Read: Last week, Yair Szlak, President and CEO of Federation CJA, engaged in crucial discussions with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Special Envoy Deborah Lyons, emphasizing the importance of our government's role in actively combating antisemitism and ensuring the safety and security of the Canadian Jewish community. 

Watch: Yesterday marked 27 days since our Israeli family was taken hostage by Hamas. We have spent 27 days missing them, crying for them, and praying for their safe return. Today and every day since October 7th, we honour the 240+ hostages and demand to BRING THEM HOME.

As another Shabbat approaches, our hearts break knowing there are still 240+ family members missing from their Shabbat dinner tables. In their honour, an Empty Shabbat Table installation was set up outside Federation CJA at 1 Cummings Square.

At the installation, the Israeli Consul General urged, as we prepare for Shabbat, to set an empty place at our tables for the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas, symbolizing their absence and our hopes for their return.

Thank you to everyone who helped put together this powerful demonstration. Together, we will continue to say their names, share their faces and insist that the world knows who these children, elderly, men, and women are. We won’t stop until they are all brought home. 

Take Action: 

Support Israel and help raise awareness by displaying posters of the kidnapped. Order your high-quality posters at no cost and collect them from designated points. Request your set of posters by filling out your details here. Alternatively, download and print posters in various languages at kidnappedfromisrael.com.

Read: See the direct impact your generosity has on supporting Israel and its people. 

Watch: Last Sunday, in a powerful display of unity, Federation CJA, alongside more than 90 Montreal community organizations, hosted the Bring Them Home Rally calling for the release of more than 220 hostages abducted by Hamas terrorists, including 30+ children, the elderly, Holocaust Survivors and people living with disabilities. Witness the community's call for action in this moving footage. 

Watch: Our partner on the ground in Israel, Keren Hayesod, remains as determined as ever in working to repair the immense hole torn in the fabric of the Jewish nation. Discover the impact of your support during these challenging times for Israel. Watch their emotional Senior Leadership Solidarity Mission video here: 

Watch: Our community has raised $1 million for protective equipment and emergency kits for first responders, with the funds being directed to Magen David Adom. This organization plays a vital role, operating the sole blood service center for the entire country of Israel. In this video, learn more about their crucial work, including their underground blood bank designed to withstand direct attacks. 

We’re Here to Help! We're actively assisting Israelis wishing to temporarily relocate to Montreal amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict. Federation CJA has created a confidential form to gather essential information from these individuals or families to efficiently connect them with community resources.

Help us help them by sharing the form link with Montreal locals who have Israeli contacts and by directly sharing the form with Israelis inquiring about temporary stays in Montreal.

Access the form here 

Take Action: IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. Help keep our community safe by reporting any suspicious behaviour or antisemitic incidents. In emergencies, dial 911.

ON CAMPUS

If you have a child on campus, here in Montreal, or anywhere in the world, they can turn to Hillel for support. 

THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW

1. Tell Canada's leaders to stand strong with Israel and send a note urging continued support of Israel and thanking these political leaders for their strong messages to date. This call to action is urgent and only takes a minute to make a significant difference. Take action here.
2. Call your Member of Parliament. Phone calls are more effective than email. Need their numbers? Find them here.
3. Share this hashtag on social media and tell the world: #BringThemHomeNow.

This is all you need to say: "It’s day 28 of the war. Bring the hostages home."

Discover the stories highlighting our community's strength, resilience, and commitment to caring for each other during these challenging times.

Kol Hakavod: Despite challenging times, over 130 volunteers united at the Gelber Centre from Oct 23-27 to organize the Yom Yocheved Clothing Giveaway. Their dedication resulted in a personalized in-person shopping experience on Oct 29, where 150+ families in need received new winter clothing, snowsuits, and boots, ensuring they are well-prepared for the upcoming cold months without the added financial burden. Contact Andrea Abramovitch for more TOV opportunities.

Spread the word: In the darkest hours of terror, artist Adi Drimer took it upon herself to document the live chat from the Kibbutz Rei'm WhatsApp group while they were under attack. She meticulously recorded every detail, capturing the raw emotions, fears, and calls to action of those directly affected. In doing so, she created a powerful art piece that preserves a significant moment in history, told from the perspective of the victims themselves. This tragic moment in time is brought to life through her artwork, offering a unique and poignant view of a historic event.

We are proud to announce that one of these impactful artworks has been generously donated to the lobby of Federation CJA, serving as a powerful reminder of our collective resilience and strength.

Through the Lifeline project, you can purchase this incredible piece of art and make a powerful statement while supporting Kibbutz Re'im.

Here's how you can help spread the word:

1. Share the link to the Lifeline site with relevant groups and lists or direct it to anyone with a love for Israel.
2. Post about the Lifeline initiative on social media, including a link to our site, tagging us @lifeline.reeim on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (Twitter) and using the hashtag #makeastatement.
3. Use this story sequence to explain the Lifeline project.

Commemorate: In these dark times, Holocaust education and remembrance have never been more crucial. On November 9, 2023, at 7 p.m. The Montreal Holocaust Museum will hold an event to commemorate the 85^th anniversary of Kristallnacht. The evening will highlight the Cytryn family's story, featuring readings from Salomea Cytryn's letters from the Warsaw ghetto.

Your voice matters: It’s been more than three weeks since Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,400 people in Israel and abducted 220 women, children, and men, taking them to Gaza.  We urge Canadians to sign a petition demanding our Prime Minister secure the hostages' immediate release using all available resources—diplomatic, economic, and military—and reaffirm support for Israel's fight against terrorism. 

Sign-up with CJPAC: Every day, we are seeing a concerted campaign of intimidation and pressure that aims to weaken the support our community has received. That’s why we need your help to call and email our leaders and elected officials who have stood with us and let them know how much it has meant. They need to hear from us. We can’t allow the voices of hate to be the only ones heard. Please sign up, and we will help you to make sure that our voices are heard and our friends know that their courage is appreciated. 

Read: As fighting continues between Israel and Hamas, the current humanitarian situation in Gaza has been a major focus for Canadians. CIJA has been tracking the situation closely, and we would like to share an updated Briefing on the Humanitarian Situation in the Gaza Strip based on observations from their staff and contacts in Israel and open-source data. 

Light a candle: Join us and Israel's founding National Institutions for a worldwide Shloshim memorial ceremony on Sunday, November 5, marking 30 days since the massacres in Israel. The main ceremony in Jerusalem will be live-streamed with translations in multiple languages on Keren Hayesod's Facebook channels.