Allie Kramer and her son (image credit - Allie Kramer)

By Michael Reeve

DAY OF RAGE

Hamas-led ‘Day of Rage’ sends shockwave through Kamloops Jewish community

Oct 13, 2023 | 4:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — A week after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, killing more than 1,200 men, women and children, this Friday (Oct. 13) has been deemed the ‘Day of Rage’ by Hamas leaders. In Palestinian territories, 1,300 people have been killed and Israeli forces have reported killing approximately 1,500 Hamas terrorists who invaded Israel on Saturday.

The Day of Rage is seeing protests across the Western world in support of Palestine. But the day itself was called by Hamas terrorist leaders to threaten, intimidate and hurt Jewish people across the globe.

“I have never had to feel that way before in my own country, so things are not right. I’m not feeling good. I’m really having a hard time, so spending time with my community is good. But I’m really appreciating my friends, family from out of town, but really my Kamloops community is reaching out to me and I appreciate that,” said Heidi Coleman, president of the Jewish Community Centre of Kamloops.

The Kamloops Jewish community is small and, after holding a candle light vigil on Wednesday (Oct 11), a small informal dinner will be held so the community can support each other Friday evening.

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“We are trying to lay low and we are having a quiet Shabbat dinner at a friend’s house. The whole Jewish community is invited and any others who want to show solidarity should call me,” added Coleman.

With the Western world on high alert, Allie Kramer is more worried about her family and friends in Canada than her son in Israel.

“My family, we actually feel almost right now on this day that he is actually in the safest place,” said Kramer. “Feeling unsafe in you own democratic country is a terrible feeling. I fear for my other children.”

She hopes that people will reach out to their friends and family and share words of support.

“I just wish for us all to be able to see we are all one. Doesn’t matter what your religious beliefs are, we are all one people. We are all one part of humanity and I don’t want to see anybody celebrating torture,” said Kramer.

There is no brick and mortar community centre or synagogue in Kamloops, and this Friday, that sadly is a positive.

“At this moment, I’m happy I don’t have a synagogue here because that would be a target. And when I’m reading the information I’m getting from the Vancouver United Jewish Federation Security Watch, they are writing to me, knowing we don’t have a synagogue, but they are still telling me to be careful,” said Coleman.