The unspeakable atrocities of the October 7, 2023 massacre—the murder, torture, beheading, and rape of more than 1200 innocent Israelis and abduction of over 250 others—should have clarified to the world the reality of the radical evil Israel has been facing. The choice should have finally become obvious: “you had to be with the people who oppose the murder of innocents. Or not.”¹ Yet, the world’s sympathy lasted for less than a day. Pro-Hamas protests erupted worldwide, before Israel even responded. Hamas’ strategy of sacrificing its own people—using them as human shields—to garner sympathy for the Palestinian people has been wildly successful. The barbarism of October 7 has been ignored, if not completely forgotten. The “plight” of the Palestinian people, despite being caused by its own criminal leadership, has overshadowed the rightful concern for the Israelis and for the hostages.

The joy of Israelis and Jews worldwide, as well as of their supporters, at the heroic rescue of hostage Qaid Farhan Al-Kadi from Gaza on August 27 was shattered by heartbreak at the news that six hostages were brutally murdered on August 29, hours before being rescued by the Israeli Defence Forses on August 31. Hersh Goldberg-Polin (age 23), Eden Yerushalmi (age 24), Ori Danino (age 25), Alex Lobanov (age 32), Carmel Gat (age 40), and Almog Sarusi (age 27) were shot multiple times at close range. The enormity of their execution after enduring close to eleven months of abuse in the tunnels under Gaza—with little food, water, light, or air—was made more excruciating by Hamas’ sadistic release of a disturbing propaganda video of the hostages before their murder, with a promise to show their last messages. More grotesque still, their bodies were discovered in a tunnel hidden under a child’s bedroom. Again, the choice was made crystal clear: oppose the diabolic torture and slaughter of innocents—or not. But still, many refuse to allow Israel to win and clamour for a ceasefire that would ensure Hamas stays in power, thereby enabling its malevolent fanatical aim of eradicating Israel and killing all Jews.

In response to this latest horror, about 250 members of the Winnipeg Jewish community and others gathered at Adas Yeshurun Herzlia synagogue on September 2 to mourn the savage execution of the six hostages by Hamas terrorists. The spontaneous vigil to honour the murdered hostages and other victims was organized by Rabbi Benarroch, Lawrence Pinsky, Louisa Raizman, and Candice Tenenbein. It was a profoundly moving collective sharing of the deep pain and anguish experienced by all present. Rabbi Benarroch opened the vigil by urging all to “come together in unity” in the face of the “evil enemy” that would “divide, confuse, and rip us apart from within.” Lawrence Pinsky echoed the rabbi’s message, calling on everyone to stand together in solidarity, to cry for justice, and forgo appeasement. Simone and Ben Cohen, whose son Harry fought in Gaza, read the Prayer for the IDF soldiers. Einat Paz, tireless and dedicated organizer of the weekly “Bring them Home” rallies for the hostages, read a prayer for the hostages. Dr. Rena Secter-Elbaze read prayers for the Canadian government and for peace. Leslie Emory sang “El Malei Rachamim” and spoke the names of the six hostages, and Sarah Sommer sang “Shir L’Maalot” and “Oseh Shalom.” The ceremony concluded with the singing of O Canada and Hatikvah and Ali Raizman’s blowing of the shofar. Attendees were encouraged to write messages to the hostages’ families that will be taken to Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Rabbi Benarroch related that every message sent by soldiers and hostages to their families said: “love each other, enjoy life, laugh, and remember who the real enemy is.” It is a message we must all take to heart. Choose life, stay united, and defy the cruel force of evil without, the cult of death that is Hamas and its followers. Israel must be allowed to win this time; internal and international pressure to quit before a final defeat of Hamas will only ensure more and worse wars to come.

1. Peter Savodnik, “Why French Jews Believed the Political Right Could Save Them and France,”

The Free Press, July 7, 2024