded. Whatever one's views on the conflict in the Middle East, every Canadian should be appalled at the levels of antisemitic hate crimes in our country (indeed the rise in hate crimes generally) and speak out about them. And about the extremist rhetoric that has become normalized and fuels crimes including, most likely, the recent killing of innocents in Washington, D.C.
May the memories of Yaron and Sarah be bound up in the bonds of eternal life and may they live forever.
About the Author
Mark Sandler, LL.B., LL.D. (honoris causa), ALCCA’s Chair, is widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading criminal lawyers and pro bono advocates. He has been involved in combatting antisemitism for over 40 years. He has lectured extensively on legal remedies to combat hate and has promoted respectful Muslim-Jewish, Sikh-Jewish and Black-Jewish dialogues. He has appeared before Parliamentary committees and in the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions on issues relating to antisemitism and hate activities. He is a former member of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, a three-time elected Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, and recipient of the criminal profession’s highest honour, the G. Arthur Martin Medal, for his contributions to the administration of criminal justice.