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.
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On behalf of all of us at CIJA, I wish you and your families a sweet, healthy, and impactful 5787.
Shanah Tovah U’Metukah,
Noah Shack,
CEO, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
