Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is thrilled to present Spirit of Hope 2026, our annual marquee event. Taking place in Toronto on November 3, 2026, it will feature two internationally renowned public thinkers and cultural commentators, Sam Harris and Bernard-Henri Lévy, in a candid and thought-provoking conversation moderated by journalist and editor Alana Newhouse.
Please note: Proceeds from Spirit of Hope will go exclusively to fund our educational
programs in Canada devoted to the Holocaust, antisemitism and human rights.
At this year’s Spirit of Hope, we will present the 2026 Wiesenthal Allyship Award to six exceptional Canadians in recognition of their moral clarity, upstanding values and steadfast solidarity with the Jewish community.
Rev. Dr. Jason Byassee
Dr. Barry Craig
Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay
Benjie Thomas
Christie Love Thomas
Regan P. Watts
The event will explore the defining challenges of our time, including the rise of extremism, the defence of liberal democracy, and the implications for Israel, the Jewish people and the broader global community.
vAlso on the program, FSWC is honoured to welcome Masih Alinejad as a special guest. One of the world’s most prominent advocates for freedom and human rights, Alinejad will share her powerful perspective on the Iranian regime, the courage of those who stand against oppression, and the universal struggle for democracy and human dignity.
Sam Harris is the host of the widely-acclaimed Making Sense podcast and the creator of the Waking Up app. He is also a neuroscientist, philosopher and author of five New York Times bestsellers, including The End of Faith, The Moral Landscape, Free Will, Lying and Waking Up. Sam’s work spans a broad range of topics — neuroscience, moral philosophy, religion, political polarization, rationality — but generally focuses on how a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world can transform the way we live. He holds a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a PhD in neuroscience from UCLA.
Bernard-Henri Lévy is a French philosopher, filmmaker and author of 49 books whose work has long focused on defending democracy and humanism against totalitarianism, fascism and antisemitism. Among the West’s most prominent public intellectuals, he is the author of recent works including Israel Alone (2024), and The Will to See (2021). A committed Zionist, he has engaged in peace initiatives and dialogue with Israeli leaders across several generations and has remained a leading voice in the fight against antisemitism in France, Europe and around the world.
Masih Alinejad is an Iranian-American journalist and human rights activist, and one of the leading voices for women’s rights and democratic freedom in Iran. She founded My Stealthy Freedom, the campaign against compulsory hijab laws that became the largest civil disobedience movement in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the World Liberty Congress, United Against Gender Apartheid, and United for Navid. Despite surviving three assassination plots linked to the Iranian regime, which resulted in federal convictions in New York in 2025, she continues to advocate for women’s rights, freedom of expression, and an end to gender apartheid. Her work has earned numerous international honours, including Time magazine’s Woman of the Year in 2023 and the Oxi Courage Award.
Bram Belzberg is Chairman and CEO of KEV Group. A graduate of McGill University and Harvard Business School, he previously worked at Goldman Sachs and Amaranth Advisors. A committed philanthropist and community leader, Bram has held leadership roles with UJA, the Annex Shul, and CJPAC, and currently serves on the Board of Governors of Huron University and as Vice President of CHAT.
Zack Belzberg is CEO of Dodds Garage Door Systems. A graduate of McGill University and Harvard Business School, he previously held investment roles at Alignvest, MDC Partners, and Credit Suisse. An active community leader, Zack has founded several charitable fundraising initiatives that have collectively raised more than $3 million for healthcare and Jewish community organizations.
Spirit of Hope Fundraising Committee
Eddie Weisz (Committee Chair), Ron Baruch, Michael Bregman, Judith Finer-Freedman, Lauren and Benjie Levy, Jill Reitman, Ashley Steinhauer and Fred Waks
Thank you to our valued sponsors
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