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The worst of times brings out the best in some people. They provide much-needed light amid the darkness. While such individuals usually aren’t seeking glory for their actions, they deserve our praise and appreciation.

Often forced to stand alone, Jews have a longstanding tradition of paying tribute to allies who defy the forces of hate to support us in our times of need. To this day, we continue to show our gratitude for those we refer to as the Righteous Among the Nations. These were non-Jews who with immense bravery and at great personal cost — sometimes even paying with their lives — stood up for their Jewish fellow citizens against the Nazis and their collaborators, often saving them from sure death.

While the stakes may not be quite so dire now in Canada, allies still make a huge difference. If there’s a silver lining to the antisemitism crisis, it’s the people from other communities who’ve come forward, denouncing unequivocally the hate directed at Jews.

Peter Mammas, CEO of Montreal-based Foodtastic, is a shining example. Last weekend, as the head of the company which owns the Second Cup chain of coffee shops, he acted promptly after videos surfaced of one of his franchisees making vile, hateful comments and gestures targeting Jews. Ironically, the woman operated two Second Cup locations at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital.

Mammas, who’s not Jewish, showed great moral clarity in connection with Mai Abdulhadi who in videos circulating widely on social media is seen raising her arm in a Nazi salute, later spewing antisemitic remarks captured on camera at an anti-Israel protest outside Concordia University last Thursday.

“The final solution is coming your way, the final solution. You know what the final solution is?” she’s heard saying, taunting counter-protesters, using the term associated with Nazi Germany’s plan to exterminate Jews during the Holocaust.

Mammas’s response was swift and unequivocal. Shortly after confirming the woman in the video was indeed Abdulhadi, Second Cup served her with a franchise termination notice and ordered her two locations immediately closed while ensuring employees would be paid until the two cafés reopen under new management.

“We’re all for free speech and respectful conversations, but this wasn’t that,” Mammas told the media. “This was hate speech, and it was something that we thought could incite violence and we’re completely against that, so we sat down with our team and decided to revoke the franchise agreement.”

Like many other Jews in Canada, I wanted to show my appreciation to Mammas for showing zero tolerance for such rank antisemitism. When I called him earlier this week to commend him for his decision and sending a strong message against anti-Jewish hate, he echoed a similar refrain I’ve heard from many of our allies who’ve stood up to denounce the antisemitic scourge.

Mammas said he felt humbled, almost embarrassed, about the praise. He explained that he did what he did because he knew it was the right thing to do and wanted to set an example for his kids who he didn’t want to live in a world where hate is tolerated.

Such is his modesty, he insisted he didn’t deserve acclaim and appreciation.

I beg to differ. Given the current reality, Mammas should be lauded for his principled stance. What he demonstrated, in a way, is a call to action to others who might not otherwise be so fast to stand up for what’s right. Sadly, most people turn away, like so many leaders in government, academia and business, who don’t want to confront hate head-on because it can be difficult and there can be ramifications. Too many view it through a cost/benefit lens.

Mammas didn’t allow such a calculation to override his moral compass, staying true to his noble values. I feel privileged to have this space to honour Mammas with the hope it will inspire others to do what’s good to counter these bad times.

Read in Toronto Star

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