Behind the scenes at Canada’s weekly rallies for the Israeli hostages

For the 61st week since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, Jewish Canadians–and increasingly, some of their non-Jewish allies–came out to stand for two hours in the cold on Sunday Dec. 1 at a Toronto street corner in support of Israel, to call for the release of the 101 remaining hostages held in Gaza, and to pray for Israel’s soldiers. For over a year now, a similar scene also takes place every Sunday in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and Montreal: hundreds of people turn out, rain or shine, for solidarity rallies and marches. While the smaller cities’ events have been mostly uneventful and peaceful, the Toronto rally has been recently dogged by groups of masked, pro-Palestinian protesters trying to disrupt and provoke, which has meant the need for a large police presence and even private security companies to keep things safe. But despite that development, and the arrival of a second Canadian winter adding an extra challenge to participating, the organizers from coast to coast say their local rallies have kept the hostages front and centre plus have created a badly needed sense of community for Jews facing an explosion of antisemitism in Canada since Oct. 7. On today’s The CJN Daily, we speak with the founders of three #BringThemHomeNow vigils Daphna Kedem in Vancouver, Michel Aziza in Winnipeg, and Michal Bental in Montreal. Guidy Mamann of the Toronto Rally for Israel also joins. Related links Learn more about the Toronto rallies, including the Aug. 2024 assault against an 88-year-old Jewish man at Bathurst and Shepard, in The CJN and on The CJN Daily. Follow the Montreal Bring them Home Now rally on Instagram or on Threads, Follow the Vancouver Bring Them Home Now rally on Instagram or X/Twitter. Follow the Winnipeg Bring Them Home Now rally. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)