Since the atrocities of Oct. 7, an entrepreneurial group of Jewish women in Toronto have created a variety of pro-Israel bracelets, key chains and events to raise money for IDF soldiers and wounded warriors in Israel.
Paula Zarnett-Shrott, one of the ladies, raised $3,800 for two charities and also donated some of the proceeds to the IDF for food.
Revi Laufer says she looked for ways to help as soon as the massacre and war started, coming up with the idea to sell items people can wear in “solidarity” while raising money for our brothers and sisters in Israel.
Through her “Am Yisrael Chai” (the people of Israel live) bracelets and other Israeli items including dog tags, hats and keychains, she has raised $14,000 to date.
“Right away people opened up their hearts and purchased lots of bracelets and items,” she said. “(It was) truly remarkable and heartwarming.”
So far her funds have been sent to Beit Halochem, which does a remarkable job rehabilitating wounded soldiers, and the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization.
I wear two bracelets everyday anywhere I go and plan to purchase more.
Laufer says she’s continuing to sell Israel items and hold community events to raise as much money and awareness as possible.
Esther Bakinka, who has stood at a street corner in a very Jewish area of Toronto every weekend quietly waving the flag of Israel, has organized a group called Canadian Women Against Antisemitism, which welcomes women of all religions and ethnic backgrounds.
She is planning an event for March 24 in Toronto to send a “clear message” that Canadian women will not tolerate violence and violent rhetoric, support of rape and the worst – calls for the annihilation of Jews.
They’ve done these good works quietly with little fanfare, advertising and selling their items through social media.
No screaming. No calls to eradicate Muslims. No spreading of lies about the conflict or rape denial on social media and in the streets of the GTA.
They have spent the last five months trying to do what they can to support Israeli soldiers and their families since the brutal atrocities of Oct. 7 during which 1,200 innocent Israeli civilians were raped, burned to death and murdered in cold blood by the Hamas terrorists. More than 100 hostages are still being held by sadistic Hamas terrorists somewhere in Gaza.
I thought of all these women while viewing the video of an aggressive rally by a series of Muslim women in downtown Toronto last weekend — to mark International Women’s Day.
The annual tribute to women falls on Friday.
Zaheera Soomar, whose Instagram feed is chock full of Israel hate, led the march shouting “Resistance is Justified … When People are Occupied.”
In other words, this woman is claiming that the brutal rapes, murders and burnings were justified because Palestinians are victims.
What she won’t say is that they are victims of Hamas – that’s who’s holding them captive – not Israel, because that wouldn’t fit with her hateful narrative.
Behind her are women holding signs celebrating the “accomplishments” of various Palestinian women and assorted female terrorists including Leila Khaled, a vile woman who was responsible for hijacking a plane from Rome to Tel Aviv in 1969.
Soomar proudly posted pictures of the women’s hatefest and the posters glorifying Khaled on Instagram, labelling it the Palestinian Women’s Day March.
On her Instagram feed this week, Soomar also posted a Jerusalem Post article in which she was called antisemitic. Her followers have cheered her on, claiming Leila is their “hero.” They call Soomar a “resistance fighter.”’
Her post is backed up with Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” song.
Soomar gives a shoutout to her organizing committee who glorify the terrorists and have Instagram feeds full of hateful anti-Jewish rhetoric.
Here I thought the original purpose of International Women’s Day was to shine a spotlight on women’s rights with respect to gender equality and to call for positive change and respect for all women in countries and cultures where they are treated like chattel or worse, genitally mutilated.
In fact one of the day’s core values is respect for others – and the idea that we should all seek to understand others, caring for and valuing diversity and appreciating differences.
I doubt that its intent was to be hijacked by a bunch of Israel haters to block the streets of any city spewing hatred towards and lies about Jews and calling for the eradication of the Jewish state.
The women who marched glorifying terrorists – under the guise of celebrating International Women’s Day – are not freedom fighters.
Their hateful words do nothing to improve the situation of the residents of Gaza.
Unlike the entrepreneurial Jewish women, they aren’t raising money to help the Palestinians or exposing the truth of life under Hamas. And yes that includes how the terrorists are blocking aid to Gazans. The facts don’t fit with their narrative.
The fact that Israel is a democracy that celebrates women is also lost in their propaganda.
I highly doubt International Women’s Day was meant to glorify terrorists either – especially those who once hijacked a flight to Tel Aviv as part of a terrorist group called the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine either.
Contrary to what these hateful women might think, strength is not being divisive or intimidating and screaming toxic Jew-hatred on the streets of Toronto.
That is not a way to earn respect as a woman.
