B’nai Brith Canada presents plan to fight antisemitism on campuses
By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban
B’nai Brith Canada announced last week that it developed a Policy for Combating Antisemitism on Campuses (PCAC), a “comprehensive policy for universities to use as a go-to resource for addressing unprecedented levels of antisemitism, which have spiked since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks on Israel.”
And more recently, the organization announced its launch of a policy “to help school boards across the country respond to the unprecedented crisis of antisemitism in their districts since Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israel last Oct. 7, 2023.”
The organization says its policy in relation to universities “not only proposes measures to protect against antisemitism but enables post-secondary institutions” to take a “proactive stance against disinformation and historical revisionism. Its adoption would represent a commitment to upholding the values of truth, justice, and equity for all members of our campus communities.”
B’nai Brith had asked universities how they planned to protect Jewish students for this academic year.
“Most schools said existing policies and frameworks already contain safeguards intended to combat and protect students from racism and hatred,” the organization’s statement says.
Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith Canada’s Director of Research and Advocacy, says the issue is “there is a lack of understanding of what antisemitism means.
“Universities need a better definition of antisemitism to improve their existing anti-hate policies and ensure Jewish persons are included within existing frameworks. PCAC is meant to fill this role by enhancing existing policies.”
B’nai Brith Canada says it ‘looks forward to the universal adoption of PCAC and its acceptance into common parlance in Canada.”
Some of PCAC’s points include:
• “The university acknowledges that Jewish identity is multifaceted, encompassing ethnicity, culture, and religion. Jewish people constitute an ethnic group with a shared heritage, history, and cultural practices that have evolved over millennia. This policy commits to safeguarding the rights of Jewish members of the institution’s community to fully participate in the university community without discrimination, bias, or exclusion.”
• “Historically, Jewish communities have faced systemic persecution, discrimination, and violence rooted in antisemitism. This policy responds to the ongoing threats that Jewish students face, which are exacerbated by historical and contemporary forms of antisemitism, underscoring the need for proactive measures to create an inclusive and safe environment.”
• “Antisemitism intersects with other forms of discrimination, such as racism, xenophobia, and religious intolerance. Addressing antisemitism within the institution’s EDI (Equality Diversity Inclusion) framework strengthens the broader efforts to combat all forms of oppression and supports the creation of an inclusive environment for all marginalized groups.”
Regarding its policy to battle antisemitism at schools (PCAS), B’nai Brith’s document says “it is paramount that students learn that antisemitism or hatred of any kind is unacceptable in their foundational school years. [The policy’s] purpose is to ensure that the school environment is free from antisemitism and to provide Jewish students with support in expressing their cultural, religious and historical identity.”
Adopting the policy would “demonstrate schools’ commitment to combating antisemitism as both a form of prejudice and a legacy of colonial oppression.”
The organization noted that the release of the PCAS “comes as the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) faces an investigation for allegedly allowing staff to bring students to an anti-Israel rally during school hours.
“Antisemitism driven by radical ideologies is increasingly becoming a problem in elementary, middle and high schools,” said Robertson. “School boards such as the TDSB need a better definition of antisemitism to improve their existing anti-hate policies to ensure they include the hate being faced by Jewish individuals. PCAS was created to serve that purpose, and we are confident it will.” n
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