Wrestling with Grief, Holding on to Hope: Reflections from the NOVA Exhibit
- Randi Woloz
- May 4
- 3 min read
This past week, I had the opportunity to visit the NOVA Music Festival Exhibition in Toronto – a powerful multimedia exhibit that commemorates the victims and survivors of the October 7 Hamas attacks at the Nova Music Festival in southern Israel. Through photos, videos, and personal accounts, it offers a haunting and deeply moving window into the events of that day and the lives forever changed by it. It is both a memorial and a call to reflect on the enduring trauma faced by the global Jewish community in the wake of October 7.
When I began my lay leadership work in the Jewish community in 2012 with United Jewish Appeal, I was blessed to have the opportunity to work alongside Sara Mali and Lior Hamieri, both Israeli and on work missions in Toronto. Our work was centered on Israel Engagement, with a focus on building a nuanced understanding of Israeli society amongst Toronto’s Jewish community. One of our key metrics of success was the extent to which a participant in our programming was able to ‘hug and wrestle’ with Israel. The ‘hug and wrestle’ paradigm is rooted in the idea that engaging with Israel’s complexity requires nuance – that one can be a ‘good Jew’ while simultaneously critically examining Israeli society.
October 7’s impact on the global Jewish community, even 500 days later, still seems so nascent. October 7 might have happened yesterday. We are all frozen in time, while trying desperately to move forward together. We collectively hug and wrestle on a daily basis as to how best to do that. Not surprisingly, a window into the Jewish soul was presented to me in its rawest form as I walked through the NOVA exhibit. All my emotions which I try to keep at bay on a daily basis came rushing into my mind.
I cannot help but think of all that will be required as we move forward towards our next chapter – all the while living through the hell of this current one. We have a collective responsibility to ensure the survival of the Jewish people. It is a responsibility fraught with pain and sacrifice. It requires resilience and determination. But it is a responsibility we cannot ignore. I would argue that our people are in the midst of the greatest coming together in our lifetime despite it feeling like a daily nightmarish tug of war.
At the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism (ALCCA), we are committed to addressing these challenges head-on.
Through legal action and strategy, we pursue remedies to ensure that perpetrators of antisemitic hate are held accountable. Through community action and policy engagement, we work to reform laws and empower those impacted by hate. And through our Respectful Dialogue Initiative, we foster informed, inclusive conversations – especially on campuses – rejecting hate while encouraging mutual understanding.
These are not abstract goals. They are tangible steps toward rebuilding the foundation of trust, safety, and solidarity that our people so urgently need. And that all Canadians who support democratic values need.
About the Author
Randi Woloz is ALCCA’s Executive Director.