Anger Over Holocaust Symbols Used in Protests

"When I see these comparisons, it's traumatic," Holocaust survivor Gershon Willinger told CBC News: The National. He joined FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt and other survivors to discuss the deep impact of the use of Holocaust symbols in protests against COVID-19 measures.

Amid protests in Ottawa where some individuals have displayed Holocaust symbols, a heinous form of Holocaust distortion denounced by FSWC this past weekend, sharing and listening to the voices of survivors is more important than ever.

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Ontario NDP Drops Candidate Who Praised Nazi Warship Captain

In a statement released Monday, Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath announced that the party has dropped Steve Parish as its candidate after he refused to denounce the decision to name a street in Ajax after a Nazi warship captain and failed to demonstrate he understands why that is harmful. The decision came after Horwath held numerous meetings, including with representatives of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center. FSWC commends Horwath for listening to the concerns of voices in the Jewish community and for her strong statement and decision on this issue.

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Amnesty International Report Denounced for Delegitimizing Israel

This week, Canadian Jewish groups FSWC, CIJA and B'nai Brith Canada released a statement rejecting and condemning a new Amnesty International report, published yesterday, that demonizes Israel and calls into question its right to exist.

“With its false narrative and distorted depiction of the reality on the ground, this report undermines current peacemaking efforts in the region, most notably the Abraham Accords," said FSWC's Michael Levitt. "Equally disturbing, Amnesty is emboldening those who seek to delegitimize the Jewish state, further adding to the already alarming level of antisemitism in Canada.”

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Rabbis Decry Canadian Church Proposals on BDS, Israel 'Apartheid'

The United Church of Canada will consider adopting a proposal and a report that could lead to the institution identifying Israel as an apartheid state, refusing to recognize it as a Jewish state, and officially supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement. Canadian rabbinical organizations issued a letter on January 11 condemning it.

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Whoopi Goldberg Suspended from ‘The View’ for Holocaust ‘Race’ Remarks

Whoopi Goldberg was suspended for two weeks Tuesday as co-host of The View after her comment during a discussion on the show that race was not a factor in the Holocaust. Her remark drew condemnation from several prominent Jewish leaders, including Simon Wiesenthal Center's associate dean, Rabbi Abraham Cooper. “Everything about Nazi Germany and about the targeting of the Jews and about the Holocaust was about race and racism. That’s the unfortunate, unassailable historic fact,” Cooper said.

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France to Return 15 Nazi-Looted Works of Art to Jewish Owners

The National Assembly of France last week approved the return of 15 artworks stolen by Nazis during World War II to the heirs of the Jewish families who previously owned them. The “historic” bill marked the first time that the country passed a law to return WWII-era works to Jewish families.

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Who Is Israel’s First Female Muslim District Court Judge?

The Judicial Selection Committee appointed Israel’s first female Muslim district court judge last week. Once again, Israel shows itself as a shining example of a democracy where diversity is celebrated and all citizens - Jews and Arabs alike - have the right to serve in the judiciary.

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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 jaime@fswc.ca.

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