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Spirit of Hope Speaker Spotlight:

Bernard-Henri Lévy

Considered one of the most prominent public intellectuals in Europe, Bernard-Henri Lévy is the author of more than 30 books and director of four documentaries, a philosopher, journalist and activist who has offered commentary on and insight into numerous international issues, including the military campaign in Mosul and the cause of Kurdish people, war of Israel against Hezbollah and Hamas, Libyan uprising and Bosnian war. Lévy, who spoke to the United Nations General Assembly at a meeting devoted to antisemitism in 2015, has previously criticized the long history of French antisemitism and publicly spoken against the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel.

We look forward to welcoming Bernard-Henri Lévy on stage alongside other leading speakers at Spirit of Hope this year to discuss some of today's most critical global issues.

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Auschwitz, 75 years later: What Canada’s survivors remember about the death camp’s horrors

As children, they were among more than one million people rounded up into the Nazis’ most infamous concentration camp. They lost family and found traumas that still haunt them in their 80s and 90s. The Globe and Mail shares their stories.

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Israel welcomes world leaders from 49 countries to Holocaust Forum

Leaders from 49 countries, including Canada, are touching down in Israel this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Jerusalem. The Fifth World Holocaust Forum will be hosted by Israel's President Reuven Rivlin and Yad Vashem on Thursday.

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Italy adopts IHRA definition of antisemitism

The Italian government decided on Friday to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism in additional to appointing a national coordinator of the fight against antisemitism. The IHRA definition of antisemitism states that “antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

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Pope Francis Decries ‘Resurgent, Barbaric’ Antisemitism in Meeting with Simon Wiesenthal Center Delegation

During a private audience of 54 international leadership delegation from the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Pope Francis denounced “a barbaric resurgence of cases of antisemitism" and said he "will never tire of firmly condemning every form of antisemitism."

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‍Shin Bet foiled more than 560 terrorist attacks in 2019

On Monday, the Shin Bet head announced that the Israeli security agency had prevented more than 560 "significant" terror attacks last year, including 10 suicide attacks, four abduction attempts and over 300 shooting attacks.

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Report Antisemitism and News of Concern to FSWC

If you would like to report antisemitism or news of concern to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, please email jaime@fswc.ca.

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