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December 23, 2024It was early morning when our security team notified me of the attempt to burn down the Federation CJA West Island Building and Beth Tikvah Synagogue. In that moment, I was taken back to a year ago when we first began to see violent acts of intimidation against our community.Last week’s attack stands as a stark reminder that what began on October 7th isn’t just a war on Israel’s citizens—it’s a global effort to delegitimize and intimidate Jews everywhere.Over the last 444 days, antisemitic incidents have surged by 250% in our city alone. We are shaken, distressed, and facing one of the darkest periods for Jews in Canada.And yet, for all the darkness we’re living through, and without minimizing the gravity of the situation, our community, true to Jewish history, will never resign to despair.The slightest light will pierce the darknessChanukah reminds us that throughout our history, the slightest light will pierce the darkness, and that miracle of the Jewish people will not diminish. While we are deeply distressed, even traumatized, over what’s been happening, we are standing strong and refuse to let hate define us.At the same time, we are witnessing a re-drawing of the balance of power in the Middle East. While the war which Hamas launched has cost too many innocent lives on all sides, it has also led to a new reality on the ground.In this moment, it’s how we respond that is paramountAmong the most difficult consequences of Hamas’s attack was the loss of confidence Israeli citizens felt in their national security apparatus. Israelis feeling unsafe in Israel, could bring into question the very existence of the Jewish state.And yet the Tik Tok generation leading the fight, on seven different fronts, are proving to be more heroic and resilient than we could have ever imagined. We are seeing Israel’s military might, brilliance and ingenuity reasserted, yielding strategic military and political gains. Confidence in Israel’s national security has been restored, leading to potential transformation in the region.In the aftermath of the “Amsterdam Pogroms”, an article in the Wall Street Journal by Rebecca Sugar captured some of what I was feeling about our own community. She wrote:“Images of Israeli soccer fans being beaten in the streets of Amsterdam fill the social-media feeds… often juxtaposed with photos from the 1930s, when Jews were also assaulted with impunity in European capitals. It is a powerful emotional association to make but not the right message to amplify.
We should pay more attention to another image from Thursday’s attack: that of two Israeli planes taking off from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport to rescue the Jews whose safety couldn’t be guaranteed in the Netherlands.
What’s more important isn’t the attack against the Jews but the Jewish response to it. Jews have always been targeted, but 76 years ago, when the state of Israel was established, they stopped being defenseless.”
Last week’s attack in the West Island also demonstrated the result of the investment that Federation CJA has made in protecting our community. Unlike in Melbourne Australia, where the synagogue was destroyed by the arson, in Montreal, the assailant could not penetrate the institutions. The measures we have taken to protect our Jewish institutions and Jewish community are significant and important. We are not defenseless.When Mai Abdulhadi took to the streets of Montreal chanting “the final solution is coming” and displaying the Nazi salute publicly, Federation CJA acted swiftly and decisively to ensure that the antisemitism she was spewing wouldn’t go unpunished.As Jewish students are targeted on campuses in Montreal, they are standing up proudly against the hate and intimidation. We continue to empower and support our brave students, providing them guidance, access to legal action, security and training. Federation CJA is ensuring that our students can feel confident on campus.Those who seek to delegitimize us and destroy Israel believed that October 7th would weaken our resolve. Instead, we’ve seen a once-in-a-generation surge in Jewish pride and Jewish engagement. Far from dissipating, this wave of unity and strength continues to grow.On Chanukah we are reminded that the miracle of the oil is not just a historical anomaly; it speaks to the profound belief that, in moments of despair, G-d is always there for the Jewish People. As we light the Chanukiah each night, we engage in a ritual that transcends mere symbolism; it is a tangible expression of our faith and a testament to the enduring nature of who we are. In a world where being Jewish is under attack, Chanukah stands as a reminder that the preservation of religion and Jewish identity will ensure that as a people, we will continue to be a light upon the nations.I strongly believe in the way Rabbi Lord Jonathan Saks z”l emphasized the importance of Jewish self-respect and pride in combating antisemitism. How we view ourselves profoundly influences how others see us.This Chag Chanukah, let us light our candles brightly in our windows and show the world that we are not afraid. That we are resilient and strong and that our light will break through the darkness. Let this Chanukah see the immediate release of 100 hostages.Chag Chanukah Sameach and Am Israel ChaiYair Szlak, LL.BPresident and Chief Executive Officer,Federation CJA
