Israel’s special envoy for combatting antisemitism is looking for allies.
Michal Cotler-Wunsh will visit Winnipeg Wednesday to speak as part of United Against Antisemitism: Empowering Communities Through Education, an event at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
“We need allies — we can’t combat antisemitism by ourselves,” said Cotler-Wunsh, a Canadian citizen who has lived in Israel for 14 years.
“There has been a tsunami of antisemitism across the world since Oct. 7, online, on campuses, in the streets.”
This includes in Canada, she said, citing data from Statistics Canada showing the Canadian Jewish community was the most targeted religious minority in 2023 — much of it after the start of war in Gaza.
“It’s devastating for me as a Canadian to see Jews in that country targeted,” said Cotler-Wunsh. “We haven’t seen this kind of mainstreaming of antisemitism since the Holocaust.”
She says it’s not just a Jewish problem.
“It’s a challenge for all Canadians. And the only way to turn back the tide is for Jews to have allies who understand the existential nature of antisemitism, and who reach out to the Jewish community.”
One way to do that is for non-Jews to attend United Against Antisemitism to “inform themselves about the problem,” adding this includes learning about the new ways antisemitism is revealing itself on social media and by “denying Israel’s right to exist.”
“We need allies to stand up and speak out,” Cotler-Wunsh said. “It will be appreciated by your Jewish friends and neighbours.”
The event, which is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Asper Foundation, will also feature Deborah Lyons, Canada’s special envoy for combatting antisemitism and Holocaust remembrance, and Gustavo Zentner, vice president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs for Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Lyons agreed with Cotler-Wunsh, saying Jews in Canada today “feel a sense of abandonment.” She encouraged allies to reach out to them during this time they are “drenched in pain.”
Canada’s former ambassador to Israel said Winnipeggers need to hear about that pain and talk about ways to support each other. She also invited to the event government officials, leaders from other faith groups and the business community, which represents “what Canada is” as people come together as allies to build a “strong Canada.”
Zentner said Jews in Winnipeg feel singled out, citing encampments and rallies that take place on a regular basis at places like Polo Park.
“We never expected this kind of intolerance in Winnipeg,” he said.
Zentner believes people can be pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel and the same time, “advocating for the rights of innocent people in Gaza without denying Israeli identity” or that nation’s right to exist.
Like Cotler-Wunsh and Lyons, Zentner also hopes many people from the non-Jewish community will attend the event, to “dialogue and ask questions and to learn from one another.”
The event, which takes place at 7:30, costs $25 or $18 for students. Registration is required.
To register for United Against Antisemitism, visit http://wfp.to/cmhrevent or call 204-477-7400.
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John Longhurst
Faith reporter
John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg’s faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News.
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