Building a more inclusive Canada by sharing the lessons of the Holocaust, advocating for human rights and combatting antisemitism and hate in all its forms.
FSWC is appalled that Canada’s Parliament gave a standing ovation to a Ukrainian veteran who served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War implicated in the mass murder of Jews and others.
An apology and explanation is owed.
A video is being shared widely on social media that depicts a protester in Belleville yelling "you're a pathetic Jew" at least twice to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Protest is essential to any democracy, but hatred spreads when it is tolerated. We urge any media sharing the
We are deeply disturbed by
@CTVNews
misrepresenting yesterday’s peaceful “Rally for the Jewish People” in Ottawa that was attended by thousands of Jews, including students and Holocaust survivors, as being pro-war. The poignant pleas from the families of those held hostage by
Last night at the Toronto Blue Jays game, 97-year-old Holocaust survivor Irene Kurtz threw the first pitch. She also shared a heartwarming moment with Spencer Horwitz, a Jewish first and second baseman for the Blue Jays and Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.
An inspiring
Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital was established in the 1920s by Jews against the backdrop of
#antisemitism
.
Last night, it was the target of protesters chanting for violence and terror against Jews. This was a deliberate attempt to intimidate not only the Jewish community, but
We strongly condemn a protest held by COVID-19 conspiracists at the National Holocaust Monument in
#Ottawa
. Video footage shows protesters openly comparing the
#Holocaust
and discrimination of Jews in Canada in the 1930s to their own situation.
Read more:
Thousands of Jewish community members and our allies were at Christie Pits Park in Toronto this afternoon to raise our voices for the freedom of the more than 240 hostages being held in Gaza.
#BringThemHome
@TheRWCHR
@UJAFederation
Amid surging hate crimes targeting Jews in Toronto, it's appalling to see another rally in our city inciting hate and violence.
These chants calling for intifada - violence and terror against Israel's Jewish people - are anything but peaceful; they’re hateful.
Such incitement
We are outraged by this statement from
@SarahJama_
and her refusal to acknowledge the atrocities committed by the terror group Hamas against Israeli civilians.
After more than 900 people were brutally massacred, including infants and the elderly, and many others tortured and
I'm reflecting on my role as a politician who is participating in this settler colonial system, and I ask that all politicians do the same.
#FreePalastine
On June 18 at Spirit of Hope, FSWC will present former US Ambassador to the
@UN
,
@NikkiHaley
, an award for her work in championing
#humanrights
. Join us in thanking Haley for her incredible work and contributions. Register for Spirit of Hope: .
Canada's just-confirmed decision to restore funding to UNRWA is deplorable, and sadly unsurprising.
For years, the Trudeau government has been warned about the UN agency’s deeply rooted culture of hate and incitement against Israel and Jews, in addition to its rampant
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center is extremely saddened by the news today of the passing of Toronto resident Max Eisen z"l, a Holocaust survivor who dedicated his life to Holocaust education and inspiring people of all ages to be upstanders against hate.
As the spiraling fallout caused by a former Nazi Waffen-SS unit member being invited to and celebrated on the floor of the House of Commons continues to mount, we are calling for Anthony Rota to resign from his role as Speaker of the House of Commons.
Ahead of a planned anti-Israel demonstration outside BAYT synagogue in Thornhill tomorrow, protesters were spotted outside the synagogue this afternoon harassing its rabbi and holding up a banner accusing synagogues of being "complicit in Palestinian ethnic cleansing."
When did
During a sermon earlier this month, Imam Adnan Abyat, based in Port Coquitlam, BC, glorified terror and Hamas leaders, demonized the Jewish people and incited violence.
FSWC has reported Abyat to the
@BCRCMP
Hate Crime Unit.
The open glorification of terror seen in
#Toronto
and
#Montreal
this past weekend is utterly deplorable.
This is not peaceful protest.
@MayorOliviaChow
and
@Val_Plante
must speak out and take action against the hate and violence incited on their city streets.
During today's rally at
@UofT
, demonstrators called for the complete erasure of Israel, chanting "there is only one solution, intifada revolution" and declaring that "everyone, from the river to the sea...would all be proud to be Palestinians."
Instead of calls for peace,
Shameful calls for violence against Israelis and posters donning
#antisemitic
slurs on the streets of
#Toronto
is vile incitement that jeopardizes Jews in Canada and around the world.
This hateful display at yesterday’s
#AlQudsDay
rally must be condemned.
Jews and non-Jews alike from across the Toronto area stood united tonight in solidarity with the people of
#Israel
. We mourn the loss of the 900+ Israelis murdered and pray for those who have been wounded and taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.
Am Yisrael Chai
#StandWithIsrael
Natalie Knight, a faculty member and curriculum consultant at Langara College in Vancouver, described the Oct. 7 massacre and kidnapping of Israeli civilians by Hamas terrorists as an "amazing, brilliant offensive."
@langaracollege
must speak out and take immediate action. Those
“The amazing, brilliant offensive waged on October 7th.”
This is real, Natalie Knight at a Pro-Hamas rally in Vancouver, Canada.
To see people celebrate the massacre of Jews only a few minutes from where I grew up makes me sick to my stomach.
@KenSimCity
@CIJAinfo
Canadian Jewish groups
@bnaibrithcanada
,
@CIJAinfo
and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center are calling on the Canadian government to retract and clarify its earlier comments on the hospital explosion in Gaza that give credence to the false Hamas narrative.
Please see our
An incredibly disturbing
#antisemitic
advertisement seen this morning in
#Toronto
near Bay St. and Yorkville Ave. We’ve been in communication with Astral, filing a complaint and insisting the poster be removed immediately.
Over the weekend, we saw anti-Israel demonstrations at several malls across Canada. Protesters attempted to intimidate shoppers and workers, including chanting antisemitic slogans.
Surely, there must be consequences for such outrageous behaviour. It is imperative for Canada’s
As we welcome in Shabbat, we reflect on the unity that has been displayed all over the world this past week. During the darkest days, we as a Jews and non-Jews alike have come together to show strength and togetherness. Shabbat Shalom. Am Israel Chai.
We commend
@cupenat
for demanding Fred Hahn’s resignation and making it clear that
#antisemitism
and the toxic environment he created for Jewish CUPE members are no longer acceptable.
We call on
@CUPEOntario
to follow the lead of the national executive and end this embarrassment
We thank
@NationalDefence
and
@CanadianForces
for this analysis, which indicates the hospital explosion in Gaza was not caused by an Israeli airstrike.
We now urge Prime Minister
@JustinTrudeau
to address the findings directly, set the record straight and ease the tensions
Analysis conducted independently by the
@CanadianForces
Intelligence Command indicates with a high degree of confidence that Israel did not strike the hospital on October 17, 2023.
The more likely scenario is that the strike was caused by an errant rocket fired from Gaza.
Shame on you,
@CTVNews
. This headline is outrageous.
#Israel
is showing the world the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians, incl. infants, to bear witness to their horrific crimes. These war crimes must be documented and shared to ensure that the
We applaud German professional tennis player Alexander Zverev for taking a strong public stand against hate and Nazism at the
@usopen
last night.
During the fourth set, Alexander paused the match and spoke out after a fan was heard singing a phrase associated with the Nazi
The cancellation of
@NoLimitsLeah
as a keynote speaker indicates a disturbing trend of organizations capitulating to intimidation and harassment by those demanding the silencing of Jewish voices.
The decision to rescind Leah Goldstein's invitation to share her inspiring story,
The "beautiful Palestinian embroidery" that you speak of represents the erasure of Israel and its Jewish people,
@MaritStiles
.
It is unbecoming of a political leader to celebrate such a display, which causes harm to Jews in Canada and Israel.
An apology is owed to the
This 2021 video showing the current premier of Alberta comparing vaccinated Canadians to supporters of the Nazi regime is incredibly disconcerting. While an apology has been made, it doesn’t fix the harm caused.
Holocaust comparisons are inappropriate, disrespectful to the
We are horrified by the series of Islamophobic incidents this past week, including the latest violent attack outside a mosque. There is no room for any form of hate in this country. We’re relieved an arrest has been made.
Toronto's Kehillat Shaarei Torah synagogue has, yet again, been hit with vandalism.
These despicable acts meant to intimidate the Jewish community must stop, and the perpetrators must be held to account.
@TorontoPolice
is investigating.
We applaud
@WesternU
for its quick, decisive action against Aarij Anwer who, in his role as Muslim Chaplain, posted a vile comment denying Hamas atrocities and vilifying those who stand with Israel.
Individuals who express such hateful, divisive views have no place in
We're deeply concerned over
@UJAFederation
's report of 17 buses not showing up to bring community members in the GTA to Ottawa for today's Rally for the Jewish People.
This is absolutely disgraceful. The Jewish community will not be silenced, and the rally will go on.
It is a shame that
@PrideToronto
has chosen to jump on the bandwagon of demonizing Israel, while willfully ignoring the human rights atrocities and ceasefire violations committed by Hamas.
This one-sided statement makes no mention of the Oct. 7 terror attack that saw the
We appreciate PM
@JustinTrudeau
's apology and recognition of the harm caused to the Jewish community, including Holocaust survivors, and other communities victimized by the Nazi regime. It is also important to see him recognize the damage done to our ally Ukraine, particularly
Thank you
@AHousefather
for speaking out on behalf of the Jewish community.
Jews across the country are experiencing the scourge of
#antisemitism
. The NDP opposition motion will further divide communities in 🇨🇦 while doing nothing to help advance peace in the Middle East.
We are dismayed by this walkout at
@MarcGarneauCI
, where students promoted a genocidal slogan that calls for the destruction of Israel and the annihilation of the Jewish people. The fact that students were supported by staff, as seen below, is shocking and unacceptable.
Yesterday, outside the
@UJAFederation
annual campaign launch in
#Toronto
, Jewish attendees were targeted with hostility and hateful chants from the anti-Israel crowd.
Thankfully,
@TorontoPolice
were on site to protect attendees and arrest several demonstrators.
We are seeing
We're horrified by the vandalism of
@MarcMillerVM
's riding office that occurred overnight in
#Montreal
.
The hate, violence and intimidation tactics that we are seeing from anti-Israel radicals have no place on our city streets. We are relieved that Minister Miller and his staff
Earlier this week, Steven Spielberg broke his silence on the Israel-Hamas war and denounced the rapid rise in antisemitism.
At the 30th anniversary of the foundation of the USC Shoah Foundation, Spielberg said, “In the face of brutality and persecution, we have always been a
Thank you
@PierrePoilievre
for your unwavering support for the Jewish people.
As Jewish Canadians continue to face a wave of anti-Israel hate and antisemitism, we recognize and appreciate leaders who have the courage to stand up as our allies.
Shocked and disturbed to see MP
@iamIqraKhalid
and Mississauga Mayor
@BonnieCrombie
posing with a notorious BDS leader and Ayatollah supporter and his disgusting,
#antisemitic
banner. It reads "Palestinian Holocaust Made By The Zionists.”
We are disturbed by the appearance of Holocaust symbols at the rally in Ottawa yesterday protesting government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. These symbols of hate and genocide have no place in Ottawa or anywhere in Canada.
Read our statement here:
People around the world, including from cities in Canada, are tearing down the posters of the 200+ hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas terrorists.
The hostages include babies, children and the elderly.
Removing the faces of those taken hostage further dehumanizes Jewish
FSWC is calling on
@Safety_Canada
and
@CdnHeritage
to convene an Emergency Task Force for On-Campus Antisemitism to tackle growing and increasingly toxic
#antisemitism
on university campuses and ensure the safety of Jewish students and staff.
An insincere and insufficient apology from
@CUPEOntario
President Fred Hahn.
Given the repeated harm his words and actions have caused to the Jewish community, Hahn must be replaced by someone who can represent all CUPE members.
@cupenat
, the ball is in your court.
With 24 of the 200+ hostages returned safely to Israel, we begin Shabbat and the weekend with a beacon of light and hope. We wish you all a Shabbat Shalom.
Freedom to protest does not mean freedom to intimidate, harass and obstruct.
The scene outside a Jewish community centre in
#Montreal
last night was appalling and utterly unacceptable.
Enough is enough. The
@SPVM
and police departments across the country must take all possible
FSWC is dismayed by the news that yet another synagogue has been targeted by vandalism, this time in Kitchener, ON.
A brick was thrown through the front window of Beth Jacob Congregation on Monday and police are investigating.
We thank Kitchener Centre MP
@morricemike
who took
On this solemn day, the 82nd anniversary of the Babyn Yar Massacre, we honour the memory of the more than 33,000 Jewish victims who were murdered by the Nazis on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine on Sept. 29-30, 1941.
The massacre was one of the largest mass killings at a single
Yet another synagogue has been vandalized, this time the Anshei Minsk shul in Toronto's Kensington Market. This is the troubling reality Canadian Jews are facing, as the list of targeted Jewish institutions continues to grow.
@TorontoPolice
is investigating and the Hate Crime
More than 15 hours have passed since
@OntarioNDP
leader
@MaritStiles
demanded
@SarahJama_
retract her abhorrent post, which wilfully ignored the brutality waged against Israeli civilians by Hamas terrorists. Why is this post still up?
Antisemitic graffiti recently found at
@queensu
included the words "I’m going to bat for you Hitler."
The university administration must tackle the extreme rise in
#antisemitism
on campus and take action to protect the safety of Jewish students.
We are absolutely sickened by the suspected hate-motivated arson and vandalism attack on a Jewish-owned delicatessen in
#Toronto
.
This is not activism. This is unlawful, hateful behaviour, and it must never be tolerated.
We mourn the loss of former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney.
He was a friend of the Jewish community, and a steadfast ally against antisemitism and supporter of Israel.
Our deepest condolences go out to his family. May his memory forever be a blessing.
Mayor
@JyotiGondek
's decision to not attend tonight's
#Chanukah
menorah lighting is very disturbing and an affront to the Jewish community in Calgary and across Canada, especially in this time of rising antisemitism when allyship is more critical than ever.
As we mark two months
1/2 On the eve of a beloved Calgary tradition, the annual menorah lighting at City Hall, I have learned that the event has been repositioned to be political. This breaks my heart.
It is with great regret and sadness that I will not be attending. My statement is posted here.
Following the heinous deadly attack involving a UAV drone that struck a civilian apartment in Tel Aviv today, FSWC and
@bnaibrithcanada
are renewing calls for the Canadian government to list the Houthi movement as a terrorist entity.
Read our joint statement below.
As of now, 40+ people have been killed and 700+ wounded and dozens taken hostage, as Hamas terrorists from Gaza infiltrate Israeli communities, massacre civilians, fire thousands of rockets at much of southern and central Israel.
We stand in solidarity with the people of
Over 1000 people gathered yesterday in Toronto for an electrifying rally hosted by Canadian Women Against Antisemitism!
It is inspiring to see all those standing shoulder-to-shoulder, both Jewish and allies alike, demonstrating their support for the Jewish community in the face
FSWC welcomes
@OntarioNDP
@MaritStiles
' decision today to remove MPP Sarah Jama from its caucus, following a number of her actions that have caused repeated hurt and harm to the Jewish community in her riding of Hamilton Centre and beyond.
Thank you
@ZachHyman
for your powerful words.
Now more than ever, Jews and non-Jews alike must speak out against the rapid rise in
#antisemitism
that we are facing here in Canada and around the world.
FSWC is appalled by the outrageous agreement reached between
@UWindsor
and anti-Israel protesters and is calling on the university to immediately rescind it.
The university has now rewarded the hostile activities that the unauthorized anti-Israel encampment engaged in on campus
We are disturbed by
@SidneyColes8
's outrageous tweets in which she repeatedly accused
#Israel
of misappropriating US supplies of the coronavirus vaccine. A retraction & apology for these false & offensive remarks, which have hurt members of the Jewish community, are in order. 1/2
More antisemitic graffiti found in Toronto yesterday, this time targeting Beth Sholom Synagogue. The desecration of Jewish places of worship is odious and unacceptable.
This act of hate has been reported to the
@TorontoPolice
.
We are looking forward to welcoming
@HillelNeuer
to Toronto for Voices of Change!
Join us on May 21 for an in-person conversation with Hillel moderated by the Honourable Linda Frum.
Tickets are selling fast, secure yours today at
Thank you
@_MarkSutcliffe
for taking a stand against the divisive statement from Capital Pride, which has led to Ottawa's Jews feeling unheard and unwelcome.
Such strong leadership is more needed than ever to ensure spaces remain inclusive and welcoming for all communities.
Ottawa is a kind and welcoming city where everyone should feel included. I'm disappointed that despite conversations with the Jewish community, the board of Capital Pride has chosen to stand behind its original statement that caused significant hurt and distress for many members
Disturbed to see yet another synagogue vandalized, this time Beth Tefilah in London, Ont.
This is not the Canada we know and love. Our public leaders vow "never again," yet attacks on Jewish institutions happen again and again.
Enough is enough!
Very disconcerting to still see individuals trivializing the
#Holocaust
in protest. We repeat: there's no comparison between current pandemic measures and the dehumanization and genocide of Jews by the Nazis. Such use of the yellow star is a heinous form of Holocaust distortion.
Extremely disappointing to see
@TheTorontoSun
publish a cartoon that promotes
#antisemitic
stereotypes and undermines Western support for Ukraine amid Russia's illegal and immoral invasion.
We join
@ukrcancongress
in calling for a retraction and an apology.
UCC is disgusted by the disgraceful cartoon in the
@TheTorontoSun
depicting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, who is Jewish, stealing President Biden's wallet. This hateful cartoon perpetuates anti-Semitic stereotypes and is an insult to the Ukrainian people. 1/2
Hamas tortures and murders more than 1,200 women, men and children and vows to repeat its attacks on Israel "again and again." Yet, according to the
@UNReliefChief
, the UN does not believe Hamas is a terrorist group.
What an utter disgrace.
We applaud the Canadian House of Commons for unanimously passing a motion to condemn the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack in Israel and call on Hamas to unconditionally release all hostages who remain in Gaza.
Thank you
@AHousefather
.
Canada’s House of Commons just condemned the terror group Hamas and demanded the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages kidnapped on October 7. Thank you
@AHousefather
!
Thank you to our Mayor of Toronto,
@MayorOliviaChow
, for joining last night's public menorah lighting at Mel Lastman Square.
Having our city leaders participate in
#Chanukah
celebrations means a lot to the Jewish community.
"From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" is not a call for any kind of peaceful co-existence or two-state solution. It is a call for the destruction of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
The
@CityofMoncton
has ended a 20-year tradition of displaying the menorah outside Moncton City Hall. Meanwhile, Christmas decorations remain up.
Such a shameful, discriminatory decision must not stand.
Voice your concerns to Mayor
@Dawn_Moncton
at mayor
@moncton
.ca.
#Antisemitism
at Canadian universities is spiraling out of control and safe spaces for Jewish students are diminishing.
Our educational institutions must act now to get the alarming situation under control.
We have reached out to the
@Concordia
administration calling on it to
The owner of a local coffee chain said, "They put swastikas on the … menus downtown and they wrote F— THE JEWS."
The targeting of Jewish-owned businesses with vandalism and calls for boycott is
#antisemitism
. All Canadians must call it out.
We denounce yesterday's incendiary statement issued by York University student unions that glorifies and tries to justify the murderous Hamas terror group and its atrocities while spreading disinformation about the State of Israel.
Thank you
@StevenDelDuca
for your leadership on this important resolution and working to ensure religious and other vital institutions are protected from hate and intimidation.
Today, I announced that I will bring forward a Member’s Resolution to Vaughan City Council. If passed, City staff would prepare a bylaw that prohibits unpeaceful demonstrations within 100M of certain vulnerable infrastructure. See below 👇
Where is Canada’s moral compass?
Despite damning evidence of UNRWA employees' complicity (or worse) in the Hamas terror group and its Oct. 7 atrocities in southern Israel, Canada is now reportedly not just resuming but increasing funding to the tainted UN agency.
FSWC firmly
Disturbing that CPC MPs
@LeslynLewis
@DeanAllisonMP
&
@ColinCarrieCPC
would meet w/ far-right member of Islamophobic & xenophobic German AfD party Christine Anderson. Our elected leaders shouldn’t be courting an individual w/ such odious & hateful views that have no place in 🇨🇦.
We have reached out to
@tdsb
officials this evening calling for a strong denunciation of this incident by the school board and full investigation into the role played by staff in this display of antisemitism.
Introducing Voices of Change with
@HillelNeuer
!
Join international lawyer, writer and activist Hillel Neuer in conversation with the Honourable
@LindaFrum
for an in-depth discussion and analysis of the current situation at the United Nations and its impact on Israel and the
Today, more than 10,000 members of Canada’s Jewish community and allies alike gathered on Parliament Hill in Ottawa to rally for the release of the remaining hostages and stand against rising antisemitism in our country.
We are proud of the strong Canadian Jewish community, as
This week we commemorate the 88th anniversary of the
#Holodomor
genocide. In 1932-1933, millions of Ukrainians were starved to death in a state-enforced famine committed by the Soviet regime. We stand with the Ukrainian community as we honour the victims and survivors.
Canadian university and college campuses have become breeding grounds for virulent antisemitism targeting Jewish students and faculty. This study, which comes at a critical time, must seek answers from campus leadership who have been unwilling or unable to stem the tide of hate.
Today I put forward a notice of motion for the Justice Committee to study escalating antisemitism, including on university campuses and to propose solutions. The US House is dealing with this important issue. We need to do so as well.
On this International Women's Day, we stand in solidarity with the 19 women still held captive in Gaza by Hamas terrorists. Tragically, some of them have been murdered, their bodies withheld from their families.
Our hearts are with them and we call for their immediate release.
We are appalled by these
#antisemitic
stickers that have appeared in
#Toronto
, targeting a Jewish provincial election candidate with absurd conspiracy theories. Such hateful misinformation has no place in the political process.
Today, on Armenian Genocide Memorial Day, we remember the 1.5 million Armenians who were murdered in the Ottoman Empire.
We must preserve the memory of those who perished and honour them by always standing against hate, violence and persecution.
Heartbreaking news from
#Israel
.
The family of Vivian Silver has confirmed that the Canadian-Israeli peace activist, who was thought to be held hostage in Gaza, was killed in the Hamas terror attack on Oct. 7.
Our deepest condolences go out to her loved ones. May her memory
Yesterday afternoon, during a special session of the Ontario Legislature focusing on the recent Hamas terrorist invasion of
#Israel
and the killing of more than 1,400 Israelis, mostly civilians, Education Minister Stephen Lecce voiced his solidarity with Israel and Canadian Jews.
Spotted in Calgary, one day after the Iranian regime launched an attack against Israel.
Antisemites and terror sympathizers have been given free rein on our streets. When will our leaders decide enough is enough?
FSWC is calling for emergency action from the
@tdsb
following news of students performing the Nazi salute in front of a Jewish teacher at a Toronto school.
FSWC is horrified to learn that last night there were shots fired at a Jewish school for girls, Bais Chaya Mushka in North York. Thankfully there are no reports of injuries.
@TorontoPolice
Guns and Gangs and Hate Crime units are actively investigating and searching for 2
Heartbreaking.
The death of Judih Weinstein Haggai, a Canadian-Israeli, was confirmed by her kibbutz earlier today.
Judih and her husband, Gadi, were both brutally murdered in the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack. The fact that their bodies are being held in Gaza speaks to the utter
We stand with you
@AHousefather
against this vile antisemitic messaging.
Indeed, Jewish people have made countless contributions to 🇨🇦 and will continue to do so. Jewish Canadians continue to stand strong against such hate and bigotry.
My family has been here since the 19th century and we have indeed helped build this country. I am not going anywhere. Sorry antisemites. You may not like what I have to say but I will keep saying it and I will keep being a proud Jew and a Zionist.
Seven years ago today, six people were tragically murdered in a shooting attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre in Quebec City. As we mark National Day of Remembrance of the Québec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia, we remember and honour Ibrahima Barry, Mamadou