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On January 27, the Sgoolai Israel Synagogue in Fredericton, New Brunswick, was the target of vandalism. Moreover, the damage caused to the establishment occurred on the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.
The second half of 2023 was particularly difficult for some Jewish communities in Montreal and across Canada.
On November 9, the Montreal metropolis was treated to a surprise when it woke up: the streets were lined with the first snowfall of the year. However, residents of the neighborhoods of Côte-des-Neiges and Outremont are waking up to news that is more chilling than the temperature: the doors of two Jewish elementary schools have been riddled with bullets.
A few days earlier, a synagogue in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, in the West Island, was targeted by a Molotov cocktail attack.
Politicians and public figures quickly condemned these antisemitic acts. Everywhere in Montreal's Jewish community, these horrors sound like a gunshot in the ears of families. In addition to the voices condemning these acts, those of organizations such as the Consultative Center for Jewish and Israeli Relations (CIJA), which also recalls want to represent the diversity of Jewish perspectives across Canada
Following the events that occurred on October 7, 2023 in the Middle East, tensions are emerging — involving institutions as well as public figures and civil society. Heated exchanges were filmed, especially during demonstrations and during university rallies, and circulated on social networks.
Today, at the center of all these tensions, accusations of antisemitism are being heard. However, the very definition of this word is difficult to be recognized and accepted unanimously.
For many, the meaning of the term “antisemitism” remains unclear. In 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) produced its own operational definition of antisemitism:
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews that can be expressed in the form of hatred against them. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism target Jewish and non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, community institutions, and places of worship.”
In addition, the following is added:
Antisemitism can manifest itself in attacks on the State of Israel when it is perceived as a Jewish community. However, criticizing Israel as one would criticize any other state cannot be considered antisemitism. Antisemitism often involves accusing Jews of conspiring against humanity and, in doing so, holding them responsible for “all the problems in the world.” It is expressed orally, in writing, graphically or through actions, and uses disturbing stereotypes and pejorative character traits.
The adoption of this definition in Canada was controversial. While motions have been proposed in cities across the country to adopt it, it has faced criticism for its overly restrictive nature and its wording that could limit criticism of the Jewish state.
In 2020, the City of Montreal rejected a motion asking to recognize this definition. This reaction came as a bit of a surprise to those who were campaigning for the adoption of this motion, as the governments of Quebec and Canada had already adopted it in their anti-racism strategies.
Mayor Plante then justified the City's decision by citing the discontent of Independent Jewish Voices Canada and the Canadian-Palestinian Foundation of Quebec, which feared an attack on freedom of expression insofar as this definition limited criticism of the State of Israel as a political entity.
As the war is raging in Gaza, many have recently been publicly accused of antisemitism. Students, professors, politicians, and organizations that have criticized Israel's policies or that have accused the Jewish state of violating human rights have been accused of antisemitism.
The fear that the IHRA definition could silence potential critics of the actions of the State of Israel in a context of war crimes and human rights violations concerns.
Today, three members of the Montreal Jewish community present to La Converse their perception of antisemitism and its definition. Is criticizing Israel a form of antisemitism, as the IHRA definition might suggest?
“The end does not justify the means”
Since October 7, the Montreal Police Department has identified 41 reports of hate crimes targeting the Jewish community.. “An important line has been crossed.” These were the first words of Rabbi Grushcow commenting on recent hate crimes. Lisa Grushcow is based at Temple Emanu-El-Beth-Sholom in the Westmount borough of Montreal. She welcomes us on Friday around noon, a few hours before sunset marking the beginning of the Sabbath, a weekly day of rest in Jewish tradition.
What, in these times of uncertainty, makes Lisa Grushcow such an important figure in her community is that she represents a way of being Jewish that is different from tradition. “I am the rabbi of a Reform synagogue that has existed since the 19thE century,” she emphasized from the start of our meeting. In his office, near the Israeli flag, you can see a Pride flag. In addition to being a woman, the rabbi is a lesbian and divorced.
Recognizing the importance of her role at a time in history such as the present one, the rabbi calls on her community to humanity and community rather than to division and confinement. “I feel that antisemitism has always been present,” she begins by declaring. With a cup of coffee freshly brewed by hand, she explains to me that she takes the time to respond gently and calmly to comments made to her all over the media in connection with her role as rabbi. “I have never felt insecure here in Montreal. Today, I need to be careful about my safety and the safety of my community at a time when it's important for us to come together. It shouldn't be like that,” she tells us.
With regard to the hate crimes that took place in Montreal last fall, the former McGill University student prefers to call for altruism rather than distrust: we must “build bridges rather than walls.” However, she recalls being aware of the explosive nature of the war in the Middle East and the turmoil that this can create, even thousands of kilometers away from the conflict.
“Being passionate is good. But that does not excuse and does not allow everything. The end does not justify the means in any way,” she underlines in a firm tone.
However, the rabbi insists on an important distinction. For her, criticizing the Israeli government is in no way a form of antisemitism.
“I am far from being a fan of the Netanyahu government,” she continues. She adds that prior to October 7, she actively supported protests in Israel against her government. “Today, I am protesting for Israel and the safety of the Jewish community.”
The whole difference is in the intention behind the criticism, she believes. “When we criticize, we criticize for love. We know that [Israel] can be a better home. I think it gets difficult when you criticize out of hate.”
In the same vein, she asks, “Why do all these people go so far to criticize Israel? These are often the same people who don't say a word about human rights conditions elsewhere in the world. It is from this moment that I consider that it is a form of antisemitism,” she explains.
She also says that slogans like “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which can be heard at rallies and demonstrations in Montreal and around the world, can be hurtful. “This means that there is no place for Jews in Israel... It implies that we don't have legitimacy there,” she laments.
Does the question of Israel's legitimacy divide Montreal's Jewish community?
When asked, Lisa Grushcow replies that the Jewish community “is not so divided by the question of the existence of Israel: there are a lot of different opinions about the government of Israel and Israeli policies, yes, but there is a consensus on the legitimacy of Zionism as the right of the Jewish people to have a homeland in the State of Israel.”
However, this opinion is not shared by everyone in the Jewish community in Montreal.
Yakov Rabkin, professor emeritus at the University of Montreal and author of books on the question of Zionism and Jewish studies, is among those who disagree with this statement. For him, “Jews are certainly divided more by the question of Israel than by any other question.”
The idea of associating criticism of Israel with a form of discrimination against Jews dates back several decades, explains the expert. “This idea belongs to Abba Eban, a former Israeli diplomat and foreign minister in the 1970s. The latter launched a campaign, supported by Israeli propaganda authorities, which aimed to associate criticism of the country with antisemitism, at a period when, following the Second World War, antisemitism had become unacceptable,” he said. “Over time, this idea caught on.” Over time, this idea caught on. And to do that, Jews had to be associated with Israel.”
Formerly known as “The Voice of Israel,” Abba Eban served as Israel's foreign minister from 1966 to 1974. By himself, he represented the ” Hasbara ”, a word that refers to both Israeli diplomacy and propaganda. In fact, it is often referred to as “public relations machine” for the government and the image of Israel internationally.
It is in this perspective, recalls Professor Rabkin, that “the association of all people of the Jewish faith in the State of Israel has allowed Israeli policies to benefit from a certain immunity from criticism”.
The danger of associating the Jewish community with the State of Israel
After hearing many Western politicians address members of the Jewish community using phrases like “your state, your country” (speaking of Israel), Mr. Rabkin understood why, for many, criticism of Israel had “by the same token become anti-Jewish criticism”.
Moreover, the author affirms that “this association of the Jewish community with Israel made Jews Hostages of Israel's actions.” “Those who don't distinguish between “Jew” and “Israel” are only adding fuel to the Zionist mill.”
He therefore expresses his dismay at the condemnation of the Consultative Center for Jewish and Israeli Relations (CIJA) antisemitic acts committed in Montreal. “I find it absurd that CIJA supports Israel and, at the same time, is outraged that Jews are being attacked — when they themselves have placed Israeli flags in all Jewish institutions, he exclaims. I understand very well that Jews associate themselves with Israel — like any political opinion, it is legitimate. But in my opinion, it is extremely dangerous to associate the Jewish community and institutions with the Israeli state.”
“For those who are outraged by the actions of the Israeli government, they are targeting the most visible Jews. For example, they are shooting at a Jewish school on the street where I lived for over 30 years. The worst part of all of this is that this school is not Zionist at all,” said Mr. Rabkin.
He therefore considers that criticism of Israel does not constitute a form of antisemitism and is dissociated from the definition adopted by the IHRA. In his opinion, including considerations relating to the Jewish state in the definition of antisemitism is not legitimate. “Antisemitism is aimed at individuals, not states,” he explains. Associating Jews with a state is a mistake, because it is associating Jews with a political entity.”
For him, antisemitism is just another form of racism and xenophobia. “We don't need a specific definition of antisemitism. What is important is not to see antisemitism as a separate type of racism, but as one version of racism,” he concludes.
“Antisemitic acts have no place here, regardless of their motivation”
Melissa Shriqui has been a member of the Temple Emanu-El-Beth-Sholom Synagogue since she was born. He is also an active member of the Jewish community in Montreal. She confides in La Converse about her concerns about antisemitism and its connotation in the current context of heightened tensions.
The citizen shares her fear and anxiety about the antisemitic acts that occurred at the beginning of November. “I am experiencing worrying moments, moments that scare me, but also that hurt me. These acts have no place in Montreal, have no place in Quebec,” she firmly declares.
“Since October 7, we have seen that harmony is rather difficult to find. There has really been a wound for the Jewish community.” She also believes that, in her daily life, there is now a “before and after October 7”.
And now?
Today, the IHRA definition of antisemitism continues to grow in popularity. Over the past few months, dozens of organizations from around the world have adopted it. As we said earlier, the City of Montreal suspended the adoption process, wishing to “find its own definition of antisemitism, adapted to the city,” as the mayor said at the time.
In a last-ditch effort to raise awareness, Rabbi Grushcow comes back to us and weighs her words to emphasize the importance of humanity and humility. Even though she has been coordinating with religious leaders across Quebec for years, she reiterates the need to build relationships between communities in order to limit hate speech.
“We all have our limits, but sometimes we set them up too quickly,” the rabbi concludes. She recognizes that she is aware of her own limitations, but still believes that it is possible to coexist in a world where her community has the right to self-determination.
Heading to the exit of the temple, guarded by a bodyguard, she takes the time to return and meditate in the empty synagogue where photos of Israeli Hamas hostages are placed on the benches.
It should be noted that at the time of writing, CIJA had still not responded to La Converse's requests for comment.