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Dear John,
This week, we engaged with a sports organization to question their choosing an antisemitic singer for an important event. We addressed the absurdity of equating a small number of Jewish extremist settlers with a state-sponsored terrorist organization. We have engaged our community to support police in Toronto, and we have expressed our disappointment that a Jewish minister has been let go for an infraction that would not affect others similarly.
Read on to learn more.
The CIJA Team
Last weekend, a singer who had posted a series of divisive social media statements – among them telling people who support Israel to stay home – that served only to encourage hate against many in the Jewish community, was given the red-carpet treatment at the NHL All-Star game.
While the NHL did the right thing in January by questioning the decision by the International Ice Hockey Federation to prevent Israel from playing in international tournaments, the egregious decision to allow a singer who has publicly expressed anti-Israel sentiment to sing Canada’s National Anthem at the All-Star game was both hurtful and surprising.
On behalf of the nearly 150,000 Jewish Canadians affiliated with one of the 12 local Jewish Federations across Canada, CIJA CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel sent a letter to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. Read it here on CIJA.ca. <[link removed]> <[link removed]>
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On Feb. 1, U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order sanctioning four Israeli settlers for their involvement in violence against civilians in the West Bank. Canada’s foreign minister, Mélanie Joly, subsequently hinted that Canada may follow suit by enacting sanctions against extremist settlers and later added that her government may also sanction senior members of Hamas.
In a piece in the National Post, CIJA President and CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel reflected on the real dangers of western governments’ applications of false equivalencies between extremism and terrorism. Read it here <[link removed]>
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This week, MP Selina Robinson, former minister of post-secondary education in British Columbia’s NDP government, was dismissed from cabinet, despite apologizing for offensive comments and offering to undergo 'anti-Islamophobia' training.
We understand that she has work to do to restore trust with many of B.C.’s diverse communities, but she has also been a strong advocate for the Jewish community in cabinet and, while Premier Eby’s ministers and others are held to one standard, a different, unfair standard is applied to members of the Jewish community.
We’re asking you to write to Premier David Eby to express your disappointment and request he take meaningful steps to rebuild trust with our community.
<[link removed]>Take Action <[link removed]>
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Cutting the Toronto Police Services budget by $12.6 million in a moment of rising hate crime and amid protests rife with violent hate speech throughout the city – often targeting Jewish neighbourhoods, schools, community centres, and businesses – is just not acceptable.
We only have one more chance to request the Toronto Police Service receive the money they need to keep our community safe.
On February 14, Toronto City Council will have the opportunity to reverse this decision. We ask you to send an email to your Toronto City Councillor urging them to vote in favour of fully funding the requested Toronto police budget, so our law enforcement can continue to properly protect all Torontonians.
<[link removed]>Take Action <[link removed]>
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Community Calendar
Communities are gathering in cities across Canada in support of the people and land of Israel. Find an event near you <[link removed]>.
February 19 | Family Day (CIJA offices closed in BC & ON)
April 22-30 | Passover
CIJA in the News
Shimon Koffler Fogel: Don't equate extremist Israeli settlers with Hamas (National Post) <[link removed]>
People in Israel don't want war (Toronto Sun) <[link removed]>
Missions abroad cannot be abandoned (The Hill Times) <[link removed]>
Manitoba not a home for hate (The Winnipeg Free Press) <[link removed]>
Prime Minister invited Waffen-SS veteran Hunka to his official reception for Zelensky (The Globe and Mail) <[link removed]>
NHL criticized for hiring anti-Israel anthem singer Kiana Ledé for all-star game in Toronto (National Post, + Postmedia Syndication) <[link removed]>
Plante hasn't gone far enough to denounce antisemitism, community leaders say (Montreal Gazette) <[link removed]>
Selina Robinson steps down as B.C. cabinet minister over comments on Middle East (CBC News) <[link removed]>
Ex-B.C. cabinet minister's office vandalized after she stepped down over Palestine comment (Ottawa Citizen, + The Canadian Press Syndication) <[link removed]>
British Columbia’s Jewish community is outraged after MLA Selina Robinson is removed from cabinet over remarks about Israel (The Canadian Jewish News) <[link removed]>
FIRST READING: How anti-Israel pressure forced out a Jewish cabinet minister in B.C. (National Post) <[link removed]>
Selina Robinson’s resignation was not a ‘joint decision’ with B.C. premier, source says (Vancouver Sun) <[link removed]>
Jewish groups criticize B.C. premier over pro-Israel minister's resignation (True North) <[link removed]>
'No Zionists:' Canada politician's office defaced after 'crappy land' row (The Jerusalem Post) <[link removed]>
CLICK HERE FOR MORE CIJA IN THE NEWS <[link removed]>
Community Careers
Associate Director, University Relations and Public Education | Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA <[link removed]>
CEO, Ottawa Soloway Jewish Community Centre <[link removed]>
Community Engagement Specialist | Jewish Federation of Ottawa <[link removed]>
Associate Director, Community Security (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver) <[link removed](Jewish%20Federation%20of%20Greater%20Vancouver)>
Director of Grants and Allocations (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA) <[link removed]>
Vice President, Community Planning, Partnerships & Innovation (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver) <[link removed]>
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CIJA - 81 Metcalfe St, 6th Floor, Ottawa, ON K1P 6K7, Canada
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