Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

Public storm over Montreal anti-racism report that omits antisemitism

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg and Dan Laxer
The Suburban

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is condemning a report on accelerating changes for a Montreal free of racism and discrimination from 2023 to 2025, saying it omits any mention of antisemitism. Numerous anti-Israel and antisemitic incidents have taken place in Montreal — including antisemitic slurs, Jewish schools being fired upon and Molotov cocktails thrown into Jewish community centres — since the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel.

The report on racism and discrimination was presented to the city last week by Bochra Manaï, Montreal’s Commissioner for the Fight against Racism and Systemic Discrimination. Manaï has been harshly criticized for attending 2023 anti-Israel rallies where antisemitic chants were heard.

A CIJA statement regarding the new anti-racism document says that “we are outraged—though unfortunately not surprised—to see that she did not even mention the Jewish community or antisemitism.

“This report represents a glaring erasure of one of Montreal’s ethnic minorities, by the City of Montreal itself, even though the Jewish community is one of the most frequently targeted by hate crimes and incidents in the city. This omission is concerning, particularly coming from an office responsible for addressing racism and discrimination, and it adds to some troubling stances the Commissioner has taken in the past.”

CIJA is calling on Mayor Valérie Plante to “ensure that the Office of the Commissioner for the Fight against Racism and Systemic Discrimination fulfills its mandate without ignoring one of the groups currently most targeted by hate. She must reconsider her decision in appointing a divisive Commissioner to a role that should never have been contentious.”

In seeking an answer directly from Manaï as to why antisemitism was left out of a report on racism, The Suburban discovered that the Mayor’s office had put all responsibility for responses on the report on the shoulders of CDN/NDG Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa and City Director-General Benoit Dagenais. Katahwa is also the executive committee member responsible for the fight against racism.

Indeed even during the council meeting when the report was debated, and questions on the exclusion of antisemitism were asked, Manaï remained silent even when questions were directed at her and all questions were handled by Katahwa and Dagenais with Manaï nodding her head in agreement.

The Suburban attempted to reach Manaï by phone, email and at City Hall. Surprisingly, we found the whole office of “Commissioner” is Manaï and one assistant.

Finally, editor Beryl Wajsman obtained Manaï‘s personal cell number. He texted her one question: “Chère Mme Manai, nous aimerions avoir une brève explication claire des raisons pour lesquelles l’antisémitisme n’a pas été mentionné dans votre rapport sur le racisme.” She responded that, “Le service des relations média vous achemine une réponse.” The Suburban is still waiting.

Katahwa emphasized twice that the omission does not mean that the Plante administration doesn’t care about antisemitism. “For me, it’s important to say to Montrealers of Jewish origin that this does not mean that antisemitism is acceptable. It is absolutely unacceptable. We have taken action and we will continue to take action to ensure the members of the Jewish community are safe and will always be safe in Montreal.” She added, as mayor of the CDN-NDG borough, that the police are “present and mobilized to be sure to protect the Jewish community.”

For his part, Dagenais acknowledged the omission, adding that “antisemitism is a scourge,” and that the fight against it must be made a priority, especially “in the context of the conflict in the Middle East.” He said the goal is to fight antisemitism, “and all other forms of discrimination and racism. If there are any groups who lack confidence in the commissioner, specifically the Jewish community, she will work to restore that trust.”

Katahwa characterized the Manaï report as a progress update in response to a 2022 report tabled by the Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) that was highly critical of the city’s record on racial profiling.

With files from Editor Beryl Wajsman n

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Jewish Montrealers stand united in face of email threats

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Jewish Canadians will not be intimidated by attempts to disrupt community life, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs declared last week.

“We will stay vigilant, but we will never be intimidated.”

The CIJA statement was made following an email threat that was sent early on the morning of Aug. 21 to over 100 Jewish institutions across Canada, including many synagogues in Montreal. More threats were sent on Thursday to malls, hospitals, art galleries and other venues. The RCMP is investigating the threats, and they are working with local and international police forces in their efforts to find the perpetrator or perpetrators.

Since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack in which 1,200 people in Israel were killed, and hundreds kidnapped, Canadian synagogues and Jewish institutions have been attacked, whether with bullets or Molotov cocktails.

SPVM spokesperson Sabrina Gauthier told The Suburban last week that the email threat was received by a synagogue in Hampstead about 5 a.m. Wednesday Aug. 21. Services at The Adath were interrupted and people evacuated at the time.

“We went to the Hampstead synagogue — inside, outside — and nothing was found. There was no threat, no object. We are trying to figure out if other institutions are being targeted, and we are doing an operation now.”

The Suburban obtained a copy of the email, which claims to be from a group called “Court,” although it is written as if from one individual. The group claimed to have placed explosives in buildings, in backpacks, which “are set to go off in a few hours. You will all end up in a pool of blood, none of you deserve to keep living. I incessantly have nothing other than scorn for humanity. This will be your last day on earth.”

B’nai Brith Canada was one of the targets of the widespread threat. “This is not just an attack on our safety — it’s an attack on the fabric of Canadian society,” the organization stated. “The incitement we have been seeing almost daily in every city, on all our streets and in all our campuses across Canada have created this permissive environment.Enough is enough! Canada must not bow to terror.”

Rabbi Reuben Poupko, whose Beth Israel Beth Aaron Synagogue also received the email, last week told The Suburban, “we will not be held hostage by every cowardly moron filled with hate who owns a keyboard.”

Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi said, “Let it be clear: we will not cower in the face of such vile threats. We commend the swift response of our police in dismantling this attempt to spread fear. Every threat, no matter the size, will be met with unwavering resolve. We refuse to be intimidated by cowardice, and we stand stronger than ever in our commitment to protect and defend our communities.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reacted, posting, “I’m disgusted at reports that more than 100 Jewish institutions across Canada were targeted by threats. This is blatant antisemitism. The RCMP is in contact with local law enforcement to investigate, and we’re working with them to keep Jewish Canadians safe.”

Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman stated, “It should never become normal for any worship services to be disrupted and evacuated from threats. Canada is not the free country we know and love if the right to worship freely and safely needs to be protected. Immediately. Now. Today.

“As schools return and the Jewish high holiday season approaches, Jewish communities deserve to feel safe and protected as they join together for the holidays. We will not back down in the face of intimidation — it’s time for a government that takes these threats seriously.”

Mount Royal MP Anthony Housefather stated, “those who make threats to any religious institution in Canada, whether churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, gurdwaras etc should be charged and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Nobody should be intimidated from entering community buildings.” n

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Jewish community demands Plante act against antisemitism

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

The Montreal Jewish community is calling on Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante to react more strongly to antisemitism and recent pro-Hamas demonstrations outside Jewish institutions, including the March 4 blockade outside Federation CJA and the March 5 protest of a real estate event at the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue.

As well, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) revealed that a poster at the Montreal Holocaust Museum was vandalized March 25 with stickers saying “Free Palestine” and “Boycott Genocide Israel.”

“Anti-Israel protesters like to pretend they’re not antisemitic,” CIJA posted on X. “So why did they vandalize a poster at the Montreal Holocaust Museum? These demonstrations of hate must stop.”

CIJA and Federation CJA also revealed that lawyers for Federation served Plante with copies of the recently granted and extended injunction prohibiting pro-Hamas protests from within 50 metres of the Federation CJA building, the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, the Cummings Centre, the Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA, Herzliah High School and United Talmud Torah of Montreal.

“Following months of antisemitic protest allowed to promulgate on the streets of Montreal, and as protesters continue to test limits, the Mayor must step up and must impose tougher measures to protect community centres, schools and places of worship,” the two organizations stated. “We expect the Mayor to make sure law enforcement upholds the court’s order and do everything within their powers to ensure that the terms are adhered to.”

Federation CJA and CIJA added that they have conveyed their messages through direct communications and public statements to Montreal officials, including Plante, regarding “the grave safety concerns of the Jewish community and the urgent need for concrete measures to deal with the escalating nature of the public protests and potential violence targeting the Jewish community, as well as the dramatic rise in antisemitism.

“A clear message must be sent to those who seek to promote hate in our streets that this will not be tolerated, and this starts by making sure the injunction is being respected.”

Federation CJA CEO Yair Szlak also says Plante never said anything about the March 4 blockade of the Federation CJA building, but Plante told reporters she did respond by retweeting a condemnation from CDN-NDG Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa.

Plante and other Montreal officials have also responded to critics that people should feel safe in Montreal, and that the right to protest is protected by the Canadian and Quebec Charters. n

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