As we approach Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, we cannot help but do so with mixed emotions. We look forward to the renewal, promise, and redemption that the New Year can bring. On the other hand, we are burdened by the October 7 barbarities, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the fate of the remaining hostages, and overt antisemitism in our schools and professions, on our campuses and streets.
When I speak to members of the Jewish community, I hear and see anger, despair, disappointment, fear, and insecurity. It is difficult to reconcile those emotions with joy at the coming of the New Year. Or to dip apples in honey in anticipation of a sweet year.
But we have cause for hope. This may seem counterintuitive as Israelis head to bomb shelters, and as hatemongers, in Canada, make their plans to commemorate October 7.
So why am I hopeful?
Quietly, we are seeing instances of universities and colleges taking their own code of conduct seriously. Instances of police addressing extremism through more robust but proportionate use of their law enforcement powers. And ever increasing support from our non-Jewish allies. They are growing in number. And in voice.
The issues we confront are rightly seen not as Jewish issues, but Canadian issues. Lawlessness is a concern for everyone. The importance of free speech no longer immunizes hate activities from scrutiny by people of all descriptions. And antisemites have seriously overplayed their hand.
When young students are enlisted, contrary to their parents' consent and despite some of the students' own objections, to participate in an anti-Israel protest, and to label themselves as colonizers, people have had enough.
When anti-Israel protestors block or restrict access to our streets and public spaces, aggressively demonizing Israel and denying its very existence, people have had enough.
When professors and public school teachers indoctrinate their students to hate Zionism, and suppress conflicting views to their own, people have had enough.
When extremists or the extremely foolish demonize all Zionists without distinction, declaring us all to be evil, genocidal and racist, people have had enough.
When Hamas is never condemned for its atrocities in the United Nations, when dictators, misogynists, and antisemites run the United Nations Human Rights Council, when UNRWA's employees lead, participate in or actively support terrorism, and teach students to hate Jews in their classrooms, people have had enough.
When Israel's conduct in Gaza is evaluated as if Hamas did not exist, and as if Hamas did not hide behind and welcome the killing of its citizens, people have had enough.
When Israel's military conduct in Lebanon is evaluated as if Hezbollah had not been firing rockets incessantly into Northern Israel, displacing its population and killing children without international condemnation, people have had enough.
When anti-Israel protestors misuse the Canadian indigenous experience to justify their hatred, people have had enough.
Many Canadians, including Zionists, have been sharply critical of Israel, its government, its policies, its war efforts, its own far-right extremists. Agree or disagree, that isn’t antisemitism if the criticisms are similar to those levelled against any country.
But when protestors target Jewish community centres and neighbourhoods, religious institutions, and individual Jews, people have had enough.
You may not be seeing change. But change is coming. Slowly, very slowly, but surely.
I said earlier that non-Jewish community members have, in ever increasing numbers, spoken out against antisemitism. Many are members of our Alliance. They are some of our most important voices.
So this New Year, bring apples and honey to a supportive ally, friend or colleague. Drop off some honey cake to a police officer who showed you kindness. Invite your non-Jewish neighbours, co-workers and friends to celebrate the New Year with you in some small way. And be ready, in the New Year, to renew our efforts to work collaboratively within and outside the Jewish community to combat antisemitism and promote respectful dialogue.
I am proud of the work being done by our 40 member groups, and so many others, to take a stand against hatred. Kol Hakavod to you all.
May this year bring peace in the Middle East, and here in Canada. Shana Tovah.
About the Author
Mark Sandler, LL.B., LL.D. (honoris causa), ALCCA’s Chair, is widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading criminal lawyers and pro bono advocates. He has been involved in combatting antisemitism for over 40 years. He has lectured extensively on legal remedies to combat hate and has promoted respectful Muslim-Jewish, Sikh-Jewish and Black-Jewish dialogues. He has appeared before Parliamentary committees and in the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions on issues relating to antisemitism and hate activities. He is a former member of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, a three-time elected Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, and recipient of the criminal profession’s highest honour, the G. Arthur Martin Medal, for his contributions to the administration of criminal justice.