Friendsof Simon Wiesenthal Center Launches National Hands-On Teaching Tool for Canadians

Toronto (April 30, 2018) – As hatecrimes against the Jewish community continue to rise in Ontario, Friends ofSimon Wiesenthal Center is encouraging Canadians to download its new ResourceGuidebook launched in time for Jewish Heritage Month. This May is the firsttime Jewish Heritage Month will be honoured in Canada, as recognized by theCanadian government.

The National Resource Guidebook provides abreadth of useful information, including historical timelines, biographies onrenowned Jewish Canadians, and contextual background on antisemitism. It alsoincludes a comprehensive guide to fun and interactive classroomactivities.  

The Resource Guidebook is especiallycritical at a time when the number of hate crimes against the Jewish communitycontinue to rise, according to data recently released from Toronto and Peelregional police and the November 2017 release of Statistics Canada’sPolice-reported Hate Crime, 2016 Report.

The Toronto Police hate crime report, released inApril, showed an overall increase of 28 per cent in 2017. According to thereport, the Jewish community – followed by the Black, Muslim and LGBTQcommunities – was the most frequently victimized. A total of 53 occurrencestargeted the Jewish community, an increase of 23 per cent from 2016.

“It is disheartening and profoundlyworrisome to see such a sharp increase in the number of annual hate crimes inToronto,” said Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center President and CEO AviBenlolo. “It was an overwhelming year for the Jewish community, as we witnesseda clear increase in the number of antisemitic hate crimes taking place.”

In Peel Region, hate crimes against theJewish community are also on the rise. Peel Region Police released its annualhate crime report showing an overall increase in hate crimes, rising from 59incidents in 2016 to 158 in 2017.

According to the report, “religion was themost common motivating factor” in bias-related offences in 2017. The Muslimcommunity was the most targeted, being victimized in 57 of all reportedincidents – a sharp increase year-over-year from a total of five anti-Muslimincidents in 2016.

The Jewish community was targeted 36 timesin 2017, up 13 incidents from the year before and accounting for 22 per cent ofall reported hate/bias crimes in the region.

These new findings combined withStatistics Canada’s police-reported hate crime data indicate that trends inhate crimes against the Jewish community continue to persist. In 2016,according to data from Statistics Canada, hate crimes against the Jewish communityincreased from 178 incidents to 221. Of those, Ontario saw the most significantincrease compared with other provinces.

Statistics Canada also reports that peopleaccused of religious hate crimes are most likely to be under 18 years old. Inmore than 22 per cent of religious hate crime incidents, young people aged 12to 17 years old were the perpetrators.

These disturbing trends among Canadianyouth further speak to the need for the Resource Guidebook to be shared inCanadian communities. Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center encourages teachers todownload the Resource Guidebook. This manual, written in conjunction withacademic and community stakeholders, provides educators with meaningful toolsfor integrating Jewish-themed lesson plans into their classrooms.

“As an organization dedicated to promotingtolerance, we know firsthand the importance of grassroots education toencouraging a fair, respectful and welcoming society," said Benlolo."We are proud to present this guidebook to help foster a greaterunderstanding of Canadian Jewish life.”

For more information, download the Resource Guidebook orreview the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies Incidents Map whereanitsemitic events are tracked daily.