Interfaith, Intercommunity Support | CAEF Bulletin, June 17, 2025
- CAEF
- 6 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Ottawa Says No to Hate
After hateful vandalism of Canada’s Holocaust memorial in Ottawa, the following organizations organized an Interfaith Gathering at the National Holocaust Monument:
Azrieli Foundation, B’nai Brith Canada, Canadian Friends of Yad Vashem, CIJA, Department of Canadian Heritage, Jewish Federation of Ottawa, National Capital Commission, National Holocaust Monument Committee, and Office of the Mayor of Ottawa. The event was attended by members of various faith communities as well as actual survivors and descendants of Holocaust survivors.
The focus of the event was on the defacing with red graffiti of the National Holocaust Monument (NHM) a week ago, that tramples on the memories of the victims of the Holocaust. It was proposed and initiated by Andrea Freedman, former President and CEO, Jewish Federation of Ottawa - now CEO of the Canadian Branch of Ben Gurion University.
The event MC was (lawyer) Lawrence Greenspon (Chair of the National Holocaust Monument Committee), and the opening speaker was a First Nations elder who spoke of a shared sense of trauma, and offered blessings. The first speaker was Auxiliary Bishop Yvan Mathieu - Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica (Roman Catholic) who spoke of the importance of people of all faiths standing together.
The second speaker was Dr. Agnes Klein - Romanian Holocaust survivor, Physician - (still working into her late 80’s in the federal Department of Health, as Senior Medical Advisor, in the Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, in the Director General’s Office.). She gave a brilliant and impassioned speech about her experiences in the Holocaust, and how Canada must change to reflect the urgent mandate now before us as a nation: to protect and stand with our Jewish citizens.
Another Paster read the Prayer of St. Francis of Assiss. At the conclusion: a Lay Cantor led the singing of El Maley Rachamim, the Prayer for Israel, Prayer for the Soldiers and Hatikvah.
Is Holocaust Education Failing? Read article in Ottawa Citizen by Jody Spiegel
Antisemitism on the World Stage
On June 10, Brigadier General Amir Avivi spoke in Toronto to an audience of approximately 300 at Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue, advising that he did expect Israel would have to attack Iran and neutralize their nuclear program.
Confronting Antisemitism in Canada
June 12th the Clarity Coalition, Niagara Military Museum and CAEF co-presented a conference featuring significant experts on antisemitism and the law, psychology, education and advocacy. Watch for the recordings.
Jews, Persians and Others in Solidarity
On June 14th, dozens of people crowded into a Persian restaurant in Toronto to hear speakers address the memory of those murdered by the Islamic Republic of Iran, who died for freedom. Most notable was Majidreza Rahnavard who was murdered in 2022 and said, before being killed by the IRGC, that people ought not to cry for him but for their country, and keep the fight for freedom alive.
Salman Sima an outstanding advocate for Iran, Israel and political prisoners everywhere, and founder of ICare, hosted a rich program of songs, traditional music of Iran, lion and sun flag waving, and speeches by Iranians and allies. Notable speakers included Raheel Raza, Founder of Muslims Facing Tomorrow, Amir Epstein, Founder of Tafsik, Avi Attali, Founder of OneGlobalVoice, Maureen Leshem, relative of a hostage, Don Stewart, former PCP MP, Melissa Lantsman, Deputy PCP leader, Vincent Ho, MP, Minister Michael Parsa, and Councillor Brad Bradford.
Bits of Positive News
Read Mohammed Rizwan in the National Post on what he, a Muslim, learned in Israel.
Soccer legend, Ali Karimi, Iranian, backs Israel. Read YNet News.
Watch the former Shah’s granddaughter marries Jewish American. Watch here.
Watch Business Against Antisemitism, initial podcast
Read Evangelical leaders praise Trump on Fox News for supporting Israel.
Read the Jewish Press on Captured documents prove Hamas stole Gaza aid for its militants.
Read Phyllis Chesler on the Miraculous and Magnificent accomplished by Israel.
Read Times of Israel article in which Netanyahu confirms Israel helped create the Gaza aid foundation.
Watch a violinist respond to request to play Have Nagila.
Watch Iranian stand up for Israel in defiance of the Islamic regime.
Kurds and Jews and have a Common Enemy. Read Kurdish Statement in Support of Israel.
Prime Minister Speaks of Canadian Values
Prime Minster Carney sparked a row when he spoke at an Eid event hosted by the Muslim Association of Canada and stated certain values of Islam were Canadian values. Those he listed were: compassion, generosity, sharing and solidarity. While these might be considered “shared values,” the PM’s words, spoken in the event sponsored by an organization that has been investigated for pursuing a radical Islamist agenda, seemed pandering in the extreme and provoked a myriad of critical responses. Most interestingly is the one posted on X by Imam Mohammad Tawhidi, the Imam of Peace and solidarity.
Non Jewish Professor Tormented for Supporting israel
Advocacy and Action
Read Letter from Larry Shapiro to the Toronto Star re: Opinion | Everyone must see this photo - thousands of lives depend on it, Michelle Shephard.
Read Letter from Judy Feld Carr on Day 1 of Operation Rising Lion to CAEF.
Read Letter from Larry Shapiro, Calgary to CTV regarding their lie when calling Tel Aviv, the capital of Israel.
Read Letter from Richard Sherman, Florida, to The Globe and Mail re: Mark MacKinnon's article promoting a bias against Israel.
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