Oct. 7

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

More than 3,000 Montrealers attended a Federation CJA-organized community commemoration of the first anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 240 kidnapped. A total of more than 1,685 people have been murdered on and after Oct. 7 by terrorists.

The event was held under a massive tent at Hampstead Park. There was a heavy SPVM and Sûrété du Québec in the area.

Numerous dignitaries and notables attended, including Israeli Consul-General Paul Hirschson; Eta Yudin, Vice-President, Quebec of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs; Quebec Environment Minister Benoit Charette, Quebec Higher Education Minister Pascale Déry,Conservative Senator Leo Housakos, Conservative Quebec lieutenant and Quebec City-area MP Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Beauce MP Richard Lehoux, Mount Royal Conservative candidate Neil Oberman, Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather, NDG-Westmount MP Anna Gainey, Outremont MP Rachel Bendayan,Robert-Baldwin MNA Brigitte Garceau, NDG MNA Desirée McGraw, Westmount-St. Louis MNA Jennifer Maccarone, Marguerite-Bourgeoys MNA Fred Beauchemin, Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi, Côte St. Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein, former Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre and various city councillors, English Montreal School Board chairman Joe Ortona and representatives of the Hellenic Congress, the Italian-Canadian Community Foundation and the Federation of Filipino Associations of Quebec.

There was also a video message from Israel’s president Isaac Herzog, and special tribute was paid to the eight Canadian victims of the attack, including former Côte St. Luc resident Alexandre Look. A survivor of the attack, Israeli student leader Ya’ara Mano, gave extensive testimony of her hours in a safe room in her kibbutz. Wreaths were laid in tribute to the Israeli and foreign civilians, Israel Defence Forces soldiers, first responders and police who fell.

In an eloquent and moving address, Consul-General Hirschson stated that 101 people remain hostages in Gaza “because evil came calling on Oct. 7. Jewish day schools, synagogues, community centres have been shot at [and firebombed] in Montreal. Jewish businesses are targeted, boycotted, even shot at. And who has responded? The Mayor of Montreal has still not yet reached out to the parents of Alexandre Look, the Montreal boy murdered while protecting others. What has Canada’s government’s response been? Has it supported Israel or retreated to complacent neutrality, which in the words of Elie Wiesel, helps the killers rather than the victims. Is Canada indirectly rewarding acts of terror through abstention on international votes or by considering recognition of a Palestinian state?”

On the other hand, Hirschson thanked the Quebec government for its strong support of Israel, its rejection of Canada’s call at the UN for a premature ceasefire and for opening its office in Tel Aviv after Oct. 7. “You’ve been superb. It’s much appreciated.” The Consul-General said many tears have been shed since Oct. 7. “But tears are not a sign of weakness…. We’re finished being victims, in Israel and Montreal too! We have work to do, and we’ll do it!”

Federation CJA board Chair Steve Sebag said the bond between Israel and the diaspora “has never been more important! We are witnessing the very essence of Zionism unfold before our eyes! The Jewish people can only be truly safe through self-determination! Israel is Jewish safety!”

Raquel Look, mother of Alexandre Look, said, “as a mother, I stand before you not just in grief, but also with resilience, determined to honour Alexandre’s memory and the memory of all of those we lost in a way that reflects his courage, his compassion and his unwavering spirit!”

Federation CJA CEO and president Yair Szlak thanked local law enforcement for protecting the Jewish community in the past year.

“The Jewish world has changed significantly this year. Once again, we’re redefining history for the world. Israel faces head-on threats to democracy and Western civilization in fighting Iran and its proxies in and around the Middle East. And Jewish communities are fighting the consequence of decades of foreign investment that have created a cesspool of hatred and antisemitism in the guise of anti-Zionism. We’ve shed rivers of tears since Oct. 7. Our hearts are broken, but we are not defeated!”

The evening ended with Cantor Daniel Benlolo leading the audience in prayer and the national anthems of Canada and Israel.

Earlier in the day, thousands gathered on Sherbrooke Street outside McGill for a Federation CJA and student- organized highly emotional vigil to commemorate Oct. 7, and to stand with Israel.