TEN THOUSAND STRONG
Last Sunday was a sunny, mild and gorgeous fall day in Toronto. The air had the crispness that’s made for a pick up football game, maybe a hot drink on the deck.
Instead, myself and about 10,000 fellow Jews found themselves in the middle of Toronto’s Christie Pits, holding and waving the flag of Israel and participating in a very peaceful rally to recognize the unimaginable hostage situation.
I can’t speak for anyone else… I have no illusions that his sort of gathering has any effect whatsoever on what the Hamas terrorists decide to do. But still, there is a catharsis from participating. Just being there, listening to the speakers tell their personal stories and experiencing first hand the very noticeable electricity in the air.
It’s not something that I can say I’ve felt before. And I have to admit I felt immense pride in being Jewish on this day, a sense of being part of a much bigger community.
There was great sadness in the crowd. There was also the typical type of kibitzing that you’ll see whenever you get this many Jews in one place. We are a resilient people after all.
Am Yisrael Chai
