Countdown to State of the Union: Only 15 Days Left!

To RSVP, contact Tracey Steyn at tsteyn@fswc.ca or 416-864-9735 ext. 21

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Petition Calls on Ontario Federation of Labour to Oppose Anti-Israel Resolutions

FSWC is looking to the public to support its call upon the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) Executive Committee and Board to speak out to denounce and prevent one-sided anti-Israel resolutions that have been put forward to the delegates of the OFL upcoming Biennial Convention, which is to begin on November 20. The resolutions include supporting the boycott of products from Israel and providing support to Palestinian terrorists held in Israeli jails.

As stated in FSWC's petition, the resolutions "are replete with false accusations and misinformation", "call for Israel to put the wellbeing and lives of its diverse population" at risk and "will in no way benefit Canadian or OFL's members and will only further what has proven to be an antisemitic movement." 

Sign FSWC's Petition

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FSWC Condemns False Narratives of BDS Promoters

FSWC condemns the false claims made by two anti-Israel groups regarding the advancement of their discriminatory Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. Recently, SAIA York claimed that York University's Faculty of Environmental Studies had implemented an academic boycott of Israel after voting not to renew its association with an academic environmental group in Israel. In a similar case of false narrative, the Canadian BDS Coalition issued a press release claiming that its campaign to get Air Canada to endorse the BDS movement by cancelling its maintenance contract with an Israeli company had partially succeeded. 

"After further investigation and consultation, FSWC is assured that neither York University nor Air Canada will allow the discriminatory BDS movement to dictate its contractual relationships," said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. However, FSWC has reached out to York University seeking clarification as to who was behind the motion that had the faculty council voting against renewing the academic partnership.

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FSWC needs your support as we continue our efforts to counter antisemitism and hate through education and advocacy. Join us in making a difference today. 

Click here to make a donation.

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FSWC Expresses Deepest Condolences to Koffler Family

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center expresses its thoughts and prayers to the entire Koffler family on the passing of Murray Koffler. A visionary and philanthropist, Murray was one of the first to support FSWC's Tour for Humanity thereby helping educate thousands of students across Ontario. On behalf of the entire organization, please accept our profound condolences.

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Toronto Councillor Asking What City Can Do to Prohibit 'Hate-Sponsored Rallies'

City Councillor James Pasternak is asking the deputy city manager to look into what the city can do to prohibit white supremacist and neo-Nazi rallies as well as rallies that incite hate and violence, such as Al Quds Day. "We have had rallies in which hate has been spewed and we have an obligation to protect the diversity of our city and to make sure that these groups can't grow," Pasternak said. The inquiry was referred to the executive committee yesterday and will be debated in the coming weeks.

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SWC Statement on Larry David's Offensive SNL Monologue

In a statement released by the Simon Wiesenthal Center on Monday, Rabbi Marvin Hier and Rabbi Abraham Cooper condemned Larry David's reference to concentration camps and victims of the Holocaust during his SNL monologue. "Whatever his motivation, he succeeded in denigrating the victims of the Shoah and the collective memory of history's greatest crime," the rabbis stated. " Saturday Night Live producers should have known better than to clear distasteful and inappropriate statements from both the live and recorded broadcast."

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Urgent Appeal to Disqualify Iran's Run for Chair of UNESCO Executive Board

This week, a third of the Executive Board of 58 States will be elected for a four-year term, with the new Chair of the Board being selected from the Asian Group - which is led by Iran as the sole contender. Simon Wiesenthal Centre Europe's Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Dr. Shimon Samuels, is urging that UNESCO disqualify Iran's run for Chair of the agency's Executive Board.

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Princeton Hillel Draws Criticism After Cancelling Speech By Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister

Princeton University's local Hillel chapter was criticized after its decision to prevent Israeli Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Hotovely from speaking at the university on Monday. The group reportedly reversed its decision to host Hotovely after receiving objections from the Alliance of Jewish Progressives. A spokesperson for Hillel International called the chapter's decision a "mistake" and stated the group has apologized to Hotovely.

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Israel Employs World's First MRI Designed for Infants

Israel has become the first country in the world to test the Embrace system - the world's first MRI designed for examining premature and older infants. The device - created by the Israeli company Aspect Imaging - has so far been tested on six patients at Jerusalem's Shaare Zedek Medical Center, which delivers more infants a year than any other hospital in the world. The device helps high-quality tests to be performed without endangering the infants.

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From the Arab World

After accusing Iran of supplying Yemen's Houthi rebels with a missile that was fired into Saudi Arabia, the US is now calling on the UN to take action against Iran for violating two UN Security Council resolutions. Saudi Arabia echoed the call, stating that a missile fired on Saturday "may amount to a war crime."

Today the head of the Palestinian police in the West Bank stated that security coordination with Israel has resumed after it was suspended in July in protest to Israel installing new security measures at the Temple Mount. According to one source, the decision to resume coordination came after "intense Palestinian-US talks."

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Seats Available for State of the Union!

It's not too late to reserve seats for FSWC's upcoming State of the Union! As Israel turns 70, it is a military and economic powerhouse in the Middle East. Join us for a provocative and inspiration evening as we celebrate and embrace the State of Israel, featuring Former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman and Simon Wiesenthal Center's Rabbi Marvin Hier.

Time: Dinner at 6 p.m., Presentation at 7:30 p.m.

Location: Beth Tzedec Synagogue (1700 Bathurst Street)

For more information or to RSVP, contact Tracey Steyn at tsteyn@fswc.ca or 416-864-9735 ext. 21. 

Learn More About State of the Union

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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.