This Week in Canadian Jewish Advocacy, January 15, 2023
This week, on Black Excellence Day, CIJA spoke with 30,000 students about the importance of allyship in combating anti-Black racism, antisemitism, and all forms of hatred and provided tools for Canadians from coast to coast to Unlearn Antisemitism.
Read on to learn more!
The CIJA Team
“Black Excellence Day presents a powerful opportunity every year for learning, building awareness, and advocating for change. To focus on the positive, on the encouraging, on the inspiring contributions from the Black community to Canada. This is a message that young Black Canadians need to hear. “
On January 13, more than 30,000 students, more than twice as many as in 2022, its inaugural year, attended a virtual Black Excellence Day event to hear politicians, educators, activists, artists, professional athletes, and other students discuss why Black excellence is Canadian excellence.
Among the speakers was Sheba Birhanu, CIJA's Associate Director of Partnerships, who spoke about the varied histories of Black Jews and the importance of allyship in combating anti-Black racism, antisemitism, and all forms of hatred.
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Earlier in the week, CIJA's Sheba Birhanu and the Ninandotoo Society's Kamika Williams explored why the federal government should recognize Black Excellence Day formally.
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With antisemitism on the rise in Canada and around the world, there has been a notable increase in antisemitic incidents where children spend their time – in the classroom, on the playground, at the rink, on social media. Many of these incidents impact children in grades 6-8.
To support parents and teachers in addressing this concerning trend, we created Unlearn It in partnership with the Toronto Holocaust Museum and Facing History & Ourselves Canada.
Funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Education, Unlearn It is a free, bilingual resource hub for educators, parents, and all who wish to learn more about antisemitism.
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CIJA in the News
Bulletin de Nouvelles du jeudi 12 janvier (Téléjournal Ottawa-Gatineau, 10:21-13:37)
Ottawa must officially recognize Black Excellence Day (The Hill Times)
Community Calendar
January 23-27 | Holocaust Education Week
January 27 | International Holocaust Remembrance Day
February 5-6 | Tu BiShvat
March 2 | The Abraham Accords: A Turning Point in the Legal World
October 16-17 | Democracy in Action
Careers
- Associate Director Communications and Media Relations (Quebec)
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Associate Director, Partnerships and Community Engagement (Quebec)
Executive Director | Kehillat Beth Israel, Ottawa
Campaign Engagement Specialist (Jewish Federation of Ottawa)
Designer/Creative Coordinator: Jewish Federation of Winnipeg
Hillel Director, Jewish Federation of Edmonton
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