Many Canadian Jews are grappling with a pressing question: what is happening to the relationship between Canada and Israel, and what does it mean for Jews living in Canada? In a recent episode of the Unapologetically Jewish podcast, Israel's ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, offered a stark assessment.
Diplomatic Relations at a Low Point
"Politically, we're not in a good spot," Moed said, describing the current state of Canada-Israel relations as potentially "the lowest point we've ever been." His comments reflect growing concerns among observers who have witnessed sanctions discussions, heightened diplomatic hostility toward Israel, and increasing recognition of Palestinian statehood. These developments have created an environment where supporting Israel is not just controversial but socially suspect.
Misconceptions About Israel
Moed argued that many Canadians view Israel solely as a war-torn nation defined by soldiers and conflict. In reality, he explained, Israel is a thriving democracy where Jews, Muslims, Christians, and others collaborate daily in hospitals, universities, and businesses, building one of the world's most innovative economies. This misconception has serious consequences: when Israel is seen only through the lens of conflict, diaspora Jews are often treated as extensions of that conflict. Canadian Jews are increasingly forced to answer for events thousands of kilometers away, rather than simply participating in society as citizens.
Rising Antisemitism and Fear
The ambassador highlighted troubling trends: Jewish students report intimidation on campuses, business owners have removed visible Jewish symbols from storefronts after being targeted, and many incidents go unreported because victims doubt authorities will intervene. Moed warned that the danger extends beyond the Jewish community. "What Israel is struggling against is a form of fundamentalist violent Islam that has risen to a level capable of inflicting very serious damage," he said, pointing to Iran and its proxies as existential threats involving terrorism, missiles, and nuclear ambitions.
A Broader Struggle for Democracy
Moed framed Israel's fight as part of a broader struggle for democratic societies to defend themselves against movements that exploit democratic freedoms while undermining them from within. "We cannot take things for granted anymore," he cautioned. "We have a beautiful world around us. We have to protect it." He noted that Canadians have long assumed tolerance and pluralism are permanent, but rising extremism and polarization are testing those assumptions. The Jewish community is experiencing this pressure first and most visibly.
Call to Action
Urging Canadian Jews not to retreat out of fear, Moed encouraged them to engage with neighbors and allies. "Your neighbour probably sees that you took off that mezuzah because of fear," he said. "Reach out to people around you. Have them stand next to you." This message resonates amid exhaustion within the Jewish community, as many feel abandoned by institutions or pressured into silence. Some simply wish to wait for calm to return.
A Lesson from History
One of the most poignant moments of the interview came when Moed described visiting his family's former home in the Netherlands, where relatives survived the Holocaust. Outside stood Stolpersteine—memorial stones for Holocaust victims. He recalled a non-Jewish schoolchild carefully polishing the stones, explaining simply, "it's important." The future of Canada-Israel relations, Moed concluded, depends not only on governments but on whether Canadians believe liberal democracies are worth defending. If democratic societies lose the will to defend their values openly, others will fill the vacuum.
