Join us online at noon today for a community-wide briefing on the latest developments in the fight against antisemitism and what you can do. Click here to receive Zoom log-in details.

Keeping you updated on what we’re doing to fight antisemitism and defend the rights of Jewish Canadians is more important than ever.

This begins by not only sharing what we’re doing as a community, but why we’re doing it. Our strategy is anchored in three key priorities:

1. Accountability for antisemites. Those who spread hatred against Jews are growing more aggressive and brazen. It is crucial to use every legal tool at our disposal to hold them accountable.
    
2. Relationships with allies. While we know many people beyond our community respect Jews and oppose hate, far too few are speaking out against Jew hatred. It is essential to deepen our relationships with allies, expose the reality of the hate we’re facing, and encourage bystanders to stand up for what’s right.
    
3. Empowerment of Jewish activists. Our community is strong and many people want to make a difference, but feel they don’t have the knowledge or tools to do so. We need to engage as many community members as possible to take concrete action against Jew hatred.
    

There’s much to share about what UJA and others in the community are doing to advance this strategy. Today, we wanted to focus on one important area—legal accountability—and provide an update on five key developments:

1. Recently, the Government of Canada announced it is restoring funding to UNRWA, the UN agency whose staff were exposed as having taken part in the October 7 attacks. In response, our advocacy agent the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) announced it is challenging this shameful decision in court, with the goal of stopping the flow of Canadian funds to UNRWA. We’ll keep you informed as the legal effort advances.
    
2. With the assistance of CIJA’s Legal Task Force, Jewish workers are taking the Public Service Alliance of Canada to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal. They are calling for the union to be held accountable for promoting an anti-Israel agenda and fostering a culture of discrimination and harassment against Jewish members. Read here for more details.
    
3. UJA, CIJA, and Pro Bono Ontario have launched the Combatting Antisemitism in Schools Project. With hatred against Jewish students on the rise, the Project provides free legal services for low and moderate-income families whose children experience antisemitism at school. Read here for more details or to access support.
    
4. Jew-hating, anti-Israel activists have increasingly targeted Jewish institutions for protest, most recently at synagogues in Thornhill. Because anti-Israel activists are constantly shifting their tactics, together with CIJA we’re calling on the Government of Ontario to restrict protests from taking place in close proximity to any community institutions. If you haven’t done so yet, please join us in emailing Ontario’s Attorney General to ask for this important policy change. If you would like an example email, please connect with us.
    
5. Recent changes to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) policies are now threatening the very existence of kosher meat production in Canada. CIJA has been working closely with kosher certification agencies as well as meat producers to oppose these changes and preserve kosher methods, which animal welfare experts confirm to be a humane form of slaughter. While engaging the government, CIJA and leaders in the sector have been in ongoing conversation with CFIA to seek a viable solution. Unfortunately, the Inspection Agency has been unresponsive. CIJA and key parties are now seeking a legal injunction to end this threat to Canada’s kosher industry. Read here for more details.

As this important work continues, we’re also calling on our community to join us in speaking out against an NDP motion on Parliament Hill, scheduled for March 18. The motion not only reiterates support for UNRWA funding. It also calls for an arms embargo against Israel and immediate recognition of Palestinian statehood. This would be a radical departure from Canada’s traditional policy—one that would effectively reward Hamas and other Palestinian extremists. Click here to send an email to Canada’s elected officials and call on them to oppose this motion.

These efforts are part of a larger story of the incredible way our entire community is stepping up to fight hate. We are grateful for the many organizations and grassroots activists throughout the community who are working hard to advance the cause.

If you would like to help—or if you are working on an initiative that we can assist with—we’re here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

Sincerely,