Latest news with #KoshaDillz
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘It feels so good': Toronto's Walk with Israel breaks record with 56,000 participants
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Toronto on Sunday for the annual Walk with Israel, breaking the event's attendance record for the second straight year. Local law enforcement estimated there were roughly 56,000 participants, surpassing the previous benchmark set last year by 6,000. A rally and concert held shortly before the walk in the parking lot of Temple Sinai, a synagogue bordering a major highway, was packed with Israeli and Canadian flags and people of all ages. The Magen Group, a prominent local entertainment company run by Persian Jewish brothers, emceed the event and Jewish rapper, Kosha Dillz, made a brief appearance on stage. 'It feels so good,' Sara Lefton, the chief development officer of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA), the group that organized the event, told National Post minutes before it began. 'I think the Jewish community is really seeking togetherness. The more isolated we've been feeling, the more that we are seeking a moment like this to come together as the Jewish community, but also with our friends and allies.' A contingent representing the Nova Music Festival Exhibition, an art installation honouring concert-goers massacred by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which is currently on display in Toronto, was also present. For Omri Kohavi, a survivor of the atrocities and co-founder of the Tribe of Nova Foundation, a group dedicated to helping other survivors of the attack, the public display of support for Israel was deeply moving. He echoed Lefton's feeling of positivity at the sight of so many Canadians showing their solidarity. 'It's a good feeling to see all of you guys. Very nice people,' he said with a heavy Israeli accent. 'We are brothers. We are from the same roots, so it's a great feeling.' Kohavi was joined by Ilan Faktor, an organizer of the Nova exhibition and a prominent Israeli trance figure. Faktor spoke of the cultural inheritance Canadians and Israelis share and underscored the Walk's importance for Jews 'to be proud, stand for themselves and not hide or feel bad about themselves.' 'To stand for what we believe in, which is freedom, dance, (and) the love for people, we find it easy to relate to Canadians,' he said. 'We just want people to be sensitive to what happened to us as human beings.' The air was crisp as patches of early morning clouds gave way to blue skies and sunshine warming marchers as they made their way north along Bathurst Street through the predominantly Jewish neighbourhood in northern Toronto. Anti-Israel protesters were notably fewer in number compared with last year's event. The side streets lining the path were virtually absent except for a moderate-sized gathering of picketers at the intersection of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue. Red, white and green smoke bombs, evoking the colours of the Palestinian flag, were ignited when the head of the column passed through the intersection but police quickly surrounded and isolated the incendiaries. Several protesters carried posters showing Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov kissing a Hamas terrorist on a stage in Gaza prior to his release at a public ceremony. Another carried a handwritten sign proclaiming: 'The Torah was Noah's Ark, Israel is (the) Titanic for you.' The inverted red triangle, a symbol frequently used by Hamas in propaganda videos to denote Israeli combatants, was displayed on multiple occasions. There was a heavy police presence lining the route, particularly at the Bathurst and Sheppard intersection, which slowed marchers down during the walk's final stretch, just south of its endpoint at the Prosserman Jewish Community Centre (JCC). Tensions flared in the logjam as police did their best to distance the two camps from one another. No arrests were witnessed at the time. The pro-Israel crowd was diverse and boasted many non-Jews. Several Iranian flags featuring a lion — an icon embraced by members of the diaspora critical of the current regime — were spotted often. Members of Allies for a Strong Canada, a group of non-Jewish advocates established after October 7 to combat antisemitism in the country, were also present. 'On the question of antisemitism, on the question of the rights and freedoms of the Jewish people, you need to stand up right away,' the chair of the organization's board, Tim Egan, said. His comments came just hours after Israel's National Security Council elevated its Canadian travel advisory level from 'no warning' to 'potential threat' posed to Jews and Israelis. 'As a Canadian, I've been horrified for a very long time about how antisemitism is on the rise,' Egan continued. 'I've always seen Israel as an ally, we should stand with our allies. Israel is an ally under attack and with the attack on Israel has come, I think, a disgusting attack on the Jewish people within Canada.' National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
Vancouver Sun
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
‘It feels so good': Toronto's Walk with Israel breaks record with 56,000 participants
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Toronto on Sunday for the annual Walk with Israel, breaking the event's attendance record for the second straight year. Local law enforcement estimated there were roughly 56,000 participants, surpassing the previous benchmark set last year by 6,000. A rally and concert held shortly before the walk in the parking lot of Temple Sinai, a synagogue bordering a major highway, was packed with Israeli and Canadian flags and people of all ages. The Magen Group, a prominent local entertainment company run by Persian Jewish brothers, emceed the event and Jewish rapper, Kosha Dillz, made a brief appearance on stage. 'It feels so good,' Sara Lefton, the chief development officer of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA), the group that organized the event , told National Post minutes before it began. 'I think the Jewish community is really seeking togetherness. The more isolated we've been feeling, the more that we are seeking a moment like this to come together as the Jewish community, but also with our friends and allies.' No masks, no anger, just pride, positivity and inclusion. Toronto's Walk With Israel was a manifestation of what Toronto can be once again. A contingent representing the Nova Music Festival Exhibition , an art installation honouring concert-goers massacred by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which is currently on display in Toronto, was also present. For Omri Kohavi, a survivor of the atrocities and co-founder of the Tribe of Nova Foundation, a group dedicated to helping other survivors of the attack, the public display of support for Israel was deeply moving. He echoed Lefton's feeling of positivity at the sight of so many Canadians showing their solidarity. 'It's a good feeling to see all of you guys. Very nice people,' he said with a heavy Israeli accent. 'We are brothers. We are from the same roots, so it's a great feeling.' Kohavi was joined by Ilan Faktor, an organizer of the Nova exhibition and a prominent Israeli trance figure. Faktor spoke of the cultural inheritance Canadians and Israelis share and underscored the Walk's importance for Jews 'to be proud, stand for themselves and not hide or feel bad about themselves.' Toronto's Walk With Israel today. Huge turnout. Well done Toronto 'To stand for what we believe in, which is freedom, dance, (and) the love for people, we find it easy to relate to Canadians,' he said. 'We just want people to be sensitive to what happened to us as human beings.' The air was crisp as patches of early morning clouds gave way to blue skies and sunshine warming marchers as they made their way north along Bathurst Street through the predominantly Jewish neighbourhood in northern Toronto. Anti-Israel protesters were notably fewer in number compared with last year's event. The side streets lining the path were virtually absent except for a moderate-sized gathering of picketers at the intersection of Bathurst Street and Sheppard Avenue. Red, white and green smoke bombs, evoking the colours of the Palestinian flag, were ignited when the head of the column passed through the intersection but police quickly surrounded and isolated the incendiaries. Several protesters carried posters showing Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov kissing a Hamas terrorist on a stage in Gaza prior to his release at a public ceremony. Another carried a handwritten sign proclaiming: 'The Torah was Noah's Ark, Israel is (the) Titanic for you.' The inverted red triangle, a symbol frequently used by Hamas in propaganda videos to denote Israeli combatants, was displayed on multiple occasions. Not that we need to prove anything to fans of the Hamas r*pist regime, but yes, the (now former) Israeli hostage, Omer Shem Tov, was clearly forced to kiss these filthy terrorists. Guys, this is super r*pey. There was a heavy police presence lining the route, particularly at the Bathurst and Sheppard intersection, which slowed marchers down during the walk's final stretch, just south of its endpoint at the Prosserman Jewish Community Centre (JCC). Tensions flared in the logjam as police did their best to distance the two camps from one another. No arrests were witnessed at the time. The pro-Israel crowd was diverse and boasted many non-Jews. Several Iranian flags featuring a lion — an icon embraced by members of the diaspora critical of the current regime — were spotted often. Members of Allies for a Strong Canada , a group of non-Jewish advocates established after October 7 to combat antisemitism in the country, were also present. 'On the question of antisemitism, on the question of the rights and freedoms of the Jewish people, you need to stand up right away,' the chair of the organization's board, Tim Egan, said. His comments came just hours after Israel's National Security Council elevated its Canadian travel advisory level from 'no warning' to 'potential threat' posed to Jews and Israelis. 'As a Canadian, I've been horrified for a very long time about how antisemitism is on the rise,' Egan continued. 'I've always seen Israel as an ally, we should stand with our allies. Israel is an ally under attack and with the attack on Israel has come, I think, a disgusting attack on the Jewish people within Canada.' National Post Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Calgary Herald
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
‘It feels so good': Toronto's Walk with Israel breaks record with 56,000 participants
Article content Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Toronto on Sunday for the annual Walk with Israel, breaking the event's attendance record for the second straight year. Article content Article content Local law enforcement estimated there were roughly 56,000 participants, surpassing the previous benchmark set last year by 6,000. Article content A rally and concert held shortly before the walk in the parking lot of Temple Sinai, a synagogue bordering a major highway, was packed with Israeli and Canadian flags and people of all ages. The Magen Group, a prominent local entertainment company run by Persian Jewish brothers, emceed the event and Jewish rapper, Kosha Dillz, made a brief appearance on stage. Article content Article content 'It feels so good,' Sara Lefton, the chief development officer of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA), the group that organized the event, told National Post minutes before it began. 'I think the Jewish community is really seeking togetherness. The more isolated we've been feeling, the more that we are seeking a moment like this to come together as the Jewish community, but also with our friends and allies.' No masks, no anger, just pride, positivity and inclusion. Toronto's Walk With Israel was a manifestation of what Toronto can be once again. — Ben Mulroney (@BenMulroney) May 25, 2025 Article content Article content A contingent representing the Nova Music Festival Exhibition, an art installation honouring concert-goers massacred by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which is currently on display in Toronto, was also present. For Omri Kohavi, a survivor of the atrocities and co-founder of the Tribe of Nova Foundation, a group dedicated to helping other survivors of the attack, the public display of support for Israel was deeply moving. He echoed Lefton's feeling of positivity at the sight of so many Canadians showing their solidarity. Article content 'It's a good feeling to see all of you guys. Very nice people,' he said with a heavy Israeli accent. 'We are brothers. We are from the same roots, so it's a great feeling.' Article content Kohavi was joined by Ilan Faktor, an organizer of the Nova exhibition and a prominent Israeli trance figure. Faktor spoke of the cultural inheritance Canadians and Israelis share and underscored the Walk's importance for Jews 'to be proud, stand for themselves and not hide or feel bad about themselves.'
National Post
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
‘It feels so good': Toronto's Walk with Israel breaks record with 56,000 participants
Article content Article content Local law enforcement estimated there were roughly 56,000 participants, surpassing the previous benchmark set last year by 6,000. Article content A rally and concert held shortly before the walk in the parking lot of Temple Sinai, a synagogue bordering a major highway, was packed with Israeli and Canadian flags and people of all ages. The Magen Group, a prominent local entertainment company run by Persian Jewish brothers, emceed the event and Jewish rapper, Kosha Dillz, made a brief appearance on stage. Article content 'It feels so good,' Sara Lefton, the chief development officer of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA), the group that organized the event, told National Post minutes before it began. 'I think the Jewish community is really seeking togetherness. The more isolated we've been feeling, the more that we are seeking a moment like this to come together as the Jewish community, but also with our friends and allies.' Article content No masks, no anger, just pride, positivity and inclusion. Toronto's Walk With Israel was a manifestation of what Toronto can be once again. — Ben Mulroney (@BenMulroney) May 25, 2025 Article content A contingent representing the Nova Music Festival Exhibition, an art installation honouring concert-goers massacred by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which is currently on display in Toronto, was also present. For Omri Kohavi, a survivor of the atrocities and co-founder of the Tribe of Nova Foundation, a group dedicated to helping other survivors of the attack, the public display of support for Israel was deeply moving. He echoed Lefton's feeling of positivity at the sight of so many Canadians showing their solidarity. Article content 'It's a good feeling to see all of you guys. Very nice people,' he said with a heavy Israeli accent. 'We are brothers. We are from the same roots, so it's a great feeling.' Article content Kohavi was joined by Ilan Faktor, an organizer of the Nova exhibition and a prominent Israeli trance figure. Faktor spoke of the cultural inheritance Canadians and Israelis share and underscored the Walk's importance for Jews 'to be proud, stand for themselves and not hide or feel bad about themselves.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jewish Rapper and Comedian Kosha Dillz Says His Film's Canceled Screening Has Been Reinstated
A Chicago movie theater that canceled a screening of a pro-Israel comedian's documentary at the last minute will be reinstating the screening, the comedian said Friday. Kosha Dillz, the Israeli-American rapper and comic whose real name is Rami Even-Esh, says the theater, Facets, has agreed to show the movie, titled Bring The Family Home. Press attention and calls from Jewish groups objecting to the theater's decision were what prompted Facets management to reconsider, he said. More from The Hollywood Reporter John Mellencamp Honors Republic Records at Grammy Hall of Fame Gala How Simple Minds' Gen X Anthem, "Don't You (Forget About Me)," Almost Didn't Come to Be Sean "Diddy" Combs' Ex Cassie Ventura Tells Court She Doesn't Hate Him Despite Decade of Abuse 'This is incredible. I was practically crying on the Zoom [when informed of the decision],' the rapper told The Hollywood Reporter. A new screening will be set for the next several weeks. Later in the evening Facets' executive director, Karen Cardarelli, confirmed to THR that the screening was back on and said more information would be forthcoming. Facets, a longtime arthouse venue in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, canceled the screening just hours before it was to take place Tuesday. Dillz had been scheduled to show the movie and take the stage with Michael Kaminsky, a DePaul University student who had allegedly been punched as well as harassed with antisemitic slurs on campus after making pro-Israel statements in what police called a hate crime. Dillz did end up showing the film at a theater in suburban Wilmette. Groups such as the American Jewish Committee in Chicago and the newer Chicago Jewish Alliance objected to Facets' decision. 'I call it exclusion — it's 'Don't do business with Jews,' which is the kind of antisemitism we deal with now,' Dillz said, speaking by phone from Northern California, where he was scheduled for a number of performances and shot footage for the film at Cal. 'I just wanted to pay the rental fee and do business with Facets and they wouldn't accept that.' Dillz said he even offered to have the theater show the film without any promotion on the marquee or website to avoid drawing attention to it, but Facets leadership declined. Yet on Friday, the theater appeared to have reversed course. 'In retrospect we recognize that this was an overreaction and not consistent with our mission,' the organization said in a statement that Dillz posted to his Instagram. Though the theater cited security, their initial Instagram post about the cancelation sent mixed signals. 'Based on the public posts made by Kosha Dillz and the overall tone surrounding the event, we determined that proceeding would not align with our values or our responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of our community,' Facets said, without elaborating on what they were referring to. 'We reject antisemitism in all forms — just as we reject Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism, and any form of hate or dehumanization.' The movie, an hourlong work-in-progress documentary, shows Dillz traveling to various campus protests such as DePaul University in Chicago and Chapman University in Orange County where he playfully tries to engage pro-Palestine protesters, often playing the sidekick to their straight man; at times he is greeted harassingly, though he acknowledges his appearances lean mischievous. The rapper says he will now shoot the ending to the movie at the rescheduled Facets screening. Dillz had previously gone viral for a light-hearted Hanukkah song he performed with the rapper Nisim Black on the streets of New York in 2021, and has also recorded with the likes of The RZA and other well-known artists. In the interview, Dillz said he was just trying to show how people on various sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide don't talk to each other. 'And in a way our screening being canceled proved the point,' he said. 'I don't know, it's all so meta.' Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine content has been a hot subject at the box office this spring, with films such as No Other Land and October 8 both racking up business, though not always from the same customers. Facets has been showing No Other Land. In a charged political atmosphere, though, even what movies to screen or air has become fraught. No major streamer or theatrical distributor would pick up No Other Land, while Cinemark did not play October 8. Dillz says he feels that in its own small way the Facets decision cuts through some of that polarization. 'It's a happy ending,' he said when asked about how viewed the upshot. 'But there'll still be [protest] calls, there are still people who won't see it. I want everyone to see No Other Land, I want everyone to see my movie. We just all need to listen more.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
