This is a guest post from Jason Izraelski, a Toronto sports chiropractor, juggling injuries and two little girls. He’s a proud Jew, balancing family life with a healing touch!
Last night in Toronto, thousands of community members gathered to commemorate the one year anniversary of the 10/7 massacre. Immediately before seven candles were lit in memory of all those who were killed, kidnapped, and injured over the last year, the emcee made reference to the candles being our small way to enable some light to pierce the darkness.
I’d like to say that these last 365 days have been a year of unimaginable darkness, but that would be a disservice to all the other years of unimaginable darkness the Jewish people have suffered through over 5000+ years.
We’ve been persecuted so many times, and in so many ways over the generations that there are so many different words to describe the history of hate: Inquisitions and Crusades. The Khmelnitsky Massacre and the Farhud. Pogroms and the Holocaust. Kielce and Kishinev. Blood libels and countless country expulsions. We’re seemingly a glutton for punishment.
In the darkest Jewish humour-ish way possible, The Holocaust symbol of a yellow star with the slogan of “Never Again” should really just be the silhouette of an old Jewish man banging his head while exclaiming "Not Again!" It shouldn't come as a surprise - we read it every year in the Passover Seder during vehi sheamda: In every generation, they rise up to destroy us.
It’s truly just another pathetic Hollywood remake. Different actors, same ol' tired story. I’m 40 years old. Only my generation has never seen it firsthand before. We've only heard about them. Learned about them in books and through the tales of those who lived them.
But it struck us like a gut punch nonetheless, leaving us winded, struggling to make sense of what happened.
Really?!? to Really
The shock of the October 2023 news wore off quickly as the reality of it set in. The lives lost, the lies, the hostages, the kangaroo court of international institutions, the lies, the new blood libels (inspired by the old blood libels), the political waffling by so-called allies, the lies, the truly unbelievably biased media coverage, the blatant antisemitism on our streets and hordes of protestors, the college campuses and so much more. Did I mention the lies?
Each one of those line items could be expanded into a long format essay on its own. It’s just so easy to get swallowed by the darkness when it’s seemingly all around you. Move past legacy mainstream media and it gets worse. Tucker Carlson. Candace Owens. Kanye West. Rogers Waters. Mark Ruffalo. Javier Bardem. X. Instagram. Tik Tok. It’s one cesspool of hatred after another. One bag of lies after another. It’s tough out there for a Jew.
Sometimes I get lost in the darkness myself, wondering if I’ll have to pack my family’s bags and run from my country just like so many of my kind have done before. It feels surreal. Truly. I wish I could reach out to my own Holocaust-surviving grandparents and ask them what they think. What we should do. What shoes should I wear? What should I pack?
And yet
And yet…
We have to search for the light. It’s what we do.
I have no political affiliation. I generally think they’re all a bunch of windbags (unless they’re reading this, in which case they’re brilliantly well informed). I don’t serve on boards. I’m not a council member. I’m not a volunteer. I’m not even a PTA member. I'm wonderfully unimportant. A community service provider that works with a wide swath of the Jewish community.
So let me tell you with first hand knowledge and a great deal of conviction: There’s light amongst the darkness.
A 40-something mother began lighting shabbos candles, and with each flame, she brings warmth and tradition into her home for the first time. She’s discovered that these small acts connect her to something much larger: her history, her people, her sense of belonging.
A 48-year-old man who made aliyah (moved to Israel), leaving behind the familiar to strengthen the bonds of a homeland he's always carried in his heart. His journey is not just a return to Israel, but a commitment to his identity and the future of his people. He is a true believer that we are all warriors of the light. His words, not mine.
A woman in her 50s who never thought she’d be out leading protests or speaking to crowds. Yet week after week, she stands tall, a new voice for justice, making her presence known in a world that sometimes forgets.
A 13-year old boy proudly standing up to his school board and denouncing their handling of antisemitism within their school walls.
A secular 18-year old man unafraid to voice his opinions in defense of Jews worldwide.
Then there are the countless Jews who proudly wear their Judaica—Magen Davids, dog tags, symbols that once might have felt hidden, but now shine in the open. They are reminders that resilience is part of who we are, that in times of darkness, we turn inwards, to each other, to our faith, our shared history, and that we will never stop standing together.
All of these acts, small and large, personal and collective, form a tapestry of strength and light that only grows stronger as we stand together. The light we bring doesn’t just illuminate us—it shines far beyond, and in that light, we find each other.
And then there are the new generation of righteous amongst the nations. Our allies.
A 58-year-old gentile who wrapped me in a bear hug on October 8, telling me that if anyone dares trouble me for being a Jew, I should call him without hesitation. His words were a shield, his embrace a reminder that solidarity exists beyond boundaries of faith.
Another non-Jew, also in his 50s, with a humour as dark as my own, who recently joked—yet with the utmost seriousness—that when the time comes, he’ll hide me. Beneath the humour was a promise, one as old as human decency itself.
And then there are the Muslim and Christian Iranians, cursing the IRGC and the devastation it has wrought upon their homeland. They long for the peace and freedom their country once knew, sharing their hope for a future where oppression and violence no longer reign.
These righteous individuals remind me that light can come from any corner, any heart, no matter where we come from or what we believe. In their actions and words, they too are part of the light.
I could go on, but it's important to understand that finding light amongst the darkness is ingrained into us in so many different ways, shapes and forms, that it is literally part of our collective DNA. Heck, we've had a lot of practice.
Be the light
The first passage of the Torah reads vayehi or, "Let there be light" as G-d brought order and illumination out of chaos and darkness. The prophet Isaiah referred to the Jewish people as or l'goyim - a light unto the nations. Hanukkah is literally the festival of lights, the tiny vessel of oil representing enduring light in the face of adversity. The Menorah, a symbol of our eternal people, is boldly displayed on the crest of the State of Israel, illustrating that our light has endured through history. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov famously said, Kol ha’olam kulo, gesher tzar me’od, “The whole world is a very narrow bridge, but the main thing is not to fear at all.” Even when traversing darkness, faith in divine support helps one find the light within. The list goes on.
As Jews, we are tied to the light, and in times of darkness, we are renowned for turning towards it.
And so, as one year closes in, as the walls seem ever smaller and the light even dimmer, look to the light. It's there. You just have to look. Because even in the darkest of times, we have always found the light—and when we can’t see it, we create it. That is our legacy. That is our strength. And that is how we rise, again and again. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Got something to say that you think is bold, relevant, and something that Canadian Jews should hear? We are always looking to expand our ideas-based community, and would love to publish a diversity of Zionist voices. Feel free to submit your pieces to adam@catchnews.ca.
Otherwise, we are always looking to grow our subscriber list, so please subscribe!
 | A guest post by
|
So well stated, thanks for sharing
What an excellent post. Thanks for sharing. Shana tova