CAEF Letter to University of Toronto President Melanie Woodin, Urging Firmer Action to End Jew Hatred on Campus

July 10, 2026 

Dr. Melanie Woodin, President 

 University of Toronto

27 King’s College Circle, Room 206  

Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 1A1 

Dear President Woodin, 

Thanks for having Ms Farrell respond to my letter and for sharing the snapshot of activities undertaken by the University which were reported to the Governing Council. I see very little that addresses antisemitism and few actions that would provide confidence to Jewish students and faculty that Jew hatred has been addressed. I see no plan is in place to seriously reduce antisemitism and hold purveyors of such hatred accountable. 

CAEF is pleased to learn the university is consulting with several Jewish community organizations, but we do not see on the list several significant organizations such as B’nai Brith Canada, CIJA or organizations that actually exist to address campus antisemitism, namely StandWithUs Canada, Allied Voices for Israel and the Network of Engaged Canadian Academics. 

We note your chart includes enhanced kosher food at UofT food services and wonder how this addresses antisemitism? 

We note the addition of staff in the DEI department, with a role described as creating a "Faith and Anti-Racism Inclusion Strategy", which does not sound like a role to prioritize the significant issue of Jew hatred on campus which is manifested largely as antizionism. In studies conducted in the US, it is apparent that DEI itself, based on the inadequacy and unsupported theory called Critical Race Theory, actually increases racism and antisemitism.  

The fact that the Governing Council and administration of UofT have failed, or refused, to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism confirms the lack of commitment in addressing antisemitism. No government or institution can develop a plan to address this ancient hatred, nor any social problem, if it first does not define it. Surely a university understands this better than less educated folks for it is the practice in science and other intellectual activities to state the problem clearly before endeavoring to solve it.  

It is known that the university has various programs, courses, faculty, unions and student bodies that present antizionism as only criticism of Israel and of course indulge in this while ignoring grievous and horrendous human rights violations across the globe. This is antisemitism. It is not criticism, but delegitimization, demonization, double standards applied to the only Jewish state. Instead of being the bulwark against bigotry, tyranny, and hate, the university is the opposite, delivering it disguised as freedom of speech, independent student activities, balanced programming, rather than a breach of your own Code of Ethical Conduct. 

The report prepared and presented by Dr. Rob Cooper and Council colleagues bears serious consideration. Having faculty reps act independent of the Council says a lot about the lack of attention antisemitism has received at the U of T over many years.  

Lastly, a university with access to the best evidence globally ought to start to teach and act on such evidence. Knowing the two major sources of Jew hatred are Islamism and leftism, suggests you must address the problem at the source and not obvert it with wild and widely named initiatives that obscure the problem: "Dates of Recognition, Observance, and Celebration," "Recognizing and Addressing Race, Place of Origin and Creed-based Discrimination," and a "Drop-in space ...to provide supportive spaces for Jewish and Israeli community members."  Really? 

We fear for the future Canadian leadership in academic and cultural institutions, political and social governance at all levels if the most prestigious university in Canada cannot get its collective mind around confronting and dismantling Jew hatred. This requires defining antisemitism, mandating explicit training at all levels, holding people accountable, publicly reporting, and setting a high bar for the rest of the country in what ought to now be a crusade to end this scourge in Canada. 

Respectfully, 

Andria Spindel, Executive Director