Never Again Unprepared | CAEF Bulletin, Oct 17, 2025

CAEF
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Israelis Celebrate Hostages Return in Tel Aviv,October 13, 2025

Legal Update

CAEF is actively engaged in filing formal complaints against perpetrators of antisemitism, and in filing Freedom of Information requests in pursuit of justice for Jews. We report weekly on cases as they unfold. We welcome information that may lead to a formal complaint with a professional college or the police. Contact andria@caef.ca.

Sentencing of Razaali BAHADUR

On October 10, 2025, Razaali BAHADUR was sentenced to 12 months’ incarceration followed 3 years’ probation for publicly inciting hatred against Jews.

Bahadur was found guilty of inciting hatred after addressing a crowd at Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square on April 7, 2024, when he delivered a speech that glorified violence against Jews and called for their harm. His words were deliberate, dangerous, and intended to inflame hostility toward the Jewish community.

CAEF President Michael Teper, having been present at the rally and having personally seen Mr. Bahadur make his statements, gave evidence at the trial. He also presented a Victim Impact Statement to the Court at the sentencing phase of the proceeding.

Mark Sandler and Rochelle Direnfeld wrote an excellent article for the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism (ALCCA) Bulletin, which we extracted below.

“Bahadur’s antisemitic utterances, delivered through an electronic megaphone, included several specifically directed at children attending the vigil. He told the children to ask their parents about the children they raped and murdered (blood and lust libels perpetrated against Jews for centuries.) The Court found these utterances particularly aggravating, not simply for their despicable content, and the children they targeted, but also because Bahadur was on probation at the time for sexual interference (inappropriate sexual conduct with a minor).

At the sentencing hearing, the prosecution sought a 15-month jail sentence, to be followed by three years probation. The defence contended that Bahadur should serve, at most, a conditional sentence (house arrest).

Justice Chapin concluded that the circumstances required her to impose a 12-month jail sentence, followed by three years probation. Her reasons are as important as the disposition.

She first outlined the aggravating factors in the case:

Bahadur’s criminal record,
the fact that he was subject to a probation order at the time of the offence,
his express comments to the children at the vigil,
the fact that the offence took place at a candlelight vigil for the hostages. His conduct amounted to “rubbing salt in the wound” of the participants,
the significant harm to the community as demonstrated by the Community Impact Statements authored by B’nai Brith Canada, the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre as well as the victim impact statements of Matthew Taub and Michael Teper, who were present at the vigil and heard Bahadur’s hateful rhetoric,
the real risk of harm created by Bahadur’s conduct, and
the fact that he targeted the Jewish community, which has been the target of hatred for hundreds of years.

Mitigating factors included Bahadur’s crack cocaine addiction, although the Court rejected his submission that his use of crack cocaine that day explained his conduct. Instead, the Court found that his conduct was planned and deliberate and not the consequence of drug addiction. Bahadur apologized for his conduct but, at the same time, minimized his behaviour and maintained that what he said was not antisemitic and that he was exercising his right to what he believed was free speech in Canada.

Justice Chapin concluded that, over the past number of years, sentences for hate propaganda offences are trending upward, and she cautioned herself against relying on older cases. She also noted that Parliament has recognized the growing problem of antisemitic hate crimes and has introduced new legislation (Bill C-9) to more vigorously address the problem which is “getting worse, not better.” She found that deterrence and denunciation are the primary sentencing principles in this case and that a conditional sentence would not be in the public interest. She easily distinguished this case from one that involved an elderly, ill Indigenous man.

The 12-month jail sentence was accompanied by three years probation, with conditions including: not possessing any weapons, and not being within 50 metres of any synagogue, community centre or facility utilized primarily by the Jewish community.

Matthew ALTHORPE Pleads Guilty to Terrorism Offences

The CBC reported that on October 9, Matthew ALTHORPE of Niagara Region, pleaded guilty to facilitating terrorist activity, instructing others to carry out terrorist activity and committing an offence for a terrorist group. The group is the Atomwaffen Division (AWD) which is a designated terrorist group in Canada.

CAEF will be filing a Community Impact Statement at the sentencing hearing, to take place in early 2026.

Ian ASPENLIDER to face sentencing hearing December 1, 2025 – Mischief to National Holocaust Monument

CAEF will be delivering a Community Impact Statement at the hearing, along with other members of ALCCA and other Jewish community advocacy organizations.

Ontario College of Teacher Complaints

At this point CAEF board members and officers have 15 pending complaints with the Ontario College of Teachers regarding allegations of antisemitism related misconduct by members of the College.

Receipt of Part I of Ministry of Education FOI Disclosure re: TDSB Grassy Narrows Patrick Case Investigation

Today, CAEF President Michael Teper received the Ministry of Education’s initial disclosure of the Ministry’s records of former Deputy Minister of Education Patrick Case’s investigation into the TDSB Grassy Narrows student excursion in September 2024.

We will report further in next week’s CAEF Bulletin.

Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Analysis:Increase in Antisemitism on October 7th 2 year Anniversary

Adam Scott Bellos writes, the war will end, but antisemitism won’t. CAEF suggests one be informed, prepared, active in combating antisemitism, knowing Jewish history, one’s civil rights, and how to report incidents, seek help or support. Adam Scott Bellos is the Founder and CEO of The Israel Innovation Fund (TIIF) and creator of Wine on the Vine, Project Maccabee, and The Herzl AI Project. His upcoming book is titled Never Again Is Not Enough: Why Hebraization Is the Only Way to Save the Diaspora. He lives in Tel Aviv.

Read the article in YnetGlobal, October 9, 2025.

Patricia Heaton and Brooke Goldstein: Call for Wake up to Radical Islam

On Fox News Digital, Emmy Award–winning actress Patricia Heaton and Brooke Goldstein, Founder and Executive Director of The Lawfare Project, raised urgent concerns about a threat too many Americans have ignored.

Heaton expressed disbelief that the country didn’t rise in unified outrage after the atrocities of October 7, saying: “After October 7th, I assumed that all of America, particularly Christians, would be standing up for Israel, that there would be a massive outcry on October 8th, 9th, 10th, in support of Israel and condemning what happened.”

Goldstein agreed, warning that Americans are only beginning to grasp the scope of the danger: “Americans are starting to wake up and understand that radicalization—especially theologically motivated radicalization—is a threat to the United States.”

Together, they issued a call for courage and moral clarity: to recognize that antisemitism and radical Islamist ideology threaten not just the Jewish people, but the safety and values of all Americans.

The Islamist-Leftist Alliance- a Serious and Growing Threat to the West

Read all the articles in the Middle East Forum Dispatch. Articles include a report on the Arab-American conference that flaunted calls to kill the IDF, sold paraphernalia that pushed antiZionism, dished out hostility towards Israel. Another article traced funding of Mamdani, NY Dem candidate for Mayor to terrorist financing. Jonathan Spyer’s article reported on the protest he witnessed in London that brought a banned pro-left Islamist group to Trafalgar Square to recite hateful rhetoric towards Israel. An article on Hamas’s US network points out it has not been dismantled.

Given all the above, does anyone think Canada is doing any better? Is it safer? Is Canada without a Hamas network? Are pro-Hamas protesters looking to destroy our society from within?

War is NOT Over

Read Yoseph Haddad, October 16, 2025 in Israel Behind the News on the rebranding of Hamas, bypassing the agreement.

Read October 10, Substack by Melanie Phillips and then watch the interview, October 15, 2025.

Phillips writes: “This is merely the end of the first phase of what may turn into a truly epoch-defining moment. We have yet to see if the war in Gaza is over. That depends on whether Hamas disarms.

If they don’t, Israel now has carte blanche from America to finish the job of destroying Hamas as a military and governing force. Without the hostages whose plight has held Israel back for the past two years, the Israel Defence Forces will find that job far easier.”

Rabbi David Golinkin, writing in My Jewish Learning, states that an important commandment calls for the redemption of Jewish hostages but not for too much. This is a painful, challenging topic. Read the article which addresses this historical issue for the Jewish people.

Read Josh Katzen, in JNS, October 8, 2025 noting the War in Gaza is Not Over and Gaza is not going to be deradicalized in less than decades.

Faith based Leadership Support for Israel

Christian Zionists are the largest ally community for Jews, combating antisemitism, standing up for Israel, praying for peace for all of Israel, visiting Israel, celebrating with us and crying with us. One major organization doing this work is the Israel Allies Foundation, based in Washington, headed by Josh Rostein.

The IAF annually awards top 50 Christian allies with an honour recognizing steadfast support for Israel. Charlie Kirk was honoured posthumously. “Other honorees include Daystar television founder and President Joni Lamb, multi-campus Pastor Jentezen Franklin, World Boxing Champion Floyd Mayweather and Gaza Humanitarian Fund Director Rev. Johnnie Moore, who have led their respective ministries in providing significant humanitarian aid and spiritual support to Israel, particularly in the aftermath of October 7th.”

Read article by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz in Israel365News on the IAF award to President Trump for reshaping the Middle East, October 10, 2025.

Advocacy and Action

Sign UN Watch Petition to Replace UNRWA

Read history and meaning of the Hindu Swastika symbol and importance of distinguishing it from the Nazi Hakenkreuz. This essay by Rishabh Saraswat, President of CoHNA,. Coalition of Hindus of North America, is an important explanation of the ancient religious symbol for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists and the need to amend Bill C9, Canadian… so as not to prohibit this symbol for Canadian life.

Letter from Dr. Stuart Kamenetsky to University of Toronto Senior administrators on the harassment of Jewish Students on October 7 while commemorating the savagery of Oct 7, 2023 in accordance with university rules.

Letter from D. S., Vancouver, to CBC's Rosanna Deerchild, stating objections to an episode of Unreserved, titled "Global Indigenous Solidarity with Palestine", October 13, 2025.

Letter from Richard Sherman, Florida to Columbia Spectator (Oct. 14, 2025): Protesters' "Deafening Silence" Reveals True Aim—Hamas to Erase Israel.

Recommended Viewing

Watch Brooke Goldstein, Founder and Executive Director of the Lawfare Project, from Jerusalem, October, on the Gaza Ceasefire. She makes it clear that there are two worldviews—Muslims claim to have won, Hamas is still in power in Gaza. Why isn’t the West celebrating a peace deal, condemning the murders of Gazans by Hamas and shutting down the continuing calls by radical protesters for destruction of Israel? A temporary pause in hostilities is not peace.

Watch interview in Germany with Stephen Silverman about German shop owner who banned Jews. Is this "coming to a theatre near you?”

Watch Joshua Washington, Executive Director, IBSI, on Arab-on-Black racism.

Watch Arab woman speaking of the Islamic ideology that threatens the West.

Watch Samidoun leader in Europe calls for Defeating Israel, defeating the US and defeating Canada.

Community Events

Reserve your Seat: https://icej.ca/oct19/

Jews in India, Indian Jews—Stories, Recipes and a Canadian connection

Ann Samson is a Canadian of Indian origin, founder and past president of BINA, Beth Israel of North America congregation in Toronto, an activist in the Indian Jewish community and the wider community. She experienced discrimination within the Jewish community in her early years in Canada, and she has fought antisemitism in the larger community. Her story is one of sensitivity and success. Israel is central to her Jewish identity.

Read Tasting Faith promo on Amazon where you can order this book.

“Paushali Lass takes you on a fascinating journey exploring the rich heritage of the Jews of India through the life of Ann Samson. From the warmth and vibrancy of her early years in India, where faith and tradition thrived, to the challenges of building a new life in Canada, Ann’s story reflects the resilience of the Jews of India and the broader Jewish diaspora.

This book, written by both Paushali Lass and Ann Samson, highlights the balance between faith and adaptation, the importance of education in combating antisemitism, and the often-overlooked experiences of the “Jews of the East”. Through food, tradition, and personal narrative, it celebrates a legacy of endurance, the deep connection of Jewish people to Israel, and the vibrant diversity of Jewish identity.

Tasting Faith sheds light on a lesser-known Jewish community—one unfamiliar even to many in India and the Jewish diaspora. At a time when global antisemitism is on a sharp rise and the Jewish experience is often narrowly framed as ‘European’, it is vital to share the story of diversity of the Jewish diaspora. Highlighting the story of Indian Jews challenges misconceptions and counters the narrative that portrays Israel as merely a European colonial outpost. Their story underscores the deep and varied roots of Jewish identity worldwide. Their story reveals the rich diversity of Jewish identity worldwide. India stands out as a rare place where Jews lived for generations without major antisemitism. Yet, most Indian Jews eventually emigrated to Israel—not due to persecution but out of deep love for their ancestral homeland. Ann Samson, the book’s protagonist, recounts how, despite thriving in India, Indian Jews faced challenges in gaining recognition within the global Jewish community after moving to the West. Through dedication, Ann and her community preserved their heritage while integrating into North America, ensuring future generations remain connected to their roots.”