THE BEGINNINGS
In 1919, at voting stations located in synagogues, schools and organizational offices, over 25,000 Jews from across Canada democratically elected the delegates to the first convention of Canadian Jewish Congress to be held in March of that year at the Monument National Theatre in Montreal.
During that time, there were a number of Jewish organizations already in Canada, several originating in Europe. Among the existing entities, some represented a diversity of political, religious and philosophical viewpoints while others were communal mutual assistance societies, cultural and literary organizations, labour groups and the like. It was these organizations, on behalf of their constituents and members, that at that time clearly perceived the need for cooperation, not competition, and the benefits of one united community voice for Canadian Jewry to coordinate and advocate for its communal needs, issues of importance to the community and its participation in Canadian society. Thus, they came together to create the Canadian Jewish Congress. The choice of the name was consciously determined. It was to be clearly identified as the central Jewish body, with the descriptive adjective to ensure its Canadian perspective, and a congress, meaning a forum of representatives or delegates assembling to discuss and address matters of common concern.
PARLIAMENT OF CANADIAN JEWRY
Canadian Jewish Congress was to become the Parliament of Canadian Jewry serving as the community’s democratic and grassroots voice, advocate and intervenor with governments, courts and other communities, domestically and internationally. Over the years, it was the forum where all issues of concern to Jews in Canada were discussed and debated, and appropriate action was determined while maintaining unity and consensus. It welcomed and benefited from the representation and active participation of Jews from every city, town and village where Jews resided across the length and breadth of Canada. It was the recognized address for the Canadian Jewish community for Jews globally.
As the Parliament of Canadian Jewry it developed a unique structure involving regular and frequent meetings of elected representatives from across Canada to the National Officers and the larger National Executive governing bodies. Every three years, National Plenary Assemblies of nationally elected delegates took place in different cities for the election of National Officers, for organizational business and for debate and adoption of policy resolutions. In addition, regional bodies across Canada existed with democratically elected representatives and leadership, providing input to the discussions with respect to national and international issues in addition to addressing uniquely local issues.
ISSUES AND ADVOCACY
In 1919, the critical issues facing the community included the oppression of Jews worldwide, the need to assist in the resettlement of Jewish refugees and immigrants to Canada, the conditions for Jewish workers and the dream to establish a Jewish homeland in Israel. Over the following decades, Canadian Jewish Congress provided activism and strong advocacy with respect to all the vital issues facing the Jewish community in Canada as well as global concerns facing the broader Canadian society. It was devoted to strengthening the safety, status, welfare and vibrancy of Jews in Canada, Israel and other Jewish communities worldwide. It fought against discrimination and the scourges of antisemitism and racism; alerted the world to the need to outlaw dangerous hate propaganda; advocated for the prosecution of Nazi war criminals; defended human and civil rights and social justice; fought for the freedom of Soviet Jewry; championed inclusiveness and dialogue among all groups and segments of society, spoke out on behalf of oppressed people; and participated in the processes of Canadian Constitutional reform and the development of the Charter of Rights. Very significant and effective components of its advocacy efforts were the strategic, well reasoned and respected interventions, submissions and participation, led by some of the most learned and respected legal experts in the country, in many of the most important judicial proceedings and commissions that formulated and developed the body of law of Canada that defined the guiding principles, values and ideals of Canadian society.
It is due to its history of being an activist and structured forum of democratically elected representatives of the Jewish grassroots, individuals and organizations from all regions of Canada and its involvement in so many important issues national and international that Canadian Jewish Congress was held in esteem and respect by governments across party lines, the media, other ethnic and religious entities and the public which commonly sought its views, insights and assistance. Its contributions for the benefit of society were widely appreciated and acknowledged.
This experience, record, history and credibility of Canadian Jewish Congress are relevant to contemporary community concerns and may be utilized to deal with the current disturbing and difficult issues during these days when so many are feeling alienated, discriminated against and sensing an absence of effective participation and influence in the development of decisions affecting their lives and matters important to them. Even as an initial step, the availability of a forum for discussion of issues of concern in a congenial, constructive and positive atmosphere would be beneficial in addressing the current issues.
THE CHALLENGES
We are living in an exceptionally challenging and, in many ways, dangerous period of history globally. We have witnessed the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2015 at Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher kosher supermarket, claiming the lives of 17, including four Jews, and also at the Stade de France and other locations later in the same year, claiming the lives of 130 victims. In London, England in 2017, a terrorist attack resulted in 6 deaths and 49 injured near the Palace of Westminster and in the same year 11 died and 48 were injured in a further attack in the London Bridge and Borough Market area. Closer to home, we have witnessed attacks at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, killing eleven and wounding six and at the Chabad of Poway in San Diego, resulting in one death and three injured. Nor, have we been immune here in Canada when in 2017, at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City, six people were massacred and five others seriously injured. Most recently, eight people, including six women of Asian descent, were fatally shot in spas in Atlanta.
Shockingly, we have seen the Capitol in Washington and, before then, the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, the homes and symbols of free democracy in leading countries in the world, invaded and attacked. These assaults on our fundamental institutions represented attacks upon our society and way of life of liberty, safety and peace. It is urgent that the words and actions of neo-nationalists, misogynists, bigots, racists and fascists end and that governments are pressed to act clearly and decisively, using all available laws and other tools of democracies. As well, the racism, misogyny and bias that exist within our institutions, businesses, military and law enforcement agencies must be effectively addressed.
We are also witnessing the rise of intolerance and hatred toward those who may hold different political views. Freedom of political expression that does not promote hatred is a value that brought previous generations and new immigrants fleeing oppression to Canada. This value must be promoted and protected. It is incumbent upon our political leaders to create harmony and unity and not exploit differences of opinion to create divisions and hostility. As well, to encourage civility and meaningful cooperation, it is incumbent upon us as a Jewish community to reach out and enter into meaningful dialogue with other religious, ethnic, racial, national and community groups and, importantly, Indigenous peoples, as we had so actively done in past years.
Our input and participation, as a community, in other important national and societal matters such as the environment, health care, discrimination based upon gender, intolerance with respect to sexual orientation, immigration, poverty, housing, mental health, opioid abuse, education, research and innovation and the economy, just to identify several, would be useful today. As times change and society evolves, so is there a need, as a community, to be forward looking and to address new issues as they arise with contemporary reasoning and insight.
The safety and welfare of Israel are central and hold a place of supreme importance to us as a Jewish people. It is our responsibility, as a community, to ensure that the best qualities, the talents and contributions made by Israeli society are made known and receive the appropriate recognition and acknowledgement. It is incumbent upon us, through the mechanisms available to us to ensure that the good relationships between Canada and Israel are maintained and enhanced and to support the efforts of the parties in the Middle East to achieve a sustainable and equitable peace so that they may all live in safety, security and prosperity. It is also important that we communicate with the people and government of Israel with respect to our common interests from the Canadian perspective.
THE TASK
There is much that requires attention, effort and work. We have the skilled, experienced and wise people interested in helping and we have the history and credibility. We need to attract many others from the vast pool of talent and knowledge that exists in our community and act with democratic unity and harmony.
Our goal is to take lessons from the past and use them to inform communal policy in the present and future, to promote Jewish values of chesed, diversity, anti-racism and embrace harmony within a Canadian context and in the spirit of the former Canadian Jewish Congress by addressing the current urgent issues that our own community and our society are facing and witnessing here in Canada and globally ie antisemitism, discrimination and racism, breakdown of civil discourse, victimization of groups based upon differences in religious, cultural or political views, the sense of disillusionment, discontent and alienation which are being exploited to create hatred and divisions, as well as the environment and other important and timely issues. There is a need for clear and real political leadership combining experience with new ideas. As has also been said, we need to apply the history and experience of Canadian Jewish Congress to inform us as we address current issues and reach out to all ages and genders, LGBTQ, Jews of colour, those with divergent political views, the previously involved and the newly interested.
***
Welcome to the newly established Canadian Jewish Community Forum, composed of coast to coast leadership from the former Canadian Jewish Congress and new young leadership who seek to benefit our community and Canada. Please join us in this important work.
Follow our blog at: https://cjc1919.blogspot.com.
