What happened to my city?

I am a very proud Montrealer. 

I adore my hometown. Or maybe I should say adored.

Heck, I still proudly rock my Expos hat in all my social media profile pictures. It’s a nod to where I grew up. I loved my childhood. I still do.

But I can’t believe what my city has turned into. Moreover, I can’t believe what is allowed to happen there.

Gone are the days of Leonard Cohen, Duddy Kravitz and smoked meat sandwiches. 

Montreal has always been a beautiful metropolitan city.  An inviting metropolis that welcomed my immigrant family decades ago without prejudice. The city - and country - opened its arms to thousands of Jewish immigrants and they, in turn, made it better. This is irrefutable. 

Yesterday, and over the past year, I witnessed my hometown turn its back on the Jewish community.

It disgusts me. 

Schools being shot at. Synagogues firebombed. 

Riots. Bullying. Scare tactics.

If these protests are truly only about Israel - as they so often claim - why did that happen in Montreal yesterday? Why does this continue to happen in Montreal (and other cities around the world)? What is this proving? What is it accomplishing? 

You know why. It happened because this isn’t about Israel. It never has been. 

It’s about the hatred of Jews. It’s about the acceptance of the hatred of Jews. I know many don’t want to believe this, but it’s true.

Everyone is allowed to come out with it now, apparently. It’s all good. It’s the new cause du jour. No different than Columbia University or Amsterdam recently. 

I’ve avoided sharing these scenes because I don’t want to give them oxygen but this is my hometown. I’m assuming many of you just don’t know. I hope that’s the case. You’re in your bubble. I get it.

You need to know. You need to know how much this hurts.

I can’t believe that we are living in these times. I used to learn about these incidents in school and think, Thank God that’s no longer tolerated. Thank God I don’t live in that era.

Yet, here we are.

And it only seems to be getting worse.

No repercussions. No one bats an eye. Everyone says yeah but …

This would never be tolerated if it happened to any other group, but it’s somehow being allowed - heck, encouraged at times - for over a year.

Why? How?

It’s hit home every time I open social media and see the shocking scenes. Scenes that are eerily reminiscent of 1930s Germany. It especially hits home when it’s in my hometown. My streets. My community. I grew up on those streets. We always felt safe on those streets. Those days appear to be over, and it’s hard to accept.

Shame on Montreal. Shame on the brainwashed useful idiots. Shame on the terrorists and their sympathizers. Shame on Justin Trudeau. Shame on those staying silent. 

In the end, we will be ok. We’re always ok.

We will rise above and we will never forget. Never forget the fallen. Never forget who turned their back on us. Never forget who stayed quiet. And never forget the few who actually stood beside us.

We all want this to end. We’d love nothing more. We wish a single soul didn’t die. We wish there would be peace. We wish those innocent people weren’t kidnapped, held hostage, raped and murdered, too.

(Over 100 people are still being held hostage, by the way. We pray they are still alive. If they are, I can’t comprehend how they’ve managed to hold on. Why does no one seem to care?)

This nightmare needs to end. But rest assured in the meantime: the proud Jewish people will never go away.

Intimidate all you want, that much I know is true. 

Am Israel Chai. Shavua tov.