HBT Advocacy: Sad News, Hate at Ve’ahavta 

Friends, 

Many of you have volunteered with us on the Ve’ahavta Van and signed up to do so again this year. Others of you work in their kitchen, support them with tzedakah, or funded their efforts through last year’s Gifts of Light concert.  

We just received news that, last week, Ve’ahavta volunteers and staff were targeted by hateful and cowardly antisemites. Volunteers were accosted by an anti-Israel protestor as they were feeding the homeless, and the digital portal – which allows people to sign up for shifts caring for the poor – was the target of a malicious and disgusting digital hate campaign.  

In response, Cari Kozierok, CEO of Ve’ahavta, has prepared a statement for the Mayor and City Council. She is asking that you, the concerned members of our community who have volunteered and supported the good work of feeding the hungry and clothing the homeless, help amplify this message. You can email the Mayor, our city councillor Josh Matlow, and all the other city councillors the following: 

Dear Mayor Chow and Councillor [X], 

My name is [X] and I support the Jewish charity, Ve’ahavta, which helps people of all faiths and backgrounds who are facing poverty and homelessness. At present, their good work, which benefits the most vulnerable people in our city, is being adversely affected by the rise in antisemitism in our city. 

See their statement here.

I want to know what are you going to do to address the dangerous rise in antisemitism and antisemitic hate speech that we are seeing in the city of Toronto? 

Signed, 
[your name]   

Thank you for lending us your voice and standing with our ally Ve’Ahavta! 

Rabbi Samuel Kaye,  Associate Rabbi and Megan Stephens, Volunteer Coordinator