“It’s history repeating itself. It’s horrible,” murmured Shaia Leibinger, 96, who was leaving her weekly meeting of Holocaust survivors on Tuesday noon. “In these meetings, we talk about the past, the future. But today, that’s all we talked about. Everyone was sad. We tried to sing a little to cheer ourselves up, but there is nothing to cheer us up today. »
In front of the building on Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine which houses the Montreal Holocaust Museum, the Jewish Public Library and a multitude of community organizations, the flag is at half-mast. People come in and out, heads bowed.
“I came to visit the museum. This is the day to do it, sighs Sarah Ryan, a Jewish woman from the neighborhood. Here, we are talking about the Shoah, the massacre of the Jews. And it’s still happening. »
In the lobby, Rabbi Getzy Markowitz invites people to reconnect with their faith and encourages them to do good works to better endure the suffering of the last days. “I came to the most visible Jewish building in the city to say: ‘I am Jewish and I am proud of it!’ » he says loud and clear.
Others say they don’t have the strength to talk about it, having not slept for several days already. Some are no longer able to watch the images of horror that are broadcast in different media, both social and traditional. They all talk about massacred babies, raped women, acts they describe as “barbaric”.
Fear in the belly
A few kilometers away, at the Quartier Cavendish mall in Côte-Saint-Luc, a place very popular with the Jewish community, customers seem concerned. “We must continue to live, we have no choice. We had to buy milk and bread, but even that we couldn’t do. So we arranged to meet here to chat and calm down,” says Lili Schneider, looking affectionately at her long-time friend Jacqueline Myara.
The two women notice that there are fewer people than usual at the food court, which serves kosher foods. “Usually, we have difficulty finding a free place here, but at the moment, people are afraid to leave their homes,” explains Mme Schneider.
At the daycare where she works, more than half the group was missing. “Parents are afraid to let their children out of their sight,” she says. We didn’t even go to the park today with the kids, you never know who you might run into. »
Holding his 4-year-old son by the hand, Michaël Benarroch also claims to have been living in fear for several days. He prefers to wear a cap rather than a kippah so as not to attract attention, he confides. “We are afraid, even here,” he confides. We pay attention to our movements. The school sent us communications with safety tips and advised us that security was increased. »
Sitting down over a coffee and a biscuit, Élise and André Ouanounou, who are celebrating 56 years of life together this year, look up at a television screen which is broadcasting the speech by American President Joe Biden on the attacks against Israel. “I have grandchildren. One of the little ones said to me: “Grandma, I’m scared!” I told him: “No, we’re safe here,” the woman said.
However, she is afraid too, admits the grandmother. “Personally, I don’t feel well at all, like I’m out of sorts. It devastated me. But I am really touched by the solidarity of Quebecers. Write this in your journal. »