Rabbi Reuben Poupko

“We live and breathe our children!”

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / August 4, 2025 / Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue, Joel Goldenberg, Rabbi Reuben Poupko

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Hundreds of Montrealers came together last Thursday at Côte St. Luc’s Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue to mourn the deaths of Shiri Bibas, her children Ariel and Kfir Bibas and Oded Lifshitz, 84, all kidnapped by Hamas Oct. 7, 2023 and then slain by the terrorist group.

Hamas staged a parade of the coffins of the children earlier in the day in what Rabbi Reuben Poupko of Beth Israel Beth Aaron called an “orgy of sickness.” Just before Thursday’s event began came the cruel news that what was supposed to be the returned body of Shiri Bibas, the youngsters’ mother, was instead that of an unknown individual. Bibas’s body was then released Saturday. Yarden Bibas, the father, was released alive Feb. 1.

Speakers, including Rabbi Poupko, CIJA Quebec vice-president Eta Yudin, Rabbi Zolly Claman of CSL’s Congregetion Tifereth Beth David Jerusalem and Aviva Drazin, an organizer of the weekly Sunday Montreal march for hostages, called for the release of the rest of the hostages and for strong action from the Canadian government. Cantor Adam Stotland of Shaare Zion Synagogue sang and led prayers. On hand were CSL Mayor Mitchell Brownstein and Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather.

Rabbi Poupko said Hamas knew their victims very well, and “how much we love our children.

“That’s why they took Kfir and Ariel,” he said. “They know how we live and breathe our children. Who does that? Oded Lifshitz, 84 years old, Ariel, four years old, Kfir, 10 months old [on Oct. 7, 2023]. Who does that? Old people, babies! Not a shred of humanity left in the hearts of these people! Who does that? And who decides to go to demonstrations downtown, screaming ‘long live Oct. 7! Glory to our martyrs! Long live the intifada!’ Explicit calls for violence against every Jew!”

Yudin said that Hamas’ return Thursday of an anonymous body instead of Shira Bibas “was another twisted attempt at psychological terror, another attack on the heart of the Jewish people, another attack on Israel!”

Rabbi Claman said the community was gathered “to try to find words to describe the indescribable, it’s a waste of time. We’ve all cried individually today, we all know there’s nothing to say.

“But there’s a value in coming together, to cry together.”

Drazin said the Jewish community worldwide, and the allies “who stood by our side, have been praying for, shouting for, marching for the return of all the hostages.

“Each one is a world, each one has a family, friends, dreams, hopes. But there’s something about Shiri, Ariel and Kfir that struck a chord for so many.” n

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Noa Tishby attracts 1,800 in CSL

Local Journalism Initiative / The Suburban / April 27, 2024 / Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue, Consul-General Paul Hirschson, Mike Dym Memorial Lecture, Noa Tishby, Rabbi Reuben Poupko

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Noa Tishby, the Israeli author, actress, activist and the country’s former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and Delegitimization, attracted a huge audience estimated at some 1,800 last Thursday to Côte St. Luc’s Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue, where she spoke as part of the Frieda and Mike Dym Memorial Lecture series.

Lines formed at the synagogue more than 90 minutes before the start of the event. Many watched her speech on a screen from a large room used for gatherings. Also on hand were Israel Consul-General Paul Hirschson, Yair Szlak and Steven Sebag, CEO and board chair of Federation CJA respectively; Eta Yudin, Quebec vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather and CSL Mayor Mitchell Brownstein.

Tishby engaged with BIBA’s Rabbi Reuben Poupko in a question and answer format, and delighted the crowd by filming them for social media. She said that when the Oct. 7 terrorist attack began, she broadcast live on Instagram for hours and, heartrendingly, received texts from Israelis imploring for the police or soldiers to rescue them.

Tishby said Israel and Jews around the world have the truth on their side, prompting applause. She also noted that Rabbi Poupko said there are two wars now taking place — one against Hamas and the other against antisemitism.

“The third war is between western values and jihadism. This is something I make sure I communicate very clearly….It’s jihadi culture that is hiding itself and pretending to be something it isn’t. It’s very important to keep removing the veil and exposing it for what it actually is. It’s the most important war this world is facing and the Jewish community is, again, at the forefront of it.”

Tishby also noted that people compare Hamas to the Nazis. “Hamas is worse. The Nazis were very methodical, but here we have religious fervour. Imagine if the Nazis had religious ecstasy for killing Jews. They thought it was the best thing for the human race. The animals we’re dealing with now think they’re doing the most spiritual thing in the world. We have to make sure we communicate that to the world — that this is why it’s not just our war. It’s happening right now in Belgium, Denmark, the U.K., Australia, Canada, the U.S., on campuses, everywhere!”

Tishby was also asked how to deal with people who claim everything that took place Oct. 7 to Israelis is a lie. “Those are the same people that insisted that Jews use the blood of Christian children to make matzos. If somebody says he or she has an issue with an Israeli policy or politician, we can have the discussion. If somebody tells me they don’t believe the footage Hamas filmed themselves, it’s literally the same as the blood libellers.”

She said that historically, the denial is not new, but it seems like it is. “Oct. 7 was the most documented pogrom we ever had. Self-documented! A reality TV show they created. And still people don’t believe it. And I hate to say this, we need to be okay with that. Not not to fight it, but to understand that this is the reality historically. They always don’t believe us! We have to prove it!”

Tishby said one media personality demanded to see proof that a baby was burned by Hamas Oct. 7.”Do you really? We have to acknowledge that is what’s happening. That is the reality we’re dealing with right now and what our ancestors have dealt with for generations! It’s not going to change!” n

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