Canadian Jewish Organizations Release Open Letter Supporting the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism

Overwhelming Majority of Jewish Canadians Support Israel’s Right to Exist, Contrary to Radical Voices

Ottawa, ON – December 12, 2024 – Today, Allied Voices for Israel, Atlantic Jewish Council, Calgary Jewish Federation, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), Federation CJA (Montreal), Hamilton Jewish Federation, Hillel Ontario, Jewish Federation of Edmonton, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, Federation of Ottawa, Jewish Federation Victoria and Vancouver Island, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, Jewish London, Stand With Us Canada, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, and Windsor Jewish Federation and Community Centre released the following statement regarding their joint endorsement of the recently released Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.

“As organizations representing the majority of Canadian Jews, we wholeheartedly endorse the recently released Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition reflects our shared Jewish identity, and we stand firmly behind it. We are heartened that the definition has been adopted by the Government of Canada and by many provincial governments including Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. And in 2022, the Premier of British Columbia endorsed the federal government’s adoption of IHRA.

“The IHRA definition was developed over many years, across multiple jurisdictions around the world, with significant research to ensure it captured the Jewish experience of antisemitism. The Handbook serves as a valuable resource for comprehending the definition and guiding individuals and organizations to effective strategies for combatting modern manifestations of antisemitism. It also describes Jewish identity, including how it comprises both religion and ethnicity, and it stresses the importance to Jews of their connection to the land of Israel. As noted in the Handbook, Jews are an ethno-religious group, encompassing both a people or nation and a religion. There are roughly 15.3 million Jews worldwide, with distinct cultural identities and religious practices. However, they all share a common ancestry, a common set of texts, and an understanding of their origins in the land of Israel – and the historic longing to return.

“This connection to Israel is only bolstered by recent research that found 91% of Canadian Jews believe in Israel's right to exist. While we do not claim that all who make up this majority support all actions of Israel’s government, it is undeniable that, overall, the Jewish community supports Israel’s existence. 

“As organizations that represent the majority of Canadian Jews, we are alarmed by the tokenization of our community to serve a particular political agenda. According to the survey cited above, just 3% of Jews indicated they did not support the Jewish state’s right to exist. By highlighting the experiences and views of only 3% of the community, a false impression is created that this small minority in some way represents the majority or that the Jewish community is significantly divided.

“Anti-Zionist organizations, such as Independent Jewish Voices (IJV), claim to represent a substantial or growing segment of the Jewish community; however, their positions do not reflect those held by most Canadian Jews. IJV is an organization that goes beyond criticizing Israel’s leaders, which is not inherently antisemitic. Instead, these groups dispute Israel’s very right to exist, a view rejected by the majority of the Jewish community.

“Moreover, these groups work to undermine the IHRA definition by asserting its promotion would restrict criticism of Israel and suppress advocacy for Palestinian rights. It is important to clarify that the definition does not impede or criminalize any expression of free speech. The definition seeks to serve as an educational resource and a guide for decisionmakers to use when evaluating if hate speech is antisemitic.

“It is troubling that political figures appear to be elevating unrepresentative organizations to legitimize a desired political narrative. We take significant issue with the fact that some elected officials, unions, and other organizations frequently leverage minority opinion groups to talk over the views of most Canadian Jews.

“We understand that groups such as IJV seek to promote alternative definitions, but the fact that IHRA has been so widely adopted – including by Canada, the United Nations, the European Union, more than 40 countries, and by hundreds of other entities – is evidence of its broad support by the international community and the Jewish community worldwide. 

“We strongly condemn the tokenization of community groups that misrepresent themselves as the majority community view. We respectfully request that media, government leaders, employers, and other organizations offer the same respect to the Jewish community as they would any other group by accurately reflecting Jewish majority perspectives.” 

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Additional Background:

• Press Release: CIJA Celebrates the Launch of the Canadian IHRA Handbook
  • The IHRA non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
    Full details and contemporary examples of antisemitism can be found here. 
• Statement: Jewish community victimized in 70% of all religion-motivated hate crimes in Canada
• Jews and Israel 2024: A Survey of Canadian Attitudes and Jewish Perceptions – Robert Brym (Canadian Jewish Studies / Études Juives Canadiennes, Volume 37, Spring / Printemps 2024) 
• Jews and Israel 2024 Survey: Ten Further Insights – Robert Brym (Canadian Jewish Studies / Études Juives

About the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is the advocacy agent of Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, representing Jewish Federations across Canada. CIJA is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and protect Jewish life in Canada through advocacy and to advance the public policy interests of Canada’s organized Jewish community.