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Position Statements

Joel Harden Deserves Our Support

November 22, 2022

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) stands with Ontario MPP for Ottawa-Centre Joel Harden, who recently came under fire from pro-Israel lobby groups and the Jewish Federation of Ottawa for comments […]

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IJV-Vancouver Letter to Mayor Ken Sim: Don’t Adopt the Divisive IHRA

November 8, 2022

Dear Mayor Sim and Members of Council, Let’s fight antisemitism together! Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canada is an organization dedicated to the pursuit of social justice for all. In particular, […]

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Letter to Ahmed Hussen: Drop the Divisive IHRA Attestation for Grant Recipients

October 17, 2022

October 13, 2022 Hon. Ahmed Hussen Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Youth Dear Minister: I write to you today on behalf of Independent Jewish Voices, a national Jewish organization with […]

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Jewish Solidarity with Indigenous People on the National Day for Truth And Reconciliation and Beyond

September 30, 2022

On this second National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) recognizes this day’s vital importance as a moment of remembrance and reckoning throughout Canada. We honour the […]

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York School Board: Jewish and Palestinian Families Come Together to Stop Vote on Controversial Antisemitism Definition

September 14, 2022

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) commends trustees of the York Region District School Board (YRDSB – Ontario’s third largest school board) for heeding the concerns of anti-racist parents and community […]

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IJV-Vancouver Members Ejected From Mayoral Town Hall For Bringing “No IHRA” Message

September 9, 2022

A few members of Independent Jewish Voices Vancouver attended a mayoral town hall event September 7th at Temple Sholom hosted by the pro-Israel lobby group CIJA (Centre for Israel and […]

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IJV Supports the NDP’s Bold Policy on Palestine

September 6, 2022

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) commends a recent strong shift in the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) which has seen it publicly making bolder calls for justice and peace in […]

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Jewish Groups Across the Globe Condemn Israel’s Unprovoked Bombardment of Gaza

August 9, 2022

We, member groups of the International Jewish Collective for Justice in Palestine, are filled with sorrow and outrage at Israel’s unprovoked aerial bombardment of the community of Gaza, Palestine. We […]

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IJV National Coordinator Corey Balsam’s Speech to the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group

June 21, 2022

On June 13th of 2022, our National Coordinator Corey Balsam was invited to speak to Canadian parliamentarians at an event hosted by the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group. Below, we reproduce […]

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McGill: Stop Attacking Palestine Solidarity and Student Democracy

April 8, 2022

The following is an open letter sent on behalf to Independent Jewish Voices Montreal (IJV) to the McGill University administration on April 7, 2022. Dear Suzanne Fortier (Principal and Vice-Chancellor) […]

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IJV Canada Statement on Ukraine

March 23, 2022

Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Canada joins with millions of people around the world in calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We also […]

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Q & A on the “Rabbinical Statement on the UCC’s Proposed Resolutions on Antisemitism & Israel”

March 3, 2022

On January 11, several groups of Canadian rabbis issued a statement regarding the United Church 2022 General Council discussions on the church’s policy positions on antisemitism, Israel and Palestine. Those […]

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IJV-Toronto Stands with High School Students Who Walked Out for Palestine

November 16, 2021

Independent Jewish Voices-Toronto congratulates the hundreds of courageous students at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute for staging a walk-out and demonstration on Friday, November 12th, in protest of anti-Palestinian racism and […]

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Anti-Racist Groups Concerned Canada’s Proposed “Online Harms” Legislation Could Do More Harm Than Good

October 4, 2021

Subject: Joint submission re: Online harms legislation To whom it may concern, As organizations and individuals with expertise in anti-racism, we are profoundly concerned by the government’s proposed “online harms” […]

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Open Letter to the TDSB: IJV-Toronto Supports Desmond Cole

September 30, 2021

Dear Ms. Russell-Rawlins, Ms. Kelman, Mr. Spyropoulos and Ms. Spence, It takes real courage to stand up for freedom and justice when you know that you will be attacked in […]

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IJV-York Statement on the Antisemitism Training Given to the York Federation of Students

September 30, 2021

September 30, 2021 Statement from Independent Jewish Voices – York Re: Antisemitism training by Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) for members of the York Federation of Students (YFS). On Monday, September […]

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Vote Palestine Post-Election Analysis

September 23, 2021

Well, here we are at the end of another Canadian federal election. We’ve emerged from a highly unpopular election campaign in the middle of a global pandemic with largely the […]

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IJV-Toronto Statement of Support for Javier Davila

June 23, 2021

As Jews who believe in social justice for everyone, Independent Jewish Voices Toronto (IJV) supports Javier Davila, one of eight equity advisors with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). Recently, Davila […]

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Let’s Mend the World: Let’s Cancel Canada Day – Indigenous People’s Day 2021

June 21, 2021

June 21st marks National Indigenous People’s Day in Canada. It is a day to celebrate the cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across these lands. However, […]

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IJV Denounces the CAQ for Unilaterally Adopting the Divisive and Controversial IHRA Antisemitism Definition in Quebec

June 10, 2021

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) denounces the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) for unilaterally adopting the extremely divisive and widely rejected IHRA definition of antisemitism in Quebec yesterday. Benoit Charette, Quebec’s […]

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IJV Supports Artists’ Call For Koffler Centre to Cut Ties to Israeli Apartheid

May 28, 2021

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) congratulates a group of Toronto artists for calling on the Koffler Centre of the Arts to live up to its new “social justice” mandate by […]

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Statement on CJC Review in the Azarova Case

May 27, 2021

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) and the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association (ACLA) are disappointed but not surprised by the outcome of the Canadian Judicial Council’s (CJC) review of the conduct […]

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IJV-Toronto Open Letter on False Antisemitism Allegations at Palestine Solidarity Rally

May 19, 2021

Dear Mayor John Tory and Premier Doug Ford. In the wake of a large rally protesting Israeli aggression and violence against Palestinians attended by  well over 10,000 people in Nathan […]

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The Canadian Jewish community does NOT support Israeli aggression

May 18, 2021

Canada’s three political Jewish establishment groups would have us believe that Canadian Jews stand behind the recent Israeli aggression in Gaza and the West Bank. But the truth is quite […]

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Nakba Day 2021 – Jews Say No to Israeli Apartheid & Aggression

May 14, 2021

Independent Jewish Voices Canada is standing with Palestinians around the world to mark Nakba Day on May 15th. Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”) Day is observed in Palestine and around the […]

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Open Letter to UofT on the Hiring Scandal: Reinstate the Offer to Dr. Azarova

April 21, 2021

We are writing today to call on the University of Toronto and its Faculty of Law to reinstate immediately the offer to Dr. Valentina Azarova to serve as the next […]

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Tackling Hate, Protect Dissent

April 7, 2021

The Honourable David LamettiMinister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada The Honourable Steven GuilbeaultMinister of Canadian Heritage Dear Ministers Lametti and Guilbeault, As organizations committed to the defence of […]

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Principles for Dismantling Antisemitism

April 6, 2021

We believe in a world where we are all safe and cherished—a world without racism, without antisemitism, and without Islamophobia. As fascist, racist, and authoritarian governments and political parties increasingly […]

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JNF Canada Forced to Rebrand and Distance Itself From JNF-KKL in Israel

March 11, 2021

Since its inception 120 years ago, the Jewish National Fund-Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (JNF-KKL) has been one of the main engines for the colonization of Palestinian lands. It owns 13% of […]

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Open Letter to Montreal’s City Council: Say No to the IHRA, Again!

March 9, 2021

In March, 27 Montreal-based anti-racist organizations sent an open letter to Mayor Valérie Plante and Montreal’s city council, demanding they take a stance against the dangerously misleading International Holocaust Remembrance […]

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Open Letter to Mayors Concerning Upcoming Summit Against Antisemitism

March 4, 2021

This open letter was written by the International Jewish Collective for Justice in Palestine (IJCJP) in response to a virtual conference of mayors which claims to be convened with the […]

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IJV Denounces False Claims of Antisemitism in Ontario School Renaming Controversy

February 24, 2021

(Vaughn, Ontario City Hall. Image: Mhsheikholeslami, CC BY-SA 4.0) A controversy has erupted around the renaming of a school in York Region north of Toronto that threatens to pit members […]

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IJV-Kingston Statement of Solidarity in Support of SPHR Queen’s

February 8, 2021

[“Kingston Onatrio ~ Canada ~ Queens University ~ Ontarion Hall ~ Heritage ~ Historic” by Onasill ~ Bill – 80M Views is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0] Independent Jewish Voices – Kingston Statement It […]

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IJV Stands with Hassan Diab: No Evidence, No Trial

February 1, 2021

Independent Jewish Voices is calling for immediate action by the Canadian government after a French court ruled on January 27th, 2021, to proceed to trial in the case of Canadian […]

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United Against Islamophobia: Four Years After the QC Mosque Shooting

January 31, 2021

Several IJV chapters helped to organize or attended vigils across the country on Friday to mark the 4th anniversary of the Quebec City mosque shooting. Below is the text of […]

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IJV-Montreal Statement on CDN-NDG Borough Adoption of IHRA Antisemitism Definition

January 29, 2021

[CDN-NDG borough mayor Sue Montgomery. Photo: Sarah Mongeau-Birkett, La Presse] On January 27th, in a special council meeting, the Montreal borough of Côte-des-Neiges – Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN-NDG) moved on very short […]

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IJV Stands by MPs in Denouncing Israel’s Discriminatory Vaccine Program

January 7, 2021

(A Palestinian youth wearing a face mask rides his bicycle past a mural painting of a nurse injecting a vaccine to a COVID-19 virus in Gaza City, on 31 December […]

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Jews Across the Globe Applaud Statement by Palestinian and Arab Academics, Journalists and Intellectuals

December 10, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 2020 Jews Across the Globe Applaud Statement by Palestinian and Arab Academics, Journalists, and Intellectuals We, Jewish groups and individuals from across the globe, applaud the […]

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A Win for Human Rights Defenders: Joint Statement on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism in Ontario

November 2, 2020

On October 26th, 2020, the Government of Ontario unilaterally adopted the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism (IHRA-WDA) by means of Order in Council 1450/2020. This move […]

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IJV Submission on the Federal Online Hate Initiative

October 26, 2020

On August 14, 2020, Independent Jewish Voices Canada was invited to participate in a roundtable of Jewish organizations to discuss how the federal Ministry of Justice can go about combating […]

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Stop the Pogroms Against the Mi’kmaq!

October 21, 2020

STOP THE POGROMS AGAINST THE MI’KMAQ  On September 29, Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) expressed our support for the Mi’kmaq people and the Sipekne’katik First Nation currently engaged in a standoff […]

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IJV Halifax condemns bigoted stickers appearing around the city

October 2, 2020

Unknown individuals are placing unattributed adhesive stickers around Halifax that promote conspiracy theories and foment hatred toward vulnerable groups, especially using COVID-19 as a starting point.  Independent Jewish Voices condemns […]

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Independent Jewish Voices Supports Mi’kmaq Right to Fish

September 29, 2020

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) affirms our support for the Mi’kmaq people and the Sipekne’katik First Nation who are currently engaged in a standoff in Nova Scotia to affirm their […]

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Erin O’Toole, who could be Canada’s next PM, has vowed to move Canada’s embassy to Jerusalem

August 24, 2020

The new leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, and potentially Canada’s next prime minister, will likely be a disaster for human rights in Israel-Palestine. Erin O’Toole won the vote […]

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Barrie, Racism, and Palestine: An Open Letter

August 9, 2020

The following open letter was written by Dan Freeman-Maloy, an IJV member and academic researcher originally from Barrie, Ontario, in response to news that Barrie City Council would be considering […]

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Open Letter: End Annexation & the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement

July 23, 2020

Independent Jewish Voices has joined a coalition of Montreal-based unions, academics, artists, and community groups calling for an end to Netanyahu’s illegal annexation plan in the occupied West Bank, as […]

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Independent Jewish Voices Toronto Statement on the Foodbenders Controversy

July 14, 2020

July 14, 2020 In early July, the Jewish Defense League (JDL), a group identified as a “proscribed  terrorist group” by the FBI, unleashed a campaign of intimidation against Foodbenders, a […]

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IJV Rabbis: Synagogues’ silence on Israel’s annexation a moral failure

July 2, 2020

We are two rabbis and other members of the Hamilton, Ontario, Jewish community who call on the religious institutions of our community to take the clear moral stand of opposing […]

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IJV Condemns Anti-Asian Violence and Hatred Amid COVID-19

June 10, 2020

Last week several Asian-Canadian community organizations set up a website www.covidracism.ca to spotlight an uptick of racist  incidents against Asian-Canadians amid the COVID-19 crisis. Independent Jewish Voices reaches out to […]

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Canadian Jews Say Black Lives Matter!

June 1, 2020

Independent Jewish Voices Canada stands in solidarity with everyone taking part in Black Lives Matter demonstrations against police brutality in cities around the world right now. We join our voices […]

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Israel’s Annexation Plan is a Continuation of the Nakba

May 15, 2020

May 15, 2020 – Today, Independent Jewish Voices Canada is standing with Palestinians around the world to mark Nakba Day. Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”) Day is observed in Palestine and […]

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To Avoid a COVID-19 Crisis in Palestine, Israel Must Immediately End the Siege of Gaza

April 27, 2020

Independent Jewish Voices Canada is calling on the Canadian government and civil society to put the utmost pressure on Israel to end its siege on the Gaza Strip and alleviate […]

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Canada: Don’t Sabotage the ICC’s Israeli War Crimes Investigation

March 9, 2020

Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) strongly denounces the Canadian government’s shameful attempt to thwart justice in Israel-Palestine by urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to let Israel off the hook […]

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Joint Statement: Ontario NDP Must Reject Bill 168

March 6, 2020

Toronto, March 6, 2020 Three Canadian justice-seeking organizations will combine efforts on Saturday at the Ontario NDP Provincial Council to voice strong opposition to Bill 168, which aims to officially […]

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IJV Statement: Controversial Antisemitism Bill Passes Second Reading in Ontario

February 28, 2020

(Image: Jason Kuhrt, Imaging Apartheid) Independent Jewish Voices Canada is deeply dismayed and concerned with the Ontario Government’s decision to unanimously approve Bill 168, the Combating Antisemitism Act, on its […]

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Open Letter from 650+ Canadian Academics Opposing the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism

February 27, 2020

UPDATED: Over 650 Canadian academics have now signed on to an open letter opposing the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. Our letter, and the signatories, are below. […]

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IJV Statement on the Shootings in Hanau, Germany

February 21, 2020

(Photo credit: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters) Independent Jewish Voices Canada is shocked and horrified by the February 20 attack by a gunman on two shisha bars in the German town of Hanau, […]

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Canadian Jews Stand With Palestinians in Rejecting Trump’s “Peace” Plan

February 3, 2020

On January 28, 2020, US President Donald Trump unveiled his “peace” plan for Israel-Palestine alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Notably absent alongside these two embattled leaders, fighting to hang […]

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Canadian Jews Stand With Wet’Suwet’en: To Repair the World, We Must Decolonize

January 9, 2020

Independent Jewish Voices stands in firm and uncompromising solidarity with the people and the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en nation in their struggle to defend their land against Coastal GasLink […]

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IJV Demands Rana Zaman’s Human Rights Award be Reinstated

December 30, 2019

On December 10, the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission conferred its Individual Human Rights Award upon Halifax social activist Rana Zaman, citing Zaman’s “desire to see unity and solidarity amongst […]

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IJV Supports Palestine Solidarity Protestors at York and Denounces Smear Tactics From Government Leaders

November 26, 2019

Independent Jewish Voices Canada unequivocally supports courageous Palestinian students and their allies who showed up en masse at York University in Toronto on November 20th to protest a planned presentation […]

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What do the election results mean for Palestine?

October 22, 2019

October 22, 2019 You’ve seen the results by now: Liberal minority government with the NDP holding the balance of power. This could be a good thing for progressives, especially on […]

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IJV to Attorney General: Don’t appeal Kattenburg decision

September 6, 2019

The following letter has been sent to Minister of Justice and Attorney General David Lametti, urging him not to appeal the recent Federal Court ruling on wines originating from illegal […]

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Join us in denouncing white supremacist threats

August 7, 2019

August 6, 2019 On Saturday, July 27, Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Montreal participated in a counter-protest in Trois-Rivières, Québec, against a new white supremacist umbrella group, la Vague Bleue*. Violent […]

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Independent Jewish Voices condemns NDP Removal of Federal Candidate for Tweets Criticizing Israel

June 27, 2019

IJV Canada Statement on Rana Zaman June 27, 2019 The federal New Democratic Party has removed noted Halifax activist Rana Zaman from the party’s candidacy in the Dartmouth – Cole […]

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Fighting Antisemitism is Essential. But the IHRA Definition is the Wrong Approach.

June 13, 2019

June 13, 2019 There is no doubt that antisemitism is a growing threat. The recent murderous attacks on Jews in Pittsburgh and San Diego are proof that hatred of Jews […]

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Unconditional support for Israel is unconditional support for injustice

May 14, 2019

An open letter to the Toronto Jewish Community regarding the UJA Walk with Israel On Monday, May 20, members of the Toronto Jewish community will participate in the annual Walk […]

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IJV Welcomes Linda Sarsour to Winnipeg

April 25, 2019

Sorry* Not Sorry – Unapologetically Working for Social Justice Such is the title of an event being hosted by the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg and the Canadian Muslim Women’s […]

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IJV Statement on 2019 Israeli Election

April 10, 2019

With Bibi almost sure to win, it’s time to ramp up the pressure Although the final results have yet to come in and the new coalition has yet to be […]

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This Land Day, Let’s #StopJNFCanada!

March 29, 2019

March 29, 2019 Every March 30, Palestinians commemorate Land Day, the anniversary of a 1976 general strike against Israeli land expropriation by Palestinian citizens of Israel. Israeli police killed six […]

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IJV Statement on Christchurch Massacre

March 15, 2019

March 15, 2019 In the wake of the devastating white supremacist and Islamophobic shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, Independent Jewish Voices would like to extend our heartfelt condolences and solidarity […]

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Environics Survey of Jewish Canadians confirms divisions on Israel-Palestine

March 13, 2019

13 March 2019 TORONTO–Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) and the United Jewish People’s Order (UJPO) welcome the findings of a survey of Jewish Canadians published yesterday by the Environics Institute. […]

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IJV Statement on MS St. Louis Apology

November 7, 2018

November 7, 2018 Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is slated to deliver an official apology for the Canadian government’s role in turning back the MS St. Louis. The ship, which […]

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Dimitri Lascaris is not an Antisemite

September 14, 2018

Green Party Justice Critic Dimitri Lascaris

Pro-Israel lobby groups B’nai Brith Canada and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) have once again levied the charge of antisemitism at a Palestinian rights activist in what appears to be an attempt to tarnish his reputation. Their latest target is lawyer and former Green Party Justice Critic Dimitri Lascaris.

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IJV statement on the 70th Anniversary of the Nakba

May 15, 2018

Seventy years have passed since the state of Israel was established in Palestine. As a direct result, hundreds of Palestinian villages were destroyed, thousands were killed and and hundreds of […]

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IJV praises NDP and Green Party leaders for denouncing Israel’s shootings of Gaza protesters

April 17, 2018

April 17, 2018 Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) applauds statements released by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May regarding the ongoing crisis in Gaza. In a […]

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Statement: Anniversary of the Quebec Mosque Shooting

January 29, 2018

[Version française] IJV Statement on the One Year Anniversary of the Quebec Mosque Shooting The terrible murder of six Muslim men of Quebec City, one year ago today, demands that […]

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IJV Canada statement on the events in Charlottesville and Quebec

August 22, 2017

One important aspect of the Charlottesville racist events is the brazen inclusion of the Jews as targets for white supremacist wrath. Scenes of Nazis marching with firebrands chanting “The Jews […]

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Solidarity Statement with Idle No More

October 24, 2013

We of Independent Jewish Voices – Canada extend heartfelt greetings to and solidarity with Idle No More. We are Jewish Canadians of diverse backgrounds who share a strong commitment to […]

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