Jewish communities across the world recently celebrated the Purim holiday. The story of how political action saved the Jews of Persia, reminds us that it is essential for our community to have a voice in the political process.
In Canada, we recognize the importance of electing Jewish community members at federal, provincial, and municipal levels as well as electing those who understand the issues of importance to us. We must be a full partner of government and democracy, which means having advocates in all political parties.
The Jewish community is best served when support for community issues, including Israel, are not defined along partisan lines. The rise of the extremist Israeli Apartheid Week events on university campuses and the vitriol of the BDS (boycott,divestment and sanctions) movement has been of immense concern to our community in recent years. Just recently, on March 15, the politics of intolerance and division were on full display in presentations, demonstrations, and a BDS resolution at the McGill Student General Assembly. Similar spectacles of intolerance were planned for Toronto campuses during this week’s Israeli Apartheid Week.
The BDS movement attacks the free exchange of ideas that is at the heart of our university system. Labeling Israel an apartheid state moves beyond reasonable criticism of Israeli government policies and into the demonization of all Zionists. It creates an atmosphere of hostility and intimidation for Jewish and pro-Israel students on campus.
In the face of this threat, the community reacted in a truly Canadian way – bringing together a wide range of groups and leaders – some Jewish and some not – to say that “Enough is Enough!” Elected officials from all levels of government and of all partisan stripes stood together with McGill students in opposition to this latest BDS assault.
And then, a couple days before the McGill resolution, one more voice was heard through Twitter, rallying McGill students in opposition to the March 15 vote. That voice belonged to Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, like us, a McGill alumnus. His message was clear; “The BDS movement, like Israeli Apartheid Week, has no place on Canadian campuses. As a @McGillU alum, I’m disappointed. #EnoughIsEnough.”
As federal Liberal candidates in the next election, we have been very proud of the clear and unequivocal stand taken by Trudeau and the Liberal party on this issue.
In a speech to students at the University of British Columbia earlier this month, Trudeau clearly stated that neither Israeli Apartheid Week nor the BDS movement have a place on Canadian campuses. We echo and share that commitment and we will work hard to ensure that Canadian campuses are not overrun with the shameful politics of intolerance and division.
Recently, Mount Royal Liberal MP Irwin Cotler launched a debate on anti-Semitism in the House of Commons. It culminated with unanimous support from members of all parties voting in favour of a well-drafted resolution on the issue. The fact that we currently have a Parliament where all three major political parties are prepared to take such a stand is something that we as Canadian Jews should be proud of, and something worth working to retain.
We now need to continue to work together at other campuses across Canada. Israeli Apartheid Week in Toronto takes place this week, and so the hard work must continue to ensure our Jewish students feel as safe and valued on campus as we did 20 years ago. On this issue and many others of great importance to our community, we are strongest when we stand together, not as partisans but as Canadians.
Anthony Housefather is an attorney, the mayor of Cote Saint-Luc and Liberal candidate in Mount Royal. Michael Levitt is a Toronto businessman, Jewish community leader and Liberal candidate in York Centre.
