'Our lives were changed forever,' Winnipeg leader says as hundreds gather to remember Oct. 7 attack

WARNING: This story contains details of graphic violence

Hundreds of people gathered at Winnipeg's Asper Jewish Community Campus on Monday night to mourn and to remember the lives lost as they marked the first anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks on Israel.

"At 6:29 a.m. on October 7th, our lives were changed forever," Rabbi Yosef Benarroch of Winnipeg's Adas Yeshurun Herzlia Synagogue told the crowd at the Monday solidarity gathering, which took place after a walk for Israel.

"On that day, Jews were burnt alive. They were beheaded. They were raped, and they were murdered. Men, women and children, young and old alike," he said.

"It was the single worst terror attack against Israel since its creation, and not since the Holocaust have more Jews been murdered in one day."

In its surprise assault, Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people and took another 250 hostage, of which at least 70 have since died, according to Israeli media. Among the dead were several Canadian citizens.

"We can never forget the events of October 7th, and we can never forgive," Benarroch said.

"We pray that one day there will be peace in Israel, and we pray for the day that all people will recognize the unbreakable connection that the Jewish people have with the land of Israel."

Paula Parks, president of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, said the attack by Hamas "shattered" her community's sense of safety.

She said while many long to turn the page after a year of pain, war continues between Hamas and Israel.

"Hostages remain in captivity and antisemitism has surged across the globe. It is a level of hatred and violence many of us thought had been relegated to history books," she said.

The work to rebuild after the attack is not done, she said.

"We will continue to pray, act and fight for the safe return of the hostages and the security of the Israeli people. The Jewish story is still being written, and we will be the ones to write it."

Dignitaries from municipal, provincial and federal governments were present at the solidarity gathering, including Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who said the past year has been "a test for many people here."