This Monday the much anticipated address from Prime Minister Mark Carney to address antisemitism took place at Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. While I could spend an entire message analyzing the lines, the takeaways and the announcement that followed about the Ministerial Advisory Council, there are many unanimous questions and concerns expressed in both mainstream media (National Post, Globe and Mail) and thought leaders on social media and podcasts. Many editorials and opinion pieces discussed what was missing- pointing out that his failure to address antizionism and those who treat Israel as a pariah state also threaten Jewish-Canadians, unless they renounce Zionism. I see this playing out in many forums, locally and nationally, and at an increasing rate.
I have nothing new to add to the discourse; the reality that Jewish Canadians are facing with antisemitism is alarming and requires a targeted response that needed to be acknowledged, and it was in this speech, despite all that was missing. Yet that message was immediately undermined by the announcement of a Ministerial Advisory Council to “combat racism and hate in all their forms.”
There are serious concerns about both the formation and composition of this council. This includes the appointment of Avnish Nanda, an Edmonton lawyer widely reported in media as representing pro-Palestinian campus activists in a lawsuit against the University of Alberta filed this year.
And we don’t have time to wait for another study or report.
What we need now are urgent actions to address the threats targeting our community.
That’s why our Federation was proud to join others from across Canada and the Centre for Israel and Jewsh Affairs (CIJA) in issuing an open letter calling on the Prime Minister to name the problem clearly, focus on enforcement, confront terrorism and radicalization, and end government funding to organizations that promote hatred against the Jewish community.
Join us in sending a message to the Prime Minister: enough committees, enough studies, enough delays—it's time for immediate measures.
While this issue has been in the foreground for me, in the background our staff and volunteers are diligently working in areas of impact- ensuring that families who applied for integrated bursary support receive their letters of support, applying for grants, wrapping up film festival, planning for Heritage Festival, and speaking to so many of you who want to learn more about the L'Chaim Campaign and who want to consider a gift to the Oshry|Kipnes Jewish Community Centre. We will look forward to some fun events to answer questions and provide more information, including at pick up and drop off at Talmud Torah on June 12 for Parents and Pastries- so be sure to come say hi to our staff team and grab a coffee on the way.
This week we also virtually gathered the Coast to Coast Partnership2Gether community, from across Canada and Etzbah Hagalil, to say goodbye to a leader who has kept our partnership alive through Covid, wars, ‘ceasefire’ and more war. The residents of Metullah, the border kibbutzim and Kiryat Shmona have no end in sight to a situation that has been going on far too long. Please take a moment to read this article by Professor Mooli Lahad of Mashabim about the toll that this ‘resilience’ is taking and the price being paid by these residents.
Wishing you a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat,
Shabbat Shalom,
Stacey