Standing with Us: The Power of Allyship at Nova
- Bonnie Goldberg
- Jun 20
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 21
Having been to the Nova Exhibition with my husband on two other occasions in two different cities, it was immediately apparent that this night was different. As we approached the facility that houses the exhibition, the traffic was intense, the parking lots full, and masses of people were streaming in.
On a hot, steamy night this week, nearly 500 people gathered for an event at the Exhibition. But aside from the volume, what made this night different from all other nights?
The majority of attendees of the event were allies of the Canadian Jewish community.
The audience reading ALCCA's Newsletter does not need to be told about the Exhibition. You already know that the Nova Exhibition is a travelling, in-depth remembrance of the brutal massacre at The Nova Music Festival on October 7th, 2023.
However, many of the attendees of this event did need to be told. The level of knowledge varied among participants—from those who have been immersed in the double front of the war being fought by Israel and the war being fought against antisemitism in Canada, to those who simply wanted to stand up for their Jewish friends but for whom the content was new and devastating.
The event was the idea of Jordan Banks and Brent Belzberg, who wondered the same thing many of us do—it is not enough that Jews show up to the Exhibition; how do we get our allies to join us? But rather than just ponder this, as many of us are wont to do, Banks and Belzberg took action. They sent out an email to their personal and professional contacts inviting them to bring guests to the Exhibition.
The response was, well, staggering. This suggests an appetite for knowledge among our fellow Canadians, and also just how deep our allyship is among our colleagues and friends. As Banks says, “We knew we had allies in the community; what we did not know is just how many were waiting for an opportunity to show their support.”
In addition to touring the exhibits, guests of the Banks/Belzberg event gathered in “The Sanctuary”, a space designed for healing and reflection, to hear the testimony of Nova Festival survivor Onn Brichner. Brichner’s harrowing recollections of laying bleeding in a field for hours and his rescue by civilians left us gasping and crying.
Belzberg recalls that "Watching the crowd react to Onn's testimony, particularly when he shared his commitment to living life with a smile on his face and an enduring belief in the best of humanity, reminded us of what we can accomplish when we stand together."
That evening, we were not Jews attending yet another community gathering, wondering how we got to the place where Canada feels inhospitable and we feel so alone.
Instead, we were Canadians, standing shoulder to shoulder with a diverse array of supportive colleagues, friends, neighbours, and acquaintances, bearing witness.
For me personally, it was a vivid and visceral reminder that we have friends among us. As one attendee said, “We are here to support you, and our hearts are full.”
About the Author
Bonnie Goldberg is ALCCA’s National Board Vice-Chair
Sunday, June 22 is your final opportunity to visit the powerful NOVA Music Festival Exhibition in Toronto. The exhibition honours the victims and survivors of the October 7, 2023 massacre at the Nova Music Festival in Re’im, Israel — the largest massacre in music history.
Spanning over 60,000 square feet, the immersive installation includes reconstructed festival grounds, personal artifacts from attendees, and live testimonies from survivors. Don’t miss this deeply moving and important experience.