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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.'
Calgary Herald
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
'It's needed now more than ever': Jewish community optimistic ahead of Walk with Israel fundraiser
Toronto Jewish community leaders are hopeful that the 2025 Walk with Israel will build on the record-breaking attendance, fundraising and public support of last year's march. Article content Article content 'The Walk with Israel really represents a moment of solidarity and togetherness and pride for the Jewish community in Toronto,' Sara Lefton, the chief development officer of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA), told National Post. 'I think at a moment where there has been so much antisemitism and so much isolation of the Jewish community that it's needed now more than ever.' Article content Article content Last year, the UJA Walk with Israel down Bathurst Street in northern Toronto drew an estimated 50,000 participants, the largest ever in the event's history. Noah Godfrey, a co-chair of the event alongside his wife, is similarly upbeat that this year's walk will be a positive gathering for Toronto's Jewish community and their allies supporting the Jewish state. Article content Article content 'We are big believers in the need for the State of Israel, for Jews, and for the need for self-determination. It's been pretty important a role Israel has played for Jews, not only in Israel, but for the diaspora,' he told the Post. Article content While sporadic groups of anti-Israel protesters lined the walk's path last year, some of them yelling antisemitic slurs, Lefton noted that UJA is taking safety precautions seriously ahead of this year's march. 'The Jewish security network is working on behalf of the community with Toronto Police to make sure that there's a coordinated plan to deal with any counter-protesters and to make sure that we're safe and secure.' Article content Article content Godfrey agreed that organizers were taking any potential threats seriously, but emphasized it would not distract them from the importance of the event. Article content Article content 'We're not deluding ourselves that the people will show up. But we also are not also going to let it ruin our day. We're gonna have a wonderful day, a wonderful walk,' he said. Article content Upholding a peaceful environment in which Jews and non-Jews alike show their support for Israel is vitally important, Lefton said. 'This is a celebratory march about pride,' she said. 'We're marching as Canadians who are standing with Israel.' Article content Another major goal of the walk is to raise money for Israelis. Lefton shared that the 2024 event fundraised over $1 million, which was earmarked to help 'people in Israel who are suffering as a result of the current situation.' The UJA executive explained that some of the donations had been used to assist families in Sderot, a town which was attacked during the October 7 invasion by Hamas, who are struggling to find mental health and trauma support.
Ottawa Citizen
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
'It's needed now more than ever': Jewish community optimistic ahead of Walk with Israel fundraiser
Toronto Jewish community leaders are hopeful that the 2025 Walk with Israel will build on the record-breaking attendance, fundraising and public support of last year's march. Article content Article content 'The Walk with Israel really represents a moment of solidarity and togetherness and pride for the Jewish community in Toronto,' Sara Lefton, the chief development officer of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA), told National Post. 'I think at a moment where there has been so much antisemitism and so much isolation of the Jewish community that it's needed now more than ever.' Article content Article content Last year, the UJA Walk with Israel down Bathurst Street in northern Toronto drew an estimated 50,000 participants, the largest ever in the event's history. Noah Godfrey, a co-chair of the event alongside his wife, is similarly upbeat that this year's walk will be a positive gathering for Toronto's Jewish community and their allies supporting the Jewish state. Article content Article content 'We are big believers in the need for the State of Israel, for Jews, and for the need for self-determination. It's been pretty important a role Israel has played for Jews, not only in Israel, but for the diaspora,' he told the Post. Article content While sporadic groups of anti-Israel protesters lined the walk's path last year, some of them yelling antisemitic slurs, Lefton noted that UJA is taking safety precautions seriously ahead of this year's march. 'The Jewish security network is working on behalf of the community with Toronto Police to make sure that there's a coordinated plan to deal with any counter-protesters and to make sure that we're safe and secure.' Article content Article content Godfrey agreed that organizers were taking any potential threats seriously, but emphasized it would not distract them from the importance of the event. Article content Article content 'We're not deluding ourselves that the people will show up. But we also are not also going to let it ruin our day. We're gonna have a wonderful day, a wonderful walk,' he said. Article content Upholding a peaceful environment in which Jews and non-Jews alike show their support for Israel is vitally important, Lefton said. 'This is a celebratory march about pride,' she said. 'We're marching as Canadians who are standing with Israel.' Article content Another major goal of the walk is to raise money for Israelis. Lefton shared that the 2024 event fundraised over $1 million, which was earmarked to help 'people in Israel who are suffering as a result of the current situation.' The UJA executive explained that some of the donations had been used to assist families in Sderot, a town which was attacked during the October 7 invasion by Hamas, who are struggling to find mental health and trauma support.
Edmonton Journal
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
'It's needed now more than ever': Jewish community optimistic ahead of Walk with Israel fundraiser
Article content Toronto Jewish community leaders are hopeful that the 2025 Walk with Israel will build on the record-breaking attendance, fundraising and public support of last year's march. 'The Walk with Israel really represents a moment of solidarity and togetherness and pride for the Jewish community in Toronto,' Sara Lefton, the chief development officer of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of Greater Toronto (UJA), told National Post. 'I think at a moment where there has been so much antisemitism and so much isolation of the Jewish community that it's needed now more than ever.'
