It was just one year ago, on the eve of Simchat Torah, that we watched 20 living hostages finally return to the arms of their families. It was a moment of extraordinary relief and joy, but one that came alongside profound grief for those who were brought home for burial, and for the families whose loss will remain with them forever.

A year later, those emotions are still very present.

For many of us, Simchat Torah will never feel quite the same after October 7. A day associated with celebration became forever connected to one of the darkest moments in our history.

And yet, there is something powerful about returning to it each year.

Simchat Torah is, at its core, about continuing the story. We reach the end of the Torah and immediately begin again. We carry everything that came before with us, while still choosing to move forward.

That feels especially meaningful this year.

October 7 is a few days away. Across Jewish Toronto, we will come together to remember those we lost and honour all that Israelis and the Jewish people have endured.

But remembrance is only part of the story.

Over these same three years, we have also witnessed extraordinary resilience, rebuilding, and renewal across Israel. In the days ahead, we will be sharing some of those stories — and showing what our community has helped make possible through its generosity, leadership, and deep commitment to the people of Israel.

We will always remember October 7 and all that followed. And as we hold those memories close, we can also recognize the extraordinary strength, resilience, and progress we have witnessed over the past three years.

Jewish Toronto responded in those first days with urgency and compassion. And we have continued to show up ever since — not only in moments of crisis, but through the long and important work of recovery and rebuilding.

That is what I will be thinking about this Simchat Torah.

We carry the memory of what happened. We honour those who are no longer with us. And together, we keep writing the next chapter.

Thank you for the role you continue to play in making that possible.

Adam Minsky