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Shiri Bibas and Her Children Kfir and Ariel, Redheaded Symbols of Israel’s Anguish, Were Killed While Held Hostage in Gaza, Israel Confirms

Shiri, Kfir and Ariel Bibas, the redheaded mother and children who were for many the faces and hearts of Israel’s hostage crisis, were killed while held captive in Gaza. The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office and Israel’s Hostages and Families Forum confirmed the heartbreaking news today, the night before Hamas is set to return their bodies along with that of slain hostage Oded Lifshitz.

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Jewish Coalition 'Relieved' as TDSB Antisemitism Report Clears a Hurdle

A coalition of Jewish advocacy groups - Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, the Toronto Holocaust Museum and Allies for a Strong Canada - expressed relief last week after the Toronto District School Board received a report outlining pervasive antisemitism in Toronto schools and recommendations to address it.

"This meaningful report reflected diverse stakeholders and voices from the community sharing their encounters with antisemitism," the groups said in a joint statement. "We thank the trustees who voted to receive it, and we will work with them and other public officials as partners in advancing real, results-driven measures to combat antisemitism and protect our shared Canadian values."

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Montreal Police Investigating After Swastika Spraypainted on Synagogue

Montreal police are investigating after a swastika was spraypainted on Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom, the third-oldest synagogue in Montreal. In a video shared on the synagogue’s Facebook account, Rabbi Lisa Grushcow urged Montrealers to take the opportunity to build bridges with the Jewish community by reaching out to Jewish friends and neighbours, visiting a Holocaust museum, to speak out against anti-Jewish jokes or comments and to be an ally to the Jewish community.

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‘Jew Hate Is on the Rise’: Durham Region Council Unanimously Endorses Call on Feds to Ban Public Displays of Nazi Swastika

Durham Regional Council unanimously endorsed a motion urging the federal government to draft legislation to immediately ban any public display of the Nazi swastika in Canada, as well as a motion to encourage reporting of all hate incidents to Durham Regional Police and council. This comes after a number of public displays of the Nazi swastika in the region, starting last August when one was burned into Prince of Wales Park in Whitby.

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These Are the Six Living Hostages Set to Be Released Saturday

Israel confirmed Tuesday that the final six living hostages slated for release under phase one of a ceasefire deal would all be freed on Saturday. The six include Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who have been held by Hamas since entering the Strip on their own in 2014 and 2015, respectively, and Tal Shoham, Omer Shem-Tov, Omer Wenkert and Eliya Cohen, who were taken hostage on October 7, 2023.

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Report Antisemitism and News of Concern to FSWC

If you would like to report antisemitism or news of concern to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, please email advocacy@fswc.ca.

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FSWC Is Proud to Recognize Our Sponsors

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Chai Sponsors

The Honey and Barry Sherman Legacy Foundation

Platinum Sponsors

Fred and Linda Waks and Family

The Joseph Lebovic and Wolf Lebovic Charitable Foundation

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