Federation CJA 360 - November 17, 2023

Amidst the ongoing crisis in Israel, we're shifting from our regular 360 newsletter to provide you with vital updates on Federation CJA's emergency response.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW

Stay informed: Federation CJA is aware of a highly contentious referendum question that is slated for vote by the Student Society of McGill University.

Read More
 

We can’t do it alone. Join us in solidarity this Sunday, November 19th, for a critical telethon to raise vital funds to combat hate and antisemitism in our Montreal community. Let's ensure our collective resilience translates into action. Sign up for a shift, bring your cell phone, and join our cause.

Register Here
 

Montrealers Unite at D.C. March for Israel: In an incredible show of unity, over 200 Montrealers, including students, joined nearly 300,000 people in Washington, D.C., turning the March for Israel into a deeply moving experience. Each moment was a heartfelt statement against hate, reinforcing the powerful message that we are not alone in our fight. Our community stood strong with Israel, feeling a profound sense of togetherness.

Watch Here
Photo Album from the March

VOICES FOR CHANGE:  ADVOCACY IN ACTION

Raise Your Voice: Tell PM Trudeau the problem isn't Israel; it's Hamas. Tell our government that the time to stand up for the people and land of Israel and Canada’s Jewish community is now.

Join CIJA’s Action Alert

Want to do something to support your local Jewish community? 

 

Join CIJA’s Legal Task Force

 

The dramatic rise in antisemitism isn’t just isolated to other parts of the world; it’s happening here in Canada, too. Led by CIJA and UJA, a group of 150 lawyers is already hard at work to use the law to combat the Jew hate we are seeing with legal groups being created across the country. Specializing in various law fields, including human rights and criminal law, they are focusing mainly on the education system because universities and schools have failed to keep our kids safe. Volunteer now to make a change.

Join Here

Read: This week, CIJA’s Vice President for Quebec, Eta Yudin, has called for the resignation of the Montreal Commissioner for the Fight Against Racism, Bochra Manaï, due to her silence and inaction in the face of antisemitic terrorism in our city. 

Read More Here
 

UNITED WITH ISRAEL – HOW WE ARE HELPING

Show solidarity: Create your own personal fundraising page for the Israel Emergency Fund. Just visit the link, click 'Join this fundraiser', and choose to start a team or a personal page. Stand with Israel in this crucial time.

Create Your Fundraising Page
 

My Home – Your Home: A Call for Unity

 

The World Zionist Organization is reaching out to those with vacant apartments in Israel to house Israeli families displaced by the conflict. This national effort has seen hundreds of families from Israel and abroad offering temporary homes for those in need. Israel's President Yitzhak Herzog passionately endorses this initiative, urging owners in Israel and the Diaspora to join this crucial mission.

Watch Here

We’re Here to Help! We're actively assisting Israelis wishing to temporarily relocate to Montreal amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict.

 

So far, about 34 households, totalling 94 individuals, including over 50 children, have expressed a need for assistance. Of these, about 30 households have arrived since the start of the war. We are focusing on immediate needs like food, clothing, psycho-social services, schooling needs, activities for children, housing, and financial assistance.

 

If you know someone from Israel seeking temporary refuge in Montreal, please share our confidential form to connect them with vital resources.

Access the form here

Amplify Our Call to BRING THEM HOME

 

Federation CJA and Jewish Federations worldwide are joining an urgent campaign for transparency on hostage welfare with the Red Cross. International law grants the Red Cross visitation rights to hostages, yet access has been denied, constituting a war crime. 

 

Help us demand action by flooding the Red Cross with messages advocating for our abducted loved ones. Amplify the call to "Bring Them Home" by:

 

  1. Sending a pre-drafted message to the Red Cross and standing together in this critical cause. Take Action Here

  2. Writing letters to hostages. We urge you to consider writing daily to one or more hostages to remind them that they are not forgotten.

    Please address your compassionate words to:

    [HOSTAGE NAME]
    Hostage in Gaza
    c/o Mr. Conrad Sauve
    President and CEO
    Canadian Red Cross
    400 Cooper Street, Suite 8000
    Ottawa, Ontario
    K2P 2H8

    List of Hostage Names

  3. Signing this petition and joining the cause to gather a million signatures to send a powerful message of support to the hostages' families to show we care.Your message will be sent directly to the families, letting them know they are not alone. Sign it Here

 

Your voice is powerful—let’s unite and demonstrate our strength.

Support the Israeli Economy and Take Action Against Boycotts: Join the effort to uplift Israeli brands affected by recent conflicts. A group of Israeli companies impacted by the ongoing war are working together to aid communities in distress. Show your support by purchasing Israeli-made products from buyblueandwhite.com.

Shop Now

Are you fed up with calls to boycott Israeli goods and services? Want to do something about it? Join CIJA’s BUYCOTT ISRAEL on Facebook today! You’ll be alerted when a boycott initiative needs to be countered, along with the results of every BUYCOTT action.

Join Here

COMMUNITY SECURITY

Ensuring the safety of our Montreal Jewish community is paramount:

Take Action: IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING. Help keep our community safe by reporting any suspicious behaviour or antisemitic incidents. In emergencies, dial 911.

Report Here
 

Read: Federation CJA has acted swiftly against rising antisemitism in Montreal, coordinating with political leaders and the SPVM to bolster community safety. These efforts have led to firm commitments from authorities to prioritize Jewish community security. For detailed insights, read the latest SPVM statement.

Read it Here
 

ON CAMPUS

If you have a child on campus, here in Montreal, or anywhere in the world, they can turn to Hillel for support. Hillel is Here for You

Facing antisemitism on campus? Our Student Resource Guide has you covered with practical steps on what to do, how to stay safe, and where to find support. Don't navigate this alone – get informed and empowered. For institutions not listed in the guide or for more personalized support, please reach out to [email protected] or check your school’s official website for further assistance.

Learn More & Stay Safe
 

If you are a university student, graduate, or parent of a student, please speak up! Email the president of your university and ask them to prioritize the issue of campus antisemitism. Hillel and other student groups are urging university administrations to condemn and hold accountable those who target our students. It’s crucial that universities now hear from our entire community.

Watch: In a candid video, a Concordia University student recounts her experience during last week’s anti-Israel rally on campus. The rally, which targeted Jewish students advocating awareness of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, sheds light on the current campus climate. 

Watch Her Story

Episode 17 of Federation CJA 360 Podcast: Fighting antisemitism on campus

 

Discover the latest insights on the rise of antisemitism in Montreal's universities and colleges. Our recent podcast features discussions with Hillel Montreal's Naomi Mazer and students from Concordia and McGill, offering a deep dive into their experiences and strategies for combating these challenges on campus.

Listen Here

STAND UP. TAKE ACTION.

Make Your Voice Heard: Following recent attacks on Jewish schools in Montreal, it's clear that immediate action is needed to ensure the safety of our community's institutions. Sign the petition now for the Quebec Government to secure Montreal's Jewish institutions.

Sign it Here
 

STRONGER TOGETHER: COMMUNITY CARE & UNITY

Discover the stories highlighting our community's strength, resilience, and commitment to caring for each other during these challenging times.

Watch: Shye Weinstein, a last-minute attendee at the NOVA festival on October 7th, miraculously survived the horrific massacre. He has since taken a brave step forward to share his personal account of the tragedy. He shared his heart-wrenching, moving story at two separate events this week at Hillel and Federation CJA, offering a powerful testimony that captivated and moved the community.

Watch it Here
 

This week, The EMSB Council of Commissioners visited the Montreal Holocaust Museum, emphasizing the need for students, especially from non-Jewish areas, to learn about the Holocaust, leading to a resolution for mandatory Holocaust education in their curriculum. EMSB officials discussed this educational initiative with leaders from Federation CJA, CIJA, and the Museum.

More Details

Last weekend, Federation CJA held a meaningful Havdallah ceremony for all 2023 participants from the Montreal March of the Living and Journey of Hope trips. We came together as one and to honour the 240+ hostages being held by Hamas.

Ceremony Highlights

UPCOMING EVENTS

 
 

Disclaimer
Federation CJA 360 is a news aggregate, offering readers a variety of articles and opinion pieces on topics of concern to the Jewish community and presented in a concise, convenient platform. The opinions expressed by contributors shared in Federation CJA 360 do not necessarily reflect the policies or the positions of Federation CJA, its staff or its Board of Directors.


About Federation CJA
For over one hundred years, Federation CJA has been at the heart of the organized Jewish community in Montreal. In partnership with a vast network of agencies and organizations locally, nationally and internationally, Federation CJA builds and sustains this community by providing leadership and by supporting the delivery of services and programs to care for the vulnerable and those in need, to ensure a bright Jewish future, to represent communal interests and to positively affect issues in the wider society.

May
SMTWTFS
   
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Shabbat Candlelight
May 10  7:55PM
Back to top