Faith Leaders Unite to combat Antisemitism at Inaugural Simeon Initiative Summit

CIJA

|June 25, 2025

Jewish-Christian summit launches year-long national initiative to strengthen interfaith solidarity

Toronto, ON – June 25, 2025 – 100 Jewish and Christian leaders from across Canada gathered in Toronto this week for the inaugural Simeon Initiative Summit, a landmark event aimed at strengthening Jewish-Christian relationships and building a united front against antisemitism.

The Simeon Initiative originated in September 2024, when the Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett, Director of Faith Community Engagement at Cardus, a Christian-led non-partisan think tank, launched the Canadian Christian Declaration on Antisemitism, which was signed by more than 700 Christian clergy from across Canada. This declaration serves as a foundational commitment to stand with the Jewish community in the face of rising antisemitism. The two-day summit marks the second phase of the Simeon Initiative – now a partnership between Cardus and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

“The Simeon Initiative Summit is more than an event – it’s the beginning of a national movement to build lasting relationships between Christians and Jews, rooted in shared values, mutual understanding, and the moral imperative to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight against hate,” said Richard Marceau, Vice President, External Affairs and General Counsel, CIJA.

Participants engaged in keynote presentations, expert panels, and roundtable discussions exploring antisemitism, relations between Christians and Jews, and concrete ways to foster solidarity at the most local level. The principal outcome of the summit is the launch of “The Year of Encounter” – a commitment by participants to initiate joint projects between churches and synagogues in their local communities.

“In the face of growing antisemitism, Christian leaders must go beyond dialogue and take action,” said Rev. Dr. Bennett. “The Simeon Initiative is about moving from words to deeds – deepening friendships and making public our shared commitment to stand against hate.”

The initiative takes its name and inspiration from the encounter in the Gospel of Luke between Simeon, a devout Jew, and the infant Jesus – representing the deep connection between Christianity and Judaism. Through this partnership, CIJA and Cardus aim to foster enduring bonds between Jews and Christians and to strengthen civil society by building a national movement to counter antisemitism in Canada.

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