Running From and Running For

On October 5, I participated in the Toronto OCT7K Charity Run as part of Team Hillel Ontario and had the honour of offering a blessing before the run’s start.  Here’s a copy of my remarks as prepared in advance.

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Thanks to you all for being here this morning, and a special thanks to Andrew Abony in his dedication and amazing work in making this event possible.

For much of our people’s history, we’ve spent time running from. Our ancestors Sarah and Abraham ran from famine in Canaan to food in Egypt. Jacob ran from confrontation with his brother Esau for fear of his life. From time immemorial, we have been running from danger, running from antisemitism, running from country to country.

As just one example, my grandfather and his family ran from their pogrom-devastated shtetl in Western Ukraine.  They ran from thieves who stole their belongings as they crossed the Dniester River.  They ran from poverty in Bucharest, Romania, eventually running all the way across the ocean to get to North America. 

Today, however, we’re not running from – we’re running for:

• We’re running for the memory of those murdered on October 7.
• We’re running for the return of those who were kidnapped and are still being held in Gaza.
• We’re running for the students on university and college campuses who confront Jew hatred from their professors and from their peers.
• We’re running for the parents of TDSB students who worry every morning about what their child’s experience will be that day as they head off to school.
• We’re running for the right to go to synagogue safely without armed guards outside and without fear of yet another terror attack.
• And we’re running for charity, raising money for saving lives today and tomorrow.

In reflecting on his participation in the march in Selma, Alabama as part of the US Civil Rights Movement, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said, “Our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying.”  Today, our legs are praying as well:

• We’re praying for the return of all the hostages.
• We’re praying for security and peace for Israel and for Jews, wherever they may live.
• And we’re praying for more moments like this one today, when we can be together as a community and take comfort in each other’s company.

With hopes that all of these prayers come true, together, let us say, Amen

Am Yisrael chai!