Canadian Jewish Community Expresses Anger Over Rising Antisemitism and Historical Erasure
In a powerful commentary, Larry Maher articulates the growing frustration within Canada's Jewish community as they confront what he describes as escalating antisemitism and the erasure of their historical persecution. The situation has reached a critical point where Canadian Jews are increasingly vocal about their right to safety and recognition.
The Historical Context of Jewish Persecution
Maher traces the long history of Jewish suffering, beginning with Golda Meir's 1970 observation that the conflict with Arabs fundamentally concerns Israel's right to exist. He notes that fifty-six years later, this existential threat has evolved but not diminished. The Jewish story is woven with narratives of survival against annihilation attempts—from Hanukkah's celebration of victory against destruction to Purim's story of Haman's plot, Passover's commemoration of escape from Egyptian slavery, and the Holocaust's systematic murder of six million Jews.
This historical pattern continues today, with Maher pointing to recent violence such as the 2024 shooting at Shaarei Shomayim Congregation in North York, a Modern Orthodox synagogue. He emphasizes that antisemitism has adapted to contemporary times, with anti-Zionism now serving as a vehicle for pushing Jews out of civic life while excusing violence against them in Canada.
The Modern State of Israel and Diaspora Connections
Since Israel's declaration of statehood in 1948, Maher notes that Arab neighbors and state-funded terrorist organizations have consistently sought its destruction. Terrorist attacks targeting Jewish diaspora communities, such as the 1994 bombing of the Jewish Community Centre in Argentina that killed 85 people, demonstrate that the threat extends beyond Israel's borders. Maher characterizes this as "the attempted genocide of the Jewish people, whether they are in Israel or the diaspora."
Israel represents the ancestral homeland and spiritual center for Jews worldwide, though Maher clarifies that it does not control the cultural, religious, or political lives of diaspora communities. However, he argues that ignoring the bond between Jews and Israel fuels antisemitism and global hatred against Jewish people.
Double Standards in Diaspora Politics
Maher highlights what he sees as a troubling double standard in how diaspora communities are treated. While immigrants from China, Ukraine, Lebanon, and Palestine are not required to denounce their home governments or elected leaders—even when those include organizations designated as terrorist—Jewish Canadians face pressure to distance themselves from Israel as a condition of their patriotism.
This creates an impossible situation where supporting Israel's right to exist as a sovereign Jewish nation becomes conflated with endorsing specific Israeli policies. Maher questions why Jewish Canadians alone face this litmus test when no other diaspora community experiences similar demands regarding their homelands.
The Failure of Traditional Responses
For generations, Maher explains, the Jewish diaspora has operated under the assumption that philanthropy and institutional donations would secure goodwill and protection from broader society. While well-intentioned, this approach has proven inadequate against rising antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric and violence. "It does little to protect the Jewish community or 'combat' anything in broader society," he observes.
The solution, according to Maher, requires Canadian Jews to move beyond polite requests for safety and instead speak out loudly as proud Zionists. They must assert their right to feel secure in Canada without apology or qualification, recognizing that anger—while just a beginning—represents a necessary step toward meaningful change and protection.
