Mitchell Consky | The Canadian Jewish News | October 7, 2024

Hope Schrier was initially scared to go to her downtown Toronto campus on Oct. 7, 2024.

But she ultimately decided this would be a day to show her strength—if just by showing up.

A fourth-year creative industries student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Schrier wore her ‘Bring Them Home’ tag and yellow-ribbon pin on the anniversary of the date when Hamas murdered over 1,200 civilians and dragged over 230 hostages into Gaza. 

As part of her role as an Emerson Fellow with StandWithUs Canada (a one-year leadership training program that pays a stipend upon completion) she helped organize a vigil that honoured the victims and hostages. It took place in a building on TMU campus, and included songs and prayers for the hostages—as well as speeches from people who lost family members and friends during the terrorist invasion.

About 80 people attended, including some faculty members. 

The event included an art exhibition. Attendees were prompted to write notes of what they would say to hostages if they could be heard. These notes were then posted on a blank canvas. 

Schrier, who called the event “emotional,” mentioned a backdrop of animosity that has forced Jewish students into high-alert, particularly this week as they brace for waves of anti-Israel protests amid the grief.

An email by the Association of Jewish Faculty and Staff at University of Toronto (AJUT) noted a similar concern—warning of a ‘Week of Rage’ being planned on campus in a statement sent to members on Oct. 6.

AJUT anticipates a surge of protests and rallies that can “create a hostile campus environment for Jewish faculty, staff, and learners,” the note said. 

“Throughout the week, we will honour all those martyred by the occupying state in the past year as well as the steadfast resistance of the people of Palestine and Lebanon,” reads the caption on an Instagram post from Occupy UofT—which has an alliance with groups at the other downtown university, TMU.  

Schrier, who was initially concerned about security around her vigil, said TMU security did a good job at keeping everyone safe, “which is not usual on campus these days.” She also said that more programming will continue throughout the week—and that she hopes security teams are prepared to protect Jewish students. 

“For the rest of my life, Oct. 7 will not be an easy day,” she said. “Just having the support of other people and knowing we’re together was really helpful.”

Roey Stav, a Jewish student in his third year of environmental ethics at University of Toronto, helped organize a similar vigil at UofT and TMU. The event included the lighting of seven candles, a poetry reading, and speeches. Between 40 and 50 people attended, he said, adding that the event was not publicized, with the location and time exclusively spread through word of mouth.

The lack of advertising was to avoid any anti-Israel disruptions and hostility, which Stav said he has witnessed first-hand. 

“I’ve personally put up hostage posters that are torn down immediately after,” he told The Canadian Jewish News. “People have spit at my feet, called me a ‘genocidal maniac,’ a ‘terrorist.’ They’ve blocked my way.”

Although he’s not afraid to wear his Star of David necklace in public, he said the Jewish symbol has gotten him into “a few issues.” 

He mentioned that UofT had one of the biggest pro-Palestinian encampments in the country, one which was dismantled in July after a Superior Court ruling. That demonstration featured antisemitic slogans and symbols, and had students targeting Jewish students, including himself, he said.

Despite this, Stav believes it’s important to “be proudly Jewish on campus.” 

Students at York University also marked the day with a display outside the student centre building.

Daniil Kochanov, a third-year urban studies student—who is also an Emerson Fellow with StandWithUs Canada—helped organize a table that featured images of hostages.

“The point is to open up a dialogue with students,” he told The Canadian Jewish News.

Around 2 p.m., someone wearing a keffiyeh evidently expressed themselves by spilling coffee on the hostage display—and then they ran off, according to Kochanov.

Cooper Hernick, a third-year geography major at York, who was helping at the event table, also witnessed the coffee spill. He reported the incident to campus security.

Hernick added that he “feels fairly safe” given the increased security presence on campus. Like many other Jewish students, he hopes a greater vigilance will continue. 

Yigal Bruk, a first-year neuroscience major at York, stood near the coffee-stained hostage display, cloaked in an Israeli flag. On the field across from him, on the other side of a few Toronto police officers, about 30 students gathered for a pro-Palestine rally, on York Blvd, right outside Vari Hall. 

Bruk, who was born in Israel, doesn’t understand why these students chose to congregate on Oct. 7 in particular. He said it’s saddening to see so much disproportionate support for Palestine when this is a day of mourning for Jews and Israelis.

“Just a couple of days ago, my family (in Israel) were running to bomb shelters from the rocket attacks by Iran,” he told The Canadian Jewish News, adding that he has friends serving in the Israel Defense Forces.

Bruk further noted he also has family in Ukraine, where his loved ones have also witnessed the brutality of war during the past year and more.

“I’ve had a lot of sleepless nights.”

Read the full article here.