There was no shortage of Jewish joy, laughter, or entertainment at StandWithUs Canada Live on May 24, 2026 in Toronto!
Jewish humour, music, and dance were on the menu at this celebration of Jewish identity, pride, and resilience. Amidst an increasingly challenging period in Jewish history, the evening offered the audience a chance to momentarily set those challenges aside and focus instead on the strength of our community, our pride in our Judaism, and our love for Israel. The buzz of community connection was palpable throughout the evening, setting the stage for our performers to deliver the fun!
Comedian Zach Margs brought the laughs with a brilliant comedy set that included hilarious impersonations of different Israeli stereotypes, hysterical stories, and even commentary on the Maple Leafs long-standing Stanley Cup drought.
The evening concluded with an exclusive dance performance titled ‘We CAN Dance Again’ starring Jewish superhero Montana Tucker and 30 middle and high school dancers from around Toronto’s Jewish community. The dance was set to ‘Mahapecha Shel Simcha’ (Revolution of Joy) – and it was exactly that: Jewish pride, resilience, and joy. In anticipation of the performance, these incredible young dancers raised over $25,000 for StandWithUs Canada!!
Most importantly, the evening gave us an opportunity to honour three Canadian heroes who were murdered on October 7th: Alexandre Look, Ben Mizrahi, and Judih Weinstein. We were proud to preserve their legacies through the establishment of awards in their names to be handed out annually to students in our Leventhal High School Internship and Emerson University Fellowship. Congratulations to this year’s winners:
High School Winners:
The Judih Weinstein Campus Changemaker Award: Hannah Good
The Ben Mizrahi Team Player Award: Hannah Presman Chikiar
The Alexandre Look Spirit of Dedication Award: Alexis Barankin
University Winners:
The Judih Weinstein Campus Changemaker Award: Chidinma Favour Batyah Anosike
The Ben Mizrahi Team Player Award: Conrad Jane
The Alexandre Look Spirit of Dedication Award: Cadence Huyghebaert
These students embody the strength, compassion, and resilience that defined Alexandre, Ben, and Judih’s lives. We know they will continue making a meaningful impact in their communities for years to come, and we look forward to watching their journeys with pride.
We’d like to thank our event sponsors, Larry Smith & Marsha Elser.
Photography by: Ella Langer Photography, DWM Creative, and Bella Rethazy
