How An Israeli Politician Succeeded In Speaking Canadian In Hebrew

Honoring both her parents, she began by quoting former prime minister Menachem Begin – and recalling that her mother, Ariela Ze’evi, was such a valued staffer that seven-year-old Michal attended Begin’s intimate victory party when he finally won power in 1977, after 29 years spent mostly in opposition. 

But the line she quoted, which talked about justice and enlightenment for all – sounded like her father, who, in addition to serving in the Canadian parliament from 1999 to 2015, is the legendary human rights activist and McGill law professor who represented Natan Sharansky, Nelson Mandela, and many other dissidents worldwide.

Our increasingly polarized world imposes reductive narratives, either-ors, all-or-nothings. To see a centrist, balancing commitments to liberalism and nationalism, choosing to live in Israel while embracing her Canadian heritage, illuminates a different path.

And it reminds us that there might occasionally be policy differences between the Israeli and Canadian governments. Nevertheless, both democracies – and their respective peoples – share a common commitment, rare in this world, to what Canadians call “peace, order, and good government,” as well as to what Israelis call “being a free nation in our homeland.” Liberal-democrats across the globe are lucky to have Michael Cotler-Wunsh as a living bridge, synthesizing, leading, and helping us heal.