In the Hands of Canadian Youth, the Future Looks Good

‘The Younger, The Wiser’ 

by Avi Benlolo in the Huffington Post

Young people really do know it all. They are optimistic, enthusiastic and passionate about making the world a better place.

Their reflections were magical at the first annual Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center's Speakers Idol. My Co-judges, Sarah Taylor of MuchMusic and Rick Campenelli of ET Canada, were overtaken with enthusiasm by the honesty, conviction and the remarkable world view of the 17 finalists who competed to be FSWC's Speaker Idol of the year.

To make the world a better place, many of the students believed one needs to start with oneself. They recalled the age-old wisdom that the central pillar of transformation is self-awareness. Ghandi's famous assertion to be the change you want to see in others was invoked time and again.

READ MORE . . . 

Watch 'UNLESS', an FSWC Video Commemorating Yom HaShoah

The further we move away from the horrific events of the meticulously executed Nazi slaughter, the more the tragedy of the Holocaust dims in memory. We are living in a period of history that questions the existence of the Shoah. Holocaust denial is becoming ever more prevalent.

This video was created as an alarm bell: we must wake people up and show them the terrible truth of our history, before it is forgotten altogether. Most importantly, we must ask our children to shoulder the burden of this history and to protect, remember and share these tragic stories, so that our history will never become their future. 

Please watch, share and remember.

CLICK HERE to view

FSWC CONDEMNS ANTISEMITIC VANDALISM IN QUEBEC

FSWC condemns the targeting of Jews as antisemitic slurs and swastikas are found on vandalized Jewish owned cottages in the Laurentians, Quebec.

READ MORE . . .

THE BDS CAMPAIGN APPEARS TO BE BACKFIRING

An anti-BDS video showing the hypocrisy of the boycott campaign, promoting solidarity with Israel

CLICK HERE to view "We are synonymous with Israel"

Government Announces Funding for Holocaust Monument

UPDATE: Read FSWC's comments in the Ottawa Citizen about the need to build the Monument HERE

Arrived at the War Museum in Ottawa this morning where I had the chance to thank government ministers- including Tim Uppal (pictured) and James Moore, and Senator Linda Frum - on behalf of FSWC, at the announcement of $4 million in matching federal funds to build a National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa.

Obama's mixed success on global security

As the American election draws closer, this year’s Spirit of Hope Benefit will focus on the one question on everybody’s mind – has President Barack Obama made the world safer?
CLICK HERE to read my take in the Calgary Herald.

Sadness in Toulouse; FSWC’s tolerance, education and advocacy work more important than ever; Simon Wiesenthal play wins Critics award; Elie Wiesel speaks out against shootings & More

Check out Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center's weeklyFastForward email campaign including Rabbi Abraham Cooper's article 'What are the Lessons of Toulouse'? 

CLICK HERE to read more