A call for unity: Honoring Rabbi Avi Goldberg

Recently, shortly after Avi Goldberg fell in battle, a video surfaced of him sending a message of love to his family right before entering Lebanon. Just watching the video, his smile radiates through the screen and straight to the heart. His warmth makes viewers feel the love he had for his family and his fellow Jews.

Little did I know that Avi Goldberg lived only a few minutes’ walk from my mother’s place in Jerusalem. Though our paths never crossed, everyone who knew him spoke of a special man. He was an adored rabbi at Himmelfarb High School, a loving husband, and a father of eight. In the words of his family, he also “dedicated his life and invested much time and work to connect between parts of Israeli society.” His passing is an immense loss to his family and to so many others.

Today, I attended the shiva of Avi Goldberg, the first since sitting shiva for my own father three years ago in Barcelona. It stirred a lot of emotion on many levels. In Barcelona, where the community is very small, only family, close friends, and a few members of the congregation came for shiva. In Israel, it feels as though we all come together to mourn as one family. Whether it is a close friend, a neighbor, or a complete stranger, we feel the need to accompany the mourning family. In the ethos of Rabbi Goldberg’s dedication, his family released the following statement:

“The family welcomes politicians from all camps to our shiva (house of mourning). But we ask that you come together in pairs—one from the coalition and one from the opposition.”

Shiva for Rabbi Avi Goldberg in Jerusalem. 28/10/2024

In spite of their overwhelming grief, his family has continued Avi Goldberg’s legacy. The family’s desire to foster unity among the Jewish people is beyond touching.

At the shiva tent, dozens of people came to pay their respects to the devastated family. In the front, facing the family, sat a group of seven members of the Knesset. They came from four diverse parties: National Unity (Michael Biton), Otzma Yehudit (Yitzhak Wasserlauf), Yesh Atid (Ron Katz, Meir Cohen), and Shas (Moshe Arbel, Yosef Taieb, Uriel Buso). Respecting the family’s wish, these seven diverse politicians with conflicting views were able to come together and put aside their differences. As they shared at the shiva about a no-longer-secret friendly group chat they all belong to, a mourner chimed in, “There is room for 120 people in that chat” (referring to the 120 MKs). Their ability to maintain friendships across party lines should be exemplary. While we often only see the screaming circus at the Knesset and mimic this divisive behavior, there is potential for change. The Jewish people are one nation. I am optimistic about an Israel where, while holding contrasting views, we unite for a strong and thriving future.

I would like to dedicate this article to my father, Mauricio Machta (ז״ל), a proud Jew, strong Zionist, and bridge-builder, who did not live to see my aliyah.

This is just one of the hundreds of soldiers we lost, each with their own story. We will always remember the heroic soldiers who for over a year, have bravely fought for our existence.

May we be able to unite not only in mourning but always. May the memory of Rabbi Avi Goldberg be a blessing.