Montreal – September 20, 2024 – Federation CJA held its 107th Annual General Meeting last night, commemorating what had been a difficult year – marked by the October 7th terror attacks and their aftermath – celebrating a year of accomplishments, and preparing to meet the challenges that lay ahead.
Board Chair Steve Sebag opened proceedings saying “Our community has lived through difficult times. We faced difficult challenges. But those challenges pale in comparison with the resilience and the unity of the Montreal Jewish community.”
The past year was marked by a rampant rise in antisemitism in Montreal. Sebag highlighted how Federation CJA rose to meet those challenges, adding “our work is far from over. The challenges we face are complex and evolving, and we must remain vigilant.”
Sebag outlined Federation CJA’s vision for 2024-25, a vision, he said, “that includes not only continuing our essential work but also expanding our efforts in security, combating antisemitism, and strengthening our ties with Israel. This is a pivotal moment in our history, and the stakes have never been higher.”
There were some procedural and official matters to be decided, and some inspirational words from Paul Hirschon, Consul General of Israel for Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces.
Presentation of the Samuel Bronfman Medal
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The Samuel Bronfman Medal is the most prestigious award granted by Federation CJA in recognition of extraordinary service and leadership to the Jewish community. This year’s recipient is past president Susan Laxer, whose passion for community inspired her work in Jewish education and identity as VP of Akiva School, Board Chair and VP of Hebrew Academy, and President of the Bronfman Jewish Education Centre.
Laxer was president at a time when Federation CJA faced much the same issues as it does now. At the time, Israel was at war with Hamas after the kidnapping and murder, in June 2014, of three Israeli teenagers. In presenting the award, Samuel Bronfman’s grandson and community leader Stephen Bronfman, who worked with Laxer, said “I marveled at her leadership as she navigated challenges here at home and in Israel.”
Laxer’s stint also marked the last March to Jerusalem, an event that Federation CJA revived this past summer after a ten-year hiatus. She has also been at the helm of what became the Cummings Centre, and the Kehilla Montreal Residential Programs, and other national and international partners.
Laxer talked about how community involvement was passed down from her grandparents to her parents and onto her own involvement, “which afforded me an amazing view and understanding of the extent and richness of services here in Montreal.”
Of her time at Federation CJA, Laxer says “these past forty years have afforded me the opportunity to be engaged in many places, to do many things and to make an impact in different areas and in different ways.”
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President and CEO praises community resilience
Federation CJA President and CEO Yair Szlak gave an emotional address about how the October 7th terror attacks affected the worldwide Jewish community, punctuating his speech with the repetition of the pledge “We will not retreat from Jewish life.”
“Federation CJA has been at the forefront of our community’s response to the post October 7th reality. At first, our work was defensive to protect and secure our Jewish community. And today, after almost twelve months, we are in a different place. We are taking the fight to those who seek to delegitimize, harass and intimidate us.”
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Loay Alshareef
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Szlak then introduced the event’s keynote speaker, peace activist and social media influencer Loay Alshareef. Alshareef refers to himself as a recovered antisemite, “someone who was filled with hate and managed to expunge it.” He has become an ally and advocate who is doing whatever he can to bring about Muslim-Jewish reconciliation, and peace in the Middle East.
“In this battle the best allies,” Alshareef said, “are the non-Jewish voices that really believe in peace and bringing people together.”
As for the war, he says it will only end “when Hamas lays down its arms and releases the hostages.” And he says there needs to be “a Palestinian leadership that is willing to say ‘we recognize Israel’s right to exist, and the Jewish people are not our enemies.”
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Bringing the meeting to a close, Sebag wished everyone the best for 5785, saying “Federation CJA is committed to leading our community with humility, courage and determination.”
About Federation CJA
For more than 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.
Photo attached:
Photo 1: Susan Laxer receives the Samuel Bronfman Medal from Stephen Bronfman
Photo 2: Loay Alshareef
Photo credit: Federation CJA
Media Contact:
Glenn J. Nashen
Director, Media Relations and Crisis Communications | Directeur, Relations avec les médias et communication de crise
Strategic Marketing and Communications | Marketing Stratégique et communications
FEDERATION CJA
1 Carré Cummings Square | 5151 Chemin de la Côte Ste-Catherine Road
Montréal, Québec H3W 1M6
514-734-1327
[email protected]
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