TORONTO — UJA Federation of Greater Toronto is calling on the Jewish community to come out for a candlelight walk next week to demonstrate against anti-Semitism and the demonization of the Jewish state in the wake of the Gaza war.
Federation CEO Ted Sokolsky said that the march, called “We Won’t Be Silent,” is an opportunity to “make a public expression about our unity with Israel, our unity as a community, and our disgust with anti-Semitism and terrorism.”
The walk — to be co-sponsored by B'nai Brith Canada, JNF Canada and other community groups — is set for Aug. 20 at 8 p.m., beginning at Holy Blossom Temple’s parking lot at Bathurst Street and Dewbourne Avenue, and ending at the Bialik Hebrew Day School parking lot at 2760 Bathurst St.
“We hope for a good, visible turnout so that there is a lot of presence on the street,” Sokolsky said.
“And we hope to see a lot of people of all ages. We’d love to see the ranks swell as it marches up Bathurst Street, and we hope it will be a great, physical demonstration of how the community is feeling and the unity within the community at this time.”
Responding to criticism from some in the community who felt that Canadian Jewish organizations weren’t doing enough to counter the number of pro-Palestinian rallies held across the country, Sokolsky said there were “strategic reasons” they chose to stage previous rallies indoors, rather than in the streets.
“If you look at press reports of those outdoor rallies, unfortunately, the general media just looks at these things like these people are mirroring the antagonism they have for each other on the battlefield. That it’s just more of the cycle of violence taking place on the streets of Toronto. So that’s why we tend to avoid the stuff for Canadian media consumption,” he explained.
“Having said that, what we’ve heard from people is that they want to do something, they want to feel that they are being demonstrative – particularly from younger people. So we met with young leadership people and grassroots people, and we got a sense of what they were looking for, and out of that meeting, this concept sort of bubbled up.”
He said organizers have been in touch with police to let them know about the march, but anticipates that this will be a very peaceful event.
“I don’t expect any trouble,” he said.
“Everyone should get out there and join us. It’s going to be a dignified, expressive demonstration of the feelings of the community. Left, right, whatever. Da’ati, Reform, atheist, get out on Bathurst Street.”
