Advocacy Continues at Holy Blossom

Recently Holy Blossom Temple was honoured to welcome MP Anthony Housefather, the newly appointed special adviser to the federal government on Jewish community relations and antisemitism. MP Housefather spoke candidly with our advocacy committee and rabbis and over 150 members of our community about his work fighting anti-Zionism inside his party, building bridges and alliances that will help protect the Jewish community, and the cooperation with Deborah Lyons, the Special Envoy on Combatting Antisemitism. If you would like to watch the recording of this program, you can request access to the private video by emailing Kate Wooten at [email protected].   

This week, Canadian Women Against Antisemitism has shared a petition to be sent to Premier Doug Ford and the new Minister of Education, Jill Dunlop. In it, they are requesting that the Province ensure that the private opinions of teachers, and teachers’ unions, regarding the war between Israel and Hamas not be shared in primary and elementary classrooms. “Our schools are not obliged to provide a forum for advocacy for any issue,” they write, reiterating that partisan politics are to be kept entirely out of the classroom. If you agree you can read, and sign the petition, here.  

Also, CIJA has provided a security update for the Toronto Police Services Board. You can watch a detailed video and read the comprehensive FAQ here. Included are tools and ways for residents of Toronto to share feedback with the Police and the Police Board. We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received from our officers over the course of the last 10 months; submissions through this portal will only help to keep that relationship strong.   

Finally, we want to reiterate that your voice does matter. Several weeks ago, we shared CIJA’s criticism about the recently appointed head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, Birju Dattani. Pressure from concerned Canadians has led to Mr. Dattani resigning from his position. You can read CIJA’s response here. Thank you for your activism and advocacy!  

Am Yisrael Chai! 

This week our Holy Blossom Temple Advocacy Committee brings you a variety of ways to get involved in advocating for the Jewish people across Toronto and Canada.  

• Join us in person at Holy Blossom Temple (or virtually) on Wednesday, August 7 at 1:30 pm, to welcome Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather, the federal government’s Special Advisor on Jewish Community Relations and Antisemitism. MP Housefather will share details about his new role and how the government plans to combat antisemitism throughout Canada. You can register for this event here.  
•  Show your solidarity with the hostages and with Jews worldwide by wearing “freedom tags”. No doubt you have already seen many friends and family wearing these symbols of support. While there are many places they can be purchased, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum sells them directly. Proceeds go to continue their efforts internationally and in Israel.  
•  Amplify CIJA’s good work by writing to your representative! CIJA has asked us to support two initiatives, first by advocating that Canada condemn Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and second by bringing attention to the University of Windsor’s capitulation to Pro-BDS protestors.  
•  Support Canadian Women against Anti-Semitism, who are educating and advocating against SAMIDOUN, a registered Canadian non-profit which has ties to Palestinian terrorist organizations and advocates for the globalization of the intifada.   

 It’s certainly not too late to register!  And, it’s also not too late to invite your family and friends, including your non-Jewish allies, to walk with you!  

 Learn more about the Walk with Israel by clicking here. 

 We will meet at the Shoppers in Lawrence Plaza – look for the Holy Blossom Temple banner starting at 8:30 am!  If you’d like to walk with our community, please arrive by 8:45 am, since the Walk starts at 9:00 am sharp just north of Lawrence Plaza.  Please bring a positive attitude, ready to show your pride in Israel.  (And, along with that positive attitude, please also bring water since there are no rest stops along the route.) Holy Blossom will provide positive signs supporting Israel and the hostages, as well as free HBT bags and other swag – while supplies last! 

 Additionally, on Monday, June 10th, our friends at TAFSIK will be holding an event in their “Kvetch on a Couch” series with Professor Gad Saad. Prof. Saad is a renowned evolutionary psychologist and free speech advocate. The event will be held at Holy Blossom Temple, with general admission starting at 7:00 pm. Registration is done through TAFSIK and tickets can be purchased here. Be aware that there are limited tickets left!  

Am Yisrael Chai!