On April 18 and 19, the Jewish people in Israel and around the world mark Yom HaShoah, a day of remembrance for those who perished at the hands of the Nazi regime during the Second World War.

On this day, we reflect solemnly on the more than six million women, men and children who died in the Holocaust for the simple crime of being Jews.

Remembering also the members of other minority groups who suffered alongside them, we remind ourselves that oppression and hatred are the common enemies of all humanity.

We commit ourselves anew to the fight against intolerance and discrimination in every form and instance.

And we reaffirm the vital importance of a strong and free Jewish homeland in Israel, so that the truth of the words “never again” may be ensured.

Further information

Emile Scheffel, Vice President External

emile@cfjs.ca // 778-875-8915

Following the election of Thomas Mulcair, Member of Parliament for Outremont, as Leader of the New Democratic Party and of the Official Opposition, the Canadian Federation of Jewish Students’ National Executive sent Mr. Mulcair a letter of congratulation.

The National Executive’s letter recognized Mr. Mulcair’s principled support for Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself, and his advocacy against all forms of anti-Semitism.  The message also highlighted the strong values shared in common between the NDP and many members of the Jewish community.

Jewish and pro-Israel students across Canada look forward to working with and alongside Mr. Mulcair and the NDP to realize a just and democratic future for all peace-loving people.

Further Information:

Emile Scheffel, Vice President External – emile@cfjs.ca

The 2011 CFJS delegation with AJC executive director David Harris

Apply now to join the CFJS Delegation to the American Jewish Committee Global Forum and Access 20/20 Weekend from May 2-6, 2012 in Washington, DC!

CFJS will once again participate in the annual Global Forum and ACCESS 20/20 Weekend of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Washington DC. This year, CFJS will be sending a delegation of approximately ten people.

The cost to attend is $300 CDN (including flights, accommodation, and some meals).

The AJC Global Forum offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn, hear from great speakers (Michael Oren and Ehud Barak are on the schedule for this year) and to network with Jewish professionals and community members from all over the world. Best of all, representatives from other Jewish student unions will be there, including fellow World
Union of Jewish Student members from around the globe!

If you are a current Canadian university student and you are interested injoining us in DC, you just have to follow a few easy steps:

1. Submit a brief statement (100-200) words on why you would like to attend the AJC Global Forum and ACCESS 20/20 Weekend 2012 with CFJS

2. Include your current resume

3. Include a list of extra-curricular and leadership activities you plan to be involved in on campus during the 2012-2013 academic year

Please email everything above to staci@cfjs.ca by Wednesday March 28, 2012 at 11:59PM EST.

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity! We hope to see many of you with us in May in Washington DC!

The CFJS statement on the Ozar Hatorah shooting can be read here.

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UPDATE: Share your condolences with the Toulouse and French Jewish communities here.

March 19, 2012
For Immediate Release

Following a shooting that killed three children and a teacher at the Ozar Hatorah Jewish school in Toulouse, France, Emile Scheffel, Vice President External of the Canadian Federation of Jewish Students (CFJS), issued the following statement:

“This tragedy is especially difficult to comprehend because three of the dead were young children. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with the families and friends of those who have been taken far too soon.

“We urge Canadian Jewish students, and all those who share our grief, to share their condolences through our website at www.cfjs.ca.

“Today’s events remind us that no Jewish community, including Canada’s, is ever completely safe from danger. We must be proactive and vigilant to prevent reprehensible acts of violence like those of today.”

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Further information

Emile Scheffel
Vice President External
778-875-8915
emile@cfjs.ca

Jessi Pollock

Earlier this month, CFJS sent a 6-person delegation to attend the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference in Washington, DC. The student delegates- Elana Moscoe, Zack Silverberg, Josef Bader, Alexandra Lulka, Emile Scheffel and myself- congregated in DC from various schools around Canada to participate in the dynamic conference. AIPAC’s mission is tocontinuously strengthen US-Israel ties by means of lobbying and policy making.

Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, and thus renders its security essential to any Western nation. President Barack Obama, one of the several leading speakers at the conference, said it best in that “there will be no lasting peace until Israel’s security concerns are met.”

Now, you may be asking how a delegation of Canadian university students
could benefit from a conference focused on the US-Israel alliance? Well, being
in attendance among 13,000 pro-Israel advocates was itself exceptionally
empowering. Given the volatile state of affairs in the region, the conference
served as a warm cover of reassurance, by witnessing and taking part in a vast
gathering of people devoted to Israel’s sustenance.

Moreover, the conference fell during the same week as the annual Israel
Apartheid Week was staged on campuses throughout North America.
Nevertheless, our attendance at the conference was imperative. It was in
Washington that I believe we all realized the importance for Canada to mirror
AIPAC’s actions and institute a large-scale conference for Canadian pro-Israel
advocates. Arguably referred to as “Israel’s best friend”, it seems only natural
and essential that Canada hosts a conference to encourage and inspire its
politicians and citizens to confirm and enhance Israel’s very existence and
security. Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the AIPAC
attendees, promising that “[he] will never let [his] people live in the shadow of
annihilation.” By virtue of Israel’s hostile neighbours and many enemies, it is
apparent that Netanyahu alone cannot protect and defend Israel.

Now more than ever, Israel needs our support to defend its right to survive and
thrive. Present-day students are the future generation that can either perpetuate
Middle Eastern conflicts and animosity or work tirelessly to secure a lasting
peace. Jewish and non-Jewish pro-Israel young adults must continue to take
this responsibility seriously by further educating themselves, staying informed
with Middle Eastern affairs and advocating for Israel on their campuses and in
their communities. It is crucial that we as young adults accept this challenge and
continue to represent and properly dignify our indispensable Israel.

Statement by Liberal MP Joyce Murray Criticizing Israel Apartheid Week

For Immediate Release
March 6, 2012

“As a former citizen of South Africa, I lived the harms and injuries caused to all the peoples of South Africa by the policies of Apartheid. Singling out the State of Israel through Israeli Apartheid Week defies logic and the cause of social justice” said Joyce Murray, Member of Parliament, Vancouver Quadra.

Liberals expect students to engage with issues of injustice, equality, and respect for international law, and encourage respectful dialogue on these topics on university campuses. It is difficult to understand why this year the focus continues to be on Israel, rather than on the appalling massacres and human rights violations that have reached intolerable heights in countries such as Syria and Iran.

In Syria, the Assad regime continues to shell its own people indiscriminately, adding daily to the death toll that has surpassed 8,000 victims so far, yet claiming that a majority of citizens exercised their democratic right and approved a new constitution as tanks terrorize the streets.

In Iran, the imprisonment and silencing of all opposition in the lead-up to the Iranian election last week involved arrests, beatings, torture, kidnappings, and an abhorrent execution binge that took the lives of more than 60 people in January 2012 alone.

Yet the organizers of Israeli Apartheid Week choose to ignore these atrocities.

Liberal Leader the Hon. Bob Rae noted, “The failure to stand up for any other oppressed people or injustice undermines the supposed social justice underpinnings of Israeli Apartheid Week. Rather than singling out and demonizing one country, we should be encouraging students to come together and engage in constructive dialogue about peace and democratic reform in a Middle East that is transforming before our eyes.”

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Statement by Minister Jason Kenney Condemning Israel Apartheid Week

Ottawa, March 6, 2012- The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the following statement on ‘Israel Apartheid Week’:

Like many Canadians I am concerned with the rise of anti-Israel activities on campuses across Canada, culminating in the so-called ‘Israel Apartheid Week’ (IAW), which is often promoted in a manner that disregards the rights and safety of Jewish students and professors.

Universities are meant to offer an environment in which academic discourse can take place freely. Jewish faculty and students have the right to engage in this debate without feeling the need to conceal their identity, or to self-censor.

The irony of this week cannot be overlooked.  While singling out the only liberal democracy in the Middle East for condemnation, the organizers of IAW ignore Bashar Al-Assad’s brutal slaughter of his own people and the suppression of basic human rights throughout many countries in the Middle East.

To be perfectly clear, legitimate debate over Israeli policy is acceptable and encouraged through academic dialogue. Israel, as the only liberal democracy in the Middle East, encourages such free exchanges of ideas.  However, there is a point at which well-intentioned debate is overrun by hatred and intolerance; creating a toxic environment that prevents meaningful dialogue on important issues from taking place.

The organizers of Israel Apartheid Week use the cover of academic freedom to demonize and delegitimize the State of Israel. In reality, this week is nothing more than an unbalanced attempt to paint Israel, and her supporters as racist. This week runs contrary to Canadian values of tolerance, mutual respect, and understanding.

As Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I call on all Canadians to reject anti-Semitism and all forms of racism, discrimination and intolerance, which are unacceptable and completely contrary to Canada’s fundamental values.

Statement by Liberal Leader Bob Rae Criticizing Israeli Apartheid Week

OTTAWA– Liberal Leader Bob Rae made the following statement criticizing Israeli Apartheid Week:

“Israeli Apartheid Week continues to defy logic and the cause of social justice. We expect students to engage with issues of injustice, equality, and respect for international law, and we encourage respectful dialogue on these topics on university campuses. It is therefore difficult to understand why this year the focus continues to be on Israel, rather than on the appalling massacres and human rights violations that have reached intolerable heights in countries such as Syria and Iran.

In Syria, the Assad regime continues to shell its own people indiscriminately, adding daily to the death toll that has surpassed 8000 victims so far, yet claiming that a majority of citizens exercised their democratic right and approved a new constitution as tanks terrorize the streets.

In Iran, the imprisonment and silencing of all opposition in the lead-up to the Iranian election last week involved arrests, beatings, torture, kidnappings, and an abhorrent execution binge that took the lives of more than 60 people in January 2012 alone.

Yet the organizers of Israeli Apartheid Week choose to ignore these atrocities. The failure to stand up for any other oppressed people or injustice undermines the supposed social justice underpinnings of Israeli Apartheid Week. Rather than singling out and demonizing one country, we should be encouraging students to come together and engage in constructive dialogue about peace and democratic reform in a Middle East that is transforming before our eyes.”

MP Mark Adler Condemns IAW in the House of Commons

Mr. Speaker, yesterday marked the beginning of York University’s participation in a nationwide smear campaign against Israel, known as Israeli Apartheid Week.

Today, as we welcome the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to our nation’s capital, we know that the idea that Israel is an apartheid state is patently false. All Israeli citizens, be they Arab, Jewish or Christian, share the same rights and freedoms. Arab and Islamic people are freer in Israel than in any other state in the Middle East; there is equality for Muslim women; and voting is allowed and encouraged. As a result of these freedoms, 82% of Israeli Arabs say they would rather be a citizen of Israel than of any other state in the region.

While the activists are entitled to express their views, those views are grossly inaccurate. They are a disgrace and their hate-filled words and tactics must be condemned by all who believe in freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. I urge all members to join me in condemning this ugly smear campaign.

From the Canadian Jewish News

Regina student union backs BDS motion

Sheri Shefa, Staff Reporter, Thursday, February 23, 2012

Emile Scheffel

A resolution by a pro-Palestinian student group that requires the University of Regina Students’ Union (URSU) to endorse the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel passed at URSU’s annual general meeting earlier this month.

The Regina Solidarity Group, a chapter of Students Against Israeli Apartheid (SAIA), released a statement following the Feb. 8 gathering that boasted about the victory being “a huge first step towards the full divestment of the University of Regina from companies complicit with the human rights violations currently taking place in Palestine.”

Part of the motion demanded that URSU “commit to identifying and divesting from companies that support or profit from Israeli war crimes, occupation and oppression.”

The statement said SAIA members plan to work with URSU to “begin investigating URSU’s portfolio for companies that support or profit from Israeli war crimes, as well as collectively launching an education campaign on campus about the issue.”

URSU president Kent Peterson told The CJN that about 150 students came to the AGM, which is open to the university’s 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and voted on various motions. He said that when the BDS motion was brought forward, students were given the opportunity to debate it.

“There were actually no con speakers to the motion. There were a few pro speakers, and then it was voted upon,” he said. “I believe it was passed unanimously and if it wasn’t unanimous, there might have been one vote against it.”

Emile Scheffel, vice-president external of the Canadian Federation of Jewish Students’ (CFJS), said that the BDS campaign is anti-dialogue, anti-peace, and singles out Israel for condemnation.

“These are some of the reasons the BDS campaign, despite all its sound and fury, has achieved nothing,” Scheffel said in a statement, one of many released by Jewish groups in the days following URSU’s adoption of the motion.

“Sadly, this resolution singles out and punishes Israelis, holding the lone democracy in the Middle East entirely responsible for the conflict. The condemnation of Israel, and Israel alone, is particularly bizarre, given the upheaval and loss of life occurring at the hands of repressive regimes across the region,” Scheffel said.

“We hope URSU members will withdraw their support from this failed, discredited effort that only promotes division and resentment.”

David Koschitzky, chair of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, echoed Scheffel’s call to repeal the motion.

“The campaign to boycott Israel rejects constructive dialogue and solutions that promote peace and reconciliation,” Koschitsky said.

Trent University professor Asaf Zohar, national chair of Canadian Academics for Peace in the Middle East, said that “URSU’s decision to boycott Israel, including Israeli universities and academics… [is] antithetical to the tenets of free expression and free association that are fundamental to academia… [and] is blatantly discriminatory.”

Zohar added that the BDS campaign, which was launched in 2005, goes against Canadian values.

“During previous boycott attempts, presidents of nearly every major academic institution in Canada expressed their clear opposition to academic boycotts of Israel, and it is telling that not a single major university in North America has implemented a program of boycott against Israel,” Zohar said.

He said URSU should be working with the school’s leadership to better represent students’ interests, “rather than supporting extreme and discriminatory political campaigns.”

But Peterson said the motion does represent student sentiment at his school, stressing that it was presented by a student group and not by the URSU executive or board of directors.

“I, as the president of the students’ union, don’t get to decide what is important. The students get to decide. So if students want to take on a social issue… that’s their decision,” he said. “I take my marching orders from students, not the other way around.”

Now that the motion has been passed, Peterson said the next step is to look into URSU’s investments.

“I think the rational action from the students’ union perspective is that we sit down with our board of directors, investment professionals… and our general manager and look into our mutual funds and what we’re investing in.”

But Peterson admitted that he’s not sure how to measure whether a company “profits from Israeli war crimes, occupation and oppression,” as the motion states.

“We just have to take a very rational approach… look at our investments… and if something pops up, we’ll flag it and the board of directors will decide what to do from there,” Peterson said.

University of Regina spokesperson Jay Branch said the school had no comment on the motion, since it’s a URSU matter.

Efforts to reach SAIA representatives for comment were unsuccessful.