‘I No Longer Can Say “Never Again”’: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Canadian Jewish Older Adults Since the October 7th Attack in Israel

The aim of the current exploratory study was to understand the experiences of Canadian Jewish older adults following the October 7, 2023 attack and the Israel-Hamas war. Relying on a qualitative approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 older adults (ages 65-92; 60% women) and with 11 service providers (ages 33-67; 72% women) who work with Jewish older adults in the greater Vancouver area. Participants were deeply affected by the October 7 attack and the ensuing Israel-Hamas war. Furthermore, they experienced the public discourse surrounding the attack and the war as anti-Israeli and at times antisemitic, upending their sense of safety and belonging. Some individuals were doubly impacted by these events, among them Holocaust survivors and their offspring and Jewish older adults who were LGBTQ+. Future avenues are suggested for improving the well-being of Jewish older adults living in the Diaspora in the current political and social climate.