CIJA Brings Unlearn It Online Platform to Quebec to Combat Antisemitism in Schools

The Best Means to Combat Hate is Through Education

Montreal, QC – July 11, 2024 – Unlearn It, a ground-breaking educational resource to support parents and educators in teaching youth how to identify, unlearn, and stand against antisemitism, is now available in Quebec.

At a time when Jew-hatred has – to quote Prime Minister Trudeau – reached ‘terrifying levels,’ a notable increase in antisemitic incidents has occurred where children spend their time: in the classroom, on the playground, at the rink, and on social media. Many of these incidents impact children in grades 6-8. To support their parents and teachers in addressing this concerning trend, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), with funding from the Quebec Ministry of Education and Federation CJA, has created a Quebec-centric version of the Unlearn It program first launched in Ontario in 2023.

Unlearn It offers short educational videos and discussion guides to frame constructive, courageous conversations – at home or in the classroom – centred on Canadian grade 6-8 students’ lived experiences with antisemitism and online hate. These tools can be used proactively, or reactively to turn an otherwise ugly incident into a learning opportunity, supporting students and parents in identifying antisemitism, unlearning it, and standing against it, whether it manifests in person or online. Unlearn It is now available for use by any teacher, school, or school board in the province.

Unlearn It is a free, bilingual resource hub for educators, parents, and all who wish to learn more about antisemitism. It is available at unlearnit.ca. For quick access to resources for educators, click here, and for parents, here.

For more information, or to bring it to your classroom, contact [email protected].

QUOTES 

Eta Yudin, Vice President – Quebec, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA): 

"At a time when the figures show a frightening rise in hate crimes and incidents – in Montreal, the SPVM noted a 67% increase in hate crimes and a 138% rise in hate incidents – and when we have sounded the alarm many times about the ravages of antisemitism in our society, a new, effective educational tool to combat this scourge is sincerely welcome. 

"With this choice, the Quebec government is following its words with actions. Unlearn It is an addition to the educational arsenal in the fight against this antisemitism, offering all Quebecers a new means of combating these hateful prejudices."  

Yair Szlak, President and CEO, Federation CJA: 

"Since education is often the best weapon for destroying prejudice and confronting hatred, we're delighted to have been able to adapt the Unlearn It program, which has proved so successful in Ontario, for Quebec students, parents, and teachers. Unlearn It will enable teachers and parents to have constructive conversations about anti-Jewish hatred and the harm it causes online as well as in real life. It will also help combat hatred among fellow students. This program will help protect our community by providing a new educational weapon to combat hateful prejudice.  

"We would like to congratulate CIJA, Federation CJA's advocacy agent, and the Quebec government for their work on this issue. Our entire society can only be proud to welcome this innovative program." 

Christopher Skeete, Minister for the Economy and Minister Responsible for the Fight Against Racism:

“Raising awareness is crucial in countering prejudice and preventing discrimination in its various forms. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), the advocacy agency of Federation CJA. Through their collaboration with our government, they have brought to fruition a valuable and innovative tool for promoting peaceful coexistence, thereby strengthening our shared commitment to fostering a more inclusive and harmonious society.  

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Additional Background 

• Press Release: Unlearn Antisemitism Online Platform Launches to Address Jew-Hatred at Schools
• SPVM's 2023 Annual Report
  • In 2023, the SPVM recorded 353 hate crimes, representing an increase of 67% year over year. Additionally, the number of hate incidents rose from 72 to 171, a jump of almost 138%.
  • In reference to the reported increase, the SPVM mentions that “several factors influence it, notably the global context and international conflicts.”
  • CIJA comment in response to the report
• Antisemitic crime and incident statistics for Montreal
  • Hausse des crimes et d'incidents haineux envers les communautés juives et arabo-musulmanes de Montréal (Noovo Info – January 12, 2024)
    • « Depuis le début de la guerre entre Israël et le Hamas, un total de 170 événements ont été rapportés au Service de Police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM). […] Plus précisément, on parle de 132 crimes et incidents haineux commis contre les communautés juives à Montréal, dont 75 rapportés pour des crimes haineux et 57 rapportés pour des incidents haineux. »
  • Investigation: The antisemitism that Oct. 7 unleashed in Canada (Global News – February 20, 2024)
    • “131 antisemitic hate incidents in Montreal between Oct. 7 and Jan. 30, according to police.”
  • Press Release: Jews remain most targeted religious group for hate crime in Canada, second overall
    • Statistics Canada: Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2022
      • Jews in Canada represent only one percent of the population yet are victims of 67 percent of all religiously motivated hate incidents and 14 percent of overall reported hate crimes.
      • The Jewish community was targeted in 502 reported hate crime incidents – that’s more than one incident of Jew-hatred per day in 2022.
      • The Jewish community was the most targeted religious minority, accounting for 67 percent of religiously motivated hate.
      • While religiously motivated hate crimes overall were down 15 percent year over year, hate crime targeting the Jewish community increased 2 percent between 2021 and 2022.
      • Anti-Jewish hate crime has increased 52 percent since 2020.