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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.
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
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.
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.
Community CalendarCommunities are gathering in cities across Canada in support of the people and land of Israel. Find an event near you. February 19 | Family Day (CIJA offices closed in
BC & ON) CIJA in the NewsShimon Koffler Fogel: Don't equate extremist Israeli settlers with Hamas (National Post) People in Israel don't want war (Toronto Sun) Missions abroad cannot be abandoned (The Hill Times) Manitoba not a home for hate (The Winnipeg Free Press) Plante hasn't gone far enough to denounce antisemitism, community leaders say (Montreal Gazette) Selina Robinson steps down as B.C. cabinet minister over comments on Middle East (CBC News) FIRST READING: How anti-Israel pressure forced out a Jewish cabinet minister in B.C. (National Post) Jewish groups criticize B.C. premier over pro-Israel minister's resignation (True North) 'No Zionists:' Canada politician's office defaced after 'crappy land' row (The Jerusalem Post) CLICK HERE FOR MORE CIJA IN THE NEWS Community CareersAssociate
Director, University Relations and Public Education | Jewish
Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA Community Engagement Specialist | Jewish Federation of Ottawa Associate Director, Community Security (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver) Director of Grants and Allocations (Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver/CIJA) |
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The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is the advocacy agent of Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, representing Jewish Federations across Canada
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