Turning Up The Light
A Pastor's call for post-10/7 solidarity
When describing the story of Passover and the Exodus from Egypt, the Torah says "A mixed multitude (erev rav) went up with them [out of Egypt].” The commentators explain that these were Egyptians - not Hebrews - who were awestruck by God’s miracles and desired to place their lot with the Israelites.
Allies. They were early Allies of the Jewish people.
For a long time I’ve wanted to highlight some of the voices of the Jewish community’s modern allies. Today, I have the privilege of posting this guest piece from Pastor David Larmour.
David identifies as a Christian and serves as Lead Pastor at King Street Community Church in Oshawa, where he has served for almost 19 years. He is also a Registered Psychotherapist. He is an advocate for Canadian values and is a loyal friend of the Jewish community.
Hard to Watch
The barbaric events of October 7, 2023, were horrific to watch, even from the safety of my own living room in the Greater Toronto Area, some 9,000 kms away from Israel. What unfolded moments later was the insanity of the unconscionable celebrations of the butchering of 1,200 innocent civilians in our Canadian ‘civilized’ streets and on social media. The deeply troubling affirmations of the so-called ‘resistance movement’ was met by indifference by many in our Canadian society, even in the Christian Church. This was deeply disturbing to me!
I identify as a Christian and have served as a local church Pastor for 31 years. I was compelled to stand up and speak out for Canadian values and specifically against antisemitism. Hearing the stories of harassment and bullying experienced in Jewish neighbourhoods awakened something in me that refused to go to sleep. An ancient hatred that seems to present itself in every generation was once again palpable – but was hard to imagine was that it was taking place in a country that celebrates diversity, inclusion, respect and tolerance. It was hard to come to terms that this ancient hatred was being met with such passivity by ‘good people.’
Brotherhood in adversity?
The Hebrew Scriptures teach; “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). Where were the friends of the Jewish community? They seemed to have grown wings and flown away. Where were the voices of the allies condemning the events of October 7th? Why was there indifference and deafening silence, or worse, support for the so called ‘resistance movement’?
In the New Testament, Jesus taught, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends" (John 15:13). I thought surely the Christian community would come running to the compassionate defense of our friends and elder siblings. But text messages, phone calls and emails that were sent to my Christian colleagues were met with a measure of indifference. Thankfully, 50 of my clergy friends eventually agreed to sign a letter of solidarity affirming our commitment to advocate for the Jewish community! Light was starting to emerge! The dimmer dial was moving in the right direction, but the light was flickering!
Recently, I shared a meal with some friends prior to the viewing of the October 8 documentary. Over dinner, I learned from a Jewish medical doctor that 30% of Jewish physicians in Toronto are considering leaving Canada, for the sake of their children. The social climate of antisemitism is becoming both professionally and personally intolerable. This news reminded me why I am advocating for my Jewish friends and pushing back against hate and antisemitism. This is not the Canada I grew up in, nor is it the Canada that I want for my children and future grandchildren.
Watching the darkness spread
Watching the Pro-Hamas and anti-Zionist / antisemitic demonstrations and hearing their hate-filled rhetoric has been very unsettling. To see these hateful expressions go unaddressed by the Mayor of Toronto, and culturally affirmed, is nauseating to me. Looking away is what gives me some measure of peace, but joining the community of the indifferent is not acceptable to me! My Christian tradition failed the Jewish community quite dramatically at a previous time in world history, I will not stand idly by and watch us fail our Jewish friends and neighbours once again!
The Christian Church has an embarrassing history of not always living up to her values, and in some excruciatingly disappointing periods in Church history, we have simply behaved in ways that were antithetical to our own creed – ‘to love God and to love neighbour’. The antisemitic writings of Protestant Reformer Martin Luther were leveraged in the 1930’s to provide Hittler the social capital to exercise the campaign that has become known as the Holocaust. Many of us as Christians are beginning to wake up to our sad, disappointing and embarrassing history and are acknowledging that our Jewish friends and elder siblings deserve better and are joining them by declaring: “Never Again!”
While attending a CIJA sponsored event at the Holocaust Memorial at the UJA, I was reminded by a presenter that when people get to know an individual personally, stereotypes are more likely to be dropped, and biases reduced. Proximity changes perspectives.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder
I have had the privilege of building some beautiful friendships with the Jewish community – particularly some wonderful relationships with Rabbis in Toronto. We have shared meals, watched Raptors games, visited each other’s places of worship, met family and walked for Israel together. There is an inspiring initiative planned for June 2025 where 50 Rabbis and 50 Christian Clergy have made plans to meet for 36 hours in Toronto to seek mutual understanding and learn from one another. Perhaps the flickering light is becoming brighter!
Recently, we hosted a Solidarity Sunday at King Street Community Church where Rabbi Howard Morrison from Beth Emeth Synagogue joined our congregation for an expression of solidarity, which included a shared homily rooted in Psalm 23, followed by a wonderful kosher meal. The KSCC congregation stood to their feet and applauded, acknowledging that we need more of these kinds of initiatives of solidarity! Three weeks prior, members of King Street Community Church enjoyed a Shabbat Service, a beautiful catered Shabbat Unity Dinner followed by a Passover Reflection from a Jewish and Christian perspective in a post-October 7th world.
It's been said before, “We don’t need to see eye to eye in order to walk shoulder to shoulder” (Rick Warren). Abraham Heschel walked with his friend Dr. Martin Luther King, and together they faced the racial hatred and antagonistic bias that was so much a part of the Civil Rights Movement. We shouldn’t have to walk alone when faced with a dangerous path! Words of consolation, expressions of solidarity, and acknowledgment of pain are all important gestures that are offered by friends who care, but being present, walking together and speaking up on behalf of others demonstrates another level of advocacy and solidarity.
Walking in step with my Jewish friends through one of their most challenging times here in Canada is an honour – it’s simply what friends do - we turn up the dial to increase the light together!
As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act."
It’s time to step up, speak out and turn up the light!
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