TORONTO,ON (May 18, 2017) –The Spirit of Hope Benefit – which took place on May 18 at the Metro ConventionCentre in Toronto – proved to be a major success, bringing together more than2,000 guests in support of Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center’s (FSWC) missionto combat antisemitism and intolerance. 

This year’s Spirit of Hope keynotespeaker was former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom David Cameron, who wasin conversation with former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney. The eventwas chaired by Canadian Film Producer Robert Lantos. 

 The evening’s lively discussion centered onissues facing Europe and the Middle East, antisemitism, Brexit, and othercurrent international issues. 

When discussing antisemitism in Canada, Europe and abroad, Cameron explainedthe importance of educating “a new generation about where prejudice can lead”and supporting the State of Israel. 

“Attacks on Israel merge into antisemitism,” said Cameron, emphasizing thecurrent situation on university campuses where the antisemitic BDS campaigncontinues to be present. 

Performers included Limore Twena –a trained opera singer who, despite battling cancer, continues to radiatepositivity through her music – and Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier whospreads a message of peace through his music. 

This year, FSWC raised more than $3.4 million, surpassing the campaign goal.The event funds award-winning educational initiatives like the Tour forHumanity, recipient of the 2016 "Best Practices" Award ofExcellence from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation. 

“The Spirit of Hope Benefit is an opportunity to open up dialogue aboutrelevant issues that we face globally, while also learning how to create a moretolerant and inclusive society,” says Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of FSWC.“Considering the situation in Europe – including recent incidents ofantisemitism, terrorism, and uncertainty around Brexit – David Cameron was ableto provide insight, and optimism, into the current state of affairs and what wecan expect moving forward.” 

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To receive moreinformation about Spirit of Hope or to arrange an interview with Avi Benlolo,please contact: 

Avital Borisovsky  
Communications Associate   
416.864.9735 x 29 
aborisovsky@fswc.ca

Atara Cadesky 
Communications Associate 
416.864.9735 x 30 
acadesky@fswc.ca

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Follow us on Twitterat @CanadianFSWC forlatest news and organization updates.

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Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies (FSWC) is a top Jewishhuman rights foundation in Canada's organized Jewish community. Itdirectly impacts over 100,000 people each year and 500,000+ peripherally.FSWC is committed to countering racism and antisemitism and to promoting theprinciples of tolerance, social justice and Canadian democratic values throughadvocacy and educational programs including workshops, Freedom Day, Spiritof Hope Benefit, Tools for Tolerance and the widely acclaimed Tour forHumanity. FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an internationalJewish human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles which has won twoAcademy Awards, has built two Museums of Tolerance (with a third being built inJerusalem) and is an NGO at the United Nations, UNESCO, OAS, OSCE, the Councilof Europe and the Latin American Parliament. Visit us at www.fswc.ca. 

Canadian Headquarters: Toronto  Branches: LosAngeles • New York • Chicago • Paris• Buenos Aires • Israel