This week in Canadian Jewish Advocacy | April 30, 2023
This week, we called on community to reflect and rejoice, while calling on law enforcement and government officials to take action against Jew-hatred.
Read on to learn more.
The CIJA Team
“This incident is a sad reminder that youth are being radicalized so young and underscores the need for the Jewish lived experience, antisemitism, and Holocaust education to be included in anti-hate and anti-racism initiatives in schools. Education is one of the most important tools in the fight against hate.”
- Eta Yudin, CIJA Vice President, Quebec
On Wednesday, as thousands of Montrealers celebrated Israel’s 75th anniversary at Yom Ha’Atzmaut events and rallies across the city, two teenagers removed Israeli flags from the fences of a private Jewish elementary school in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, subsequently burned them at a different location, and posted the video of the incident on social media.
A suspect was arrested on Thursday. We are grateful to both Federation CJA’s Community Security Network for their diligent work and communication with Montreal Police and to Dollard-des-Ormeaux Security for their swift action on this matter.
This weekend, an organization that has promoted incitement against Canada's Jewish community and that has clear ties to a terrorist group is hosting an event in Ottawa.
“We have long alerted the government to Samidoun’s incitement to hatred against Canada’s Jewish community and affiliation with the PFLP. Emboldened by impunity and inaction, Samidoun is now hosting its first major North American demonstration, here in the capital of our country.”
- Shimon Koffler Fogel, President and CEO, CIJA
CIJA has consistently advocated that Samidoun, the group behind this event, be listed as a terrorist entity under Canada's Criminal Code Section 83.05(1)(b). In the months leading up to the event and throughout the weekend, CIJA has been in touch with all levels of law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of our community.
At ceremonies across Canada, the Jewish community and our allies came together on Yom HaZikaron to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of the women and men killed in defence of Israel and the victims of anti-Israel terror, and, on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, to celebrate Israel’s 75th birthday.
For Yom Ha’Atzmaut, several landmarks and monuments, including Niagara Falls and Vaughan City Hall, were illuminated in blue and Israeli flags were raised in several municipalities, including Toronto, Vaughan and Ottawa.
On behalf of Canada’s Jewish community, we would like to thank all dignitaries and elected officials from across Canada, including the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, provincial premiers, and elected officials from all levels of government who recognized Israel’s 75th Independence Day.
CIJA in the News
- Canadians ambivalent about Israel on eve of the Jewish state's 75th birthday celebration (National Post)
- Power & Politics – French Court Finds Diab Guilty (CBC News)
- Suspect turns himself in to Montreal police in connection with assaults on two Hasidic men (The CJN)
- Shael Rosenbaum, a member of the third generation of survivors, takes over ‘the Holocaust business’ at the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem (The CJN)
- Israel’s rookie Aliyah minister visits Canada to promote immigration—while avoiding protesters (The CJN)
- Terry Glavin: Anti-Israel conference in Ottawa set to go, despite connections to banned terror group (The National Post, + Postmedia Syndication)
- Israël à 75 ans : Indépendance réalisée et défis pressants (Times of Israel)
- Toronto City Hall Yom Ha’Atzmaut Flag Raising (CP24)
- Teen arrested after video shows Israeli flags being taken and burned (Montreal Gazette)
- A brazen Israeli flag burning outside a Jewish school has shocked the Montreal community (The CJN)
- Montreal police hate crimes unit arrest 16-year-old after Israeli flags stolen, set on fire in DDO (CityNews Montreal)
- Boy, 16, arrested after Israeli flag burned outside Montreal-area school (CTV News Montreal)
Community Calendar
May 25-27 | Shavuot
October 16-17 | Antisemitism: Face It, Fight It
Careers
Stay In the Know!
Get all the latest information from our newsletter, "This Week in Canadian Jewish Advocacy."