AVI commemorates three years since the horrors of October 7th
This week, AVI Student Ambassadors, staff, and community members across Canada planted flags, remembered, grieved, and united stronger than ever
Following the arson attack, AVI joined Pastor John Ward and members of IFCJ Canada at a vigil at the on Oct. 7th after
This week marked three years since October 7th, 2023 turned our world upside down and shifted our collective conscious forever.
It has been a gut-wrenching and emotional week not just because many of us have had to remember and relive the horrors of that day, but also because we were reminded in our own backyard that even three years on, the fight is far from over.
Thanks to the Flags of Fellowship initiative through our friends at the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews Canada (IFCJ Canada), the congregation at the Word of Faith Christian Centre planted 600 flags in front of their church to honour the victims of October 7th.
In the middle of the night, an arsonist gathered those 600 flags and burned them to the ground, an attempt to intimidate this pastor and his congregation, the same way so many have tried to intimidate Jewish institutions.
What was the Word of Faith's response? Within 24 hours, led by Pastor John Ward, the congregation planted 1,200 flags – doubling the original number. They also hosted an emergency vigil bringing Jews and Christians together to say it loud and clear: we will not be intimidated. We will not be scared. We will not waver.
Click the above photo to read AVI's official statement regarding the arson attack at the Word of Faith Christian Centre
Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) Founder and Executive Director Daniel Koren was blessed to be invited to speak at the moving emergency vigil on Oct. 7th – the very day of the arson attack.
These are Canadians who don’t just stand with Israel and the Jewish people. They stand for common decency and the values we cherish as Canadians.
Thank you, Pastor Ward, for having us, and thank you to every congregant who showed up.
To hear more from Daniel regarding this incredible initiative, please click here.
The evening after the flag replanting at the Word of Faith Christian Centre, Pastor John joined us for our own flag planting ceremony at AVI HQ
The following evening, Pastor Ward – along with our Toronto staff, Student Ambassadors, community members, and our chair Matthew Friedberg – joined us at AVI's headquarters for our own flag planting ceremony through IFCJ Canada's Flags of Fellowship.
Allyship and unity triumphed once more as together we planted 1,200 more flags – our third consecutive year participating in this incredible initiative.
But that wasn't all. Keep scrolling to see the many ways in which our AVI family commemorated this important day at campuses and communities across Canada.
AVI joined Hillel and students to honour the victims of October 7th at York U
A huge thank you to Hillel at York University, Olami Toronto, Repair the World, and AEPI York for partnering with us on a special ceremony of reflection and commemoration, and for creating a safe place for AVI’s Founder Daniel to share the heartwrenching story of losing his cousin Laor at the Nova Festival on October 7th, and how his legacy and love for music lives on through the strength and resilience of his family.
Though the grief is ever-present, so are the lessons and blessings, however concealed. We will continue to honour the memory and enduring legacy of those who lost their lives on that day.
To listen to Daniel's speech, please click here.
(Left to right): AVI Board Member Jonathan Spiegelman, Consul General to Toronto Nadav Zysblat, and AVI's Director of Campus Affairs Idaliah Snajdman
AVI's Director of Campus Affairs Idaliah Snajdman and AVI Board Member Jonathan Spiegelman gathered with Toronto's Jewish community members and allies – including the new Consul General to Toronto Nadav Zysblat – to mark three years since the horrors of October 7th, 2023.
They remembered those we lost, honoured the survivors, and sent strength to the families whose lives continue to be shaped by the loss, trauma and lasting impact of that day.
A huge thank you to the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto for organizing a powerful and heartfelt vigil.
To see more pictures and videos, please click here.
AVI staff and students at a vigil for the victims of Oct. 7 in Vancouver
In Vancouver, AVI Student Ambassador and University of British Columbia student Aarav joined AVI staff and Iranian allies at a powerful vigil at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
(Right to left): AVI's High School Advisor Samantha, AVI Student Ambassador Uriel, and AVI friends and stakeholders
In Kingston, Ontario, over 200 Canadians – including AVI's High School Advisor Samantha Howard, AVI Student Ambassador Uriel, and AVI Stakeholder Winston – commemorated October 7th at a community vigil at Queen’s University, organized in partnership with Hillel at Queen's and others!
To see more pictures from the tabling and vigil, please click here.
Click the above to listen to a snippet of AVI Student Ambassador Zachary's speech
In Ottawa, AVI Student Ambassador and University of Ottawa PhD Candidate Zachary gave over a powerful speech at the October 7th vigil organized by the Jewish Federation of Ottawa.
In his speech, he shared how October 7th flipped his world upside down, taking him from a studious engineering student who was on the periphery of events in Israel, to a proud and involved Israel advocate.
To listen to an excerpt from Zachary's speech, please click here.
Zach was also quoted in a Canadian Jewish News article about the vigil. Please click here to read it.
AVI Student Ambassador Artsiom (right) tabling at the University of Regina commemorating October 7th
In Regina, Saskatchewan, AVI Student Ambassador Artsiom tabled with the Jewish Students Organization (JSO) and StandWithUs Canada at the University of Regina, to raise awareness and pay respect to the victims of October 7th.
AVI Student Ambassador Etelle took part in an October 7th run and tabling
We are so proud of AVI Student Ambassador Etelle at the University of British Columbia for taking part in the Run to Remember, organized by Hillel BC on campus.
A commemoration ceremony was given before the run and she was off, running to remember those who were lost and honour their memory through every step.
AVI Student Ambassadors host a tabling at the University of Toronto
At the University of Toronto, AVI Student Ambassadors hosted a tabling in honour of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was held hostage in Gaza for 11 months before he was murdered.
Our Student Ambassadors spoke with their peers on campus about Hersh's life and legacy. May his memory forever be a blessing.
AVI students and community members in Montreal commemorate October 7th outside of McGill University
In Montreal, AVI and Hillel Montreal, the StartUpNation, StandWithUs Canada, Chabad at McGill University, Chabad at Concordia, and AEPI at McGill University brought Montreal's community together to reflect, remember, and unite in love through grief.
We were proud to be a part of this heartwarming vigil, which could not be thwarted by the thoughtless protesters trying to desecrate such an important day. Once again, our unity and camaraderie was stronger than their ignorance.
To see more pictures from Montreal's vigil, please click here.
Comments