|
Dear John,
As we approach a new Jewish year, we do so at a time of enormous
challenges in the Jewish world. We are living in times that test the
strength and resilience of our national Jewish community.
While there are many reasons to be concerned, Rosh Hashanah reminds
us that we each have agency to shape the year ahead. Maimonides
teaches that “virtues will not be attained by the magnitude of one
great deed, but by the multitude of deeds,” and that we should
consider each small deed capable of tipping the scales for the entire
world.
Real impact isn’t a one-time phenomenon. It’s something that
happens when we consistently show up and take small actions every
day.
And on Rosh Hashanah, the shofar blast calls on us to reflect and
to act.
This Rosh Hashanah our community has a choice: we can be
defeatist, or we can be defiant.
I have seen what this community can accomplish when we act
together.
As part of CIJA’s advocacy, our community called for greater
resources to protect Jewish institutions, and the federal government
more than doubled funding for the Canada Community Security
Program.
Together with organizations across our community, we successfully
advocated for the Combatting Hate Act, giving law enforcement and
prosecutors additional tools to protect targeted communities.
Thousands demanded stronger enforcement following a hate protest
featuring Nazi-era propaganda and imagery in Toronto, in addition to
Jewish organizations coming together to call for authorities to
enforce the law. Eight individuals have now been arrested and
charged.
In Montreal, thousands took action and answered our call when an
opposition brought back a motion at City Council containing deeply
incendiary and divisive provisions, helping change the outcome.
Montreal City Council ultimately adopted a significantly amended
version of Projet Montréal’s motion, removing its most harmful and
divisive provisions.
And when Boy George faced calls for cancellation in Vancouver after
expressing solidarity with the people of Israel, thousands of
Canadians thanked the venue through CIJA's ActionHub for standing
firm.
Each individual action was small, but together, they made
an impact.
Our work is far from finished. Just this week, we saw another
example of the government’s diplomatic double standard toward Israel
with the announcement of sanctions. Hate crimes remain at unacceptable
levels. Institutions continue to be weaponized against our community
by extremists. Too often, laws and policies exist on the books but are
not enforced.
The generations that came before us achieved the promise of Canada
through hard work and perseverance, organizing, voting and building
institutions in the face of adversity. They understood that determined
civic engagement matters.
With our community and the promise of our country under threat, the
responsibility to fight for a brighter future now belongs to us.
Rosh Hashanah is a time of teshuvah. We take stock of our
actions and commit to change in the year ahead. This year, I am asking
each of us to commit to a few small acts that can have an outsized
impact.
Help our community become the most involved in Canadian
civic life. If there is an election where you live, be sure
to vote — and bring others with you. All levels of government – from
the school board to the cabinet table – matter in pushing back against
the extremism threatening our community and our Canadian way of
life.
If you want to become more politically active, organizations like
CJPAC
can help.
Speak to your friends, neighbours, and colleagues.
Help them understand that the extremism threatening Jewish Canadians
threatens the values, institutions, and freedoms all Canadians depend
on.
And be ready to act. Sign up for CIJA text alerts
so that, when there is an opportunity to make your voice heard, you
can be part of a broader movement for change.
These may seem like small acts. But when tens of thousands of us
act together, these small acts become a powerful force for
change.
On behalf of all of us at CIJA, I wish you and your
families a sweet, healthy, and impactful 5787.
|
