"We have to be open-eyed that the [Liberal-led Canadian] government is not a reliable partner."
"Security is foundational, but insufficient. I don't want to be a hostage in my own shul the rest of my life."
"In
terms of standing up for Jewish rights -- for Jews to be proudly and
openly Jewish, and proud Zionists -- that's something we have to support
ourselves. It's not that long ago that prime minister Trudeau stood up
and proclaimed he was a Zionist. But his successor did not say the same
thing, and that's telling."
Rabbi Adam Cutler, Adath Israel synagogue, Toronto
"[Carney] scattered crumbs of concern, and acted like it was a feast."
"[The
Prime Minister was] playing a politically charged 4D chess game. He
moved his knight, and now we respond, as a Jewish community by moving
our queen."
"[Whereas
Carney] came on our turf to lecture us, to have us listen to our own
problems [community leaders as a group should meet Carney on Parliament
Hill and] have him sit and listen to us, while we tell him the real
roots of the problems, and offer our own recommendations. All with the
cameras on, too."
Matthew Taub, director Unapologetically Jewish advocacy group
"The
prime minister's speech at Toronto's Holy Blossom synagogue on June 1
was the latest in a] series of slaps in the face [from the prime
ministers to the Jewish community.] It's all up to us now. I would like
to see the community proactively mobilized, for sure."
"I
think that what we're failing to do is show up in large numbers ... I
think that this is partially the failure of our own leadership."
"When
the encampments went up, what was the reaction? Handwringing and
feeling terrible. But the number of people who actually showed up to
confront the people involved in the encampment was minimal."
"It's
just that our own numbers stay home. Maybe it's exhaustion, but we're
not, to be honest, doing our part to defend ourselves."
"If we want to have standing the community, it's not going to be given to us. We have to stand up and demand it."
Michael Teper, president, Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation
 |
| A poster against antisemitism seen on International Day for the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Markham, Ontario, Canada, on
March 22, 2025. (Creative Touch Imaging Ltd/NurPhoto via Reuters) |
The
Jewish community is still reeling with abandoned hope in the wake of
the prime minister of their country of birth abandoning his
responsibility to serve and protect all the people of the country
without fear or favour, equally and with the full powers of his
executive position. They heard a speech recounting everything they
already know; that their community is in grave danger; that threats have
given way to dangerous violence; being visibly Jewish in the larger
Canadian community has brought out the vitriolic hatred of antisemites,
spurred to expression by a burgeoning Muslim population now representing
5 percent of the Canadian population; 10 percent in Toronto, according
to 2021 figures.
That
number has grown even larger in the past five years, with the total
Muslim-Canadian population now approaching two million as opposed to a
Jewish-Canadian population of 400,000. Where demographic voting blocs
are concerned, clearly there is an advantage in catering to one that has
four times the ballot box potential of the other. So, while Mr. Carney
decried the shootings and fire-bombings at Jewish houses of worship and
schools, the vandalism at community centres and Jewish-owned businesses,
never once did he hint at the source of these -- like the campus
anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian camps harassing Jewish faculty and staff --
Muslim-incited.
 |
| Photo Credit: Matt Gurney |
"Canada's civic compact is failing Jewish Canadians",
said the prime minister, yet from his attitude of condemnation and
empathy, never did he hint at the foundational cause; the importation of
cultural/religious Jew-hate courtesy of immigrants, refugees, illegal
migrants and student visas emanating from the Middle East and North
Africa -- emigrants bringing with them part of their heritage that
rejects Canadian social norms and values. One can commiserate with the
plight of Canadian Jews, but never betray the source of their
affliction.
"We
have nothing to expect from this government. They've made it very clear
they're not interested in supporting the Jewish community. They've made
it very clear that they don't really even see much of a problem",
stated Amir Epstein, director of pro-Israel advocacy group Tafsik,
based in Toronto. It has been during the past decade, matching the
latest tenure of the Liberals as government in Canada, that the
Canadian-Muslim population has approached such heights of community
size. And never has the federal government intervened even once to do
its part to put a stop to the venomous racist campaign demonizing Israel
and Jewish Canadians.
In
May alone the prime minister admonished Israel, had a 'cordial phone
call' with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to congratulate him on the
PA's ripening (absent) democratic credentials, then a call to
Israeli President Isaac Herzog that left much to be desired in terms of
friendly relationships of mutual trust. The icing on the cake was Louise
Arbour's choice as the next governor general, who as UN human rights
chief, UN Watch pointed out her repeated singling out of Israel as a
'human rights abuser' reflecting her sympathies with Palestinian
victimhood.
 |
| A large anti-Israel protest in Ottawa in August. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia |
Her
support for a regional human rights charter equating Zionism with
racism helped Israel bashers feel entitled and diminished the impact of
Israel's responses to terrorist violence as a self-defense reality.
Rabbi Yael Splansky of the synagogue where Carney's speech took place
had her own solution as an offering to remedy the situation: "Every
peace-loving, democracy-loving Canadian ought to make antisemitism
their concern and make their voices heard by their own elected leaders
The Jewish community has been doing this work for years, but we cannot
do it alone. Because antisemitism has been allowed to seep into Canadian
waters, only a groundswell response can turn back the tide."
And there are other potential responses that could go a long way to solving these problems: Ottawa should "name the problem clearly .. antisemitism in Canada is being driven in significant part by anti-Israel and anti-Zionist hatred." The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs suggests: "ensure
that terrorist organizations, their proxies, and their adherents cannot
operate here. Public funds should not support organizations that
initiate or promote hatred against the Jewish community. This must
include addressing the weaponization of national institutions, including
the Canada Revenue Agency and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights."
 |
| Following his speech on antisemitism at Toronto's Holy Blossom synagogue
June 1, 2026 Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Jewish leaders
including (left) Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish
Affairs, and Anna Shternshis, head of the Jewish Studies department at
the University of Toronto.
Carney said Canadian Jews are being "brutally targeted by hatred".
(Photo by Ellin Bessner/The CJN.) |
"This
isn't a time to shrink back, but to further engage elected officials.
It's time for all of us to be active and make sure that they're hearing
directly from us, and that we are doing our part in the equation to push
them to do their part."
"Regardless
of what party they're from, regardless of what part of the country
you're in, their job is to listen to you, and represent you in the
Parliament or the legislature or city hall."
Noah Shack, CEO, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs