26-05-2025
Annual Walk With Israel held Sunday
As more than 55,000 people participated in the 56th Annual Walk With Israel event in Toronto on Sunday, pro-Palestinian protesters lined part of the route.
The event, which organizers say is Canada's largest Jewish community gathering, was taking place after a week of redoubled international tension over Israel's war in Gaza. But it remained peaceful despite concerns from organizers and police.
'The Jewish community lives with huge risk to their security every day,' said Sara Lefton, chief development officer at the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto and organizer of Walk With Israel.
This was no exception, she added.
To back up a substantial police presence, event organizers had enlisted the Jewish Security Network, an independent agency focused on the security needs of the Greater Toronto Jewish community.
'We have a multilayered plan for today,' Ms. Lefton said.
The event came almost one week after Prime Minister Mark Carney threatened sanctions against Israel in reaction to the country's renewed military offensive in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry says that 3,785 people have been killed in the territory since Israel ended a ceasefire in March, with Israeli strikes killing at least 38 people, including children, in a 24-hour period ending Sunday.
On Wednesday, two Israeli embassy staff members were killed in Washington, allegedly by a man who yelled 'Free, free Palestine' when he was arrested.
And on Saturday, the Toronto Police Service arrested a 26-year-old city man, who is accused of online death threats against the Israeli community.
Donations from the Toronto event will go toward families and communities affected by the violent attack at the Nova music festival, part of Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel, in which more than 1,200 Israelis were killed and hundreds taken hostage.
Omri Kohavi, a survivor from the festival, attended the Toronto event Sunday.
'My mission is to share our story,' Mr. Kohavi said. 'To share our truth. It is not political.'
Before the walk began, from a stage at Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto, rapper Kosha Dillz pumped up the crowd with lines about 'hiding from the enemy' and 'children can't eat school lunches,' referring to students feeling safe at schools.
The loudspeakers also blasted the Canadian national anthem.
During the walk, the sea of Israel supporters – dressed in white and blue, and carrying Israeli and Canadian flags – was accompanied by a float with a DJ and dance crew.
Amit Singh was carrying a sign that 'India for Israel.' Iranians for Israel walked nearby. Some wore bulletproof vests. A sign read: 'Ancient civilizations are united. A new day will rise.'
On the side of the road, outside a local synagogue, teenage boys tied tefillin to the arms and heads of passing men. The small black leather boxes contain verses from the Torah.
'The world is so dark,' said Goldie Plotkin, the wife of the synagogue's rabbi. 'This reminds every man who you are … to have charity and to be kind.'
To Ms. Plotkin, the walk is a symbol of Jewish defiance in the face of antisemitism.
'You start with the Jews, you're going to be done,' she said.
Toward the end of the route – at the intersection of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue – the march passed through crowds of pro-Palestinian protesters, separated by barriers and two lines of police officers. Two armed officers stood on the roof of a building overlooking the intersection.
Protesters held signs that read: 'Oppose the Palestinian holocaust.' Some depicted images of starving children.
Israel blocked the import of all food, medicine and fuel into Gaza for 2½ months before allowing a small amount to trickle in last week, after experts warned of famine and the state's top allies applied pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
'When food is politicized, it is illegal,' said Ahmed Jarrar, a Palestinian man and organizer of the protest, adding that it was his duty to peacefully object to the event.
Rabbi Dovid Feldman stood among the protesters. He had travelled from New York and was joined by several other Jewish men from Montreal who form the group Jews United Against Zionism.
'We are deeply embarrassed when all this is done in our name. This is not Judaism, and this is not humanity,' he said.
A member of the passing crowd yelled 'Fake Jew' at the rabbi.
Uri Stramer, 19, stood on the sidelines of the march handing out pamphlets for Mr. Netanyahu's left-wing political opposition.
Mr. Stramer was born in Israel but moved to Canada in 2015. His parents could no longer be complicit in the actions of Israel's government, he said.
It had been a tough day, he said. People were dismissive and often angry.
'It's a difficult crowd. We exist in a very difficult space.'
