October 28, 2024

The Sunday rally began 56 weeks ago, with one woman waving an Israeli flag on a Sunday afternoon at the northwest corner of Bathurst and Sheppard. Word got out, the idea caught on, more supporters of Israel joined each week, more flags, posters, signs held up. This was something we could count on, whether we were walking, biking, or driving by and honking to show our support. Local politicians started appearing. Israeli songs were added, along with the weekly prayer for hostages and soldiers of the IDF, as well as Canadian and Israeli national anthems.

This was our corner. Every Sunday, from noon to 2:00 PM. That’s all. One little corner in the middle of the Greater Toronto Area. For 53 Sundays.

On the 54th Sunday, the pro-Palestinians decided to infiltrate. So they brought THEIR flags and THEIR music, megaphones, keffiyehs to cover their faces, and their menacing slogans. It was ugly that week, last Sunday. Some of the Jews of Toronto considered moving the Israel rally to a different location so that we wouldn’t have to see these pro-Hamasniks. But no, cried the others. We have to stay here or they will have won. Instead of moving, let’s get our people out in force. And that’s what happened.

Yesterday I attended the rally. TPS reports estimated that 3500 people were there in support of Israel. The support showed up in a variety of ways. Signs, sweatshirts and T-shirts with slogans. And the flags, ah the flags. Israeli and Canadian. As expected, pro-Palestinians appeared, but the police kept order, kept the groups separated, didn’t allow the red-green-black on our corner. And here’s the thing. There were not so many of them. Even the police mentioned that, all over, the pro-Palestinian mobs were dwindling.  (Personally, I’m not sure I believe that, but anyway…..)

We were told not to engage with them, not to take their bait when they provoked us. In spite of that, as I crossed the street to get a photo, some of them in the crosswalk asked me why I support the genocide, and I admit I replied, asking, “Why don’t you learn some history?” Then I added, “You’re in Canada. Where are your Canadian flags?” I promise that I didn’t imagine this, but they actually answered with pride in their voices, “We’re not Canadian.” Here (I sheepishly admit to all of you) I responded, “Then go protest in your own country.” I’m still irked that I spoke to them at all.

But our corner was safe. In the middle of everything, as I looked across to the other side of Bathurst and saw the handful of angry, loud, offensive Jew-haters, I couldn’t help but think: This is a metaphor for the world. Israel takes up a tiny space in the middle of a huge Arab-dominated Middle-East, but the Palestinians don’t want us to have even that tiny space. They want that space for themselves. Here in Toronto, we have a tiny corner on Bathurst and Sheppard, and after one year, they don’t want us to have that corner either. How symbolic. 

Overall, the rally was phenomenal. The unity was empowering. The energy was rejuvenating. The spirit was palpable. And when we all sang Hatikvah at the end, followed by O Canada, hundreds of us were moved to tears. Below are photos, but to capture the real feeling there, one must attend. I hope you’ll join in next Sunday at noon. It’s our corner.

Am Yisrael Chai!