[Editor's note: The Israel Solidarity Rally held on Nov 25, 2023 at the Asper Campus Had Some 700-800 people in attendance. Below are the remarks of Yolanda Papini Pollock at the event ]

Picture waking up on a Saturday morning to a disturbing sound of sirens and rockets, abruptly grabbed from a dance party or your home and transported to an unfamiliar place. Envision the heart-wrenching scenario of a child, isolated in a dark tunnel, unsure if they'll ever reunite with their mother, exposed to unspeakable horrors.

On October 7th, 2023, Hamas terrorists kidnapped 240 innocent Israelis, including 40 babies, children, and a newborn born in captivity. Among the captives were partygoers, parents, Holocaust survivors, and individuals reliant on medical and assistive equipment.

In our closely-knit country, the impact is deeply personal; we are all intertwined, responsible for one another. "Kol Israel Aravim Ze LeZeh"

The kidnapping rekindles memories of soldiers we couldn't bring home, and we stand ready to pay a heavy price for the safe return of our loved ones.

Hamas tactically exploits our strong sense of responsibility and connection, negotiating for deals that compromise Israel's security and national pride. The Israeli government faced a moral crossroads: agree to partial hostage release or insist on the freedom of all, risking the safety of the captives. Though choices had to be made, should they prioritize children, the elderly, the sick, or the wounded? These decisions reflect the harsh predicaments Israelis are forced to struggle with.

Valuing human life is a fundamental cultural and a Jewish principle, Israel made challenging compromises. In recent days, we witnessed hostage releases in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, some involved in hostile activities against Israelis. Despite the awareness that humanitarian aid might be misused by Hamas, Israel agreed to supply Gaza with gasoline and accepted a ceasefire.

We all know the phrase in Hebrew that says if  if you save one life in Israel, it is as if you saved the whole world. However, this saying has another part, which signifyies that if you lose one life in Israel, it is as if you lost the whole world.

Despite over 50 hostages being released, approximately 200 Israelis remain in Hamas captivity. We must continue to do everything in our power to bring them home because each and every one of them is a whole world.

Today, we send a strong message to the hostages and their families: We pledge to do everything in our power to ensure your pain and suffering are not forgotten.

Today, we reiterate to Hamas: Do the right thing. Let our people go. Bring them home now. Bring them home safe.

Today, we also mourn and remember the lives of more than 1400 Israelis who were cruelly murdered and taken from us by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.  ???? in October?

The pain is overwhelming, and the brutality inflicted upon them is almost too much to bear.

Among the victims were the most innocent among us—babies, children, women, and even pregnant women—all falling victim to the heartless cruelty of those who sought to extinguish Jewish life. Their dreams were violently cut short, their potential eradicated by the cruelty of human monsters.

We must confront the harsh reality that Holocaust survivors, who had already endured unspeakable suffering, found their lives cut short once again at the hands of those who share the same hateful ideology with past Jewish oppressors. This is a brutal reminder that evil persists, and we must remain vigilant against it.

In our mourning, we also remember a former Winnipegger, Vivian Silver Z’L, a tireless peace activist whose life was dedicated to building bridges and fostering understanding. Vivian's commitment to peace met a tragic end at the hands of Hamas terrorists, underscoring the challenges faced by Israelis and Palestinians who strive for coexistence.

The difficulty in identifying the victims adds another layer of pain to our collective grief. Families are left in anguish, unable to find closure, as many of our brothers and sisters in Israel remain unidentified or their bodies not yet recovered. The uncertainty surrounding their fate deepens the wounds we carry.

Today, we must stand united and firm while we navigate through this dark chapter in our history. It is our duty to ensure that the legacy of the victims inspire us to work tirelessly for a world where such atrocities are unimaginable, and Jewish life is not dispensable.

In the memory of the babies, children, women, men, and Holocaust survivors, we must declare that we will never allow such an atrocity to recur. "Never again" is not just a historical trope; it is a commitment we must renew today in the memory of the victims for the sake of generations to come.

May their memory be a source of enduring blessing.