Amid the disturbing surge in antisemitic and other hate-motivated incidents in Canada, FSWC plays a pivotal role in collaborating with law enforcement agencies nationwide. Through our education and professional development programs, we provide police forces with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to better combat hate against the Jewish community.
Our training is customizable, with each workshop and program tailored to the unique needs and challenges faced by individual departments.
By fostering close partnerships and offering specialized support, FSWC equips law enforcement personnel with the tools they need to confront and mitigate the impact of hate crimes and antisemitism in their communities.
PROGRAM OPTIONS
Flexible Delivery
Workshops available online and in-person.
Customizable Options
Workshops can be combined or taken as stand-alone sessions.
Tailored Training
Contact us to design a customized professional development program.
WORKSHOPS
ANTISEMITISM: THEN AND NOW
Our flagship workshop Antisemitism: Then & Now covers historical and contemporary antisemitism; how to address it; and ways to build allyship. The workshop provides the ability to name and identify multiple forms of antisemitism, old and new; knowledge of the origins of antisemitism, often referred to as “history’s oldest hatred;” a recognition that antisemitism is an integral part of discussions on hate and intolerance; and how to be an ally in fighting antisemitism, as part of an overall commitment to tolerance and anti-racism.
Program Goals:
• Name and identify antisemitism, old and new.
• Understand connection between historical and contemporary antisemitism.
• Develop an understanding of the impact of antisemitism.
• Learn ways to build allyship and combat antisemitism.
Program delivery: Available in both virtual and in-person formats.
Duration: 75 minutes
LEARNING FROM SURVIVOR TESTIMONY
Program Goals:
• Learn more about the Holocaust and the consequences of unchecked hatred and intolerance.
• Create an interactive environment where participants can ask questions and engage with survivors' stories, promoting a thorough understanding and active reflection on the lessons learned from the Holocaust.
Program delivery: Available in both virtual and in-person formats.
Duration: 60 minutes
Engaging directly with a Holocaust survivor or their descendant provides law enforcement professionals with insight into the devastating impact of unchecked hatred and intolerance. This opportunity allows participants to hear firsthand accounts of the Holocaust, ask questions, and deepen their understanding of the Nazi extermination of European Jews. By connecting with survivors' experiences, participants gain a powerful perspective on the human cost of prejudice, enhancing their commitment to combating hate and fostering empathy in the communities in which they work.
LESSONS IN HUMANITY
Antisemitism didn’t end with the Holocaust or the fall of Nazism. In fact, today’s statistics reveal a troubling rise in hate crimes against Jewish communities in Toronto, across Canada and globally. To effectively combat this escalating threat, it’s crucial for law enforcement to understand not only the current landscape but also the historical context. Our program provides this insight by examining the critical role law enforcement played during the Holocaust, offering valuable lessons for addressing modern antisemitism. Equip your team with the knowledge and tools needed to tackle this growing challenge.
Program Goals:
• Understand the role of police during the Holocaust.
• Recognize the impact police actions had on individuals and their communities during the Holocaust.
• Bear witness to survivor testimony.
Program delivery: Available in both virtual and in-person formats.
Duration: 75 minutes
POLICING WITH UNDERSTANDING
Program Goals:
• Develop a deeper understanding of Jewish culture and the Jewish communities that officers serve.
• Gain insights into effective ways to be an ally to the Jewish community.
• Utilize local hate crime statistics and threat analysis to better understand and address the specific challenges faced by Jewish individuals and institutions.
• Learn about how the Jewish community can support law enforcement in hate crime cases, including Victim and Community Impact Statements
Program delivery: Available in both virtual and in-person formats.
Duration: 60 minutes
This specialized program equips law enforcement with a deeper understanding of Jewish culture and the community's unique vulnerabilities. It includes a thorough analysis of the critical moments when the Jewish community is most at risk, allowing teams to strategically deploy resources and improve safety during these key times. By examining local hate crime statistics and understanding threats against Jewish individuals or institutions, officers gain valuable insights into the challenges faced by the community. This program helps facilitate stronger relationships between law enforcement and the Jewish community.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE FOR POLICE
BUILDING A CASE AGAINST HATE
Every year, FSWC organizes a national conference for all levels of law enforcement professionals, including those from the RCMP and military, provincial and municipal services as well as crown prosecutors from across the country. Devoted to addressing and combatting hate-motivated crimes, the conference is comprised of panel discussions, networking opportunities, and case studies led by experts. All the content is aimed at equipping law enforcement personnel with new tools, approaches and knowledge to enhance their capabilities in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes.
Please register your interest in Building a Case Against Hate 2025 here.
WEB-BASED MODULAR TRAINING
FSWC provides modular web-based antisemitism training for law enforcement agencies. Each training module is tailored to meet the unique needs of individual departments, covering critical topics such as Jewish customs, symbols, and holidays; the history and current landscape of antisemitism and discrimination; local trends in antisemitic hate crimes; investigative techniques; and strategies for supporting Jewish colleagues and community members. This training equips participants with the essential skills to effectively recognize and address antisemitism and hate, while also strengthening support networks for Jewish individuals both within the community and among officers.
RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
At FSWC, we offer specialized restorative justice programs tailored to address antisemitism incidents effectively. Our one-on-one interventions are designed to foster empathy, promote accountability, and address harm while adhering to legal standards. By collaborating with court systems and law enforcement agencies, our programs provide a nuanced approach to each case, enhancing efforts to achieve meaningful resolutions.
LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS
COMPASSION TO ACTION
Each year, FSWC brings together 30 influential Canadians – including Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs from police services across the country for a transformative educational journey through Poland and Israel. This immersive experience deepens their understanding of the Holocaust, racism and intolerance.
Compassion to Action educates leaders about the history of antisemitism and inspires and empowers them to better address related issues of our times. Over the years, more than 150 police chiefs, educators, mayors, provincial and federal parliamentarians, school board superintendents, philanthropists and thought leaders have taken part in our Holocaust educational journey.
In previous trips, participants visited the hallowed grounds of Auschwitz and Majdanek concentration camps; explored the ancient Jewish town of Krakow; viewed original, archival documents from the Nazi period; learned about the trials of Nazi war criminals; walked the path of the ancients in Jerusalem and experienced modern Israel in the always bustling city of Tel Aviv.
TOOLS FOR TOLERANCE
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center’s (FSWC)Tools for Tolerance® training program focuses on enhancing ethical leadership, cultural competency, and community trust-building among law enforcement professionals. Ranging in length from one to four days, the Tools for Tolerance® programs take place in the state-of-the-art exhibits at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. These exhibits, including social laboratories, challenge visitors to confront personal biases and prejudices while raising awareness of equity, diversity, and inclusion issues. Participants engage in discussions around diversity, personal values, and responsibility as they apply to the workplace and beyond.
This program is specifically designed to address contemporary issues within the law enforcement community and assist professionals in their ongoing efforts to improve service to communities.
INQUIRE TODAY
GET STARTED
Contact us today to discuss your training needs and schedule a consultation and how we can empower your organization with the knowledge and tools to combat antisemitism effectively. We will be delighted to set up a complimentary consultation.
CONTACT USFounded in 1989, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is one of Canada’s leading human rights organizations combatting antisemitism and other forms of hate. Through our extensive advocacy work and education programs teaching the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides, FSWC promotes the principles of tolerance, social justice and democracy. Based in Toronto, FSWC is affiliated with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international human rights organization headquartered in Los Angeles, which has an official NGO presence at the United Nations, UNESCO, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament.
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