Canadians urged to respond to UC actions

By Jennifer Macleod 

TORONTO — With its sweeping moral judgments and harsh condemnation of Israel, a recent United Church of Canada report on Israel/Palestine policy has shocked some people into action.

And with only weeks to go before a church-wide vote, they’d like the rest of us to reach out, too.

When psychologist Ellen Greenberg read in The CJN about a church minister, Rev. Andrew Love, speaking out against the report (“United Church minister wants more balance on Mideast,” May 17), she immediately got on the phone – to invite him to dinner.

“She called me out of the blue,” said Rev. Love, who lives in Arnprior, Ont. After dinner, they attended an Aish HaTorah Evening to Celebrate Israel, which highlighted an Israeli field hospital in Haiti and other global contributions.

“It was a wonderful experience… to have dinner in someone’s home – total strangers – united by a bigger purpose, and a recognition that… this is going to be hard work: home-to-home, church-to-synagogue… relationship building.”

READ MORE . . . 

Teaching Bullies to Care

By Avi Benlolo in the Huffington Post

Bravo to Torontonian Max Sidorov for standing up to the bus bullies of Greece, New York and for not being a bystander, despite the distance and the ease of looking the other way. As has been widely reported in the past 24 hours, 68-year-old bus monitor Karen Klein suffered a malicious verbal attack by a group of grade seven students on a school bus, experiencing the sort of fear and shame that many of us have gone through at some point in our lives. Because of Sidorov, the response to her victimization has been overwhelmingly compassionate.

Although Sidorov was simply hoping to raise a few thousand dollars to send Klein on a special vacation following her ordeal, his campaign raised more than $500,000 (and counting) in just two days, exceeding all expectations and demonstrating that people are profoundly tired of the intolerance and disrespect so prevalent in society today. There seems to be an increasing level of contempt for older adults and much of that is due to the breakdown of values and lack of education about compassion, caring, empathy and simple respect for one another.

READ MORE. . . 

Mess with Israel and You're Messing With Canada

By Avi Benlolo in the Huffington Post

Peter MacKay does Canada proud

In a chaotic world where conflict and war is increasing, it is vital that allies who share the same values and belief systems stand shoulder to shoulder in mutual support. Nations rely on this system of friendship, an ideal which is often lost in the realpolitik of everyday governance.

Wednesday's revelation of Peter MacKay's supportfor the state of Israel demonstrates the strength of this principle of friendship among nations. His statement to Israel's top military commander that a threat to Israel is a threat to Canada was a powerful declaration to a friend -- and to the world -- that Canada can be counted on.

Critics of Canada's policy to stand by Israel may have lost sight of the meaning of friendship.
On a micro-level friends are people who support one another, have each other's back, care about one another and stand together in good times and in bad. Mackay is therefore doing exactly what is expected of a friend, particularly in the case of another western democracy that shares the same ideals and values as Canada.

READ MORE . . .

UNIQUE GESTURE OF HIS MAJESTY MOHAMMED V, KING OF MOROCCO A POINT OF PRIDE FOR MOROCCAN JEWRY

Toronto's first ever celebration of 2,000 years of Jewish life in Morocco, sponsored in part by Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC), included a rare opportunity for FSWC Board Members to meet with Andre Azoulay,

Avi Benlolo, Andre Azoulay & Anthony Munk, Managing Director, Onex

Senior Advisor to His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco - one of the only (if not THE only) Jews to hold such a position in the Muslim world.

The intimate luncheon, held at the office of FSWC Chair Gerry Schwartz, included a wide-ranging discussion by Mr. Azoulay focused mainly on the prospects for peace in the Middle East, and on the long and mainly positive history of the Jewish community in Morocco.

In describing why Moroccan Jews continue to regard Moroccan royalty with such esteem, Mr. Azoulay explained how His Majesty Mohammed V protected the Jewish community from the Nazis during WWII. "I don't have Jews or Muslims- I just have citizens," the king is said to have told the Vichy government, adding that his own family would be the first to wear the yellow star of David should the Jews be forced to do so.

"It was a unique gesture and we still are so proud of it," Mr. Azoulay explained.

Felicia & Gloria Salomon with Elmedhi Boudra

As part of the week-long festivities FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo had the honour of introducing Mr. Azoulay at a Gala Tribute Dinner, and of thanking Mr. Elmehdi Boudra, a Muslim member of Mr. Azoulay's Moroccan delegation who is working to further Muslim-Jewish relations and Holocaust education in Morocco, to a Youth Conference.

"This wonderful week not only achieved the goal of bringing together the 18,000 members of the city's Moroccan community in a fantastic celebration of its distinctive culture and history, but also succeeded in highlighting the obvious: that peace between Jews and Muslims is possible and achievable," Mr. Benlolo stated.

CLICK HERE to see Andre Azoulay discussing His Majesty Mohammed V's support for Moroccan Jews

2012 Spirit of Hope YouTube Video Just released - CHECK IT OUT!

The amazing images of the incredible 2012 Spirit of Hope event captured in a short YouTube video. Take a look!

                                                                      CLICK HERE to view

Record Breaking 2012 Spirit of Hope!

(L-R) Panelists James Carville and Karl Rove, Spirit of Hope Co-Chairs Judy and Paul Bronfman, Panelist Governor Mike Huckabee, Moderator Gloria Borger, and President and CEO of FSWC Avi Benlolo  

With more than 2000 guests and a record breaking $2.5 million raised to support FSWC efforts to promote tolerance, social justice and human rights, Spirit of Hope 2012 was a smashing success! This year’s Spirit of Hope Gala located at the AllStream Center on the grounds of the CNE included a riveting panel debate between Republicans Karl Rove, the former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush alongside past Republican Presidential Candidate Governor Mike Huckabee versus Democrats James Carville, political pundit and regular commentator on CNN and Donna Brazile, political strategist campaign manager columnist author and CNN contributor. The debate was moderated by CNN’s Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger. 

Over 1200 guests attending the Major Gifts Dinner (the biggest dinner crowd to date!) had the opportunity to watch a  private concert performed by Kim Mitchell and participate in the special Award Ceremony in honour of L.Gen Charles Bouchard (Ret'd), recipient of the Order of Canada for his role as leader of NATO's military campaign in Libya (on  behalf of Canadian Forces), while more than 2100 guests attending the main presentation Panel Debate were ushered into the ballroom by the HMCS YORK Marching Band, a part of our own Canadian Army. 

The main topic of the evening was whether or not the world is a safer place under President Obama. Audience members not only watched the debate take place but each had the opportunity to contribute their opinions via text to the polls that were displayed on the various screens as the debate progressed. After over 2000 votes the final tally was 51% to 49% who felt the world is not a safer place since Obama took office.

In fact, it was Stephen Harper that was the true winner that night. Huckabee’s comment on the continuous support of Stephen Harper for Israel was answered by the audience with a standing ovation.

Spirit of Hope 2012 was truly a night to remember!

Read more about Spirit of Hope in the National Post here.

Read more about Spirit of Hope in the Huffington Post here.

TORONTO EAST END MADRASSAH LOSES SCHOOL PERMIT

TORONTO STAR REPORTS:


Toronto School Board pulls permit of east end madrassah pending the investigation of York Region Police into antisemitic hate in curriculum


A local Islamic school cannot use a Scarborough public school for weekend classes until police have wrapped up their investigation into anti-Jewish teachings, Toronto’s public board has decided.

The controversy over East End Madrassah’s curriculum has also prompted the board to promise a review of its permit process “in the very near future” and make the rules clear to groups that rent out space, said Jim Spyropoulos, co-ordinating superintendent of inclusive schools.

READ MORE by Kristin Rushowy in the Toronto Star