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Last night, more than 1,500 community members and allies stood shoulder to shoulder, united against surging antisemitism, at the annual Spirit of Hope marquee event hosted by Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) in Toronto.

One of the evening’s highlights was a special ceremony honouring eight extraordinary allies - including Caroline D'Amore, General Rick Hillier, Harry LaForme, Jon Love, Victoria Mancinelli, Raheel Raza, Rocco Rossi and Father Raymond de Souza - who have demonstrated great courage and moral clarity in standing in solidarity with the Jewish community in our fight against anti-Jewish hate and violence, especially over the past year.

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Keynote speaker and outspoken ally Dr. Phil McGraw joined acclaimed documentary filmmaker Barry Avrich on stage for a highly engaging discussion on his recent journey to Israel where he visited the sites of the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre and spoke with survivors, first responders and hostage families; his experience visiting university campuses and speaking with students impacted by the hateful anti-Israel encampments; and why he's chosen to take a strong stand in support of Israel and the Jewish people.

"If we see the bullying, if we see the hate crimes, if we see our Israeli ally being bullied in this way and we are bystanders who do not step up and stand up and intervene on behalf of our Jewish brothers and sisters, if we don't do it for the Israeli state, then we are as guilty as the people that are perpetrating the violence," said Dr. Phil.

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Nova festival massacre survivor Michal Ohana also addressed the audience, sharing her harrowing testimony and powerful message of "We will dance again."

"I feel so proud to be Jewish, to be Israeli, because together we have the power to fight every day to bring the hostages home and to fight all these evil people behind Oct. 7," said an emotional Ohana. "But tonight, I'm here to bring light and hope because Am Yisrael Chai and, for sure, we will dance again."

The program also featured remarks from Ogimaa-Kwe (Chief) Claire Sault of Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Spirit of Hope 2024 co-chairs Ashley Steinhauer and Hank Latner, FSWC Board Chair Fred Waks and FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt, who acknowledged the many non-Jewish allies in attendance.

"While it’s been a terribly somber year, there have also been some incredible glimmers of light, many emanating from people who are with us here this evening," said Levitt. "These most worthy individuals are a silver lining to the turbulence we’re living through."

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FSWC is thankful to everyone who took the stage and was in attendance last night for what was an incredibly inspiring and meaningful event in celebration of allyship and all those who have stood with the Jewish community as we confront rising antisemitism across this country and beyond. Special thanks go to our Spirit of Hope 2024 fundraising committee: Eddie Weisz, Ron Baruch, Michael Bregman, Paul Bronfman, David Cynamon, Judith Finer Freedman, Jill Reitman, Ashley Steinhauer and Fred Waks.

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