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