Avi Benlolo Spends Last 24 Hours Educating Canadians About Antisemitism

Following the bomb threats received by Jewish community centres in Toronto and London, Ontario yesterday, and a Vancouver Jewish community centre today, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) spent the better part of the past 24 hours speaking to media about the rising tide of antisemitism across Canada and the United States.In the National Post Benlolo said "The Jewish community unfortunately is being targeted quite extensively now here in Canada. We saw it in Calgary as well, and it follows what's happening in the US . . .  Let us not forget, as well the contributing factors, which include university campuses, when the Jewish community is targeted through the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign and the anti-Israeli Apartheid (movement)... that is what has created the hostility among young people toward Jewish people."

Click Here to read the full story in the National Post 

In the Toronto Sun Benlolo explained the Jewish community is "being squeezed from two sides, from the radical left and from the radical right," with the ultimate aim of "targeting specifically Jewish community centres in the hope of instilling fear in the Jewish community, that is really their objective."

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Click Here to read the full story in the Toronto Sun 

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In the London Free Press Benlolo advocated "We would like (these incidents) to be classified as hate crimes more readily as opposed to mischief, and we would like to see charges laid more readily."

Click Here to read the full story in the London Free Press 




On Montreal radio, Benlolotried to understand the persistence of anti-Jewish hatred, observing,"Whyis the Jewish community being targeted? Why is there antisemitism? . . . It'sessentially racism and intolerance and hatred for the other."

Click Here to listen to the interview on Montreal's 800AM CJAD Radio 

On London radio he talked about the real danger of anti-Jewish hatred, explaining, "Antisemitism is lethal. No one can say it's not lethal. There are really crazy people out there who want to murder Jewish people . . . and it starts with words." 

Click Here to listen to the interview on London's AM980 Andrew Lawton Show

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FSWC was pleased to note Toronto Mayor John Tory was quick to address the issue, telling the Jewish community in Toronto "we [stand] shoulder to shoulder with them and won't be intimidated by threats." Tory continued saying "'I'm deeply saddened by the fact that this would happen here and in other parts of North America. It's clearly part of some deranged pattern of anti-Semitic behaviour." 

While we anticipate a statement condemning this anti-Jewish hate from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, we are troubled by the silence coming from Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. FSWC was unable to find any statements on line to reassure Jewish communities, and hopes to hear from her office on how she plans to confront this growing tide of anti-Jewish hate as soon as possible.We also await a statement from Ontario Culture Minister Michael Coteau, responsible for anti-racism initiatives and a new three-year provincial strategy to address discrimination, regarding his plan to confront and counter the surge in antisemitic intolerance in Ontario; yesterday, as the threats to Jewish institutions were playing out, he launched the racism strategy without giving sufficient weight to antisemitism and the unfolding situation. 

As Jewish communities across North America confront this newest iteration of antisemitic hate, FSWC will continue to be the voice of reason in the Jewish community and beyond, to ensure that Canadians fully comprehend the extent of this devastating issue.