Jewish Community Consensus: Urgent Need to Advance the TDSBs Antisemitism Strategy

Toronto, ON – February 12, 2025 – Today, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Policy and Planning Committee will vote to receive the Affirming Jewish Identities & Addressing Antisemitism feedback to address rising Jew-hatred in TDSB schools. Together, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, the Toronto Holocaust Museum, parents, and students urge the Committee to receive the report – in full without changes – and move it forward for approval by the Board of Trustees to advance the development of a full antisemitism strategy without delay.

The published findings are a step forward in addressing the alarming rise in antisemitic incidents in schools. Rooted in the lived experiences of Jewish Canadians and diverse community groups that participated in months of consultations, this document reflects the concerns and priorities of our community and allows us to see ourselves in the recommended actions.

QUOTES

Michelle Stock, Vice President, Ontario, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA):

“Throughout months of consultations, diverse Jewish groups and individuals shared their experiences encountering hate, bias, harassment, and exclusion simply because they are Jewish. The harm experienced by Jews in public schools is real and has serious consequences. It is unconscionable that extreme voices are attempting to tell Jews what is or is not antisemitic. Denying or diminishing the reality of antisemitism is ultimately complicity in the bullying and marginalization of Jewish students, and this cannot continue.

“The strategy affirms that the vast majority of Canadian Jews identify Israel as the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people and believe in the right of the Jewish state to exist, confirming this a core value of Jewish identity and demonstrating why the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism is the consensus definition that best reflects the lived experience of Jews today.

“We recognize that Jewish identity extends beyond religion, and it is essential that all Jewish identities are acknowledged and respected within the TDSB. More importantly, Jewish students must not only have safe spaces but also be welcomed and included in all spaces within the TDSB, without segregation.
“It is vital that Trustees receive the Affirming Jewish Identities & Addressing Antisemitism strategy without amendments that could weaken its impact.

Antisemitism must be confronted and addressed without delay, so that students can focus on academic achievement and schools can become places of respect and safety for people of all faiths, cultures, and national origins.
“Believe us when we tell you about the antisemitism we face and what needs to be done to ensure that Jewish students, faculty, and staff feel safe, respected, and heard.”

Dan Held, Chief Program Officer, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto:

"The TDSB was right to bring forward this important report. And trustees would be right to pass it without amendment and without delay. The TDSB has a responsibility to protect all students from bullying, harassment, and marginalization. This is why it is imperative to reject extreme voices that would attempt to undermine this important step forward in safeguarding the wellbeing of Jewish students. We call on TDSB trustees to take long overdue action to protect Jewish students, beginning by passing this report in its entirety.”

Dara Solomon, Executive Director, Toronto Holocaust Museum and Ontario Jewish Archives:

“As a TDSB parent and Executive Director of the Toronto Holocaust Museum and Ontario Jewish Archives, I strongly support the acceptance of this report. It reflects a deep understanding of the challenges facing Jewish students and teachers in the TDSB and outlines thoughtful, strategic approaches to address them. Providing students, educators, administrators, and trustees with meaningful education about Jewish history and identity will strengthen their ability to respond to the current moment with knowledge, sensitivity, and compassion.”

Cole Fisher, TDSB Student:

“As a Jewish student in the TDSB, I have experienced firsthand the rise in antisemitism that this report seeks to address. Since October 7th, I have heard students chanting “Death to Jews” in my school hallways. I have seen swastikas drawn on desks, Jewish students threatened with violence, and blatant hostility toward those who express any connection to their Jewish identity. Time and time again, these incidents have been brushed aside and not dealt with properly. 

“This report is an important step in ensuring that Jewish students like me can exist safely in our schools. The recognition of modern antisemitism, particularly when anti-Zionist rhetoric crosses into collective blame and conspiracy theories, is crucial. Last school year, teachers often allowed discussions in class where Jewish students were made to justify their existence and where Israel was demonized in ways that mirrored historical antisemitic tropes. The IHRA definition of antisemitism must be actively applied to help distinguish between legitimate political criticism and speech that fosters hate against Jewish students.

“One of the most critical aspects of this report is its focus on Holocaust education for both teachers and students. Too many of my peers graduate without even knowing how many people died in the Holocaust, despite taking Grade 10 history. I remember an instance last year where, during a school-wide morning announcement about the Holocaust, a peer of mine laughed and said, “That didn’t happen.” Experiences like this show how dangerously little awareness there is. This report’s commitment to strengthening Holocaust education will help prevent ignorance from fueling more antisemitism. Additionally, the inclusion of more Jewish voices in equity work is long overdue. Right now, only one member of the TDSB’s equity board is Jewish. This report will also make reporting antisemitism easier and more accessible for Jewish students and will hopefully allow for administrators to more effectively address antisemitic incidents.

“I support the TDSB’s commitment to stronger reporting mechanisms, professional learning for staff, and increased Jewish representation in equity work. But these policies must have real enforcement. Jewish students should not have to fight alone to have our concerns taken seriously. Schools must ensure that every act of antisemitism, whether it’s hate-speech, vandalism, or threats, is treated with the same urgency as any other form of racism or discrimination.

“Most importantly, we need action, not just words. The TDSB must ensure this report leads to tangible change, so no Jewish student fears for their safety or hides their identity at school. We deserve to feel safe, respected, and included, just like everyone else.”

David R. Mandel, Ph.D., father of TDSB students, second-generation Holocaust Survivor, cognitive psychologist, and author of Tackle:

“The Jewish community within the TDSB has long been stuck between a rock and a hard place. While antisemitism has skyrocketed in Toronto and across Canada, Jews have traditionally been excluded from Equity-based approaches to combat prejudice and discrimination. The TDSB's current plan being discussed today is far from perfect, but it should nevertheless be supported with important caveats. I support it because it reaffirms the TDSB's commitment to the IHRA definition of antisemitism and it explicitly acknowledges that speech and acts aimed at demonizing Israel and stigmatizing Jews who support and take pride in the Jewish state – namely, over 90% of the Jewish community in Canada – are antisemitic. This acknowledgement is vital, and I am delighted to see it reflected in the document. For the document to have meaning, however, its implementation must be resolute and not undercut by conflicting policies, such as a misguided commitment to protecting narratives that are hostile to the broader Jewish community.”

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Additional Background

• Press Release: CIJA Applauds TDSB Antisemitism Strategy as First Step in Combatting Jew-Hatred in Public Schools
• Press Release: CIJA Disappointed by TDSB Failure to Address Antisemitism in Proposed Strategy for Combating Hate and Racism
• Press Release: "TDSB Trustees Must Vote NO" - CHR Ignores Antisemitism
• Press Release: Antisemitism at the Toronto District School Board