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Dear John, 

This week, we supported Israelis as more lives were taken by terrorists. We simultaneously applauded and condemned a faith organization, and sent out a loud “YAHOO!” in Calgary.

Read on to learn more. 

The CIJA Team  

For years, with the aim of creating a local base to terrorize Israelis and spread violence across the region, Iran has armed proxy terror organizations in the Palestinian city of Jenin. The severity of Jenin terror groups’ recent terror attacks, including murderous shootings and missile strikes, forced the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) to intervene to restore security to the people of Israel.

On July 3, the IDF launched Operation Home and Garden to root out terrorists and terror infrastructure. Over two days of heavy fighting, no civilians were killed.

During the conflict, Israeli troops successfully destroyed the Joint Operations Room of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s branch in Jenin and discovered a network of tunnels dug by terrorists under a mosque that were used for hidden transfers and to store explosives and other weapons.

International media reported widespread damage to infrastructure in Jenin because of Israeli actions. The IDF says it was forced to use heavy equipment on several roads and other areas to remove roadside bombs and other terror targets. Israel has committed to repair, in coordination with the Palestinian Authority, essential civilian infrastructure (water and electricity) damaged by troops in the fighting.

As with any IDF operation, Israel targeted terror, not civilians.

On July 4, a Palestinian terrorist in Tel Aviv rammed his car into Israeli civilians and then stabbed them. Tragically, a young pregnant woman was injured and lost her baby. Another Palestinian terrorist committed a shooting attack near the West Bank down of Kedumim, murdering an Israeli soldier.

    

In 2019, Canadian Rabbinic Caucus presented to the Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) General Synod, after which a near-unanimous resolution was passed with the Church’s commitments to cease singling out Jews as targets for conversion or evangelism and pursue reconciliation with the Jewish community. CIJA and the CRC are grateful for this decision.

In assembly with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) at the Anglican General Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Special Convention, the ACC followed up on the earlier decision by ratifying the resolution to delete a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer calling for the “conversion of the Jews,” bringing this multi-year advocacy to conclusion.

CIJA was among many faith organizations and leaders that issued a joint statement in response. Read it here. CIJA will continue to engage with the ACC and ELCIC and monitor its advocacy efforts.

However, at the same meeting, a “Resolution on Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel,” replete with misunderstandings of Judaism and Israel, was passed.

In response, CIJA and Canada’s rabbinical associations from across the country, including the Canadian Rabbinic Caucus, Montreal Board of Rabbis, the Toronto Board of Rabbis, the Rabbinical Association of Vancouver, the Rabbinical Assembly of Ontario, the Reform Rabbis of Canada, and the Winnipeg Council of Rabbis, released a joint statement. Read it here. 

    

CIJA, CJPAC, Calgary Jewish Federation, and the Jewish Federation of Edmonton are grateful to the hundreds of community members, dignitaries, and elected officials who came out to our annual Spuds & Suds Stampede Breakfast in Calgary. This annual event is a treasured opportunity to connect with friends over latkes and beer and to celebrate the Calgary Stampede.

    

CIJA in the News 

Community Calendar

July 26-27 | Tisha B'Av
August 7 | Civic Holiday (CIJA offices in Ontario and BC are closed)
October 16-17 | Antisemitism: Face It, Fight It

Careers

Executive Director, Hamilton Jewish Family Services