Dear friends,
Perhaps like me, when you heard the news that Almog, Andrey, Noa and Shlomi were rescued by the IDF after 246 horrific days in Hamas captivity, the tears just started flowing.
Finally, some positive news, as 4 hostages were heroically rescued!
I rejoiced seeing BGU student Noa Argamani reunited with her family, even as my heart broke for the family of Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora Z”L who succumbed to wounds sustained during the rescue effort and for the remaining suffering hostages and their loved ones. I euphorically played Eyal Golan’s song Am Yisrael Chai repeatedly and on high volume. I posted, texted, tweeted and continuously hit refresh on my browser to read the latest news.
Why did we in Canada react so emotionally to these developments?
I believe Shavuot provides a partial answer to this question. We all stood TOGETHER on Har Sinai and received the Torah – the most powerful and seminal moment in our collective history as a people. It was not an individual experience, but a collective one because as Jews, we are inextricably linked to one another, through an unbreakable bond.
It’s why the landing page of BGU’s website has a giant picture of Noa welcoming her home and not the usual information you find on the website of a major university.
It’s why over 50,000 Torontonians Walked With Israel this past Sunday in an incredible outpouring of solidarity, which was flawlessly organized by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
It’s why we wear dog tags and yellow ribbon pins.
It’s why we write cheques to support Israel. And now after 8 months of war, we are compelled to give even more.
It’s why none of us has been ok since October 7th.
On Shavuot, we stood at Sinai together to receive the Torah and today we continue to stand together in solidarity. Am Echad, Lev Echad – one people, one heart.
Chag Sameach,
Andrea Freedman
CEO, Ben-Gurion University Canada
Supporting the Vision
Our Negev. Our Legacy.
It started with David Ben-Gurion's vision,
and continues today as our mission.
