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Creative Constructs in Antisemitism | CAEF Bulletin, March 17, 2025

Writer: CAEFCAEF

Air Canada Erases Israel

Air Canada Erases Israel from map

Screenshot of Air Canada inflight map, as revealed by Arurtz Sheva, March 11, 2025 online, 7Israel National News. There can be no excuse of system error, tech interference, a slip of memory. Just who decided to erase Israel and who will be held accountable?



Read Letter from Larry Shapiro, Calgary to Air Canada CEO.

 

Symposium on Antisemitism: Advancing Knowledge, Informing Responses, Uniting Efforts



Symposium on Antisemitism
 

Canadian PM Criticizes Israel, Ignores Hamas, and the Hostages


Within days of being elected as the new Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and hence the Prime Minister of this fabulous country, Mark Carney posted a condemnation of Israel, without any comment about what led to Israel’s action to cut off electricity to the terrorist enclave of Gaza. No word about the massacre on October 7th has been issued by Carney since declaring his candidacy for PM. No word on the hostages, now word on Israel’s right to defend itself, the ongoing jihad against Israel, the terror that comes from having emboldened terror entities in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen.


It has been more than two days that the supply of electricity to Gaza has been shut off. It must resume — essentials including food, electricity, and medical supplies should never be used as political tools.  Canada must work with our allies to stand up for international law to promote sustainable peace and security in the Middle East and to support full access to humanitarian aid for Palestinian families.   As this work continues, both parties must work towards the return of all hostages and the completion of the ceasefire agreement. - Mark Carney

Read Christine Williams in Jihad Watch on the PM’s condemnation of Israel.

 

Toronto Police Officers Boast About Muslim Conversion Post October 7th


A video is circulating on social media of two Toronto police officers, Farhan and Siddiqui, in uniform dialoguing about Islam and the rate of reversion to Islam since October 7, 2023. This video may have been a commissioned training video, but CAEF is inquiring via a formal FOI as to its background purpose and release. In the meantime, it has caused outrage among the Jewish and allied communities. It is entirely inappropriate for any police personnel, particularly in uniform to favour one religion over all others. It is breach of ethics.


The video has since been taken down from the Toronto Police Services site and an apology issued. Apologies are insufficient. Taking the video down is insufficient. If the Chief of Police does not discipline the officers, require mandatory  training on antisemitism and begin to call out all  his officers and administrators who are antisemitic, he fails the Jewish community, and he fails the entire population of Toronto.




CAEF and other Jewish organizations are requesting the Toronto Police Services Board add an item  to their April 10thmeeting agenda; clarifying the purpose and bases, content and accountability for this video. Members of the community fully expect this item to be on the agenda and that the board hear delegations as to the negative impact of such material on the Jewish and wider community.


Michael Teper, VP of CAEF filed a formal complaint with the Toronto Police Services (TPS) Board.


Write your own letter to Toronto City Councillors who serve on the TPS Board asking they add this item to their agenda.


Councillor Lily Cheng:   Councillor_Cheng@toronto.ca

Councillor Shelley Carroll:   Councillor_Carroll@toronto.ca

Councillor/Deputy Mayor Amber Morley:   Councillor_Morley@toronto.ca

 

Community Impact Statements Largely Ignored at Disciplinary Hearing


The case against Leslie Bory, found guilty of inciting hatred, concluded at a sentencing hearing on March 10th  attended by CAEF’s Vice President Michael Teper and representatives of other Jewish organizations. Following the decision of Justice James Ramsey, Teper wrote a letter to journalist Susan Gamble of the Brantford Expositor, a newspaper in Brantford, the town in which the hearing took place. The outcome of the hearing was disappointing.


Read the article in The Brantford Expositor by Susan Gamble on March 12th.


 

Assault Charges Dropped Against Teen Who Harmed Elderly Jewish Protester


While acknowledging the damage to person and community by an 18 year old anti-Israel protester against an 88 year old Jewish man standing with an Israeli flag at the weekly pro-Israel rally at Bathurst and Sheppard Avenues, the judge ordered probation and dropped the assault charge.


 

CAEF Questions Antisemitic Stance of Elementary Teachers Union Official


In response to the Toronto District School Boad adoption a motion to receive a report that recommends both affirming Jewish identity and countering antisemitism, Nigel  Barriffe, Vice President of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto, sent a letter accusing Jewish organizations of various misdemeanors and conspiracies.  Doing so is blatant antisemitism and doing it in an official capacity warrants a stern response and discipline. The ETT should remove Mr. Barriffe from office given his anti-Jewish tirade.


CAEF’s Vice President, Michael Teper sent a letter to Karen Brown, President of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario challenging her to either support Barriffe’s outrageous claims with evidence of act expediently to remove him from office. Brown responded that the local branches of EFTO are independent, thus she could not direct ETT to take any action. Subsequently, the same letter was sent to the President of the ETT, Helen Victoros.

 

Anti-Israel Display Planned (Again) for Al Quds Day, March 23


Toronto is host to numerous ugly, harassing, despicable, lying anti-Israel activities on a regular basis, not least of which is a counter rally to the Jews who stand solidly for Israel and the release of hostages, every Sunday on a corner in NW Toronto. In 2018, Premier Douglas Ford vowed to not allow the poisonous Al Quds Day display, which calls for killing an entire population, to take place again in Ontario.


Where are you now, Premier Ford??


Sign the B’nai Brith Canada letter to Mayors in major Canadian cities to cancel Al Quds Hate fests.



Doug Ford Tweet
 

Markham Vigil for the Bibas Family


An evening vigil organized by Chabad was held in the municipality of Markham, Ontario on March 10th to remember the Bibas family, bringing Jews and allies together to remember those lost and demand the release of the remaining hostages.


Avi Attali and Anita Bromberg
 

Antisemitic Creativity—Change Balfour Beach to Gaza Beach


Recently the lame attempt to rename Balfour Beach in Georgina, to Gaza Beach, by an individual with a long history of anti -Israel bias, was rightly and swiftly rejected.


See the posting calling for this change and the Mayor's response below.


Dimitri Lascaris Tweet

Read the rich history behind the name, and the Jewish woman, Rose Dunkelman who purchased the land on which a cottage community was formed.


Mayor of Georgina, Margaret Quirk, published her response to the ludicrous, bigoted idea.


Statement from the Mayor of Georgina
 

The Shalom Project


CAEF’s Shalom Project, a 45 minute power point presentation is now available for virtual or in person settings. Prepared by Fern Quint and Charles Cooke z”l, this stimulating presentation is suitable for all adult audiences, in particular for non Jewish groups, and all who want to learn a brief history of the Jews, and about Zionism and antisemitism. Previews can be arranged and bookings can be done virtually or in person if in the Toronto area. Volunteers who join the Shalom Project team can deliver this presentation in their areas. For information contact andria@caef.ca


 

Truth Must Be Told



Listen to Alan Dershowitz in segment of interview with Rabbi Moshe Schneir reported by Yishai Fleisher, Spokesperson for the Jewish community of Hebron. This is a Chilling Warning to the Jewish Nation.


 

CAEF Supporting our Hindu Friends in Swastika Education & Awareness


Among our staunchest allies in the battle against antisemitism, and antiZionism, and the distortion of truth, are people of the Hindu faith. CAEF is pleased to be working with several Hindu organizations and to be listening to their concerns.


Hindus are experiencing harm similar to that of the Jews, in the form of hatred and vitriol against their faith and their country, India, from radical Islamists and others who want to sow dissention among diverse peoples. Hindu communities here and abroad have experienced physical attacks on people as well as on property.  Recent events in Bangladesh saw horrible crimes against their Hindu minority.


Recently, the President of the Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE) approached CAEF, requesting support for the correct naming of the German Nazi symbol that terrorized all of Europe and infamously became associated with the word “swastika” which is a Sanskrit word. The word “swastika,” used for millennium is attributed to a religious symbol used in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism as shown here.


The Sanskrit word means good fortune or well-being and was appropriated by the Nazi Party. However, in German the Nazi symbol, for what is properly translated as “hooked cross,” is “hakenkreuz". So, let us join hands with our Hindu friends and allies and reclaim the word “swastika” for its proper religious use, and henceforth refer to the red and black Nazi symbol correctly as the hakenkreuz.


Read about the Swastika here and here.

 

MUST SEE--OCTOBER 8, FILM ON EMERGENCE OF ANTISEMITISM


As reported by Creative Community for Peace (CCCP) in their recent newsletter:


“The film is about the explosion of antisemitism on college campuses, on social media, and in the streets of America in the aftermath of Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.


Debra Messing is an executive producer and appears in the film with other high-profile people, including: Congressman Ritchie Torres, comedian Michael Rapaport, Dan Senor, Sheryl Sandberg, Mosab Yousef, Noa Tishby, Scott Galloway, US Sen. Kirsten Gilibrand, Douglas Murray, Einat Wilf, Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, Rabbi David Wolpe, Tessa Veksler, and others.





This film is now showing in American and Canadian theatres

 

Rally at Bathurst Ave and Sheppard Ave Hits 75th week (76 as of 03/16/25)


Rally at Bathurst Ave and Sheppard Ave
 

Advocacy and Action


Councillor James Pasternak has spoken out loud and clear to Toronto City Council and posted his statement urging City staff and Toronto Police Services to enforce the City’s Anti-Hate Rally policy and all other laws in relation to the impending Al Quds Rally March 23rd. This annual event, initiated at the call of the Iranian terror regime in 1979, harms the Jewish community, spreading lies and contributing to divisiveness between communities, undermining civic and national values. Thank you Councillor Paternak!


The Board of Trustees of Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, rejected calls to boycott and divest from companies that do business with or in Israel. As part of a formal review conducted for the Trustees, StandWithUS Canada submitted a comprehensive document on the lies about Israel and addressed the hateful nature of BDS. CAEF congratulates the students and alumni and StandWithUs Canada for their success.


CAEF congratulates The Jewish and Allied Members of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) for their success in convincing the delegation to remove several motions from their agenda; including a proposal aimed at providing resources for training on anti-Palestinian Racism (APR). APR is a concept that divides people, and could be used to deny Jewish indigeneity to the Land of Israel, and demonize people who present historical evidence of Jewish rights, international law and archaeological evidence, if it is deemed “hurtful” or contrary to “narratives” of Palestine.

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