A Canary’s Song: exploring antizionism

Toronto conference explores antizionism and how we confront it

Rabbi Splansky encourages humanistic approach to activism against Jew-hatred

By Sharon Aschaiek

Earlier this month, I attended A Canary’s Song: Antisemitism in our Free and Democratic Society. This one-day conference at the University of Toronto focused on how we deal with the Jew-hatred that continues to surge in Canada and worldwide. I was there to better understand this latest iteration of antisemitism, so that I can more effectively help protect Jewish life in our country, one which has been my lifelong and cherished home, but that in the last few years feels increasingly like unrecognizable and hostile terrain.

I was glad to see that Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto’s first synagogue, would be represented at the event via the participation of Rabbi Yael Splansky. I joined Holy Blossom Temple with my boyfriend in June as part of my evolving journey to reconnect with Judaism, which feels vital to cultivating the wisdom and courage needed to face the immense challenges confronting our tribe. Rabbi Splansky’s thoughtful and uplifting sermons on both topical and timeless aspects of Jewish life bring me clarity, ease and hope, which help fuel my activism for Jewish civil rights.

The conference convened 20 top antisemitism thought leaders and changemakers in Canada and the U.S. to discuss the dynamics of the anti-Jewish hate wave that continues to escalate following the pogrom Hamas committed in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Also discussed was how Jew-hatred is infecting different spheres of society, and the diverse efforts under way to confront this spreading bigotry. Hundreds gathered to attend the event, which was organized by U of T law professor Peter L. Biro and sponsored by his democracy think tank, Section 1, as well as The Azrieli Foundation and the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy.

Rabbi Splansky moderated a panel discussion about the state of antisemitism in health care, government, academia and law enforcement. The audience heard about how Jew-hatred has manifested at universities and hospitals, and within the Toronto Police Service. One panellist shared about the work of the Network of Engaged Canadian Academics, which strives to strengthen Jewish inclusion and viewpoint diversity on university campuses. In her summary of the discussion, Splansky invited the audience to consider the wisdom of Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, whose words have long challenged us to reflect deeply on our purpose as a people. 

“The mission of the Jewish people has never been to make the world more Jewish, but to make the world more human,” Splansky said in quoting Wiesel. “This is why I believe we have gathered today.”

Splansky’s message was an important reminder to me at a time when it feels all too easy to reactively hurl angry condemnations at those who libel and demonize Israel and the Jews. The wisest part of me knows that only truth and light can counter the darkness of hate. I also know that pride in my Jewish identity – a pride grounded in knowledge of our tribe’s rich and vibrant tradition of ethical teachings and practices, and our indisputable ancestral and biblical link to Judea and Samaria – is essential to building my resilience to endure this latest existential threat to our people. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to nurture my connection to Judaism through the insights of Rabbi Splanky and the other rabbis at Holy Blossom in a congregation that values community, learning, compassion and justice.

Also presenting at the conference was scholar and educator Naya Lekt of Stop Antizionism, who articulated how, across history, anti-Jewish hostility has always positioned Jews as the violators of a society’s highest good, making it a virtuous form of hate. Today, that hatred takes the form of antizionism, in which perpetrators falsely cast Israel as a genocidal, colonial, apartheid state, providing them with what they view as the moral high ground from which to demonize the Jewish state and her supporters.

Criminal lawyer Mark Sandler, who chairs the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism, shared about his work educating police and prosecutors to recognize and respond to law-breaking hateful behaviours that target Jews. He also underscored the threat of anti-Palestinian racism, which, by its current definition, delegitimizes historical truths about Israel and villainizes the vast majority of Jews who embrace Israel’s essential connection to their Jewish heritage.

Prominent Muslim reformer Raheel Raza spoke passionately about the need for Jews to partner with the majority of peacefully worshipping Muslims to counter the threat that radical Islamists pose not only to Jewish people, but to the freedoms and rights we cherish in our liberal democracy. Meanwhile, Deborah Lyons, the former Canadian Special Envoy for Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism, urged attendees to closely monitor the progress of the federal government’s new Ministerial Advisory Council on Rights, Equality, and Inclusion, which is charged with systematically studying and addressing antisemitism across Canadian society. Irwin Cotler, the former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, articulated how antisemitism is an assault on our national security and common humanity that requires our collective action.

Rabbi Splansky offered a suggestion for what collective action could entail. She urged attendees to review Prime Minister Mark Carney’s address on June 1/26 at Holy Blossom – “what he said and what he didn’t say” – and consistently hold him accountable to his promises.

Said Splansky: “When you write to him and when you call him, and when you write to other elected officials at every level of government, use his words, because he did put himself and the entire country on the hook to correct antisemitism.”