This image is not meant for humour, as it perfectly reflects what has been reported by many who saw civilians running with Hamas during the terrorist rampage of October 7, 2023. It is reflected in the response shown by Gazans to the hostages who were held in the homes of civilians, and then in the taunting and heckling by “civilians,” before their being passed to the Red Cross.
It is a fact that the education of Gazans, for at least the two decades under Hamas, has produced radical Islamists, bent on the destruction of Israel. Consider this fact, when reading and listening now to varying views on the “day after,” on the “deal,” on the proposed exit of Gazans from Gaza.
Why have Gazan civilians not left in droves during a war, much as Ukrainians left after Russia attacked? Largely because Hamas wouldn’t let them and Egypt didn’t want them. The gates to Gaza were closed. Why have no Arab countries stepped up to offer them refuge? Seems too simple. When Jews were driven out of Arab lands, they were welcomed in Israel, their ancient and natural home. No UN agency facilitated anything for the near 900,000 Jews who were expelled, exiled, driven out, and whose citizenship was revoked even after 1500+ years in Arab countries.
Read Adam Berkowitz’s scathing criticism of leftist “humanitarian” agencies that prefer to keep Gazans in Gaza than to facilitate their departure, even to save their lives, published in Israel365 News, January 30, 2025
What’s in a Name: History, Reality, Politics
Read excerpt from Keep God’s Land, a bulletin of Israel365 on proposed US legislation to stop using the words “West Bank” in favour of the real name Judea and Samaria
“We are witnessing a remarkable shift in American leadership's recognition of our biblical heritage. Senator Tom Cotton and Congresswoman Claudia Tenney have taken a bold stand by introducing legislation to replace the politically charged term "West Bank" with its true, historical name - Judea and Samaria. This initiative reflects a deep understanding of our people's ancient connection to these lands that HaShem promised to our forefathers.”
Why Christians Can’t be Antisemitic
The above was the title of a recent sermon given by Rev. Dr. Andrew Bennett at Beth Tikvah Synagogue, Toronto on January 25th. It was outstanding, and the most lucid, heartfelt presentation on the subject that some of us have ever experienced. Rev Bennett is Program Director of Faith Communities at Cardus, and deacon in the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. He served as Ambassador for Religious Freedom from 2013-2016 under the Conservative Government of Canada. He also served as Canada’s Head of Delegation to the International Remembrance Alliance, an international organization which leads in efforts to promote Holocaust education, research and remembrance.
Holocaust Education in the Boot of Italy
Rabbi Barbara Aiello writes in the Times of Israel about her success teaching kids about antisemsitism in Sothern Italy.
Recommended Reading
Read Jonathan Kay In Quillette on keeping the BDS movement out of Canadian universities.
Read Jonathan Tobin, in the Jewish Press on why critics of Trump making America safe, want it to be safe for antisemites; read about Left-wing hypocrisy.
Read Jonathan Spyer, in Middle East Forum on the hypocrisy of Gazas allies—why do the claim support for Palestinians and do nothing to help them?
Read Mort Klein in NY Times opposing a Palestinian State as a Solution, as it would be a terrorist disaster.
Read David Israel in JewishPres.com on African states willing to accept Gazans who voluntarily migrate.
Read article by Quinn Patrick in True North News about Birju Dattani’s law suit against CIJA, MP Melissa Lantsman and Ezra Levant, founder and journalist with Rebel News.
Read article by Dave Gordon in JNS.org about Canadian Jewish leaders’ disappointment with PM Trudeau.
Read article by Dave Gordon in National Post about How Jews are being used as pawns in a campaign to delegitimize Israel.
Read article by Dave Gordon in National Post on how the UN has been anti-Israel for 50+ years.
Read about a U of Calgary lecture series that commemorates the Holocaust.
The Negative Impact of DEI in Academia
A recent report from the MacDonald Laurier Institute is an important study, confirming the bias of Canada’s granting agencies in awarding funds to DEI oriented projects; not to merit.
Read excerpt from the news release: “In this report, Senior Fellow Dave Snow reveals how these federal granting agencies, responsible for nearly $4 billion in annual taxpayer-funded research, are increasingly embedding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles into their funding policies. This undermines their commitment to merit, objectivity, and political neutrality. The report warns that EDI-driven policies, ranging from mandatory diversity requirements to identity-based equity targets, have transformed Canada’s federal granting agencies from champions of excellence into vehicles for social engineering.”
CAEF deems this important because DEI plays a significant foundational role in promoting and parlaying antisemitism across academia and other spheres of influence.
NAVI, North American Values Institute—Serving All Parents & Educators
An announcement came this week that the Jewish Institute for Liberal Values has been renamed. This is important as the original mission, suggested that only Jews were impacted by the political ideology of DEI. Today we have learned that “NAVI empowers, trains and supports parents in their efforts to promote North American values in K-12 education while combating radical DEI and extreme social justice ideologies.”
CAEF is happy to refer people to NAVI, in the common struggle against biased, politicized academics at all levels. This is how the rebranded organization explains the change. “ then came October 7th. All of a sudden, many Jews who were in complete denial were now in complete shock. They could no longer deny the undeniable. And before we knew it, many Jewish leaders were saying, albeit often in hushed tones, what they previously dared not utter–an oppressed-oppressor ideology was fomenting antisemitism. Unfortunately, most Jewish organizations still haven’t changed their basic strategy in the face of these ideological currents.
US Antisemitism Awareness Act (AAA) Leads the Way
What is Canada Doing to Combat Jew Hatred? Here is what the US is doing. According to Sarah Stern, Founder and CEO of EMET: “The AAA puts for consideration the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) of antisemitism for use when assessing acts of antisemitism in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act on college campuses. The IHRA definition is the premier definition of antisemitism and is supported by a vast majority of the Jewish community. What separates the IHRA definition from other definitions is that it also includes antisemitism thinly masquerading as anti-Zionism. EMET’s position of this issue is clear – anti-Zionism IS antisemitism.”
“Across the United States, particularly since October 7, 2023, Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli students have been under increasing assault. Across our nation, these students, in practically every university, have been verbally, and sometimes physically, threatened, bullied, and intimidated. Many of our students have been excluded from certain clubs, events, or social groups, simply because of their Jewish identities, or their connections to the land of Israel. Last year, according to the ADL, over 10,000 antisemitic incidents in the US were reported in 2024, the highest amount ever recorded in a single year since 1979. Many students have felt forced to hide their Jewish identities. No one should be forced to conceal who they are, at their very core. When one is feeling that he or she is in a hostile environment and is feeling intimidated, bullied, or threatened, simply for walking across the campus or the quad, how can these students be amenable to classroom instruction? We need to offer our Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli students the very same protections as any other minority group in the United States. That is why we wholeheartedly endorse the Antisemitism Awareness Act.”
Laugh Outloud
On February 6, CAEF joined with other community partners in a unique event, Uniting Through Laughter, held at the Lodzer Center. Allied Voices for Israel brought together the Canadian Chinese Political Affairs Committee, Muslims Facing Tomorrow, the Council for Muslims Against Antisemitism, the Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education, the Coalition of Hindus of North America, and CAEF to feature An Evening with Mark Breslin, Founder of Yuk Yuk’s, one of Canada’s oldest most successful comedy clubs. Breslin provided an entertaining revue of his personal history in the entertainment business, the pitfalls and successes of comedy and the love of laughter that drove him to overcome many business challenges.
Speakers from each sponsor group emphasized the importance of collaboration, friendship and mutual respect. Speakers also used humour to warm up the audience. Ruchi Walla, representing COHHE demonstrated that laughter is contagious and had the entire room filled with boisterous giggles and loud guffaws following a laugh out loud exercise. Andria Spindel, CAEF’s Executive Director, expressed the view that we ought to laugh in the face of our enemies, mock their uniform of keffiyeh and mask, and laugh at their ludicrous lies.
Jews and Yezidis Share Terrible Experiences with Jihadists
On a recent visit to Toronto to speak at a Tafsik organization event, Dr. Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, a leading expert on sexual violence in conflict, met with Sheik Mirza Ismail, and members of the Yezidi community in Ontario. Dr. Kaddari explained the work she has done with others to document the sexual violence against Israeli women on October 7, 2023 and the responses from the UN and international women’s organizations. What ISIS did to thousands of Yezidi women, many of whom have not returned from captivity, is horrendous, despicable and difficult to even contemplate. What Hamas did to Israeli women is from the same playbook.
Several of the women present recounted their time as hostages in Iraq and their struggle for freedom. Every family present at the meeting in Richmond Hill, recounted the terror they had experienced, the murders they witnessed, the hardships they endured in order to eventually find refuge in Canada. But their families are not all intact. Many still await the approval of the Canadian government to reunite them and support the immigration of their remaining family members.
Andria Spindel, CAEF ED helped arrange the meeting, which was also attended by long time supporters and friends of the Yezidis, Joe and Renanah Gemeiner; Eynat Katz, a volunteer with Tafsik; and Amir Epstein, Co-founder and Executive Director of Tafsik.
Advocacy and Action
CAEF Encourages Community Action - See Court Schedule.
Read CAEF letter/brief to the U of T committee on the Guide to Law and Policy re Antisemitism.
Read letter from Richard Sherman to The Hill, January 28, to learn key points in dismissing lies, published or broadcast.
Read Letter from Larry Shapiro to The Globe and Mail regarding Palestinian rights in response to Nokha Dakroub and Michael Morgenthau.