TORONTO – On a windy rooftop patio in the heart of downtown Toronto, a crowd gathered last week for a vigil.

They were remembering the victims of the Tel Aviv shooting, when a masked gunman stormed Aguda, a LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered  community) centre and sprayed bullets with a machine gun through the crowd during a support group session on Aug. 1, 2009. Two were killed: Nir Katz, 26, and Liz Trubeshi, 16, and 15 other teenagers were injured. The gunman has not yet been found, nor has any group claimed responsibility.

The vigil was co-sponsored by Kulanu Toronto, the New Israel Fund of Canada, the Canadian Jewish Congress and the Miles Nadal JCC.

Standing at a podium flanked by rainbow flags, Justine Apple, executive director of Kulanu Toronto, lamented the violent act against these youth in “a place where they could be themselves and turn to others for support and acceptance.” She proclaimed, “we vow not to forget this tragedy.”

Bernie Farber, CEO of Canadian Jewish Congress said, “We stand here in the face of tragedy, it reminds us that life is fragile and fleeting. Who would’ve thought as we entered the 21st century that vestiges of hate and ignorance would still prevail? …Indeed, the trauma faced by our own community years ago as we stood on the outside looking in made us natural supporters of the LGBT community.”

He recalled a case more than 15 years ago when CJC intervened at the Supreme Court. A teacher had been fired from a Catholic school in Alberta when he was found to be gay.

The parallel shared then illustrated the common history between the Jewish and LGBT community.

In the face of hatred, he said, “we must not remain complacent.”

Farber ended with a quote from the Talmud, “‘Each Jew is responsible one for the other.’ Let us resolve to put these words into action.”

Naomi Kramer of the New Israel Fund of Canada referenced an article by Israeli journalist Eyal Gross stating, “The bullets that are fired and took young and innocent lives should, therefore, destroy the doors of many closets. Not only the closets of those who hide their sexual orientation, [but of] all those who keep silent in the face of homophobia.”

Prayers and tributes were also led by Rabbis Ed Elkin and Aaron Levy and Dr. Aviva Goldberg.