Holocaust Survivor Shares Wise Words with University Graduates

Holocaust survivor Max Eisen shared some words of wisdom with graduating students at the Trent University Durham spring convocation last week. Eisen, who also received an honorary degree from the university, spoke about perseverance, freedom and countering hate in his convocation address. "I am humbled to accept this designation on behalf of the 1.5 million Jewish children who were never allowed to spread their wings and achieve their goals in life," said Eisen.

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Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center is continuing its efforts in ensuring tragedies like the Holocaust are never forgotten nor ever repeated through education and advocacy initiatives.

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Canada Abstains from Anti-Israel Vote at UN

Last week FSWC expressed its concern after Canada decided to abstain on a UN resolution pertaining to the Israel-Gaza conflict. On June 13, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution condemning recent violence in the Gaza Strip. While Canada supported a US-sponsored amendment that condemned Hamas, it chose to abstain from voting on the resolution.

"We believe that Canada should’ve voted against, in defence of Israel, an allied nation of Canada," said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo, who also said he is concerned that Canada is slipping with respect to its voting record and that the government’s attempt at taking a balanced perspective is coming at the cost of compromising Israel’s security.

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Britain Condemns UN Human Rights Council's Anti-Israel Bias

Today Britain joined the US in urging the UN Human Rights Council to end its anti-Israel bias, criticizing the council's controversial Agenda Item 7, which is devoted to discussing rights abuses in the West Bank and Gaza. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson addressed the opening of the 38th council session, stating, "We share the view that the dedicated Agenda Item 7 focused solely on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is disproportionate and damaging to the cause of peace, and unless things change we shall vote next year against all resolutions introduced under Item 7."

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Israel Foils Hamas Plans for Terror Attacks in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv

In a statement released yesterday, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) said 20 Hamas members have been arrested for being part of a terror cell and planning attacks across Israel. The planned attacks included a suicide bombing in Jerusalem, a bombing in Tel Aviv and shooting attacks across northern West Bank. “This case again shows the desire and efforts that Hamas is investing in building terrorist infrastructures...Severe attacks and loss of life have been prevented," said a senior Shin Bet officer.

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Former Child Refugee Who Fled Nazis Retraces Escape

Eight decades ago, Paul Alexander was one of thousands of children who escaped the Nazis through the Kindertransport rescue efforts that brought Jewish children to Britain between 1938 and 1940. Alexander will join his son and grandson in a 1,000-kilometre bike journey retracing his escape to freedom. The six-day journey will begin in Berlin and end in London.

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From the Arab World

Three rockets were fired from Gaza at southern Israel early Monday morning, two of which landed in Israel while a third reportedly landed in Gaza. No injuries were reported in what has been the first rocket launching against Israeli civilians in over two weeks.

According to a prominent Syrian-rights group, the terrorist organization Hezbollah has rejected Russia’s demands to withdraw from the Lebanese-Syrian border. On May 28, it was revealed that Israel and Russia reached understandings whereby only Syrian President Bashar Assad’s army, not Iran or its Shi’ite proxy militias such as Hezbollah, will take up positions near the border with Israel.

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Christian Picciolini Joins Freedom Day Speaker Lineup

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center is pleased to announce Christian Picciolini as a speaker at the upcoming Freedom Day. Picciolini is an award-winning television producer, public speaker, author, peace advocate and a former violence extremist. After leaving the hate movement, he began the painstaking process of making amends and rebuilding his life. He will be joining Holocaust survivor Max Eisen and other speakers to be announced soon.

Join us at Freedom Day on September 20 at Yonge-Dundas Square! To reserve space for your students or just for yourself, please email education@fswc.ca.

Register for Freedom Day

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FSWC Wants to Hear From You

Passionate about an issue in the news or your community? Does it align with FSWC's mandate? Then we want to hear from you! FSWC is inviting you to submit reflections on issues that matter to you and the community. While we won't be publishing anything just yet, we will be taking all submissions into consideration for future projects.

Submit reflections to aborisovsky@fswc.ca.