This post is brought to you by David C. Martin, a volunteer at the Ottawa Jewish Archives.
Welcome back. It’s been a tough few weeks… After suffering what may be one of the world’s worst terrorist attacks since 9/11, Israel is reeling and Jews around the world are sharing in the nation’s grief and pain. Additionally, hate-filled, often antisemitic ‘protests’ have gripped Western capitals ever since. We’ve all been distressed by the news coming out of Israel, but also by recent events in London, Paris, Sydney, New York and even Toronto and Ottawa.
At the same however, we’ve been able to find comfort and take solace in our own community. Since the October 7th attacks, we in Ottawa’s Jewish community have come together – as we have done many times following past tragedies – challah bakes, evenings of chizuk and tefillah, paint nights, peace rallies, lectures, and the like, have continued unceasingly for more than three weeks now.
On Monday October 9th, hundreds gathered at the Soloway JCC in solidarity with Israel. The event, hosted by Jewish Federation of Ottawa was described by Rabbi Idan Scher: “There’s no one here, almost no one here that doesn’t know someone killed, taken hostage. This is our family getting together to be together at this time,” In attendance was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Leader of the Opposition, Pierre Poilievre. Both men spoke eloquently, readily labelling Hamas a terrorist organization while reassuring Canada’s Jewish population of their continued support. Also in attendance was Ottawa’s Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, and several local councillors, MPs and MPPs.
The scale of the horrors of October 7th were unique, but the community’s coming together in support and solidarity was not. That’s what I’d like to focus on in this piece – our history of coalescing, unifying, galvanizing, and speaking with one voice in support of fellow Jews in need.
The last time an Israeli soldier was taken hostage by terrorist factions in Gaza, Gilad Shalit, Ottawa’s Jewish community came together. On July 10, 2006, more than 200 members of the community rallied outside the Syrian embassy demanding that the Syrian government use its influence over Hamas to push for the corporal’s release.[1] Later that year, on November 20th, representatives of the area’s Jews met with families of kidnapped soldiers at the SJCC social hall.[2]
Countless times, over many years, Ottawa’s Jews have drawn strength from one another in their support of Israel. In January 2009, hundreds packed the Soloway JCC to express solidarity with the one and only Jewish state. Under tight security, Israel’s then-recently appointed ambassador attended the event – alongside a number of Canadian politicians and community leaders – where she addressed her nation’s latest conflict with Hamas in the Gaza strip.[3]
Earlier that decade, in May of 2002, thousands of Canadian Jews, and their non-Jewish supporters, had rallied on Parliament Hill to stand in solidarity with Israel. That gathering, one of the largest ever of its kind, saw some 12,000 attendees waving Israeli and Canadian flags while they sang, cheered, and shouted their support.[4]
Of our community, Rabbi Howard Finkelstein once wrote:
The Ottawa Jewish community has for years fostered an image of solidarity and unity despite the various denominational groupings that inhabit our Jewish population. Very few communities can boast of a strong, working and collegial relationship as we find among the clergy of the various congregations in Ottawa.[5]
Jewish Canadians have also left the comforts of home in solidarity missions to Israel, where they’ve helped rebuild after conflict. In 2006, after a ceasefire was reached with Hezbollah, Canadian Jews, many from Ottawa, provided hands-on assistance to Partnership 2000 communities in the Upper Galilee. Carrying letters of support, gifts and souvenirs for Israel’s soldiers, the delegation did all they could to rebuild Israel’s physical infrastructure, but also its social and spiritual confidence. One soldier commented on Ottawa’s Jewish community specifically, “thank them that they are thinking of us […] it gives us power.”[6] During and after that conflict, Ottawa’s response to the crisis was among the fastest in North America, raising $1.3 million in emergency aid.
Local efforts have also extended beyond hostages, warfare and even Israel. Take for example the decades-long effort of Ottawa’s Jewish community to support the Jews of the former Soviet Union. Dozens of events were held throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s in support of their struggle for rights and freedoms. On September 16, 1990, for example, nearly 700 people gathered to celebrate the rescue and redemption of Soviet Jews at Beth Shalom synagogue. According to the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, “All present left with a sense of pride in their Jewishness and a feeling of solidarity with their brothers and sisters all over the world.” [7] That, is our community. In times of celebration and in times of sorrow, through tragedy and triumph, we’ve come together.
On June 24, 1984, Canadian Jews, including here in Ottawa, attended rallies, candlelight vigils and education sessions on the plight of Ethiopian Jewry. That fight continued as funds were raised and families were fostered year after year by congregations in Ottawa.[8] On September 29, 1991, Member of Parliament Herb Gray addressed some 200 members of our community who gathered to call for the rights and deliverance of the Jews of Syria, 4,500 of whom were then-still ghettoized in Damascus, Aleppo and Kamlishi, unable to leave the country.[9] On June 27, 1999 150 plus members of the Ottawa Jewish community gathered to show support for 13 Iranian Jews then-held on espionage charges. The “prayer and protest” was held on Metcalfe Street outside the Iranian embassy.[10]
I could go on and on, but I’ll leave you with this… To our community, in 2023, I say; stay strong and stay together. Follow in the footsteps left by Ottawa Jews countless times over many decades and like them, we can and will continue to endure, survive, and even thrive in the face of tragedy and peril. Am Yisrael Chai.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Photo: Solidarity Rally on Parliament Hill April 21, 2002. Peter Waiser. OJA 18-144-07
[1] Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, “Gilad Shalit Rally,” July 24, 2006.
[2] Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, “Take strength from the global support we receive,” November 19, 2007.
[3] Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, “Meet Israel’s new ambassador to Canada,” February 9, 2009; Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, “Ottawa community rallies in support of Israel,” January 26, 2009.
[4] Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, “Israel will never be alone,” May 6, 2002.
[5] Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, “Is Ottawa bored of Jewish education?,” November 1, 2004.
[6] Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, “Solidarity mission participants pitch in to help Upper Galilee,” September 11, 2006.
[7] Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, October 15, 1990.
[8] Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, “Ethiopian Jewry Solidarity Day,” May 25, 1984; Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, Local Ethiopian aid group now looking into fostering families, June 19, 1987.
[9] Ottawa Jewish Bulletin, “Two hundred march in solidarity – Syrian Jewry – pressing human rights issue,” October 11, 1991.
[10] Ottawa Jewish Archives, “Community rallies for the freedom of 13 Iranian Jews,” July 26, 1999.
L'Dor V'Dor 