University campuses are the battlefield for Jewish future, Sharansky and Cotler agree
TORONTO — In reminiscing about the Soviet Jewish struggle that bound them together, former dissident and political prisoner Natan Sharansky, and Irwin Cotler, the human rights lawyer and politician who helped free him, underscored the sense of embarrassment they say many young Jews today feel about Israel.
The right, the left and the forgetful
As elections approach in Canada and the United States, partisans of the left and right vie for Jewish support. In both countries, and elsewhere, Jews have historically sided with the liberal left. Increasingly, however, conservative-minded Jews, encouraged by uncritical pro-Israel pronouncements of the contemporary political and religious right, and motivated by their own perceived economic interests, have been touting a rightward tilt. Many of them seem oblivious to history.
Should Canada re-engage with Iran?
During an interview with CBC last Tuesday, Liberal party Leader Justin Trudeau stated his intention to cancel the bombing missions in Iraq and Syria that currently constitute Canada’s main contribution in the war against the Islamic State (ISIS).
“This government has failed miserably to demonstrate why the best mission for Canada is to participate in a bombing mission,” he explained, pledging instead to focus on training Iraqi forces.
Liberal party defends Trudeau statements on Iran
Justin Trudeau would “hope to re-open [Canada’s] mission in Iran,” but doing so would be conditional on several factors, a spokesperson for the Liberal leader told The CJN.
“We have been clear that this will depend on many factors, including ongoing human rights abuses and the outcome of negotiations between the P5+1 nations and Iran,” said Kate Purchase, Trudeau’s director of communications.
Montreal mayor vows to lead fight against anti-Semitism
MONTREAL — A hate crimes department within the Montreal police force might be a good idea Mayor Denis Coderre said following a meeting with Jewish community leaders from here and France at city hall on June 25.
Coderre and members of his executive committee held a two-hour closed-door session to discuss what role cities can play in combating anti-Semitism in Montreal and globally.
He underlined the frequent link between anti-Semitism and radicalization and its violent expression.
Learning lessons from Concordia
In September 2002, a violent protest at Concordia University forced the cancellation of a planned speech by Benjamin Netanyahu, then a private citizen and former prime minister of Israel. A short time later, as the first Israeli to speak after that riot, I was escorted by a phalanx of security officers to a Concordia classroom to give a lecture on Middle East political developments. By this time and for many years later, the Montreal campus had become synonymous with hatred and intolerance targeting Israel and Israelis.
Ontario premier says she’ll lead trade mission to Israel
TORONTO — Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne told an appreciative audience of more than 700 people at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto’s annual Words & Deeds Leadership Award Dinner that she’ll be leading a trade mission to Israel next spring.
Week of June 18, 2015
Good news from CHAT
The big news for the Jewish future in Toronto is that next year’s Grade 9 class at TanenbaumCHAT is on track to be larger than the current Grade 9. Our goal is to continue that trend, despite the precarious state of Jewish day school education.
Something hateful this way comes
Recently anti-Semitism made an unwelcome and sadly familiar reappearance in the Beaches area of Toronto. The Toronto Police hate crimes unit is now investigating whether Your Ward News, a previously wacky and now racist publication, may be violating Canada’s hate laws.
Indeed, a read of the current edition may stun some readers. My friend Warren Kinsella, author of the seminal book Web of Hate, certainly thinks the newsletter falls into the hate category and has neatly listed the violations on his website warrenkinsella.com.
Q&A Kathleen Wynne: I’m very eager to go to Israel
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne will be honoured by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto at the Words and Deeds Leadership Award Dinner to be held June 22 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel here.
Wynne was chosen as the honoree because she “has been winning accolades across the province for building non-confrontational consensus,” Joel Reitman, Greater Toronto co-chair of CIJA and a federation board member, told The CJN.
