Montreal, QC — October 8, 2024.  Last evening the Montreal Jewish community and its allies gathered at Hampstead Park for a solemn commemoration honouring the victims, survivors, and heroes of the tragic events of October 7, 2023. The community-wide event, organized by Federation CJA, brought together more than 8000 people, in person and online, to share in grief, remembrance, and solidarity and reaffirm our community’s strength and commitment to Israel.  

On October 7th, 2023, Hamas unleashed a vicious attack on Israel, killing nearly 1,200 innocent civilians, taking over 250 people hostage, and shattering the global Jewish community’s sense of safety. One year later, 101 people still being held hostage by terrorists. 

This terrorist attack was a turning point in modern Jewish history – both because of the tragic depth of that day’s events and the monumental events that have followed.  

Steve Sebag, Chair of the Board of Directors of Federation CJA opened the event with a moment of silence, followed by remarks emphasizing the importance of communal unity in times of darkness.

"Our history as a Jewish people is one defined by overcoming adversity, demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges directed our way, and always coming out stronger for it," said Sebag. "By coming together in tribute to the fallen tonight, we are expressing our heartfelt and unwavering solidarity with Israel and its people. We are also coming together as a community, united in our collective fight against antisemitism, hate and the delegitimization of the Jewish people."

There were moving testimonials from Israeli survivors and an address from Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog.

Yair Szlak, President and CEO of Federation CJA said, “Jewish communities are fighting the consequence of decades of foreign investment that have created a cesspool of hatred and antisemitism guised as antizionism on university campuses, CEGEPs, hospitals, unions and indeed throughout society."

“As we mark one year, let us remember that while we cannot shrink the darkness around us, we can, in fact, we must expand the light. That is our role as the Jewish people. That is our mandate at Federation CJA for our Jewish community,” Szlak added.

The event featured various meaningful moments, including a wreath-laying ceremony paying tribute to Israeli police and first responders, IDF soldiers, foreigners and civilians, all brutally massacred on that dark Sabbath day.

Consul General of Israel, Hon. Paul Hirshson had high praise for Federation CJA, and for the Montreal community. "We're finished being victims," he said, "in Israel and in Montreal, too. We have work to do. And we'll do it,” the Consul General said. He also had harsh words for the Canadian government and for the Montreal administration, calling out Mayor Valerie Plante for her appalling silence. "The mayor of Montreal," he said, "has still not yet reached out to the parents of Alexandre Look, a Montreal boy murdered while protecting others. Just a word of compassion," he went on, "would help us digest social media posts accusing us of things she knows to be false."

Also in attendance was Cote Saint Luc’s Raquel Look, whose son, Alexandre, was killed in the attacks. “One year ago today, I lost my beloved son, Alexandre, in an act of unspeakable violence,” a visibly emotional Look proclaimed. “As a mother, I stand before you not just in grief but also with resilience, determined to honour his memory, the memory of all those who we’ve lost, in a way that reflects his courage, his compassion, and his unwavering spirit.” A sustained standing ovation followed.

Throughout the evening, attendees experienced powerful video testimonies from Israeli survivors who shared their personal stories of loss and resilience.

One particularly heart wrenching firsthand story came from Ya’ara Mano, a “shinshinit” or Israeli student leader on a gap year in Montreal. Ya’ara works with Jewish Day School students and synagogue youth groups. She described her horrendous experience locked in her Safe Room for some 28 hours at Kibbutz Be’eri and her raw emotion having lost close friends and neighbours.

The event concluded with a prayer for hostages, recited by Bring Them Home member Ruben Hassan, followed by a musical performance by Lisa Rubin and an emotional rendition of the Blessing for the State of Israel and the "Hatikvah" by Cantor Danny Benlolo.

Several dignitaries were in attendance including Benoit Charette, Quebec Minister for Environment, Pascale Dery, Quebec Minister of Higher Education, Anthony Housefather, MP for Mount Royal and Special Advisor to the Prime Minister on Antisemitism and Jewish Community, Elisabeth Prass, MNA for D'Arcy McGee, Senator Leo Housakos, Désirée McGraw, MNA for Notre Dame de Grace, Jennifer Macarrone, MNA for Westmount Saint Louis, Gerard Deltell, MP for Louis-Saint-Laurent, Frederic Beauchemin, MNA for Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi, Cote Saint-Luc Mayor Mitchell Brownstein,  Pierre-Paul Hus, MP  for Charlesburg-Haut St. Charles, Brigitte Garceau, MNA for Robert-Baldwin, EMSB Board Chair Joe Ortona, the Hellenic Congress, the Italian Canadian Community Foundation, and the Federation of Filipino Associations of Quebec.

Special thanks were extended to security and law enforcement for keeping this event and previous ones safe. The Montreal Police Department (SPVM), Quebec Police Force (SQ) and Hampstead Public Security were all present in addition to Federation CJA’s Community Security Network volunteers.

Also, yesterday over the noon hour a student vigil took place in front of McGill’s Roddick Gates. It was a Student Unity Vigil in commemoration of October 7th. Several Jewish Student Leaders from across Montreal campuses took to the stage set up on Sherbrooke Street in song, prayer, a moment of silence and meaningful reflection. Attendees were invited to walk through a Nova exhibit installation along the sidewalk.

Finally, an October 7 Memorial Site was established by Federation CJA where community members can come and pay tribute to those lives lost. Located in the Charles R. Bronfman Peace Garden, 2 Cummings Square, next to the Federation CJA offices, and open daily 11AM - 7PM through Thursday October 10th, visitors will bear witness to the harrowing events of October 7th, in a space designed for mourning and reflection. The memorial is also a place to find solace in knowing that “We Will Dance Again.”

Video from last night’s event is here.

Photos available: here.

About Federation CJA

For more than one hundred years, Federation CJA has been at the heart of the organized Jewish community in Montreal. In partnership with a vast network of agencies and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally, Federation CJA builds and sustains this community by providing leadership and by supporting the delivery of services and programs to care for the vulnerable and those in need, to ensure a bright Jewish future, to represent communal interests, and to positively affect issues in the wider society. 

Media Contact:

Glenn J. Nashen
Director, Media Relations and Crisis Communications | Directeur, Relations avec
les médias et communication de crise
Strategic Marketing and Communications | Marketing Stratégique et
communications
FEDERATION CJA
1 Carré Cummings Square | 5151 Chemin de la Côte Ste-Catherine Road
Montréal, Québec H3W 1M6
514-734-1327
[email protected]