Winnipeg Jewish Review  
Site Search:
Home  |  Archives  |  Contact Us
 
Features Local Israel Next Generation Arts/Op-Eds Editorial/Letters Links Obituary/In Memoriam
Shattered Voices, Oct 7 Commemoration at UM, and Screening of The Killing Fields

by Penny Jones Square, Oct 27 ,2024

About 70 people attended the late-night screening of Shattered Voices. Ruth Ashrafi explained the late hour for the event was because at 10:30 p.m., at the conclusion of the screening, “it will be 6:30 a.m. in Israel,” the very hour 6000 Hamas terrorists launched their “barbaric attack against peaceful Israel.” “We meet here at this very hour here in Winnipeg, and also in Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver” “not only to honour the victims of October 7, but to unite in solidarity at this particular moment that changed our lives.” “We have come together to mourn, to remember, to grieve, and to heal.” Ashrafi went on to discuss the inconceivable explosion of antisemitism following 10/7 and introduced a short video “summarizing some of [B’Nai Brith’s] activities” fighting this surging scourge.

            Ashrafi described how Moses Ndubueze, videographer at B’Nai Brith, was inspired to make his documentary after “watch[ing] the footage of all the atrocities that took place on October 7, as well as those taking place on Canadian soil,” and after having “witnessed the impact of the past year on both the Jewish community as well as other communities across Canada.” “With the images and stories touching Moses to the core, he approached [B’Nai Brith] with the idea of producing a documentary.” In his film, Ndubueze concentrates on the ongoing impact the atrocities have had on Canadians who continue to struggle in its aftermath, demonstrating how the horrors of 10/7 extend “well beyond the borders of Israel and the Jewish people, reaching individuals and communities across Canada” (B”Nai Brith Canada). The preview of Shattered Voices that was then screened was a profoundly affective experience that insisted on the necessity of remembrance with all the pain and promise remembrance means.

            Following the film, there were prayers. Ashrafi began with a prayer for “the survivors of October 7 who have suffered immense trauma.” She called on Yolanda Papini-Pollack to recite the prayer for the speedy release of the hostages. Judi Shuster was then called upon to read the prayer for the Israel Defense Forces. Ashrafi continued: “[N]ow that it is exactly a year after the barbaric attack we want to honour the memories of the many men, women, and children, and even babies who were brutally murdered on October 7. We remember the young men and women of the Nova Music Festival, who were celebrating friendship, life, and freedom, and were murdered in the prime of their lives. We also commemorate the non-Jews who were murdered and taken hostage. Our grief has no borders, and we include them in our prayers.” Tracy Kasner, cantor at Etz Chayim, was invited to lead the audience in El Maleh Rahamim, a prayer for the departed. Vice President for Manitoba and Saskatchewan of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). Gustavo Zentner and Fanny Zentner lit a candle for all the lives lost before Tracy led the audience in the Mourners’ Kaddish. Ashrafi closed the very moving evening with thank you’s to “Tracy, Judi, Yolanda, Adriana, Jerry in the booth, the police who keep us safe, and everybody who worked on this program.” She promised the preview will be turned into a longer documentary in time.

The October 7 Commemoration at the University of Manitoba drew a crowd of about 100. Belle Jarniewski gave an eloquent and condemnatory speech, addressing many of the horrific atrocities perpetrated by Hamas terrorists on 10/7 and truths the world would ignore such as the fact that the “barbarous murder of 1200 men, women, and children and the kidnapping of some 250 civilian hostages was carefully planned and executed”; that the terrorists filmed their crimes and posted them on social media, even on the victims’ own social media; and that, perhaps worst of all, the terrorists committed their unspeakable crimes with glee, screaming “Allahu Akbar”—God is great—while torturing, mutilating, burning alive, raping, and murdering their victims. More wicked yet is the recording of one terrorist calling his parents to brag about his killing 10 Jews. Jarniewski pointed out that “while most of the victims and hostages were Jewish Israelis, “there were Arab Israelis, Thais, Nepalese, Filipinos, Sri Lankans, and citizens of Canada and several other countries.” “There are so many stories. So many tragedies.” Most heart-breaking, “the terrible documentation from Zaka—those whose job it is to honour the dead and ensure they have a full burial. They saw things no human being should ever see—the remains of violent torture, mutilation, brutal rape, and murder.” But, thankfully, “there are [also] the stories of incredible courage and bravery of those—Jews and non-Jews who risked and even sacrificed their lives that day to protect others.”

            Jarniewski condemned the deafening silence post-October 7 as friends and allies fell away and antisemitism spread, “reaching us here in Winnipeg.” The widespread denial “despite all evidence of that horrible day filmed and recorded by the perpetrators themselves” defies comprehension. And more incomprehensible still, the glorification of the horrors of 10/7, “even among Western academics—who have described Hamas’ terrorism as ‘exhilarating’ and heroic.’” “[W]hile history does not repeat itself, it often rhymes.” And though this “is not 1942,” the similarities are alarming. The massacre of 10/7 definitely rhymes with 1942. Matthias Künzel, renowned German political scientist and historian whom Jarniewski quoted, makes this comparison starkly real: “Jews playing dead amidst piles of corpses, mothers covering their babies’ mouths to avoid being discovered, captives being forced to hand over their neighbors to murderers, people raped, tortured, and burned alive: the horrors of October 7 are unquestionably reminiscent of Nazism.”

Jarniewski concluded with the avowal, “We will never forget . . . we will continue to hope and pray for the return of the hostages and pray for peace. . . . We must not despair,” for the duty to remember is necessary and noble if fraught with anguish.

Rabbi Kliel Rose shared the story of Vivian Silver, friend of his parents Rabbi Neal Rose and Carol Rose, who was originally from Winnipeg and who had made Aliyah to Israel in 1974. Vivan was brutally murdered in the massacre at Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7, her death made more tragic still by the fact that she had dedicated her life “to advancing goodwill between Israelis and Palestinians.” Rabbi Rose described Vivian as “epitomiz[ing] the Jewish value of being a Rodefet Shalom—a pursuer of peace in her role as a peace activist.” Vivan volunteered with various organizations helping to transport Gazan patients to Jerusalem to get life-saving care. Rabbi Rose’s parents described Vivan as “both a chemist and a magician—always bringing diverse groups and communities together to create something new, something full of promise and hope.”

Silver’s humanitarian work continued into her retirement during which she co-founded “Women Wage Peace”—Nashim Osot Shalom, nisa’ yasnaen alsalam—a coalition of Jewish and Arab women seeking a negotiated peace in Israel. The dark irony of her murder as a devoted peace activist makes one question “whether this horrific attack refutes the principles Vivan stood for.” Yet, what her Bedouin friend and fellow peace activist Ghadir Hani said in his eulogy defies that conclusion: “‘I want you to know that Hamas hasn’t murdered your vision. It is impossible to kill compassion, humanity, solidarity, the yearning for a safe life. It is upon us to continue in your path, the path by which everyone can have a good life, and safe life in this homeland.’” We should all have such faith in the midst of this awful task of remembering the darkness of 10/7.

Close to 80 attended the screening of The Killing Roads, a difficult and disturbing documentary by Igal Hecht, who was present for the discussion and Q&A to follow. Yolanda Papini-Pollack, co-founder of Winnipeg Friends of Israel, gave the opening remarks and stressed the importance of watching the deeply distressing film in order “to bear witness” to the 10/7 massacre, a day that must be etched in our collective memory forever. Rael Dubois, of Bridges for Peace, spoke of his organization’s long-time commitment to the Jewish people and the work they are doing today in Israel helping the displaced re-build their lives. He promised Israel will prevail as “light always wins over darkness,” and though it is “still dark, God will not abandon you.” Ron East, of the Israeli Canadian Council, thanked Bridges for Peace, claiming non-Jews “are our light.” East also moderated the discussion and Q&A with Hecht following the screening. East began by thanking Hecht for making his film available free online, for “the day we forget what happened is the day it will be repeated.”

Hecht’s film, which he wrote and directed, focuses on the horrors that happened on Route 232 and Highway 34 where 250 Israelis fleeing Hamas butchers were mowed down in cold blood. In the discussion, Hecht described the traumatic impact the filming had on him, having to watch “50 hours of Hamas’ own intentionally, brutally graphic footage,” and conducting 22 interviews, the harrowing testimony of survivors, first responders, and those who lost ones in the barbaric ambushes.  He described how over 6000 Palestinian terrorists, Hamas and Islamic Jihad and Gazans, broke into Israel from 120 points, 4000 of them heavily armed, to murder 364 at the Nova Misic Festival, 1200 in total, in 3 to 4 hours.  As reported in the Times of Israel, “the film takes viewers on a blood-soaked journey along the ill-fated roads, retracing the steps of the invaders and documenting their acts of carnage, starting at 6:30 a.m.” For Hecht, “The barbarity, the brutal truth of October 7, shattered the promise of “never again.” He chose to release his film for free online as it meant he did not have to censor anything, and its reach would be greater, which served his main purpose: to educate and to counter the astonishing and disgraceful widespread denial of what happened on 10/7.

Each commemoration of October 7 impressed upon its audience the duty to remember—both its anguish and nobility, and so to ensure the world at large is not allowed to deny or forget what is the most tragic day in the history of the State of Israel and what should surely be regarded as an exceptionally tragic day for humanity and civilization as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
<<Previous Article       Next Article >>
Subscribe to the Winnipeg Jewish Review
  • JNF Canada
  • D&L Landscaping and Concrete
  • Dove Electric
  • Munroe Pharmacy
  • Lipkin Family
  • Gislason Targownik Peters
  • Orthodox Union
  • Coughlin Insurance Brokers
  • Taverna Rodos
  • Orthodox Union
  • Accurate Lawn & Garden
  • Artista Homes
  • Santa Lucia Pizza
  • Fetching Style
  • West Kildonan Auto Service
  • Josef Ryan
  • Ross Eadie
  • Preventative Health First
  • Fair Service
  • Nick's Inn
  • Red Top Drive Inn
  • Tradesman Mechanical
  • Cavalier Candies
  • Shoppers Drug Mart
  • Shoppers Drug Mart
  • Julia Penny
  • kristinas-greek
  • The Center for Near East Policy Research Ltd.
  • Sarel Canada
  • Roofco Winnipeg Roofing
  • Center for Near East Policy Research
  • Nachum Bedein
Rhonda Spivak, Editor

Publisher: Spivak's Jewish Review Ltd.


Opinions expressed in letters to the editor or articles by contributing writers are not necessarily endorsed by Winnipeg Jewish Review.