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| Empowering women: First Nations women tour Israel |
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In January, 2008, 16 First Nations women from across Canada traveled to Israel as part of a study tour organized as a partnership among the Assembly of First Nations, Canadian Jewish Congress and the Larry and Judy Tanenbaum Foundation Fellowships. The trip offered the opportunity for First Nations and Israeli women to learn from one another about women's empowerment, with the goal of improving life in their home communities. Program participant Alana Madill shares her thoughts about what she learned.
I knew this trip to Israel would be the opportunity of a lifetime. Not only was I about to experience a country I never imagined I would visit, but I would be in the company of women from a variety of backgrounds and experience in First Nations issues. Among us were chiefs, youth leaders, academics, experts on First Nations politics, treaty rights and health care, to name but a few. I was excited to be able to learn so much from these women as well as from the country I was about to visit.
The Golda Meir Mount Carmel Training Center in the beautiful coastal city of Haifa became our home away from home. It was a very international setting, as another program being offered at the Center at the same time included participants from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Cameroon, Kenya, and even Mongolia.
On each and every day of our journey we gained a deeper understanding of a history that is so richly intertwined with Israeli culture; and the developmental issues Israel has faced. It was amazing to experience how the country has developed as a nation in a relatively short period of time. We met with many fascinating women, including representatives from the Israeli Women's Network and the Israel Association for Child Protection. We also had the chance to meet the Tel Aviv Mayor's special advisor on womens' issues. These advocates provided us an in-depth understanding of how women from all ethnic and religious backgrounds are supported in Israel, and of the challenges they face as program providers.
We met Arab women in Jaffa learning how to start their own businesses and Bedouin women in the Negev who worked in a weaving co-operative. We saw how these programs were truly improving the quality of life for their families. We also explored Israel through visits to the Old City of Jerusalem and Yad Vashem, the incredibly moving Holocaust memorial. We visited Tel Aviv, swam in the Dead Sea, visited the burial site of David Ben Gurion and learned about Kibbutz life.
The beauty of Israel is not only in its culture but in its diverse landscape and the hearts of its people. As First Nations communities look for new methods of development for women, we can learn a lot from Israel. I know I have learned a great deal, and hope to have the chance to learn even more about Israel's development programs so I may use this knowledge to become involved in the development of our First Nations communities. I look forward to returning to Israel and to learning more about the development programs that have been created. Hopefully, I could then bring back some of this knowledge to implement into First Nations communities. |
Our Position is Clear
CJC Editorial
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Canadian Jewish Congress has found itself under attack lately from an unexpected direction. The National Post has let loose its phalanx of columnists and editorialists to engage in a war of words. The issue: human rights organizations and specifically Canada's anti-hate laws.
This began with a decision by a number of Canadian Muslims and the Canadian Islamic Congress to launch complaints with provincial and federal human rights commissions against Ezra Levant and Macleans magazine, respectively. Levant was cited for re-printing the offensive "Danish cartoons" of Mohammed when he was publisher of the now defunct Western Standard. Macleans was under the gun for printing a portion of a book written by Mark Steyn that the complainants believed was hateful towards the Muslim community.
CJC's position was clear from the outset. We believe that these complaints ought not to have come before the human rights commission. That noted, we were very much concerned that the resultant storm against these complaints emanating from editorialists and others was unbalanced, and presenting human rights anti-hate laws as "undemocratic, unconstitutional, contrary to Canadian values" and more. As co-presidents Sylvain Abitbol and Rabbi Reuven Bulka wrote early on in this controversy in the Canadian Jewish News:
"In the past, the Canadian and provincial human rights commissions have played an important role in protecting Canadian society, and particularly its vulnerable minorities, from the corrosive effects of hate speech. They have also historically been effective in breaking down barriers of discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity for all Canadians."
CJC has long been in the forefront advocating for anti-hate laws that we saw could be used as a fence of protection against hateful diatribes attacking vulnerable minorities. Indeed the Supreme Court of Canada ruled these laws to be constitutional. The Court noted that the bar for conviction under these statutes is set high - as it should be - to ensure a proper balance between the right to free speech and the right to be free from hateful speech. CJC believes these sections to be powerful remedies against those who would bring violence and hatred into the public square.
Anti-hate laws under our criminal code and human rights legislation continue to offer much needed protection for minorities in Canada. Yes, by all means let's fix the parts of the law that are broken, but let us not throw out the baby with the bathwater.
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Free Speech WITH Responsibility
Judy Schwartz
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 On Friday, February 29, 2008 a forum and rally were held at McMaster University. It was promoted under the guise of free speech although its actual intention quickly became abundantly clear: to spread anti-Israel propaganda, some of it bordering on antisemitic hatred.
The event, organized by United for Student Rights, (another name for Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights) was supposed to question the limits of freedom of speech at the University. That debate never really took place. CUPE and the Canadian Federation of Students took part in the forum and subsequent rally by sponsoring speakers and buses to bring students from York and Ryerson Universities to help spread their distasteful messages.
The Jewish students were not forewarned about the agenda or about how to get on the list of speakers. Scrambling the evening before, the Jewish students and faculty managed to get three speakers for the event. There were about 18 speakers who focused on their hatred of Israel, the apartheid debate and encouraging divestment. The moderator allowed this public unseemly anti-Israel targeting to continue, yet when one of the Jewish representatives, Professor Fred Hoppe spoke about freedom of speech vs. hate speech, the moderator cut off the microphone. The students were quite traumatized by what they had heard and immediately gathered for a discussion... but it wasn't done yet. The Jewish group then received a frantic call to return to the rally to witness what was transpiring. Huge banners with signs of "Zionism is Racism" and "Death to Apartheid" were prominently displayed. Then, chants of "viva viva intifada" soon erupted. These hateful phrases were clearly aimed not at Palestinian solidarity, but against the Jewish people and advocating for the destruction of Israel.
Jewish representatives were in a surreal state. The V.P. of McMaster, Karen Belaire was there as well as the administrator of the student union, the head of P.R. for the university and the security police. Each and every one was shocked at this ugly display.
This event left students in tears, in anger and in fear for their safety and security at McMaster. Meetings have been scheduled with the Provost, the Dean of Students and the President of the student union. Students have written at least 20 letters of complaint and delivered them to the security office. The letters were filled with sentiments of fear, feelings of intimidation and bullying and anger. A petition is being crafted to have such intimidating language and events taken off our campus; this is just the beginning of our campaign for Free Speech with Responsibility.
For any other further information, please contact.
Judy Schwartz
Director of JSA
McMaster University
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Felton for Freedom to Read?
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The Vancouver Public Library (VPL) was the focus of sharp criticism for inviting author Greg Felton as a featured speaker during their Freedom to Read week. Mr. Felton is well known to Canadian Jewish Congress, Pacific Region (CJCPR) and the Jewish community. Many consider his statements, under the guise of "free speech" in fact to constitute hate speech aimed at the Jewish people.
CJC, Pacific Region, in close consultation with the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver and the Canada-Israel Committee, developed a strategy for working on this issue once we learned of the event. The CJC, Pacific Region chose to engage in a quiet but effective approach to advocacy on this matter, which we deemed to be a serious communal issue.
Upon learning about the event, CJC, Pacific Region immediately contacted the VPL to request a meeting. At the meeting we raised our concerns and provided the senior library staff with a collection of quotes from Mr. Felton's book and articles, and a copy of the transcript of his recent appearance on the Sean Leslie Show at CKNW. CJC, Pacific Region stressed that the principled and appropriate course of action would be for the library to: 1) immediately and unequivocally condemn Mr. Felton's book and the hatred it espouses, 2) admit that an error was made in inviting Mr. Felton and 3) cancel Mr. Felton's invitation to the upcoming public event.
CJC, Pacific Region issued a statement to the community with information about the issue and calls for letters to the City Librarian and the VPL Board. Members of the community flooded the VPL and their Board with e-mails and phone calls seeking an explanation.
CJC, Pacific Region and CIC attended the event to monitor the talk in case Mr. Felton violated the Criminal Code. There were approximately 60 people in attendance, of which only about 20 people were there to support Mr. Felton. The rest were mostly Jewish; there were very few undecided attendee's in the audience. The evening came and went with little to no media exposure which was our intention.
CJC, Pacific Region will continue to work with both the City of Vancouver and the VPL Board to ensure that policies are developed in regards to the vetting of potential guest speakers to avoid this situation in the future.
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The Jewish Community of Kingston - 1857 to 2008
Marion E. Meyer |
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 Simon Oberndorffer was not the first Jew to arrive in Kingston, but he was the first one to settle here and to stay until his death in 1913. Apprenticed in cigar making he built a factory on Princess Street, provided for his family of eight and joined more organisations and charities than can be listed here. Oberndorffer was a staunch Conservative, an alderman of Cataraqui Ward and remained throughout a committed Jew. He became the first President of the newly amalgamated congregation, Beth Israel, in 1910.
The Jewish population of Kingston grew from five in 1861 to 303 in 1921 when pogroms and overpopulation prompted an exodus from East and Central Europe. Unlike the German Jews who had preceded them, these immigrants were generally poor and had no marketable skills. Survival depended on peddling and progressed from hard work and modest living to merchant/store ownership.
In the 1960s, the dramatic expansion of universities brought unprecedented numbers of Jewish professionals, mainly academics, to Kingston. Trying to integrate the professional newcomers with the predominantly merchant/business old-timers proved to be a challenge for Beth Israel. In 1975, six families left the nominally Orthodox synagogue to form the Reform Congregation Iyr Ha Melech.
Today, the two congregations exist side by side. At a time when small town congregations struggle to survive, Kingston Jewry is enjoying a revival of energy and purpose. Under the leadership of the JCC the two congregations meet and share their interest in cultural Judaism.
A hand full of dynastic families, those who progressed from peddler, to merchant, to businessmen, with their deep roots and deep pockets ensure the survival of organised Judaism. |
Partners for Human Rights in Nova Scotia
Edna Levine
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Think of what your life would be like if you lived in a society free of discrimination, in a culture where all individuals lived with dignity and respect. The Atlantic Jewish Council along with 21 concerned Nova Scotia organizations form Partners for Human Rights, a coalition that works together to raise awareness of human rights issues.
This fall I had the privilege of participating in a Canadian Human Rights Commission round-table discussion with the recently appointed Canadian Human Rights Commission's Chief Commissioner, Jennifer Lynch, Q.C. Ms. Lynch was on an exploratory visit in Halifax to discover the status of human rights issues and the needs of our community. Proactive measures, such as public education, were determined to be a major necessity to empower people with knowledge of their human rights. The prevention of discrimination was discussed as well as the creation of a knowledge centre, which connects multiple access points into the system and provides broad choices for individuals.
Partners for Human Rights is working to reach a broad spectrum of the community through education. The need to target youth and create a Human Rights Educational Program is viewed as essential in promoting and raising the awareness of human rights issues in Nova Scotia.
2008 brings the celebration of the 60th year of International Human Rights Day and planning is underway for a major community event. The committee is dedicated to working towards a respectful and inclusive community by teaming with local community groups to organize events that promote racial harmony and an awareness of human rights issues.
The Atlantic Jewish Council will host the next Partners for Human Rights meeting which I will co-chair with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.
Edna LeVine
Program Associate
Atlantic Jewish Council
Halifax, Nova Scotia |
| No Lack of Challenges
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 As we await the report of the Bouchard-Taylor Commission, discussion continues on reasonable accommodation, notably in a series of invitational conferences organized by Professor Marie McAndrew of the Université de Montréal. A particular focus has been reasonable accommodation in the schools, and an excellent document was produced by a task force under the chairmanship of Bergman Fleury. Charley Levy of the Association of Jewish Day Schools was a part of that team. CJC,QR's brief to the Commission has been well-received.
On February 24th, 2008 La Presse published an extensive account and analysis of a public opinion poll on Quebecers' attitudes towards our community. There were no surprises as those attitudes have for some time been less positive than those in other provinces. There was a significant difference between respondents who have contacts with members of the Jewish community and those who do not.
These results confirm and reinforce the conviction of CJC,QR President Dr. Victor Goldbloom that the community needs to make itself and its contributions to Quebec society better known throughout the province. He intends to undertake a speaking tour to address social clubs, Chambers of Commerce and similar audiences, to try and dispel the myths and misconceptions.
It is also evident that there are appreciable differences between the Montreal metropolitan area and the other regions of the province; hence Dr. Goldbloom's focus on the latter.
This spring, the Jewish community of Quebec City will present its exhibition on the Jewish history of our province. It will be situated in the main concourse of the railway terminal. In the fall, CJC,QR will host a conference which will highlight that history and some of the individuals who have made distinguished contributions to it.
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