This week in Canadian Jewish Advocacy | December 1, 2024

This week, we hosted a press conference at Parliament Hill to express our outrage at last weekend’s antisemitic riots in Montreal, how they fall into a pattern of home-grown radicalization, and to publicize our demands for government action. We argued in the press for actions against the terrorist-listed organization Samidoun, outlined our clear objections to the ICC decision to issue warrants for two Israeli politicians, and described ways the Jewish community itself can push back against antisemitism.  

For more information, read on.

CIJA 

CIJA joined Canadians in expressing horror and outrage about last weekend’s violent demonstrations in Montreal that included a Nazi salute and a call for a “final solution” against Jews. At a press conference on Parliament Hill on Tuesday, and in a subsequent statement, CIJA laid out five asks of the Federal Government: convening a National Forum on Combatting Hate Crimes, Terrorism, and Antisemitism; strengthening enforcement of Canada’s hate crime laws; enhancing judicial and law enforcement training; bolstering community safety programs; and addressing radicalization and extremism. Watch the press conference on X, Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn. CIJA staff was also interviewed by media outlets including i24NEWS Français and News 1010 Toronto. 

Shocking incidents such as the Montreal riots are examples of the recent surge in home-grown radicalization and resulting increase in hate crimes against Jews in Canada that have reached a tipping point. We asked the national Jewish community to speak out, and almost 10,000 Canadians have already written to the Prime Minister urging him to take concrete action against terror and radicalization. If you have not yet done so, you can email Justin Trudeau here.  

In this National Post op-ed, Mark Freiman, co-chair of CIJA’s Legal Task Force and former Deputy Attorney General for Ontario, and Mark Sandler, Chair of the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism, called on authorities to take concrete action against Samidoun, a Canadian ‘non-profit’ aligned with the PFLP and the IRGC that, in October, after years of advocacy by the Jewish community, was – finally – officially designated a terror group in Canada. The writers explore legal steps the government can take to ensure the safety and security of all Canadians, such as revoking Samidoun’s non-profit status, auditing their finances, investigating the criminal activities of its leaders, including Charlotte Kates, and Khaled Barakat – who is classified by the United States as a terrorist – and, should it be proven that they entered Canada or gained Canadian citizenship under false pretenses, exploring denaturalization proceedings.  

‘This is a political attack on the leaders of a democratic ally, valiantly fighting for its very survival against a tidal wave of radical Islamist violence.’ 

In this piece in the Times of Israel, CIJA CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel calls on the Government of Canada to reject unequivocally the International Criminal Court’s shameful and outrageous decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders.  

In this op-ed in La Presse, Emmanuelle Amar, Director of Policy and Research, Quebec, and Julien Corona, Associate Director of Communications and Media Relations, Quebec, explore ways, beyond the judicial and legal fronts, in which the Jewish community can engage in the fight against the Jew-hatred, such as upholding the universal values of Judaism, especially that of tikkun olam, or ‘repairing the world,’ which calls for justice, compassion, and a commitment to human dignity.   

Join political campaigner Rhys Sandner on Tuesday, December 3 at 7 p.m. ET for an ACT Masterclass: Get out the Vote, hosted by CJPAC on how to plan and execute a winning get-out-the-vote strategy at any level of government. Register today.

Would you like to stay current on issues of concern and news from CIJA as it happens? Sign up here to opt in to receive CIJA's press releases and media statements. To stay up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada, sign up for the National Post's Channel Israel newsletter here.

Take Action

Tell Canada’s leaders to take action against terror and radicalization!

Tell the Government to stand up to division and hate – reject APR

Hold Osgoode Professor Accountable for Antisemitism
CIJA is troubled by the ongoing actions of some academics who display a total disregard for academic integrity, including the harmful rhetoric of Osgoode Hall Law School's Professor Heidi Matthews and its impact on Osgoode's community and reputation. Graduates are invited to sign and share an open letter written by an alum expressing concern here.

Community Calendar

December 5 | Webinar: Anti-Palestinian Racism: Why It's Being Adopted by Activists and Institutions - Jewish Institute for Liberal Values
December 25 - Christmas Day (CIJA Offices Closed)
December 25 – January 2 | Chanukah
January 1 - New Year's Day (CIJA Offices Closed)

Community Careers

London Jewish Federation | Executive Director
Jewish Federation of Ottawa | Communications and Social Media Officer
Jewish Federation of Ottawa | Database Associate
Jewish Federation of Edmonton | Associate Director of Development
Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver | Manager, Jewish Community Foundation

CIJA in the News

• Quebec condemns Nazi reference at pro-Palestinian protest in Montreal (The Montreal Gazette) 
• Canada not immune to Netherlands violence: Catholic, Jewish voices (The B.C. Catholic)
• Trudeau says he will abide ICC decision to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu (True North)
• ‘Hateful remarks, gestures’: Canadian coffee chain boots franchisee at Jewish Montreal hospital (Jewish News Syndicate)
• Mayor Olivia Chow’s city hall inconsistently addresses antisemitism in Toronto, according to complaints (The Canadian Jewish News)
• Trudeau condemns violent Montreal protest over antisemitism and burning of Netanyahu effigy (The Jerusalem Post)
• Comportements haineux d’une franchisée: le propriétaire de Second Cup indigné (Le Journal de Montréal + syndication QMI,)
• 'We can't tolerate that': Second Cup boss on why he moved swiftly to oust Montreal franchisee over Nazi remarks (National Post)
• Canada: CoHNA, CJIA discusses on combating antisemitism, Hinduphobia in academia in Toronto (Odisha Post)
• Opinion: Samidoun has been banned. Now, it's time to stamp it out (National Post)
• Terry Newman: Iran's circus of useful idiots (National Post)
• Antisémitisme: «C'est une communauté qui se sent, et qui est, assiégée» -- Lagacé le matin (98.5 FM)
• Montreal rabbi says police told him to move away from pro-Palestinian protesters (The Montreal Gazette, + Postmedia Syndication)
• Canadian coffee chain cuts ties with franchisee for Nazi salute at anti-Israel march (The Times of Israel)
• WARMINGTON: Chow, cops hand Hamas supporters control of our streets (Toronto Sun)
• Jewish groups call for forum on combatting antisemitism (Global BC)
• La communauté juive et la défense des valeurs communes du Québec (La Presse)
• Justin Trudeau condamne la violente manifestation antisémite à Montréal et l'incendie de l'effigie de Netanyahou (Radio J)
• CIJA calls on Canadian government to immediately act against surging antisemitism (The Jerusalem Post)
• Netanyahu effigy burned at anti-Israel protest in Montreal; Trudeau condemns antisemitism (The Times of Israel)
• Canada Should Have Rejected ICC’s Warrants For Israeli Leaders (The Times of Israel)
• Propos et gestes d'une franchisée de Second Cup: le SPVM ouvre une enquête (Le Journal de Montréal, + Syndication QMI)
• McGill cancels talk with Hamas insider turned Israeli advocate, citing fears of violence (The Canadian Jewish News)
• McGill suspends extracurricular events after threats over Israeli spy's invitation as speaker (National Post, + Postmedia Syndication)
• C’est un combat DE CIVILISATIONS! IL FAUT METTRE NOS CULOTTES! (CHOI981 Radio X)
• Le SPVM ouvre une enquête sur les gestes antisémites commis par une franchisée (La Presse)
• Canadian Jews Say: Enough! (The Times of Israel)
• Trudeau slammed for support of ICC warrants (The Suburban)
• Why Canada Must Support a Negotiated Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Times of Israel)
• CIJA and the protests in Montreal (Newstalk 1010)
• SLOBODIAN: Evasion and self-deception all the rage among Montreal authorities (Western Standard)
• CIJA réagit à l’accord de cessez-le-feu et la situation au Moyen-Orient (CJWI CPAM 1410)
• De nombreuses manifestations pro palestiniennes ont lieu dans les grandes villes canadiennes. Avec Richard Marceau (28/11/2024) (Radio Judaica)
• Depuis le 7/10, l’antisémitisme explose au Canada (i24 News)
• United Church calls for Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions against Israel (Canadian Affairs)
• CIJA says enough with protest double standards (CBC Radio One)