{"id":42619,"date":"2023-11-10T01:58:43","date_gmt":"2023-11-10T09:58:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=42619"},"modified":"2023-11-09T14:41:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T22:41:06","slug":"united-against-antisemitism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2023\/11\/10\/united-against-antisemitism\/","title":{"rendered":"United against antisemitism"},"content":{"rendered":"

Among those on stage as Irwin Cotler received a lifetime achievement award from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs last month were, left to right, Yves-Fran\u00e7ois Blanchet (Bloc Quebecois leader), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ariela and Irwin Cotler, David Posluns (one of the event co-chairs), Steven Kroft (one of the event co-chairs), Pierre Poilievre (Conservative Party leader) and Shimon Koffler Fogel (head of CIJA). (photo by Dave Gordon)<\/em><\/p>\n

It was a conference months in the making, but Antisemitism: Face It, Fight It took on heightened poignancy in light of the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel and the subsequent spike in Jew-hatred globally.<\/p>\n

Produced by Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), the conference took place in Ottawa Oct. 16 and 17. Speakers included activists, politicians, experts and analysts on antisemitism. In attendance were 250 student leaders and some 600 others, Jews and non-Jews, according to organizers.<\/p>\n

Shimon Koffler Fogel, chief executive officer of CIJA, noted there was an outpouring of support from the major political party leaders, as well as from minority, faith and other groups \u2013 \u201ca uniform conclusion about Hamas and their actions, and we should embrace that.\u201d<\/p>\n

This message was echoed throughout the two days of the conference.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt can\u2019t just be Jews who talk about the rise of antisemitism. It can\u2019t just be Muslims that talk about anti-Muslim hate,\u201d said Farah Pandith, senior advisor to the Anti-Defamation League. \u201cIt can\u2019t be. Whether we are talking about LGBTQ or issues of heritage or gender, we\u2019ve had to stand up for each other. As a Muslim, it\u2019s what my religion tells me I must do for the other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former premier of Alberta Jason Kenney, who was elected as an MP in 1997, said he became a supporter of the Jewish people after the \u201cunravelling of the Oslo process,\u201d and learning of the antisemitism coming from Palestinian mosques and leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not take for granted the positions being expressed here in Ottawa today,\u201d said Kenney. \u201cYou must redouble your efforts intelligently to build coalitions across the pluralism of this country, and to be a voice of clarity and courage with our political leadership.\u201d Citing examples of possible coalitions, he told the JI<\/em> that \u201cthe Jewish community has to continue to reach out to Muslim and other communities, find allies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know we can best tackle what we are seeing when we work together, when we are not siloed,\u201d said Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani, an Ismaili Muslim, in his speech. \u201cHatred and intolerance against any minority community is a risk to every minority community. That\u2019s why groups promoting equity have to have each other\u2019s backs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emily Schrader, digital strategist and senior correspondent of Ynet News, observed, \u201cWe see now that all over the world there are Iranians organizing and participating in rallies to support Israel \u2026 despite knowing that the Iranian regime is the biggest supporter of Hamas. The Iranian people have a complete rejection of the regime.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canadian human rights advocate Irwin Cotler received a lifetime achievement award from CIJA \u201cin recognition of his enduring commitment to the pursuit of justice\u201d and \u201cthe advancement of human rights for the world\u2019s most vulnerable and oppressed.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his acceptance speech, Cotler applauded the multi-partisan groups standing up against antisemitism, \u201cwho heed this call to action, where we act in concert on behalf of our common humanity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cotler was a parliamentarian from 1999 to 2015 and is a former minister of justice. Over the course of his legal career, he represented clients such as Natan Sharansky and Nelson Mandela. Until recently, he was the government\u2019s special envoy on antisemitism. He said \u201c2023 is not 1943\u201d and \u201cthere is a Jewish state as an antidote to Jewish powerlessness.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 1943,\u201d he said, \u201cthe Jews could not get a meeting with the president of the United States, and, in 2023, the president has been a leader in calling out this [Hamas\u2019s] moral evil.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cotler told the JI<\/em> that young Jews should bravely step forward to \u201ccall out antisemitism when they see it, unmask it, expose it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called out Hamas as a \u201cterrorist organization that launched an attack of unspeakable brutality\u201d and said \u201cCanada supports Israel\u2019s right to defend itself in accordance with international law.\u201d He said the only thing Hamas stands for is \u201cmore suffering for Israeli and Palestinian civilians.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addressing \u201cscary rising antisemitism,\u201d Trudeau said \u201cfamilies are worried about what they face if they go to synagogue, and I\u2019m sure you are all seeing hateful rhetoric online.\u201d He ended by saying, in Hebrew, \u201cgam zu l\u2019avor<\/em>\u201d \u2013 \u201cthis too shall pass.\u201d<\/p>\n

Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, head of the Conservative Party, vowed that his party would stand with Israel, and acknowledged the fears of many Jewish Canadians. About Oct. 7, he said, \u201cthe terrorists that carried out this attack did so as part of a deliberate agenda: to maximize bloodshed not only of the Jewish people, but actually to maximize the bloodshed of Palestinians and Muslims as well. These are the actions of sadistic, criminal terrorists who can only be defeated and not negotiated with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Poilievre added that, especially in light of Iran\u2019s fingerprints being on the attacks, governments must \u201crespond with crippling sanctions \u2013 the strongest legal action \u2013 and by criminalizing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party, said, \u201cThese are horrific attacks and we strongly condemn them. There is no place in our world for terrorism. The international community must work together to ensure that there is an end to terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.\u201d<\/p>\n

Singh acknowledged that Jews in Canada are \u201cdeeply afraid\u201d and \u201cworried about their safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s wrong and I\u2019m deeply sorry it\u2019s happening,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In noting pro-Hamas rallies around the world, Singh said, \u201cWe\u2019ve seen horrible celebrations for the attacks on Israelis civilians. This is abhorrent. This is antisemitism. Violence against civilians is never justified.\u201d<\/p>\n

He concluded: \u201cI know that not everyone will agree with our position on a ceasefire, but I believe the only way to peace is to talk to each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

Historian and author Gil Troy encouraged the audience to not forget the courage of \u201cour citizen\u2019s army, our plainclothes commandos, our kibbutzim Rambos and our army,\u201d who saved innocents from much worse.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I heard these stories, I shift[ed] from the victim mentality to the Zionist mentality. The Zionist is one that says \u2018yes, we sometimes suffer,\u2019 but we are not passive and we are not victims. The Zionist story says we are not alone. We can\u2019t let them win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calgary-based communications consultant Emile Scheffel, who is not-Jewish, told the JI<\/em>: \u201cHistory shows that those who threaten the Jewish people are enemies of freedom and dignity for the rest of us as well. I stand with Israel because the Jewish state embodies the values of freedom, democracy and pluralism that are important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cthe conference was an important call to action for non-Jews to stand with our Jewish friends and neighbours in opposing hatred and discrimination. A united front is essential to making sure that antisemitism doesn\u2019t gain any more ground in Canada, and that Jewish Canadians can live in peace and security.\u201d<\/p>\n

Attendee Nika Jabiyeva, member of the Network of Azerbaijani Canadians, said she was proud to \u201cstand against hate, shoulder to shoulder with our friends in the Jewish community and many multifaith allies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur voices carry more weight when we speak up for one another,\u201d she said, \u201cespecially during trying times.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dave Gordon<\/strong> is a Toronto-based freelance writer whose work has appeared in more than 100 publications around the world. His website is davegordonwrites.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Among those on stage as Irwin Cotler received a lifetime achievement award from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs last month were, left to right, Yves-Fran\u00e7ois Blanchet (Bloc Quebecois leader), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ariela and Irwin Cotler, David Posluns (one of the event co-chairs), Steven Kroft (one of the event co-chairs), Pierre Poilievre […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":42621,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[801,22723,305,458,22721,22724,22722,3358,4361,689,9302,3102,770,22720,22719,3597,7281,1774],"class_list":["post-42619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","tag-antisemitism","tag-arif-virani","tag-centre-for-israel-and-jewish-affairs","tag-cija","tag-emile-scheffel","tag-emily-schrader","tag-farah-pandith","tag-gil-troy","tag-hamas","tag-irwin-cotler","tag-jagmeet-singh","tag-jason-kenney","tag-justin-trudeau","tag-nika-jabiyeva","tag-pierre-poilievre","tag-politics","tag-shimon-koffler-fogel","tag-terrorism"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42619","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42619"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42619\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42619"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42619"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42619"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}