Imagine 140 Brave Canadian Jewish Professors Fighting for the Right to Promote Antisemitism on Campuses:
Would their deceased or Holocaust survivor relatives be proud?
It takes a lot of courage for 140 Jewish professors at Canadian universities across the country to stand up for the right to discriminate, slander, lie, and assault Jewish students at these universities. Who would of thought this would be the next frontier in social activism and wokeness? The bravery of these academics in taking on the Jewish establishment in order to enable Jew-haters to spew their venom is breathtaking. Interesting how they zero in on Israel and the defense of Jewish students and faculty as the pariah cause in the universe to show their self-righteousness.
Imagine if they would have stood up for women’s rights in Muslim counties, LGTB+ rights in Muslim countries, Palestinian rights under Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, Palestinian rights in Lebanon and Syria (where thousands of Palestinians have been murdered by their Muslim brothers), free press in Palestinian controlled territories, children’s rights and stopping the indoctrination of children with hate and training in terrorism by Palestinian leaders. That would be brave indeed! Even standing up for the right to express these injustices at any campus today would take some guts. But don’t look for such heroics here. “Establishment” Jews are a much easier target – and you’re not likely get the death threats from this group.
After all, injustices in the Muslim world and the inability to speak about them on campus are insignificant issues in comparison. Free speech which can include slandering Jews, denying the holocaust and the self-determination of Jews (other than themselves), along with promoting violence against anyone who defends the rights of the democratic state of Israel is now a noble cause. Fighting the Jewish “establishment” in protecting Jewish interests and values, through getting at the root hate of antisemitism (cloaked as anti-Zionism) is poisoning academic freedom in their other-worldly view.
Let’s look at their precise claims:
Addressing all forms of racism and discrimination, including anti-Semitism, is imperative at this historical moment.
Yet they only focus on enabling antisemitism and not defeating it.
Insist that university policies to combat anti-Semitism are not used to stifle legitimate criticisms of the Israeli state, or the right to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Interestingly the IHRA definition does neither of these. You can criticize Israeli policies until your heart’s content – Israeli newspapers do it day in and day out. We only wish that Palestinian newspapers were allowed to do the same. Arab journalists tend to get beaten up or even killed if they criticize their leaders or praise Israel in any way. If these academics really cared about social justice (and not just bashing Israel) they would speak out against this. But maybe they’re too afraid. Attacking Jews is so much easier – less likely to get harassed or assaulted on campus.
The IHRA definition says NOTHING about supporting the Palestinian people or not supporting them. It does make it slightly more difficult to keep saying you’re going to wipe Israel off the map and the face of the Earth. But I guess that’s okay with these academics. They’re unlikely to speak out against the actual murder of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Syria, but if you talk of wiping out 6 million Jews in Israel, no problem there. They stand tall and proud for the right to promote killing more Jews – I’m sure their relatives who either perished or survived the holocaust would be proud of them.
We recognize that the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is a legitimate, non-violent form of protest.
Is it legitimate to deny the Jews their indigenous ancestral homeland? Is it also legitimate to promote driving the Jews out of the Middle East? These academics see no problem here. Just keep moving along.
The most serious problem however is that the definition is tied to a series of examples of which many are criticisms of the Israeli state.
Really, so if that’s the problem then why not point out exactly where this is the case? The working definition clearly states that criticism of Israeli policies is legitimate and not antisemitic.
It also equates Jewishness and Judaism with the State of Israel—effectively erasing generations of debate within Jewish communities
Sorry, but Israel and Jerusalem are woven into practically every Jewish prayer. So are you denying Passover, Hannukah, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Succoth, Simcha Torah, and nearly every other Jewish holiday? Are you denying the Torah? If so, then we’re not sure exactly which Jews you claim to represent. There is no Judaism without Zionism, just read the Torah.
The IHRA working definition distracts from experiences of anti-Jewish racism, and threatens to silence legitimate criticism of Israel’s grave violations of international law and denial of Palestinian human and political rights.
It does not distract from, rather it shines a light on anti-Jewish racism, which we call antisemitism. Nobody is stopping anyone from debating whether or not Israel has breached international law. You don’t seem to have any similar concerns about Hamas, a listed terrorist organization, breaching international law by indoctrinating and using child soldiers, indiscriminately bombing Jewish (and Arab) civilians, training suicide bombers, and other clear violations of international law. What about the Palestinian Authority paying to slay Jewish civilians?
The IHRA does not deny the Palestinians of any human or political rights. If that’s what you believe, then why not spell out those rights that are being denied? Nothing in the IHRA contracts the civil laws and rights of all citizens in Israel.
Here is the full list of Jewish faculty across Canada who have publicly signed a statement opposing the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism:
Howard Tzvi Adelman, History and Jewish Studies, Queen’s University
Willow Samara Allen, Adjunct Faculty, Leadership Studies, University of Victoria
Jonathan Alschech, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Northern British Columbia
Vered Amit, Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Concordia University
Meir Amor, Associate Professor, Concordia University
Shira Avni, Associate Professor, Concordia University
Abigail B. Bakan, Professor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto
Joel Bakan, Professor, Peter A. Allard School of Law, University of British Columbia
Lisa Barg, McGill University
Bruce Baum, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of British Columbia
Michaela Beder, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Daniel Bender, History and Food Studies, Department of Historical and Cultural Studies, University of Toronto
Joseph Berkovitz, Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto
Rachel Berger, Associate Professor, History, Concordia University
Jody Berland, Professor, Department of Humanities, York University
Bruce J. Berman, Queen’s University
Rachel Berman, Associate Professor, Early Childhood Studies, Ryerson University
Lauren Bialystok, Associate Professor, Department of Social Justice Education, OISE, University of Toronto
Anne-Emanuelle Birn, Professor of Critical Development Studies & Global Health University of Toronto
Gary Bloch, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Michael Blum, Professor, École des arts visuels et médiatiques, Université du Québec à Montréal
Shamma Boyarin, English Department/Religion Culture and Society Program, University of Victoria
Lara Braitstein, Associate Professor, School of Religious Studies, McGill University
Elise K. Burton, Assistant Professor, History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto
Nadya Burton, Associate Professor, Midwifery Education Program, Ryerson University
Shelley Ruth Butler, Lecturer, McGill University
Nergis Canefe, Associate Professor of Politics, Public Policy and Law, York University
Eric Cazdyn, Professor, University of Toronto
Claudia Chaufan, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Health Policy and Management, York University
Rebecca Comay, Professor, Philosophy and Comparative Literature, University of Toronto
Jonah Corne, Associate Professor, Department of English, Theatre, Film and Media, University of Manitoba
Jordana Cox, Assistant Professor, University of Waterloo
Deborah Cowen, Professor, Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
Leah Decter, Canada Research Chair in Creative Technologies, Division of Media Arts, NSCAD University
Sheila Delany, Emerita, Simon Fraser University
James Deutsch MD, PhD, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Norman Epstein, Professor Emeritus, Dept. Of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of British Columbia
Rachel Epstein, Adjunct Faculty, Brock University
Mark Etkin, MD, FRCPC, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba
Aaron Ettinger, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Carleton University
Zac Feilchenfeld, MD MHPE FRCPC, Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto
Alvin Finkel, Retired Professor of History, Athabasca University
Elle Flanders, Lecturer, Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, University of Toronto
John Fox, Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology, McMaster University
Sid Frankel, Associate Professor, University of Manitoba
Gavin Fridell, Associate Professor, Saint Mary’s University
Tami J. Friedman, Associate Professor, Department of History, Brock University
Harriet Friedmann, Professor Emerita of Sociology, University of Toronto
Lara Rosenoff Gauvin, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, University of Manitoba
Stella Gaon, Professor, Department of Political Science, Saint Mary’s University
Judith A. Garber, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Alberta
Roni Gechtman, Associate Professor, Department of History, Mount Saint Vincent University
Mimi Gellman, Associate Professor, Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Amanda Glasbeek, Associate Professor, Department of Social Science, York University
Harry Glasbeek, Professor Emeritus, York University
Luin Goldring, Professor of Sociology, York University
Tara Goldstein, Professor, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, OISE, University of Toronto
Cy Gonick, Founder Canadian Dimension magazine, retired economics professor University of Manitoba
Rachel Gorman, Associate Professor, Critical Disability Studies, York University
Barbara Graves, Professor, Faculté d’éducation, University of Ottawa
Samantha Green, Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto
Jonathan Greene, Associate Professor, Political Studies, Trent University
Saara Greene, Professor, School of Social Work, McMaster University
Jesse Greener, Professor of Chemistry, Université Laval
Ricardo Grinspun, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, York University
Kevin A. Gould, Associate Professor, Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University
Gal Gvili, McGill University
Jasmin Habib, Associate Professor, University of Waterloo
Chaya Halberstam, King’s University College at Western University
Judy Haiven, PhD. Retired Professor, Saint Mary’s University
Larry Haiven, PhD. Professor Emeritus, Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Max Haiven, Associate Professor, CRC in Culture, Media and Social Justice, Lakehead University
Orit Halpern, Associate Professor, Sociology and Anthropology, Concordia University
Rick Halpern, Professor, History, University of Toronto
Denise Handlarski, Assistant Professor, Education, Trent University
Monica Heller, Professor, University of Toronto
Judith Adler Hellman, Senior Scholar and Professor Emerita, Politics and Social Science, York University
Stephen M. Hellman, Senior Scholar and Professor Emeritus, Department of Politics, York University
Sivane Hirsch, Professor, Education Department, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Risa Horowitz, Associate Professor, Visual Arts, University of Regina
Penelope Ironstone, Department of Communication Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University
Dan Jacobson, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, University of Calgary
JoAnn Jaffe, Professor, Department of Sociology and Social Studies, University of Regina
David Kahane, Professor of Political Science, University of Alberta
Ivan Kalmar, Professor, University of Toronto
Ilan Kapoor, Professor, York University
David Kattenburg, University of Manitoba
Albert Katz, Professor Emeritus , Dept of Psychology, University of Western Ontario
Ariel Katz, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Toronto
Ryan M. Katz-Rosene, Assistant Professor, School of Political Studies, University of Ottawa
W. Reuben Kaufman, Professor Emeritus, Dept. Biological Sciences, University of Alberta
Robert Kirchner, PhD. University of Alberta Linguistics Dept., Associate Professor (retired)
Martin Klein, Professor (Emeritus), University of Toronto
Peter Klein, Professor, University of British Columbia
Peggy Kohn, Professor, Political Science, University of Toronto
Natalie Kouri-Towe, Assistant Professor, Concordia University
Jeffrey Kugler, Executive Director (retired), Centre for Urban Schooling, OISE, University of Toronto
Michael Lambek, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto
Robert Latham, Department of Politics, York University
Gordon Laxer, Professor Emeritus, Political Economy, University of Alberta
Michael A. Lebowitz, Professor Emeritus, Economics, Simon Fraser University
Barbara Leckie, Professor, Department of English and Institute for Comparative Studies in Literature, Art, and Culture, Carleton University
Josh Lepawsky, Memorial University
Richard Borshay Lee, University Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto
Erica Lehrer, Professor, Concordia University
Melissa Levin, Assistant Professor: Teaching Stream, New College, University of Toronto
Charles Z. Levkoe, Canada Research Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems, Department of Health Sciences, Lakehead University
Charmain Levy, Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Université du Québec en Outaouais
Joel Lexchin, Professor Emeritus, School of Health Policy and Management, Faculty of Health, York University
Mark Libin, Professor, Department of English, Theatre, Film & Media, University of Manitoba
Felice Lifshitz, Professor, University of Alberta
Mark Lipton, Professor, University of Guelph, College of Arts
Andrew P. Lyons, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Wilfrid Laurier University.
Harriet Lyons, Professor Emerita, Department of Anthropology, University of Waterloo
Shoshana Magnet, Professor, Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies, University of Ottawa
Sara Matthews, Associate Professor, Wilfrid Laurier University
Don Mazer, Associate Professor of Psychology (retired), University of Prince Edward Island
Marguerite Mendell, Distinguished Professor Emerita, Concordia University, Montreal
Jeffrey B. Meyers, TRU, Law
Claire Mummé, Associate Professor, University of Windsor Faculty of Law
Dorit Naaman, Full Professor, Film, Media and Cultural Studies, Queen’s University
Joanne Naiman, Professor Emerita, Ryerson University, Toronto
Neil Naiman, Senior Scholar, York University
Sheryl Nestel, PhD, Lecturer (retired), Ontario institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto
Jesse Salah Ovadia, Associate Professor Department of Political Science, University of Windsor
Shiri Pasternak, Assistant Professor, Criminology, Ryerson University
Alejandro I. Paz, Associate Professor, University of Toronto Scarborough
Karen Pearlston, Professor of Law, University of New Brunswick
Shayna Plaut, Adjunct Professor Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Manitoba
Natasha Pravaz, Associate Professor, Anthropology and Cultural Analysis and Social Theory, Wilfrid Laurier University
Janna Promislow, Faculty of Law, University of Victoria
Yakov M. Rabkin, Professor Emeritus, Department of History, University of Montreal
Dennis Raphael, Professor of Health Policy and Management, York University
Ester Reiter, Professor Emeritus, York University
Jillian Rogin, Faculty of Law, University of Windsor
Richard Roman, University of Toronto
Reuben Rose-Redwood, Professor, Department of Geography, University of Victoria
Daniel Rosenbaum, MD, FRCPC, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Daniel Rosenblatt, Associate Professor, Carleton University
Reuben Roth, Associate Professor, School of Northern and Community Studies, Laurentian University
Natalie Rothman, Associate Professor, University of Toronto Scarborough
Alan Rutkowski, Librarian (retired), University of Alberta
Deborah Rutman, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Social Work, University of Victoria
Ariel Salzmann, Queen’s University
Itay Sapir, Associate Professor, Art History, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
Rebecca Schein, Associate Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies, Carleton University
Paula Schwebel, Associate Professor, Philosophy, Ryerson University
Alan Sears, Professor, Department of Sociology, Ryerson University
Naomi Seidman, Department for the Study of Religion, University of Toronto
Devin Zane Shaw, Regular Faculty, Department of Philosophy and Humanities, Douglas College
Lincoln Z. Shlensky, Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Victoria
Shirley R Steinberg, Ph.D., Research Professor of Critical Youth Studies, The University of Calgary
Jonathan Sterne, Professor, McGill University
Jeremy Stolow, Department of Communication Studies, Concordia University
Mira Sucharov, Professor, Political Science and University Chair of Teaching Innovation, Carleton University
Gail Super, Assistant Professor, Dept. of Sociology (UTM), University of Toronto
Mark Sussman, Concordia University, Theatre Department/Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Society & Culture
Donald Swartz, Professor, Carleton University (retired)
Vannina Sztainbok, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, University of Toronto
Judith Taylor, Associate Professor, Sociology and WGSI, University of Toronto
Eliot Tretter, Associate Professor, Geography and the Urban Studies Program, University of Calgary
Samuel Trosow, Associate Professor, University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Law and Faculty of Information & Media Studies
Eric Tucker, Professor Osgoode Hall Law School, York University
Brenda Vellino, Department of English/Human Rights, Carleton University
Richard Wellen, Associate Professor, Department of Social Science, York University
Abraham Weizfeld PhD, former Course Director York University, Departments of Political Science & Social & Political Thought
Joel Westheimer, University Research Chair in Democracy & Education, University of Ottawa
Daphne Winland, Department of Anthropology, York University
Yves Winter, Associate Professor, Political Science, McGill University
Lesley Wood, Associate Professor, Sociology, York University
Aaron Sidney Wright, Assistant Professor, Dalhousie University and University of King’s College
b.h. Yael, Professor, Faculty of Art, OCAD University
Maya A. Yampolsky, Assistant Professor, Université Laval
Anna Zalik, Associate Professor, York University
Keren Zaiontz, Assistant Professor, Department of Film and Media, Queen’s University
Joyce L. Zemans, Professor Emerita, York University
Marcia Zemans, M.D. FRCPC, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Natalie Zemon Davis, Professor of History (retired), University of Toronto
Norman Zlotkin, Adjunct Professor, College of Law, University of Saskatchewan
Marvin Zuker, OISE, University of Toronto