Allan Hoffman
Staff Writer
Via Emmy Rubin
War is unimaginable. Living under a constant state of fear is debilitating. Yet, being alive in the hands of your enemies as a hostage is even more terrifying. The Hamas-planned attack on October 7th ripped 250 innocent Israeli citizens from their livelihoods and subjected them to hell on Earth. While the terrorist group’s true actions and motivations have always been twisted, antisemitic and evil, no one could have prepared for what was to occur: a tragedy within a tragedy.
In the early morning of September 1st, people across the world woke up to the news that six hostages captured by Hamas during the October 7th attack were brutally executed just a day before the IDF found them. In an act of cowardice, the Hamas terrorists proved to the world just how little humanity was left in them. Still reeling from the weight of the attack, Jews and Israelis around the world began to gather to mourn the loss of Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Eden Yerushalmi, and Almog Sarusi.
In Montreal, student groups and organizations knew that a public vigil was needed to properly express grief. One such group, StartUpNation Concordia, took it upon themselves to bring the community together in an act of solidarity with Israel, the Jewish people, and the 6 murdered hostages (with help from groups like StandWithUs Canada, the Israeli Embassy in Montreal and Canada, Bring Them Home Now, SSI McGill, Chabad Concordia, and the White and Blue Newspaper).
On September 3rd, at 7:30 pm, hundreds of people gathered around the Concordia Hall Building on Maisonneuve, carrying Israeli flags, yellow ribbons, and candles that lit up the night. Such a scene could only be described as surreal, powerful, and superhuman. From young children being accompanied by their parents, to students and adults coming from their studies and work - everyone huddled together in a somber scene of remembrance and mourning. It was this exact feeling of community and love for one another that made the entire experience feel extraordinary and comforting.
Moments of silence for the lost hostages were followed by powerful speeches by student leaders, Rabbi Poupko, and Shai Davidai, an assistant professor in the Management Division of Columbia Business School. Their words pierced the hearts of all the attendants, and only augmented the feeling of community, of belonging, and of mourning for those who could no longer join us. Rather unsurprisingly, Shai Davidai delivered an immensely thought-provoking and impactful speech that rallied all participants to embrace each other, to mourn together, and to express grief without shame. Even though he was only in Montreal for a few days, he had become an integral part of the community through the everlasting vigil.
Yet, the most profound moments were when the entire group began to sing and chant together: not only was it a show of strength and solidarity, but it only proved to the world how resilient the Jewish people, the Israeli people and their allies are in the face of extreme tragedy. Even with the onlookers, pedestrians and occasional disturbances, there was not a soul on Earth that could move this group from where their feet were planted. Their unified and thunderous voiced echoed throughout everyone’s bodies in a manner that gave goosebumps to those with even the hardest hearts. From the religious prayers to the playing of Hatikvah at the end, not one person could leave this event without having felt a profound connection with the six hostages.
Nevertheless, such a powerful moment is impactful in its quality and not in its length: the vigil eventually finished its set of proceedings, and the crowd began to disperse among the dark streets of downtown Montreal. Yet, each individual present left the vigil with a fiery candle in their heart that lighted their way home. While the flame came from a place of sadness, it served as a reminder of who was lost on September 1st, what was done to honour their memory, their courage, their lives, and how they continue to inspire us to keep on fighting for every other hostage.
On that special night, under the lights of the Montreal skyline, the Jewish community gathered as one, felt as one, and mourned as one, just as Rabbi Schneider Zalman of Liadi said:
“The people of Israel compose a single soul. Only the bodies are separate.”
While the six hostages are no longer physically with us, they will forever live on as a symbol of resistance in front of impossible odds. Forevermore, they, every person at the Montreal vigil, and every person at vigils around the world are a part of a unified soul: the eternal Jewish soul.
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