Living with the memories. Rwanda and Israel.

Portions of the following article have been updated from an earlier version that appeared in The Toronto Star, The Times of Israel, and Substack.

“I will never regret getting old. I know too many people who never had that privilege.”

Yesterday in Toronto, I attended the Rwanda commemoration of Kwibuka, the annual commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi. Kwibuka is the Kinyarwanda word for Remembrance. April 7 was the 32nd anniversary of the genocide.

The genocide where systematically over one million Tutsi adults, children and babies were murdered by Hutu extremists during a 100-day killing spree that started on April 7, 1994.

It has been said that sadness is but a wall between two gardens. At this solemn time, I express my wish that all of those who perished 32 years ago in the Rwanda genocide against the Tutsi be remembered for the beauty and fragrance that grace our gardens today.

I also acknowledge with respect and tenderness the survivors now living in Canada, many of whom I met yesterday in Toronto. Hearing testimonies from what they experienced in their early teens during the genocide was heart-wrenching.

Looking back, it was in 2019 in Rwanda that I attended the 25th Commemoration of the Genocide. To say the least, it was an utterly emotional and draining experience.

During my time in Rwanda, meeting the young and old, prosperous, and poor, I experienced a bright future full of hope and energy for a peaceful and........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)