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CIJA throws the Jews of Hamilton under the progressive NDP train
- 22 March 2023
- 9:09 pm
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- 22 March 2023
- 9:09 pm
“Can’t wait to see @SarahJama (left) sworn in,” tweeted Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles (right). “I’m excited to see her bring that activism to the Legislature.” Journalist Sue Ann Levy replied, “Yes Marit can’t wait to see you swear in a Jew hater. Perhaps she can burn the Israeli flag at the ceremony.” (Photo: @maritstiles)
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A last minute “frank discussion” and a half-baked apology preceded the NDP victory in a Hamilton byelection on Thursday that is sending a full-blown communist antisemite to Queen’s Park.
Riding the momentum of being a poster girl for all “oppressed” societal groups championed by the radical left, a “disability rights advocate” named Sarah Jama -who hates cops, Jews and Israel – took a plurality of votes in a race where only 22% of the Hamilton Centre electorate turned up at the ballot box. But with the heat turned up last week, the candidate and her leader realized the bad publicity was costing the party in the court of public opinion and sought to stem the embarrassment.
“Jama, who had staunchly defended her activism as support for Palestinian human rights until Thursday, issued an eleventh-hour apology in a statement to the Star for “harmful” comments in a 2021 video from a pro-Palestine rally, where she accused Hamilton police of protecting ‘Nazism’” reported the Hamilton Spectator.
“There were a poor choice of words that were used in the video. Going forward, as the MPP-elect, I’m just really excited to be building relationships with all communities, including the Jewish community.”
On Wednesday, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) met with Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles for “a frank discussion on antisemitism linked to her party’s candidate in tomorrow’s Hamilton Centre byelection, Sarah Jama.”
“During the meeting, FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt brought up two incidents involving Jama that have sparked anger and concerns in the Jewish community. He expressed disappointment over the failure of the Ontario NDP leadership and Jama to publicly acknowledge the harm done, apologize and communicate a commitment to confront antisemitism within party ranks despite this being but the latest in a spate of antisemitic incidents in the party in recent years.”
FSWC pointed out that, “Earlier this week, a 2021 video shared on Twitter shows Jama at an anti-Israel gathering spouting absurd, baseless conspiracy theories about Hamilton Police, claiming they’re “protecting Nazism,” and Israel, saying “it’s not true” when people say “it’s fine that Israel is illegitimate because Netanyahu isn’t there… because the same people will continue to fund the killing of people here, locally, and globally.”
Levitt stated: “Claims by the NDP that it stands against antisemitism must be more than just words. The decision by both Stiles and Jama to stay silent publicly on these important issues is deafening and sends a clear message to the Jewish community.”
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That same day, Howard Eisenberg, president of the Hamilton Jewish Federation, finally uttered a comment about an antisemite being on the provincial ballot.
“No matter who wins the byelection, what has surfaced has caused a lot of pain to the Jewish community. This impact must be acknowledged and addressed. The Federation’s door is open to help deepen understanding of Hamilton’s vibrant and diverse Jewish community, particularly in the context of rising hate in this city.”
Compare this with Eisenberg speaking out when a candidate assailed by CBC as being a “white nationalist” was running for Mayor of Hamilton in 2022.
Seven weeks before the municipal election date, on September 3rd he proclaimed: “Hamiltonians should take a stand against hate at the ballot box and send a clear and unequivocal message that there is no place for hate at City Hall.”
But Eisenberg failed to deliver a similar rebuke when a black communist was seeking votes 6 months later for a seat in the Ontario Legislature.
This ‘some antisemitic politicians are worse than others’ approach by the Hamilton Jewish Federation should deeply concern donors – as should Eisenberg’s pandering follow-up remark calling Jama’s public apology “encouraging” and ignoring her anti-Israel advocacy for BDS. He said Jama promised to “speak out against antisemitism” and show up for the community. “We will be holding Ms. Jama to her commitment.”
Eisenberg can start immediately – by putting the new MPP on the spot and demanding she disavow the chronic antisemitism espoused by US House Democrat Ilhan Omar, who fan-girl Jama sought out on Sunday morning through Twitter: “Anyone on this app know how to get in touch with @IlhanMN? 👀👀 Asking for a friend (I’m the friend).”
Within days of becoming MPP for Hamilton Centre, radical BDS supporter Sarah Jama of the Ontario NDP wanted to get in touch with America’s top Jew-hating member of Congress Ilhan Omar. (Image: Twitter)
While FSWC did not appear to have issued a post-election comment, B’nai Brith Canada did.
CEO Michael Mostyn flatly stated, “Jama’s first attempt at an apology is not at a level acceptable to @bnaibrithcanada or Ontarians in general. Her apology appears to inherently deny her pattern of radical behaviours and solely on the aforementioned video.”
“This disingenuously markets her problematic history as a one-off” by focusing solely on the controversial video, Mostyn wrote on Twitter. “Both Jama and the NDP owe the #Jewish community the courtesy of publicly communicating her disavowal of the #antisemitic BDS movement that she has long supported.”
Typically, the mouthpiece for Jewish Federations in Canada failed to measure up to B’nai Brith’s leadership, choosing instead to throw the Jews of Hamilton under the progressive NDP train.
“We acknowledge Sarah Jama’s apology regarding the harmful impact of her past words, and her pledge to the Hamilton jewish federation to speak out against antisemitism and to show up for the Jewish community,” said Noah Shack, vice president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. He was immediately and vociferously mocked on Twitter for it.
“Wow, amazing. Cured of antisemitism. Nothing to see here anymore.” wrote Susan Dee (@225WinnipegAve). “Weak as fuck” opined the Jewish activist account Darksard.
Another observer told Shack and CIJA, “The problem is she doesn’t appreciate the issue. “Criticism of Israel isn’t antisemitic” has become a fav saying of progressive activists, but they don’t appreciate how blurred the line is for the average person and how the vicious attacks on Israel fuel antisemitism.”
Shack told CBC Hamilton “it was an “important first step” but said her “actions will speak louder than words.”
Since, as we are reporting in this article, her first action is to try to forge a relationship with Ilhan Omar, maybe Shack can emulate Mostyn, demand Jama disavow BDS, and also insist she repudiate Omar’s toxic Jew-hate.
Or, CIJA can continue to lead from behind as the NDP across the country continues to be a safe harbour for antisemites like Sarah Jama cloaked in the progressive fig-leaf of ‘anti-Zionism’.
Marty Gold is the Editor-in -Chief of TheJ.ca. Known for investigative reporting, he has specialized in covering municipal and provincial politics, and a wide range of sports and entertainment, in newspapers, magazines, online, and on his first love, radio. His business and consulting experience includes live events and sales, workplace safety, documentary productions, PR, and telecommunications in Vancouver, Los Angeles and across Canada, and as a contestant on CBC-TV Dragons Den.
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Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.
We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!
Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.
Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.
We thank you for your ongoing support.
Happy reading!
Thank you for choosing TheJ.Ca as your source for Canadian Jewish News.
We do news differently!
Our positioning as a Zionist News Media platform sets us apart from the rest. While other Canadian Jewish media are advocating increasingly biased progressive political and social agendas, TheJ.Ca is providing more and more readers with a welcome alternative and an ideological home.
We revealed the incursion of anti-Israel progressive elements such as IfNotNow into our communities. We have exposed the distorted hateful agenda of the “progressive” left political radicals who brought Linda Sarsour to our cities, and we were first to report on many disturbing incidents of Nazi-based hate towards Jews across Canada.
But we can’t do it alone. We need your HELP!
Our ability to thrive and grow in 2020 and beyond depends on the generosity of committed readers and supporters like you.
Monthly support is a great way to help us sustain our operations. We greatly appreciate any contributions you can make to support Jewish Journalism.
We thank you for your ongoing support.
Happy reading!
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