 Print
Independent Jewish Voices Vancouver organized Yizkor for Gaza - Jewish memorial service
5-23-2018
About a dozen IJV supporters gathered at the memorial service to mourn and honour the 131 people who were killed in recent weeks by Israeli snipers.
Monday May 21-2018 was also the second day of Shavu'ot which according to the Jewish tradition provides an opportunity to join together in mourning all those who have died.
The service started shortly after noon on the sidewalk at the site of CIJA's local Vancouver’s Office- the Jewish Community Centre of Vancouver at 950 West 41 Avenue.
Rabbi David Mivasair conducted the service and lighted a Yizkor candle before reciting the names of the Martyrs which was followed by a traditional Kaddish prayer.
Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) is a national grassroots Jewish organization whose mandate is to promote a just resolution to the conflict in Israel and Palestine.
Rabbi David said “What is most important thing is what we do” and “We felt we need to mourn and grief for the 131 brothers and sisters who were born in Gaza and were killed intentionally by the Israeli Army Snipers.”
Rabbi David stated that Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs –CIJA which is a pro-Israeli government organizations “does not speak for all Canadian Jewry.”
He stated “The organizations that purport to speak for the Jewish community are getting it wrong” , “They’re not speaking for us, and they’re not speaking for many, many other Canadian Jews.”
Dr. Gabor Maté who also joined the gathering in reciting the names of the killed in gaza while denouncing the CIJA said that the Jewish community center would allow for all different points of view.. and this place does not, so it is a Zionist community center.”
Rabbi David acknowledged the many good things that the Jewish federation does but he said “they also raise millions to support CIJA, and CIJA uses its resources to really distort and manipulate our government in Canada.”
Rabbi David was outraged at the statement issued by CIJA blaming Palestinians for being killed and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s mild statement to do an investigation that also after a lot of pressure from protesting Canadians and a Canadian Doctor being shot by an Israeli Army solider.
Shawkat Hasan A Palestinian who also attended the gathering shocked everyone one gathered after he announced he found out that a resident of North Vancouver lives in his parents house in the occupied lands that were taken from them.
Hasan further stated that as Muslims and Palestinians we welcomed our Jewish brothers after the Holocaust and we never had issues of Faith.
Carl Rosenberg president of the Vancouver chapter if IJV said he hopes something good happens and this tragic unjust situation comes to an end.
Footnotes:
|