March 8, 2024
Once again, this week, our Jewish community has come under attack. We have faced acts of antisemitism and Jew hatred in the form of aggressive mobs looking to shut down our freedoms as Canadian citizens.
On Monday night, our communal campus was targeted when the aggressive mob of Pro-Palestinian demonstrators took siege of our Federation CJA building, blocking off all entrances and obstructing the entry or exit of community members. They aimed to threaten and intimidate attendees. They damaged property and yelled, “Death to Jews.” Over 100 of us were barricaded inside while others could not enter. The Montreal Police (SPVM) did not act to remove them and failed us. And yet, as the night unfolded and word spread through the Jewish community, we began seeing the resilience of our people. We got dozens of messages: “We are on our way”; “Are you ok? We are outside on the other side.” As much as it was difficult for us to watch and experience, we didn’t roll over. We stood up against them. To all those who did, THANK YOU!
The same aggressive mob attempted to lay siege to the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue on Tuesday night. We learned our lesson. Thank you to the dozens of Community Security Network protectors who showed up and spent hours ensuring that a blockade could not happen at the synagogue. At the same time, the SPVM acted as we would expect, not only to protect the Jewish institution but to hold the demonstrations away from the synagogue. For us, this is what we expect now and in the future. The lessons learned from the previous evening were implemented, and we thank the SPVM for their quick response on Tuesday night.
New realities require new tactics, and that is why we've obtained a court order temporarily prohibiting these groups of protestors from demonstrating within 50 metres of several of our community’s buildings.
These are just the latest examples of anti-Israel protests attempting to terrorize our community, and enough is enough! The blatant targeting of Jewish life in Canada leaves no doubt: anti-Zionism is simply Jew-hatred.
But outrage alone won't suffice. It's time to transform that anger and concern into concrete action. Federation CJA and the Community Security Network will function differently and address future challenges head-on, as we showed on Tuesday night.
We salute our student leaders at Hillel and Start-Up Nation and, indeed, all the students on campus who endure these unacceptable behaviours, demonstrations, and demonization of Jews and Israel on a daily basis. Our students are resilient. They stand up every day, going to class and continuing to live their best lives despite the daily antisemitism and Jewish hate. We can all learn so much from their strength and resilience.
Our Director of Community Security has been in constant dialogue with the SPVM about the threats posed by anti-Israel protests. We're demanding vigilant enforcement of the law, including swift action against those inciting criminal hate speech and trespassing on private property.
This stance remains unchanged regarding ongoing protests. We're insisting on a robust presence from the SPVM to safeguard our community and uphold public safety, just as they did on Tuesday night outside the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. As we closely monitor the situation, we'll continue issuing security alerts to keep our community informed and protected.
Also, a priority is to demand urgent government action, as the relentless targeting of Jewish institutions must be stopped immediately. Freedom of protest does not outweigh our freedom to congregate in our Jewish institutions or synagogues. They cannot suppress our freedoms. That is a crime. No individual or family should ever fear encountering hateful mobs when entering a synagogue or community building.
That's why we're calling on the Government of Quebec to prevent disturbances by enforcing laws that prohibit disruptive gatherings and face coverings in public spaces. We're directly conveying this message to the government through our advocacy agent, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA). But our collective voice is louder when we exercise our democratic rights. If you share our conviction, join us in contacting the Ministère de la Justice to endorse this legislation.
It's vital that, as a community, we remain vigilant and discerning of the tactics employed by those targeting Jewish institutions. Anti-Israel activists thrive on provoking confrontations within our community. As seen in past demonstrations, direct confrontations can jeopardize public safety and misrepresent the Jewish community.
But as proud Jews, Quebecers, and Canadians, we stand unwavering in our commitment to democracy and freedom—the very values that define Israel. Our actions must unequivocally demonstrate our stance against hate and unlawful behaviour from any quarter.
When faced with adversaries sinking to new lows, it's our moment to rise tall. Let's speak the unvarnished truth, extend our reach to allies beyond our community, and compel authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.
יבכִּ֣י תִשָּׂ֞א אֶת־רֹ֥אשׁ בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֘ לִפְקֻֽדֵיהֶם֒ וְנָ֨תְנ֜וּ אִ֣ישׁ כֹּ֧פֶר נַפְשׁ֛וֹ לַֽיהֹוָ֖ה בִּפְקֹ֣ד אֹתָ֑ם וְלֹא־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה בָהֶ֛ם נֶ֖גֶף בִּפְקֹ֥ד אֹתָֽם — This week's Parsha – Shekalim, highlights our collective responsibility to maintain our sacred spaces. Just as our ancestors' sanctuaries were built with specific materials and rituals for purity and atonement, let us likewise seek to protect and demand respect for our community events and institutions.
Shabbat Shalom,
Steve Sebag,
Board Chair
Yair Szlak, LL.B,
President and Chief Executive Officer
Federation CJA
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