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An information table set up at McGill University library on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in January. (Photo: Supplied)
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As an Israeli, the idea of antisemitism was something I’ve always understood conceptually. But while living in the Jewish State, I never experienced it firsthand.
This is why I was shocked when I first visited Calgary as a Jewish Agency for Israel Shin-Shin (service year emissary), to hear students sharing their various brushes with Jew-hatred. After each story, I heard the same plea: “What can I do to combat this?”
In these conversations, students also conveyed that they are seeking tools to cope with and respond to the baseless hatred they face, including rhetorical ammunition to expose antisemitism for the insidious farce that it is.
After my Shlichut, I returned to Israel to work at a successful start-up, but the pleas I heard from students continued to tug at my heartstrings even though I lived an ocean away. A conversation with Yaron Deckel, The Jewish Agency’s regional director in Toronto, ultimately convinced me to return to Canada for more Israeli emissary service – this time as an Israel Fellow. I realized that I couldn’t stand idly by as antisemitism continued to seep into everyday life on campus.
The Jewish Agency’s Israel Fellows program works in partnership with Hillel on more than 75 schools across the continent. Together, they engage in strategic partnerships with groups on campus, national organizations and various Hillel initiatives in order to respond to anti-Semitism or anti-Israel activity on campus.
As for antisemitism, my own experience may be anecdotal, but the data doesn’t lie: According to the Anti-Defamation League – Hillel survey on campus antisemitism that was published in 2021, antisemitic incidents peaked during that academic year — reaching an all-time high of 244 incidents, even though many campuses were physically closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More recently, this February, the American Jewish Committee released a survey which found that nearly 40% of Jews feel less secure about their status in the U.S. than they did a year ago, and nine out of 10 Jews and the general public believe antisemitism is a serious problem in the United States.
There’s an alarming fear permeating the air on many college campuses across North America, so much so that my students tell me they hesitate to even utter any pro-Israel sentiments, to avoid getting a poor grade or potential violence and hate crime backlash. This is unacceptable.
As an Israel Fellow, my job is to help Jewish and pro-Israel students find effective strategies for calling out antisemitism when they see it, and to ensure that students across the campus community and university leaders are aware of Jew-hatred when it occurs.
For example, on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in January, we held an emotional event which reminded students that the lessons of the past should not be forgotten.
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We set up a table on campus that broke down what modern-day antisemitism looks like. From rapper Ye (Kanye West) tweets to other social media posts accusing Jews of controlling the world, we demonstrated that these tropes could easily snowball into something far more terrifying. The table was set up at McGill university library, likely the best location on campus for tabling, and we approached every single student that passed by. This was by design.
Fortunately, non-Jewish students did stop by and asked meaningful questions. It was a key teachable moment, as some were only hearing the word “Holocaust” for the first time, and others never knew there were death camps. Many had no idea that the Holocaust, too, began with words of incitement.
Later in the week, we had the honor of hosting Holocaust survivor Angela Osorz. She was literally born into the horror of the Holocaust, as her mother gave birth to her in Auschwitz. Born at only two pounds, Osorz was so weak that she didn’t even let out a single cry at birth. As a result, her mother was able to hide her until the concentration camp was liberated in 1945.
Many Non-Jewish students arrived to listen to her story, and they were moved and devastated by what they heard. Their participation is highly encouraging. After all, as pro-Israel advocates and educators, our mission isn’t only to lift up Jews on campus. We must educate and create an atmosphere of tolerance for all.
Tackling antisemitism begins with the Jews, but it doesn’t end with them. It behooves us to ensure that people from all backgrounds are involved in this important conversation.
Netanel Benami, The Jewish Agency’s Israel Fellow for Hillel Montreal leading Israel engagement and programs for students on 7 campuses across Montreal including Concordia and McGill universities.
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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!
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