Category: Local

Hate on many BC campuses

An X post about an antisemitic takeover of the Simon Fraser University library downtown, named after Jewish philanthropists Samuel and Frances Belzberg. Khalida Jarrar is a member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which Canada listed as a terror entity in 2003. (screenshot)

More than 250 members of the Jewish community gathered at Congregation Beth Israel last week to learn more about antisemitism occurring on BC campuses. The discussion was led by a panel of Jewish students representing the University of British Columbia, the University of Victoria and Simon Fraser University, as well as educators and a spokesperson from Hillel BC. Panelists spoke about how pro-Palestinian activists have created an environment that has made Jewish students and educators feel unsafe, and that their concerns are, by and large, not being taken seriously by university administrators.

“Hillel has shifted from being a place where students explore their identity to being an emergency room for antisemitic incidents,” said Ohad Gavrieli, executive director of Hillel BC. “What we’re encountering is unprecedented, and our main role has been to protect and defend Jewish identity.”

Hillel is focused on safety, education, programming and advocacy, said Gavrieli. It is assisting students as they try to file complaints about antisemitism, while continuing with events like Shabbat dinners and bagel lunches, critical components that allow for the continuity of Jewish life during this crisis.

Gavrieli said universities’ approaches to antisemitism have been very ineffective.

“While they understand we’re hurting as a community, they’re politicians and they care about their institutional reputation. They want to please both sides,” he argued. “So, when we talk with them about the encampments, they tell us to be patient, that they’re working on it and will come up with a solution.”

Member of the Legislative Assembly Selina Robinson described a similar “deafness and silence” when she spoke about antisemitism with her political colleagues.

“I heard stories from Langara students who were afraid to leave the bathroom because there was marching in the hallways. I got calls from students whose instructors were telling them they needed to participate in a march, and from educators whose administrators were involved in BDS [boycott, sanction and divestment] activity,” she recalled. “I felt I needed to say something, so I said lots – to the attorney general, the solicitor general, the chief of staff. And I got silence, or responses like, ‘we’re looking into it’ – but nothing happened.”

For Aria Levitt, a Jewish student leader entering her second year at UVic, the campus environment is daunting.

“When an encampment was established in the Quad at UVic, the university issued a statement that overnight camping there was not allowed. But the encampment is still there, and they’re not doing anything about it, which is a statement in itself,” said Levitt. “I heard the marches, protests and chants and it was very scary. I don’t feel proud to wear a UVic sweater,” she added.

At Simon Fraser University, Rachel Altman, an associate professor, said the Faculty for Palestine group has been relentless about holding anti-Israel events, and that those events even count towards the educators’ professional credit. “I attended one of their events and I was shaking by the end of it, it was so deeply unsettling,” she confessed. 

“The hatred in the room was palpable,” said Altman. “They were clearly talking about me and my colleagues, misrepresenting my responses and not giving me a chance to defend myself. I felt hated by colleagues who have never spoken to me face-to-face. One person made a claim that Israel is stealing organs. This group is large and it’s having an impact on the general climate at SFU.”

Altman is trying to get her faculty association to adopt a neutrality policy and to develop institutional neutrality. Dr. Estie Ford, a professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law at UBC, is working with her colleagues to establish the Jewish Academic Alliance of BC, with the goal of being a face for Jewish faculty who are not anti-Zionist, across the province. “This is a new time when people are coming together and there’s so much amazing work being done,” Ford said. 

Gavrieli fields calls from Jewish parents wondering how safe BC campuses are for their children. He tells students to continue to hold their heads high, to not be afraid and to tackle the issues head-on.

“Antisemitism right now is being driven from campus and it’s rooted on campus,” he said. “Any parent with a child entering university should encourage them to engage in Jewish life on campus, to make it more vibrant and to deal with this issue fearlessly, because this is the time to fight.” 

Lauren Kramer, an award-winning writer and editor, lives in Richmond.

Not such a great divide

Co-authors Raja G. Khouri, left, and Jeffrey J. Wilkinson in a conversation at Canadian Memorial United Church and Centre for Peace June 13. (photo by Pat Johnson)

To bridge a divide between peoples, Jews and Palestinians need to listen and understand one another’s stories of trauma, according to two authors who spoke in Vancouver June 13. 

“Not only do we not know each other’s narrative, we don’t want to know each other’s narrative,” said Raja G. Khouri. “We are resistant to the other’s narrative. Palestinians need to understand Jewish suffering and Jews need to understand Palestinian suffering.”

Khouri, founding president of the Canadian Arab Institute, is a Palestinian-Canadian. With Jeffrey J. Wilkinson, a Jewish American who lives in Canada, he wrote The Wall Between: What Jews and Palestinians Don’t Want to Know About Each Other. 

The two men have been engaged in ongoing dialogue around trauma and other topics related to Israel and Palestine. Their book was released four days before the Oct. 7 terror attacks.

Jewish trauma from the Holocaust and Palestinian trauma from the Nakba, or the “Catastrophe” of the 1948 war, replay in various ways among the peoples today, said Wilkinson, an educator who works on issues of trauma.

“It’s not about amount of loss,” said Wilkinson. “Six million Jews died, 750,000 Palestinians [were] displaced. That impact is not about the numbers. That impact is about that loss, that something being taken from you, that feeling of anger, resistance.”

The conversation, at Canadian Memorial United Church and Centre for Peace, was sponsored by Vancouver Friends of Standing Together, in partnership with several other organizations. Standing Together describes itself as “a progressive grassroots movement mobilizing Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel against the occupation and for peace, equality and social justice.”

The authors acknowledge the chasms between the consensus Israeli and Palestinian narratives, while carefully noting that they did not claim to speak on behalf of their respective peoples.

“Zionists are saying 1967, 1967, 1967,” said Wilkinson, referring to the war that marks the beginning of what many consider “the occupation.”

“Palestinians are saying 1948, 1948, 1948. The two-state solution does nothing to address 1948,” Wilkinson said.

A two-state solution is not something either author views as a reasonable proposition, said Wilkinson – unless it is as a waystation to an alternative that neither author spelled out explicitly.

“I’m not saying it’s a bad solution and you can’t support it,” Wilkinson said of the idea of two states. “But I want you to frame it from the perspective of justice, and it does not address the injustice of Palestinians.”

While the evening – and the book – were billed as a conversation across barriers, the divide was not as big as advertised. Both authors view the existence of Israel as a problem to be solved.

“I believe that Zionism and my Judaism are not compatible,” Wilkinson said. “That does not lessen my compassion for the vast majority of my community who are somewhere on that journey but not where I am, and I embrace you as you walk through that.”

Wilkinson explicitly denounced the extremist rhetoric heard in some anti-Israel protests, such as calls to destroy Tel Aviv and telling Jews to “go back to Poland.”

Khouri said Palestinians believe that “the antisemitism label” has been misused to silence them.

“We both know that antisemitism is real and it’s dangerous,” he said. “But, to Palestinians, it is a weapon that has been used to silence criticism, or at least that’s what we believe. And it’s important to get that.”

Both men believe there is a misunderstanding around definitions of terms.

Israelis and their allies might hear the word “apartheid” and reject it. 

“Lens the word from the person who is speaking,” Wilkinson advised, outlining how he views separate treatment of Palestinians as equivalent to the racist regime of 20th-century South Africa. 

“Likewise with terms like genocide,” said Khouri. “We both avoided using the term for the longest time. But I can tell you there isn’t a Palestinian I know who isn’t convinced that this is absolute genocide because of the mass killing that is happening. Whether it meets the legal definition of genocide or not, it feels very much like genocide.”

The defensiveness that comes around these terms, they said, is a barrier to the peoples’ understanding of each other.

The flexibility of definitions extends to the term “intifada.”

“When you hear someone, say, we’re calling for intifada, ask them what they mean by this,” said Khouri. “Do you mean going and blowing up cafés and buses?”

Neither author offered their interpretation of the term.

The Oct. 7 attacks took place in a particular context, they said.

“If you fixate on Oct. 7 only, then you’re missing a big part of the picture,” said Khouri.

“That doesn’t mean you grieve less for the victims of Oct. 7,” Wilkinson said. “It doesn’t mean that.”

Avril Orloff, representing Vancouver Friends of Standing Together, emceed the event. Rabbi Laura Duhan Kaplan, director of inter-religious studies and professor of Jewish studies at the Vancouver School of Theology provided a land acknowledgment and contextualized the discussion in the context of Shavuot, which was ending as the event began. 

Tri-Cities community grows

Co-directors of Chabad of the Tri-Cities Rabbi Mottel and Nechama Gurevitz with their children. (photo from Tri-Cities Chabad)

Since he arrived just under two years ago, Rabbi Mordechai (Mottel) Gurevitz has had a very active and wide-ranging schedule. He’s been organizing programs and events and, most importantly, building community in the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody). 

Gurevitz, co-director of Chabad of the Tri-Cities, gave the Independent a few examples of the growth he has witnessed. This year’s Passover seder brought in nearly 50% more attendees compared to 2023. There was a similar increase in attendance for a Ten Commandments reading and ice cream in the park gathering during Shavuot. 

For Lag b’Omer on May 26, the largest Jewish event in Tri-Cities history was held at Rocky Point Park. Hundreds of people came out in the rain for a day filled with music, featuring Vancouver band Tzimmes, dancing, art, a marketplace, a magic show, bouncy castles and, of course, mouthwatering food.

Gurevitz, a Brooklyn native, arrived in the Tri-Cities in November 2022 with his wife, Nechama, who hails from Portland, Ore. In a recent interview, he told the Independent that he adores the region and is very happy and amazed to see the interest in the Jewish community for Jewish activities – and, he added, he regularly has to replenish his supply of mezuzot.

“We feel grateful for where we live,” he said. “It is such a beautiful, growing community. Geographically, it is a beautiful place with beautiful people. I feel privileged to be in this position to lead. It is not something I take lightly. I am really happy that we are here.”

The goal of Chabad of the Tri-Cities programming is to raise the Jewish profile and increase the sense of Jewish community in the area, Gurevitz explained. He gets the most joy, he said, when he hears from community members about connections they have made through his efforts, such as two sets of parents arranging a play date for their children after meeting at a Chabad event.

“One of the challenges of the Tri-Cities is that it is geographically spread out. Organically, there is a challenge for a community to grow because people are all over. What we are finding is that, by creating infrastructure, it is blossoming,” he said.

The region’s population comprises people of all ages, and many young families. As a result, there are programs to meet the needs of various demographics, from teen activities to special groups for men and women, in addition to a Hebrew school, weekly Torah classes and Kabbalat Shabbat meals. The programs have been well received, Gurevitz said, and have created a space for people to come together.

“All of these are cogs in the machinery. Each of them is important on its own, but, in the greater picture, what is emerging is a vibrant Jewish community. Jews are hanging out with other Jewish people. There is a place to celebrate our traditions, connect and meet new friends,” Gurevitz said.

On March 10, Tri-Cities Chabad celebrated the milestone of completing a sefer Torah. Along the way, there was great excitement, as members of the community dedicated letters and chapters for the new scroll.

photo - Rabbi Mottel Gurevitz writes the final letter of the Chabad of Tri-Cities community Torah
Rabbi Mottel Gurevitz writes the final letter of the Chabad of Tri-Cities community Torah. (photo from Tri-Cities Chabad)

“There is something very unifying about a community writing a Torah,” Gurevitz said. “The energy in the room that day was something so special, with the joy and the celebration and people of all ages kissing the Torah. That was a real monumental event this year.”

Gurevitz, who also teaches at Vancouver Hebrew Academy, jokes that he has two full-time jobs. A typical day might have him teaching in Vancouver in the morning and returning to the Tri-Cities in the early afternoon to have meetings, run programs, prepare for events and reach out to people.

“As a rabbi, I believe our first priority is our fellow Jews’ physical well-being, then we can care for their spiritual well-being. I am being there for people, helping however we can. The part I like most is meeting people and making those connections,” he said.

On July 2, at 7 p.m., Chabad of the Tri-Cities will put together an event to mark the 30th yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Titled An Evening of Inspiration, the event will feature Rabbi Meir Kaplan, leader of Chabad of Vancouver Island. 

“Our very existence in the Tri-Cities, a boy from Brooklyn walking around looking like a rabbi in Coquitlam, is to the Rebbe’s credit. We are gathering to pay tribute to the Rebbe. What was unique about him is that he made leaders and empowered individuals,” said Gurevitz, pointing to the 5,000 Chabad centres currently operating in more than 100 countries. “We will reflect on how the Rebbe’s legacy could inspire us to live a more meaningful and purposeful life.”

For more information, visit jewishtricities.com. 

Sam Margolis has written for the Globe and Mail, the National Post, UPI and MSNBC.

Ways to defy dementia

Dr. Allison Sekuler of Toronto’s Baycrest Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation. (photo from baycrest.org)

On June 5, National Council of Jewish Women Canada (NCJWC) welcomed Dr. Allison Sekuler of Toronto’s Baycrest Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation as the featured speaker in the Zoom webinar titled Defy Dementia: Learn How to Reduce Your Dementia Risk.

photo - Dr. Allison Sekuler of Toronto’s Baycrest Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation
Dr. Allison Sekuler of Toronto’s Baycrest Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation. (photo from baycrest.org)

Sekuler is the Sandra A. Rotman Chair of Cognitive Neuroscience at Baycrest’s research institute and the president and chief scientist at the Baycrest Academy for Research and Education. She is known for her foundational research in perception, cognition and brain function, as well as her clinical and translational work on age-related sensory and cognitive decline. She is the inaugural Canada Research Chair on Cognitive Neuroscience and has received numerous national and international honours, including being named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2019.

The recent webinar began with an introduction from Monica Simon, chair of NCJWC’s ageism committee. Then, with the help of AI-generated images, Sekuler presented attendees with an optimistic view of what she hopes the future holds. “We want to see a world where every single person is living a life of purpose, fulfilment and dignity,” she said.

Baycrest is at the forefront of a new field called predictive neuroscience for precision aging – an individualized approach that examines one’s brain, body and environment to detect the best ways to prevent the onset of dementia or delay it for as long as possible. This approach not only encompasses the pre-diagnosis stage, but helps medical professionals and loved ones navigate caring for someone with dementia. 

“If you think about what precision medicine has done for cancer, that’s what we want to do for aging, brain health and dementia,” said Sekuler.

Through innovations in predictive neuroscience, the Baycrest team is working toward a goal of no new cases of preventable dementia being diagnosed by the year 2050 – currently, 750,000 Canadians are living with dementia, and that figure is expected to more than double by 2050.

“What we want to do is nip that in the bud as much as possible,” Sekuler said, acknowledging that, while they cannot entirely eradicate the condition, they can do more to decrease the risk for those who do not already have dementia. Research suggests that, if the onset of dementia can be delayed by even five years, the prevalence of the condition can be decreased by 50% worldwide, she said.

While there are several risk factors – such as age, sex and genetics – that cannot be controlled, Baycrest’s Defy Dementia program raises awareness of the lifestyle changes people can make to reduce their dementia risk and improve their cognitive health.

“At least 40% of the risk factors for dementia are things that we can change by changing our lifestyle,” said Sekuler.

On the podcast Defy Dementia, co-hosts Sekuler and Jay Ingram, one of Canada’s leading science journalists, cover a different risk factor every month. Each episode features a guest with lived experience with dementia and an expert on the risk factor under discussion, such as stress, sleep, diet, exercise and environment.

There are currently 12 episodes available on the website defydementia.org, or any streaming platform. Many episodes have accompanying infographics and minute-long videos summarizing the topic at-hand, also available on defydementia.org.

“Whether you like to listen to things, read things, watch things or look at things, we’ve got you covered,” Sekuler said.

Sekuler gave a high-level overview of the risk factors, sharing how each correlates to one’s dementia risk and what one can do to manage them. She reminded attendees that genetics are not the be-all and end-all, but, rather, a piece of the puzzle that can often be counteracted by managing the risk factors.

Regarding sensory loss, Sekuler explained how strains on one’s hearing and/or vision can negatively impact cognitive abilities. She pointed to tools such as Baycrest’s free online hearing test and the importance of regular check-ups for hearing and vision loss. Further, she explained that loneliness has been proven to increase dementia risk by 50%, and that social engagement in any form is key to maintaining cognitive health. She emphasized that a healthy balance of diet, exercise and sleep helps, as does lowering stress as much as possible and embracing opportunities to try new activities and learn new things.

Sekuler also turned the group’s attention towards the vital role of caregiver. She shared that “one in every two people” will assume this role, if they do not get dementia themselves. However, caregivers often sacrifice a healthy diet, proper sleep and social engagement, she said, making them six times more likely to develop the condition. Sekuler stressed that “a caretaker cannot take care of someone else if they are not taking care of themselves,” and that inviting more professionals, caregivers and loved ones into the equation lessens the burden on one individual and may be a saving grace for that person’s health.

During the question-and-answer period, which was moderated by NCJWC’s Rochelle Garfinkel, Sekuler was asked what organizations like NCJWC can do to fight dementia. She highlighted the importance of sharing information and resources widely, and encouraged involvement in dementia research wherever possible. As well, she said, promoting tools like Baycrest’s online cognitive assessment test to “get your baseline” – as one would do with a regular vision test – is crucial for early detection. 

According to Sekuler, when it comes to protecting your cognitive health, “everyone can make these changes. You don’t have to be perfect, but you do have to start somewhere.” 

Alisa Bressler is a graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. She is an avid reader and writer and will be pursuing a master’s of journalism at Boston University in the fall. Bressler is a member of the Vancouver Jewish community, and was the inaugural Baila Lazarus Jewish Journalism Intern.

Community milestones … Cowens, Federation, Doctor, Lane, Wolthuizen & Wosk

Rabbi Dr. Eytan Cowen, his wife Rabbanit Caroline Sarah Bitton-Cowen and their family will take up the mantle of spiritual and rabbinic leadership at Congregation Beth Hamidrash. (photo from Beth Hamidrash)

Rabbi Dr. Eytan Cowen has agreed to become the next rabbi and spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Hamidrash and leader of the Vancouver Sephardi community.

The congregation is excited for Rabbi Cowen, his wife Rabbanit Caroline Sarah Bitton-Cowen and their family to join them and take up the mantle of spiritual and rabbinic leadership. The start date is yet to be determined, to best enable the family to navigate the challenges of moving to Vancouver from Toronto.

Cowen served as rabbi of Tiferet Israel Sephardic Congregation in Toronto from 2014 to 2017. He returned to his hometown, Toronto, from Indianapolis, where he served for two years as full-time rabbi of Etz Chaim Sephardic Congregation, a 100-year-old community.

Cowen pursued and completed his rabbinical studies at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University and the Sephardic Rabbinical College of Rosh Kollel. In addition, he is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a double major in microbiology and Jewish studies, as well as four years of postgraduate study at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. He is a licensed naturopathic doctor, practising integrative medicine for the past 20 years, and endeavours to combine Torah and health.

Bitton-Cowen was born in Paris, France, with Sephardi heritage from Morocco and Tunisia. She is a graduate of Stern College and Sy Syms School of Business. She enjoys teaching others, sharing wisdom with women of the congregation, and is an accomplished certified professional accountant.

The rabbi and rabbanit are the proud parents of Eliyahu-Yaacov (23), Nissim-Nahum (21), Simcha-Mazal (20), Rivkah-Chaya (16), Efrayim-Menashe (13), Tehila-Adelle (9), Batsheva-Esther (6) and Batya-Emunah (4). They have one granddaughter, Sofia Adina (14 months).

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photo - Alexis Doctor received her master of arts in Jewish professional studies at Spertus Institute
Alexis Doctor received her master of arts in Jewish professional studies at Spertus Institute. (photo by Maggie Russo)

On May 5, Chicago-based Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership awarded master’s degrees to 18 graduates who embody the vital Jewish tradition of learning, which grounds us in our history and equips us to face contemporary challenges.

Vancouver resident Alexis Doctor, director of member and guest services at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, is among this year’s graduates. She received a master of arts in Jewish professional studies, completing a creative leadership-building program designed to advance careers and strengthen the organizations students serve. 

“It’s something I will take with me for the rest of my life – the program has given me fresh new ideas to take back to my team,” said Doctor. “This has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, but it’s also one of the most rewarding.”  

Spertus Institute, which was founded in 1924, is an institution of higher Jewish learning dedicated to real-world action. At its core are degree and certificate programs in which students engage with Jewish ideas in the service of personal growth, community leadership and professional advancement. These offerings, which merge theory and practice, educate Jewish professionals, community leaders and those who seek quality, reflection-driven scholarship. Those interested in becoming a future Spertus Institute graduate should visit spertus.edu for program and application information or contact assistant director of recruitment Amie Barrish at [email protected].

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The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver’s 2023 annual campaign generated $10.3 million for the community, thanks to the generosity of some 2,500 donors.

As a result of this year’s $10.3 million total, Federation will be able to provide crucial stability to its more than 30 partner organizations by ensuring that they can count on funding that helps fuel their important front-line work. Plus, they will be able to access additional funding through grants for programs and services that deliver on the strategic priorities for the community.

An additional $1.25 million in funding directed to special projects was also raised, as was $20.4 million through Federation’s Israel Emergency Campaign (IEC).

In addition to addressing immediate needs after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, the IEC allocation committee, chaired by Stephen Gaerber, is committed to addressing the medium- and long-term needs of Israelis who continue to be affected by the ongoing war and hostage situation.

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The Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre has presented the 2024 Meyer and Gita Kron and Ruth Kron Sigal Award for Excellence in Holocaust Education to Ben Lane (Collingwood School) and Mike Wolthuizen (Rutland Senior Secondary School). Both have demonstrated exceptional commitment to Holocaust education throughout their careers and have significantly impacted their students, colleagues and school communities.

The Kron Sigal Award was established in memory of Meyer and Gita Kron and their daughter Ruth Kron Sigal, Lithuanian Jewish survivors of the Holocaust who re-established their lives in Vancouver. Through their lifelong involvement with education and community, the family touched the lives of thousands of students. 

photo - Ben Lane
Ben Lane (photo from vhec.org)

During his tenure at Collingwood School in West Vancouver, Lane led the development of a comprehensive Holocaust education program at the school. He created classroom resources and lesson plans and implemented school-wide events, commemorative programming and co-curricular opportunities for students, colleagues and the community to engage with the history of the Holocaust.

An alumnus of Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies, Lane’s approach to Holocaust education demonstrates creativity, depth of knowledge in subject matter and pedagogical quality. This is reflected in his bespoke lesson plans and robust teaching materials, which combine engaging history lessons with innovative project-based learning. These allow students to navigate complex issues of antisemitism, genocide and the legacies of the Holocaust with accuracy, sensitivity and a sense of responsibility for the subject matter.

Exposing students to primary sources of Holocaust history has been a priority for Lane, and he regularly incorporates VHEC programs into his curriculum through exhibition tours, workshops and survivor outreach speaker engagements. As well, he has facilitated a co-curricular student group to participate in the Dora Love Prize, a Holocaust education program sponsored by the University of Essex. For the past three years, this student group has engaged with scholars and survivors internationally and produced innovative projects annually to raise awareness of the Holocaust and human rights.

photo - Mike Wolthuizen
Mike Wolthuizen (photo from vhec.org)

Wolthuizen teaches Genocide Studies 12 and Social Studies 10 at Rutland Senior Secondary School in Kelowna. He has been instrumental in advancing Holocaust education in the Central Okanagan School District, where he recently co-developed Holocaust 12: Beyond the Shoah, a social studies elective course to be introduced into classrooms in September 2024.

Colleagues, administrators and students attest to Wolthuizen’s thoughtful and innovative teaching approach, which creates a supportive environment for students to express their thoughts and critically analyze events in Holocaust history. He fosters meaningful discussions and ethical reflections on human choices. Through exposure to survivor testimony and primary sources, he cultivates in his students an appreciation for the stories of the individual. One student shared:

“Because of his teaching, one of my key takeaways from the course was the importance of the stories of individuals that were impacted by the Holocaust and other genocides, rather than just statistics. When learning from him, it became very evident that he cares so much about each individual and their rights, and that their stories hold an immense amount of power and importance when discussing the Holocaust.”

Also an alumnus of Yad Vashem’s International School, Wolthuizen has attended dozens of workshops and conferences, locally and internationally, to enhance his knowledge of Holocaust study. He has shared this knowledge and expertise beyond his own community, leading professional development programs and teaching in multiple school districts as a guest lecturer on Holocaust history.

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photo - Becky Wosk is the winner of the 2024 Earl Parker Award for Jewish Film, an honour given by the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival
Becky Wosk is the winner of the 2024 Earl Parker Award for Jewish Film, an honour given by the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival. (photo from Becky Wosk)

Becky Wosk is the recipient of the Edmonton Jewish Film Festival’s 2024 Earl Parker Award for Jewish Film. The $1,500 award will go towards Wosk’s production of a documentary on Jewish identity and how we are all connected.

Wosk is a directing student at Langara College in the film arts program. She has been immersed in the arts since a very young age and is a multidisciplinary artist and performer – her band Hollow Twin recently released a new LP on vinyl and digitally.

Wanting to gain more technical skills and hands-on experience in directing, to make music videos for her and other bands, as well as documentaries and shorts, Wosk applied to the Langara film program. It was her instructor who sent her the application to the Earl Parker award for a Jewish-related film project. Wosk’s pitch was One Thread.

One Thread is a documentary-style short that will be filmed in Vancouver. Interviewees will range from age 18 to 99+, including Holocaust survivors.

“I see this potentially becoming a series that can eventually be all tied together spanning globally to see how, regardless of where we live, our backgrounds, we are one people – a tribe of resilient humans who have overcome all odds to be here today. A look at the diversity of the diaspora and how we all have one common thread,” wrote Wosk in her submission. “The participants will not be limited by religious sect, as I want the overarching theme to be our DNA, not necessarily religion – but I would like to touch on customs and traditions within the interviews.”

Wosk is hoping to incorporate klezmer music and archival photos from various sources into the film. She will be putting a call out soon for interviewees of all ages, genders and backgrounds who identify as Jewish. The filming will take place this fall.

Victoria’s Walk to Remember

On May 25, members of the Rwandan community in Victoria held a Walk to Remember, in memory of the victims and in solidarity with the survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. (photo from Victoria Rwandan community)

This spring, members of the Rwandan community in British Columbia have been commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. On May 25, a group in Victoria held the Walk to Remember in memory of the victims and in solidarity with the survivors of the 1994 genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi. 

Afterwards, a ceremony was held at Camosun College’s Gibson Auditorium. Throughout the event, called Kwibuka30, speaker after speaker, most of whom told their stories in Kinyarwanda, the national language of Rwanda, recalled members of their immediate families who were killed during that horrific period. (Kwibuka is the word for “remember” in Kinyarwanda.)

In the organizers’ words, the event was intended to offer “blessings for continued courage and resilience to remember and unite,” and express their desire to “renew our resolve to pursue the transformation of tragedy into triumph.”

Anselme Hategekimana, one of the leaders of the Rwandan community in Victoria, stressed the importance of remembering. “Remembering is an expression of an enduring love for those we’ve lost during the genocide against the Tutsi. Remembering makes us better citizens, as we do everything we can to combat hate speech, exclusion and any type of discrimination.”

Among those in attendance were the children – many of whom are now in their late teens and early 20s – of Rwandan genocide survivors. Hategekimana said he and other survivors were encouraged to see young people take leadership in the march and commemoration.

“Due to social media, young people are now more informed and can understand the consequences of bad governance and intolerance,” he said. “These young people are the leaders of tomorrow, and we are pleased to see more and more engaged young people for the cause of peace and understanding.”

From April 7 to July 19, 1994, Hutu militias in Rwanda killed members of the Tutsi minority. Hundreds of thousands of people were massacred – estimates vary from 500,000 to more than one million – in a 100-day period, which also included the killing of moderate Hutus and members of the Twa population.

The killings were preceded by decades of stigmatization, marginalization and dehumanization and fueled by hate speech. By the early 1990s, Rwanda’s population was 85% Hutu and 14% Tutsi. At the time, Hutu extremists within Rwanda’s governing elite blamed the Tutsis for the country’s social and economic problems. 

In October 1990, civil war broke out when a Tutsi rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front, invaded the country from Uganda. Extremist Hutus held the Tutsis in Rwanda responsible for supporting rebel forces from another country.

The civil war, which ended with the signing of a peace agreement in August 1993, did not appease the anger of extremist Hutus, who took to the airwaves to dehumanize the Tutsis further, referring to them as “cockroaches.”

In April 1994, a plane carrying Rwanda’s president, Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, was shot down by a missile as it tried to land in Kigali, the country’s capital. Though it is unknown which group fired the missile, extremist Hutus used the downing of the plane as a reason to massacre Tutsis. Militias, equipped with machetes and trained by the Rwandan government, launched a killing spree – which to this day still shocks because of its rapidity and size – taking the lives of thousands of people each day.

Though some schools in British Columbia cover the Rwandan genocide, Hategekimana believes it would be beneficial to incorporate the subject in the high school curriculum to educate youth to be more tolerant and learn from the tragedy.

“Having a memorial monument dedicated to the victims of the genocide against the Tutsi will also help educate more Canadians,” he said.

Thirty years later, Rwanda, geographically one of the smallest countries in Africa, stands out as a model of prosperity, with one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent. A post-genocide government pursued a policy of “unity and reconciliation” and maintained a focus on economic growth.

As Hategekimana sees it, Rwanda had hit its lowest conceivable point and the only choice was to rebuild and rise. He credits Paul Kagame, the president of Rwanda since 2000, for being a visionary leader who came at a crucial time.

“Paul Kagame has been God-given. You may like him or not, but what he has done for Rwanda is indisputable: the empowerment of women, free health care, anti-corruption measures, peace and economic prosperity. Rwandans see themselves as capable citizens able to take their future in their own hands,” Hategekimana said.

Today, tourism in the country is booming, including luxury hotels, and the #visitrwanda hashtag even appears on the jersey of English soccer powerhouse Arsenal. Kigali boasts a new convention centre and a new stadium to host professional basketball games.

Tech startups have also abounded, as has collaboration with Israeli companies. Netafim, a Tel Aviv-based precision irrigation firm, has teamed with the Rwandan government to develop farming in land that was previously unsuitable for agriculture. In 2014, Israel’s Energiya Global invested in a solar power plant project in Rwanda. 

Regarding the horrors of 1994, Nina Krieger, the executive director of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre (VHEC), offered these words to the Independent, “As we mark the 30th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, we reflect on the significance of bearing witness to atrocities and the enduring power of survivor testimony. 

“At the VHEC, we understand the critical role these narratives play in educating future generations and preventing such horrors from reoccurring. The resilience and courage shown by the survivors of the Rwandan genocide inspire us to continue our mission of Holocaust education, underscoring the universal necessity of compassion, remembrance and the commitment to justice.” 

In the 2022 commemoration of Kristallnacht presented by the VHEC at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver, keynote speaker Liliane Pari Umuhoza, a child survivor of the Rwandan genocide, told the crowd it was important to remember what happened, to preserve the memories of victims and survivors for future generations. 

Umuhoza added it was crucial to learn from history and create awareness. Yet, she continued, it was not enough.

“What matters the most is how we use that history to create a better world,” she said. “It’s our duty, not only to remember but also to remember with purpose.” 

Sam Margolis has written for the Globe and Mail, the National Post, UPI and MSNBC.

Arson at synagogue

The doors and the flooring outside the entrance of Congregation Schara Tzedeck were damaged when an arsonist set fire to them the night of May 30. (photo from B’nai Brith Canada)

Around 9:30 p.m., after evening prayers on Thursday, May 30, a group of people were shmoozing on 19th Avenue, outside Schara Tzedeck synagogue. A passerby alerted them that there was a fire at the main Oak Street entrance to the shul. 

The group ran around the corner to the scene and a man used his jacket to put out the fire.

The arson attack was brazen – it was barely past sundown on a busy Vancouver artery. A resident across the street videotaped the scene from their apartment window.

The synagogue’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt, was immediately alerted by phone but his reaction was disbelief. The congregant who called him is an Israeli whose first language is not English and the rabbi wondered – perhaps hoped – that there was a miscommunication.

On Rosenblatt’s arrival, two fire trucks were on the scene and the rabbi let firefighters and police into the building, which was pervaded by the smell of the accelerant used to light the fire. The doors and the flooring outside the entrance were damaged, but the fuel had already begun burning out by the time the flames were doused.

Rosenblatt said he wasn’t focused on his emotions in the immediate aftermath.

“Honestly, I went very quickly into crisis management mode,” he told the Independent. “I wasn’t really processing any kind of deep emotions or letting the whole thing sink in.”

He dealt with police, notified the synagogue’s leadership and prepared for what he knew would be a media frenzy beginning the following day.

Support has been encouraging. Civic leaders, fellow clergy, multicultural representatives, members of the Jewish community and strangers have brought or sent well wishes and made donations.

Although Rosenblatt was in disbelief initially, he acknowledged that he and others have been warning about precisely this sort of escalation for months, including in a private meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this year.

No arrests have been made but Rosenblatt said that the perpetrator is “theoretically identifiable” from photographic evidence. Police have asked Rosenblatt and others with firsthand knowledge not to share any additional details as they do not want any potential for affecting witness testimonies.

While the arson attack is deeply alarming, Rosenblatt believes it is a manifestation of a broader “mainstreaming” of antisemitism – a phenomenon he sees worryingly exhibited in last week’s decision by the BC Teachers’ Federation to reject the creation of a provincial specialist association, or PSA, addressing antisemitism and Holocaust education. 

“When people ask me what I’m concerned about, I’m honestly more concerned with what’s happening in the public schools,” said the rabbi. “Not that someone being brazen enough to light the synagogue on fire isn’t a horrible thing. It’s reflective of a willingness to go to violence. But the person who did that, at least, was ashamed enough to obscure his identity.”

Those who voted against an association for Holocaust and antisemitism education not only did so publicly but seem to view their actions as a form of righteousness, he said.

“Those people are proud and giving themselves a pat on the back,” he said. “That, to me, is the one which is going to cause more lasting harm.”

Other incidents, in which Jewish artists have been removed from exhibitions and Jewish-themed plays have been canceled, send a dangerous message to young Jewish artists and performers that their identity, and their associations with Israel, could have negative consequences, said the rabbi.

Meanwhile, he is hearing from colleagues across the country about habitual harassment and vandalism, from broken windows to dead animals thrown on synagogue property.

“People are just sort of inching over the lines,” he said. 

Rosenblatt said it is vital that all incidents be reported to authorities. The BC government has a Provincial Racist Incident Helpline at 1-833-457-5463. The website of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver has information on reporting hate crimes. B’nai Brith Canada has an app and other resources for reporting hate incidents on their website. Individuals or institutions requiring legal advice due to a suspected antisemitic incident can access pro bono legal consultation through a new helpline, 778-800-8917 or [email protected].

The arson took place less than a week before Mosaic, Schara Tzedeck’s major annual gala celebration. It was referenced at the event, but Rosenblatt said it did not cloud the celebration.

“It has not changed who we are or what we do and how we think about Schara Tzedeck,” he said. “You can’t let antisemites define you.” 

BCTF’s Nakba motion

“An important part of our work as teachers is to create safety for our students within our classrooms and schools. Globally and locally, we are hearing how increasing rhetoric and hate speech in communities are threatening safety and belonging. With this in mind, a motion was brought forward, and passed by delegates at the BCTF annual general meeting in March,” writes BC Teachers’ Federation president Clint Johnston in the May/June 2024 issue of Teacher magazine.

He goes on to share the motion, which was: 

“That the Federation:

“1. continuously lobby the Ministry of Education and Child Care to include, where applicable, the following as part of the Grades 6-12 Socials and History curricula until it gets added to the elaborations:

“a. The Nakba 

“b. The 1948 Arab-Israeli War

“c. Military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank. 

“2. have the Federation president acknowledge through the next Teacher magazine that these events are essential to understanding the history of Palestine and Israel in the President’s Message.”

In fulfilling his part of the motion, Johnston writes in Teacher about classrooms being “where students develop or question their understandings of world events. Starting these conversations and teaching complicated histories is a difficult task. Teachers need support to approach the historical context of present-day conflicts in their classrooms. It’s important that the Ministry of Education and Child Care, school districts and community partners come together with teachers to create the supports and resources we need to teach challenging world events.”

At press time, none of the President’s Message that deals with the AGM motion could be found on the Teacher website. There, only the first half of the message was posted – in which Johnston talks about the edition’s feature on “societal attitudes toward disability justice and excellence,” and inclusion in schools.

The BCTF did not respond to multiple emails and phone calls from the Jewish Independent for comment on the motion, which was passed at the BCTF’s AGM March 16-19 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. While the organization’s communications person briefly added the JI to the BCTF’s media list, the paper apparently was removed from that list after inquiring if the receipt of a press release on an unrelated topic meant that answers to the JI’s questions about the AGM would be answered. There was no response, nor has the JI received any further BCTF press releases.

The Jewish Independent found out about the BCTF motion in early April not from the BCTF, but from two other sources: a group called Parents for Palestine, claiming the vote a victory for their own campaign to have the Nakba (Catastrophe) – the term used by many Palestinians and others to describe the creation of the state of Israel and the 1948 war – added to the BC curriculum, and from a Jewish parent, asking people to “Reject political propaganda in schools’ curriculum.”

Parents for Palestine and the groups Teachers 4 Palestine BC, Independent Jewish Voices (Vancouver, Victoria and University of British Columbia), Canada Palestine Association-Vancouver, BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish Territories, Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (which in 2021 was designated a terror group by Israel for its ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine), Labour for Palestine Vancouver & Victoria, Palestinian Youth Movement Vancouver, and Freedom from War Coalition have started a petition on the Action Network called “Demand That the Nakba Be Added to the BC Curriculum.” Those groups (minus BDS Vancouver-Coast Salish Territories) also have online an open letter to Minister of Education and Child Care Rachna Singh, where organizations and individuals can add their name.

“As a Jewish parent whose grandparents were Holocaust survivors, I believe my children need an education that equips them with the knowledge and tools to build a future where genocide is no longer possible,” says parent Tamara Herman, a member of Independent Jewish Voices, in the Parents for Palestine press release. “Our kids will be confronted with the future impacts of the genocide that Israel is currently committing in Gaza. Receiving a partial history of the creation of Israel that includes the Holocaust but erases the Nakba robs them of the knowledge and tools they need now and in the future.” 

image - A page from the BC Teachers’ Federation Israel-Palestine classroom resource, called The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Searching for a Just Peace
A page from the BC Teachers’ Federation Israel-Palestine classroom resource, called The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Searching for a Just Peace.

Vancouver parent Masha Kleiner’s petition on change.org reads, in part, “The role of a teacher in a child’s life is paramount and should not be used to advance any political agenda. By introducing such a change to the curriculum, it has the potential to increase targeted hatred of specific children thus creating an unsafe learning environment.”

In the press release she sent to the Independent, Kleiner, who was born in the Soviet Union, writes, “It is not a coincidence that I chose to raise my children in Canada. I wanted my children to grow, internalize and embrace the fundamental Canadian values of safety, diversity, tolerance and freedom. These values are core to Canadian society and they stem from all orders of life, first and foremost, education.

“This is why, as a parent, I couldn’t remain silent when I encountered the motion to add teaching of ‘Nakba and occupation’ to the school curriculum in BC. This motion goes against everything that Canada stands for. This motion is not only harmful on many different levels, but it also exposes dangerous manifestations in the existing curriculum.”

Kleiner is concerned that the BCTF motion and “the polarizing and isolating political agenda it brings into classrooms will create an unsafe and even hostile environment. This motion is not educating students about specific historical events and perspectives; it introduces a one-sided, politically motivated, biased narrative that is being used to target and marginalize particular students or groups.

“The history and the conflict in the Middle East is one of the most complex and multifaceted topics in the history of modern conflicts,” she continues. “Its roots are grounded in millennia of history as well as religious and cultural bedrocks of numerous societies. It is deeply intertwined with recent and modern political and military powers and other conflicts. What’s more, it is a highly sensitive, controversial and even disruptive topic that affects people’s lives all over the world.” 

The original motion presented at the BCTF AGM had only two points: 

“That the Federation: 

“1. acknowledge that the Nakba and the Israel war of independence are significant historical events that are essential to understanding the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“2. make a recommendation to the Ministry of Education and Child Care to include the Nakba and the Israel war of independence as part of the social studies and history curricula.”

The amendments were added on the day of the vote, which took place March 18. A 56-44 majority passed the amended motion, according to a teacher who was at the AGM.

This teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, questioned the value of the motion, noting that teachers could already include the subject in lessons. They said that, while the Nakba could be added to the list of sample topics in the curriculum, that still wouldn’t make the teaching of it mandatory.

image - The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Searching for a Just Peace coverThere is a resource available for teachers already, which was developed by the BCTF in 2016. Called The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Searching for a Just Peace, several sections are objectively biased, notably regarding the history of the region. Just two examples: Jews’ right to the land isn’t acknowledged, only that Palestinians lost their homeland; and the fact that hundreds of thousands of Jews were forced to flee Arab countries isn’t mentioned, only that “700,000 Palestinians were driven or fled from their homes and became refugees and many villages were destroyed.”

The teacher thought that the AGM motion was made, in part, as a reaction to the provincial government having made Holocaust education a mandatory part of the curriculum. At this point, the province has no plans to follow suit with the Nakba.

“I’m leaving it to the teachers,” Singh told CBC in a May 2 interview. “I feel that they are fully equipped and they have the professional judgment on how to assess their student population and how to impart these lessons. This is what my expectation is, that every child is feeling safe in their schools.” 

BCTF nixes antisemitism efforts 

A group of public school teachers who are pressing for resources and  supports to help educate about antisemitism and the Holocaust have been rejected by the provincial teachers’ union.

The recently formed Holocaust and Antisemitism Educators Association was informed earlier this month that their application for recognition as a provincial specialist association has been rejected by the relevant branch of the BC Teachers’ Federation.

Provincial specialist associations (PSAs) support the development of teaching resources and host professional development sessions on specific subject areas. They receive funding from the BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) to do so.

The Holocaust and Antisemitism Educators Association (HAEA) was created in response to the Government of British Columbia’s decision last October to make Holocaust education a mandatory part of the BC curriculum.

Eyal Daniel, the president of the HAEA, said he is shocked by the decision and is hoping the BCTF executive will reverse it. 

“The letter I received said that we should work with other PSAs – which is confusing because the formation of our group was specifically supported by the relevant PSA, the social studies group, as being important and necessary,” Daniel said in a media release.

Ginaya Peters, the founder of BC Teachers Against Antisemitism, expressed dismay. 

“I am trying to comprehend this and am failing,” she said in the same release. “When the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre tells the BCTF that our PSA is needed in order to implement the mandatory Holocaust curriculum that they are helping to develop, they are literally ignoring the voices of experts in the field, and they are denying us the resources to teach the topic properly.”

Ezra Shanken, chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, said the decision seems to confirm reports heard by members of the Jewish community recently.

“We have heard a number of disturbing rumours in the past few weeks about people fighting against the formation of this teachers’ specialist association – including that people believe that antisemitism isn’t related to the Holocaust,” said Shanken. “If this is their rationale, it is a form of Holocaust denial and flies in the face of what we have been told by Premier David Eby and his minister of education.”

“The HAEA has told me that they met every single requirement to be recognized by their union, and that no one can remember a time when a PSA that met every requirement was turned down,” said Nico Slobinsky, vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

screenshot - A social media post shared by the Anti-Oppression Educators Collective, a provincial specialist association of the BC Teachers’ Federation, which mentions Samidoun, which is linked to a listed terror organization and has organized events that glorify the murders and rapes that took place on Oct. 7
A social media post shared by the Anti-Oppression Educators Collective, a provincial specialist association of the BC Teachers’ Federation, which mentions Samidoun, which is linked to a listed terror organization and has organized events that glorify the murders and rapes that took place on Oct. 7. (image from BCTAA)

Jonathan Dyck, the chair of the BCTF Provincial Specialist Association Council, informed the HAEA of the decision last week, following a meeting of the council where the decision was taken June 4. According to the HAEA, he provided no rationale for the decision to recommend that resources and recognition not be provided to HAEA but was “strongly of the opinion that they would like to find ways to help members of your association feel valued and included.”

In a separate statement, BC Teachers Against Antisemitism lamented the absence of any explanation for the rejection.

“We are confused by the BCTF’s statement … as the statement fails to give any indication why a PSA dedicated to developing teaching resources and professional development around soon to be mandatory Holocaust education was rejected.

“As well, as of today there are no teaching resources available on the Holocaust or antisemitism available on the BCTF’s TeachBC site.”

In a series of social media posts on the BCTF’s X (Twitter) platform, the union outlined the standards aspiring PSAs must meet – but did not indicate any areas where the HAEA had fallen short.

“The tweets listed all the conditions which must be met for a PSA to be approved by the PSA council,” BC Teachers Against Antisemitism said in their statement. “The HAEA met these conditions, yet the council refused to recommend that the PSA be approved. The only condition not met was approval by the PSA council. This is surprising as no one can remember a PSA that met all the criteria ever being turned down before.”

The suggestion that the Holocaust and antisemitism educators instead work with existing PSAs is problematic and perplexing, they wrote, because the BC Social Studies Teachers Association recommended that the new PSA be approved, as did the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. Moreover, antisemitism has not been addressed by any other PSA. In fact, BC Teachers Against Antisemitism accuses the Anti-Oppression Educators Collective of promoting antisemitism, including by sharing posts on social media that include mention of Samidoun, which is linked to a listed terror organization and has organized events that glorify the murders and rapes that took place on Oct. 7.

Confounding matters further, the statement on BCTF’s website regarding the PSA vote, and antisemitism and Holocaust education, says, “It is our understanding that the council determined that existing PSAs already can and do support the proposed work.” However, separate searches of BCTF’s website for classroom resources on antisemitism and the Holocaust yield the results: “No resources matching the current search criteria were found.”

screenshot - search for Holocaust on BCTF website yields no resources found“The arguments that the HAEA work with existing PSAs to create Holocaust and antisemitism materials seems to fly in the face of established BCTF practices,” the BCTAA statement states. “The BCTF cannot present a valid reason for denying the approval of our PSA dedicated to helping educators deliver critical lessons on the Holocaust and antisemitism. We ask the BCTF to reverse its decision so we can move forward like other established PSAs and work with likeminded colleagues on supporting educators in BC.” 

– Information from Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, BC Teachers Against Antisemitism and BC Teachers Federation

VanCAF apologizes

Miriam Libicki in 2017, when she was writer-in-residence at the Vancouver Public Library. (photo by Jeff Vinnick/VPL)

The Vancouver Comic Arts Festival (VanCAF) issued a public apology to Miriam Libicki on June 2, eight days after posting online that it was permanently banning the American-Israeli graphic novelist and artist because she had once served in the Israel Defence Forces.  

Additionally, the apology stated, the vast majority of the board of directors who had written the May 25 “accountability statement” – which banned Libicki from the festival – have resigned. Those who have remained, the unnamed writers of the apology affirmed, are only there to help assist in the transition to a new board.

In a June 4 social media post responding to VanCAF’s about-face, Libicki, who resides in Vancouver, wrote, “I applaud this. I applaud the entire board responsible for the first accountability statement (which contained no accountability) resigning.” 

She added, “This is a really positive and necessary first step. I look forward to a restorative justice process with the new board when there is one, and to see the steps they make to ensure they can act ethically when (and it is a matter of when) a harassment brigade dogpiles again.”

VanCAF’s original statement, which did not mention Libicki by name – nor was it signed by anyone on its board – lamented “the oversight and ignorance to allow this exhibitor in the festival, not only this year but in 2022 as well.”

Libicki’s appearance at the festival, the former board said, “fundamentally falls in absolute disregard to all of our exhibiting artist’s (sic), attendees and staff, especially those who are directly affected by the ongoing genocide in Palestine and Indigenous community members alike. Upon examining these concerns and conducts, this exhibitor will not be permitted to return to the festival.”

The decision to ban Libicki received widespread attention in national and international Jewish and other media. Reports were published by the Canadian Jewish News, the Times of Israel, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and the Jewish News Syndicate, as well as the popular comics website, The Beat. According to an article on Vancouver arts and culture website Stir, VanCAF was contacted by a lawyer representing Libicki.

On May 29, VanCAF’s so-called accountability statement was removed from its website and social media accounts.

VanCAF’s June 2 apology said the organization wished to “express deep and sincere apologies for the impact our previous statement has caused. First and foremost, to the individual directly affected by our first post.

“The decision was ultimately wrong-headed and moved too quickly and without adequate consultation. We also wish to apologize to the wider impacted community. VanCAF has lost and continues to lose the trust of many we have sought to serve.

“Our statement was one that only represented the VanCAF board at the time of writing and had no relationship to the Roundhouse [the festival’s venue], any of our sponsors, or any former staff. It was solely our own statement.”

The apology finished by announcing that the organization was about to change and that it would strive to prioritize the safety of all attendees, volunteers and exhibitors. By the end of summer, it hoped to have a new team in charge of the festival.

Libicki’s work explores her Jewish identity and the clash of cultures through her own experiences. Her autobiographical comic series, jobnik!, which she self-published in 2008, looks at her service in the Israeli army during the Second Intifada. 

Toward a Hot Jew, published by Fantagraphics in 2016, is a series of graphic essays written over about 10 years, from her time in the IDF to her position as an art professor, and is a mix of autobiography, cultural commentary and analysis. In 2017, she was writer-in-residence at the Vancouver Public Library – it was the first time the library had chosen a graphic novelist for the position. She was a 2020 nominee for best short story in the Eisner Awards, considered by many to be the most prestigious honour in the comics industry, for her graphic essay, “Who Gets Called an ‘Unfit’ Mother?” Libicki was one of three graphic novelists selected to tell the stories of four Holocaust survivors in the 2022 book But I Live.

“I am a Jewish artist who makes nonfiction and autobiographical comics,” Libicki told the Canadian Jewish News last month after the VanCAF ban was announced. “I am, and I have consistently, publicly, been pro-peace. I am in favour of a Palestinian state via negotiations. Because of the vulnerable populations I work with, I prefer not to discuss my specific political views in public. I believe all policing of artists’ personal identities and nationalities is wrong.”

Libicki exhibited at VanCAF every year from 2012 until 2022. In 2022, members of the public notified festival volunteers, complaining that VanCAF had included, according to Stir, a Zionist who was showing Zionist propaganda.

Stir reported that Libicki had missed the initial call for applications in 2023 and was not given a table by organizers because they wanted to look into the 2022 incident. This year, VanCAF at first denied Libicki a table, but later said she could be included if she only exhibited But I Live.

Libicki told Stir that she wants to use the recent publicity to garner funds for peace activists in Israel and Palestine. She is selling a watercolour series of seahorses, the proceeds of which will go entirely to the Mothers Call, which Stir describes as “a grassroots collaboration between Women of the Sun in Palestine and Women Wage Peace in Israel.”

In a June 2 social media post, Libicki expressed appreciation for all the messages of support she has received recently and offered a positive outlook.

“I believe we can move towards a peaceful and just (as just as possible) resolution to that public incident,” she wrote. 

Sam Margolis has written for the Globe and Mail, the National Post, UPI and MSNBC.