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Last night, more than 1,600 community members and allies came together in solidarity and celebration of allyship at Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center’s (FSWC) annual Spirit of Hope marquee event in Toronto.

The evening was filled with optimism and unity – a powerful stand against antisemitism and for a future where all people can live in safety and freedom.

The night featured two leading thinkers and commentators, CNN’s Van Jones and NYU’s Scott Galloway, as keynote speakers. They shared thought-provoking insights on current domestic and international events and their impact on the Jewish community, Israel and the wider world.

Jones and Galloway reflected on what led them to take a stand post-October 7 against the scourge of antisemitism and raise their voices in support of Israel, speaking candidly about the antisemitic double standards Jews face, the troubling situation on university campuses and more.

"Free speech never became freer as long as it was hate speech against Jews," Galloway remarked during a discussion on campus free speech.

Following the conversation, moderated by Canadian journalist Steve Paikin, Jones and Galloway were presented with the 2025 Wiesenthal Award of Honour.

One of the evening’s highlights was a special ceremony honouring seven exceptional Canadian allies – Father Deacon Andrew Bennett, Cathy Ciccolini, Victor Dodig, Dr. Everton Gooden, Deborah Lyons, Mark Mulroney and Karen Restoule – who, especially over the past two years, have stood with the Jewish community and courageously spoken out against antisemitism. Adding to the poignancy of the event was the presence of nine Holocaust survivors, each of whom FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt recognized by name in his speech. Levitt also paid tribute to the allies being honoured.

"When I look at our seven honourees this evening and look around the room at this incredibly diverse audience, it reaffirms that one of our greatest sources of strength, inspiration and hope are the many friends of different faiths and cultures who actively stand with our community against this rising tide of hate," said Levitt. "While it hasn’t always been popular, so many of you – our allies – have stepped up and spoken out with moral clarity in defence of our cherished Canadian values. You exemplify the idea that hope isn’t merely an aspiration. It’s a call-to-action."

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Reflecting the night’s theme, Spirit of Hope 2025 Co-Chairs Lauren and Benjie Levy highlighted the many ways allies have shown up for the community – from attending fundraisers to sharing messages of support online. Special guests and allies Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca also underscored the importance of ensuring safety for the Jewish community and reaffirmed that they will never tolerate antisemitism.

In an especially touching moment, newly appointed board member Jonathan Bronfman paid tribute to his late father, Paul Bronfman z”l – a longtime FSWC board member and devoted advocate for the community – and announced the creation, in his father’s honour, of a new summer student internship program in the organization’s Advocacy Department.

It was an evening of powerful reflections, heartfelt stories and meaningful conversations that reminded us what it looks like when communities stand together against hate. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us for this deeply moving evening, and to Van Jones and Scott Galloway, our keynote speakers, for their thoughtful insights. Special thanks to Steve Paikin for moderating the discussion and to our seven honourees for their unwavering leadership and allyship.

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