Opinion: Words are not enough; time for decisive action on antisemitism

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Posted By: jasabacklink June 12, 2024

Since Oct. 7, and frankly long before, we repeated in countless interviews and wrote in these very pages about the alarm we felt regarding the antisemitism we see in our city. Since then, the hate and intimidation on our streets, in our workplaces and on our campuses have continued to threaten not only the Jewish community, but also our very society and the values that underpin it.

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The Jewish community of Montreal will never accept living in fear of violence and intimidation. To quote Menachem Begin, “We are not Jews with trembling knees.” Normalizing antisemitism, trivializing hatred or tolerating escalating violence and intimidation against Quebec’s Jewish community cannot be options, and this is why we will continue to speak out.

Last week, the SPVM released its 2023 annual report, which revealed that 353 hate crimes were recorded by the Montreal police department, a 67 per cent increase year-over-year. Additionally, the number of hate incidents rose from 72 to 171, an increase of almost 138 per cent. And most experts believe that these numbers are significantly under-reported, as the lack of demonstrable consequences leads to a lack of confidence that reporting acts of hate will bring about meaningful results.

These figures confirm the already worrying data shared in January by various media, including Global News, which reported that 131 antisemitic hate incidents were committed against the Jewish community in Montreal between Oct. 7 and Jan. 30. University presidents have testified before parliament about the “significant problem” of antisemitism on their campuses where encampments have been tolerated for too long.

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In recent weeks, Canada experienced a succession of violent incidents targeting its three largest Jewish communities. In Montreal, just days after it was announced that the first suspect had been arrested in connection with one of the November shootings at a Jewish school, another school in the community was hit.

This is our lived experience and what we have been experiencing since the massacre perpetrated by Hamas on Oct. 7. Code words, such as “globalize the intifada” or “kill all Zionists”, go unchecked, although we know what they mean.

Some leaders have spoken out, called out this behaviour for what it is and stood against antisemitism. However, the situation requires more than words and principled positions.

This is not a fight the Jewish community can or should face alone as antisemitism’s rise and normalization indicate a much bigger problem. We saw firsthand in Europe the consequences of its trivialization. We cannot continue to watch as the right to freedom of expression is confused with an obligation to provide a platform for those sowing hate and division and, worse still, to protect those spreading it.

Hate incitement, the occupation of university property and vandalism all contain actionable, criminal offences. But when we tolerate these behaviours in our streets for months without arrests, without prosecutions to the fullest extent of the law, people will continue to push the limits because they get the message that this is permissible behaviour.

We know that when municipal leaders and authorities take decisive action there is meaningful change. That is why on June 17 we will be in front of city hall calling for decisive actions against antisemitism and hate in our streets. All citizens deserve to feel safe in Montreal; it is our social contract.

Enough is enough!

Yair Szlak is president and chief executive officer at Federation CJA and Eta Yudin is vice-president (Québec) for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA).

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