Anti-Semitism in Canada

"We're talking about 4.8-million people. That's a lot of people who harbour this kind of hatred in their hearts."
"Once, we had certain preconceived notions as to the stereotypical image of an anti-Semite as an illiterate boor. Today, that is simply not the case."
"We see the penetration of this disease of anti-Semitism in many new components of society ... much of it is in the guise of anti-Israel..."
"The coalition of hate is widespread, so it ranges from academics to neo-Nazis, to Islamic jihadists to radical feminists to trade unionists."
Frank Dimant, chief executive officer, B'nai Brith Canada

"We have to be focusing a fair amount of effort on bringing the lessons of the Holocaust to broader cross-sections of Canadians ... both as a particular event and as a moral tale that should direct Canadian sensitivities".
"For us, the real take-away is that issues like anti-Semitism and racism in general have not diminished to the point where as a society we can say we don't have to address these concerns."
Shimon Koffler Fogel, head, Centre for Israel & Jewish Affairs

Vandalized graves in Victoria

Chek/Globaltv.bc

Surprise! Canadians, it would seem according to a new global poll whose results have now been made public, are likelier to be anti-Semitic in their view of Jewish global impacts on the world around them than are Americans. The U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League came up with a 14% penetration in the Canadian populace of racist attitudes toward Jews. In comparison with 9% for Americans.

"I'm a little bit surprised that the figures aren't greater in the United States but I'm not surprised at the 4% in Canada" admitted Frank Dimant. "We have always surmised that it is in that range -- that range of hardcore". It is not a figure relating to a dangerously damning culture of hatred that one enjoys hearing has been confirmed by research.

The survey conducted by the Anti-Defamation League interviewed a whopping large number of people; 53,000 in 100 countries and territories. In Canada, a sampling of 505 people were interviewed, asked to respond to statements such as "Jews still talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust", as well as "Jews have too much power in the business world."

Those agreeing with the two statements along with others such as "Jews don't care what happens to anyone but their own kind", and "Jews think they are better than other people", had an unnervingly large number of affirmative responses from those surveyed. The CIJA, on the other hand, sees a positive element in the revelations, spurring them to target educational programs to inform people and help them shed their prejudices.

Another item that has been well understood is the confirmation by Ira Robinson, professor of Judaic studies, director of the Institute for Canadian Jewish Studies at Concordia University affirming that historically Quebec scores a higher grade on "the anti-Semitism scale". He was not at all taken aback that the survey found 37% of French Canadians expressed anti-Semitic sentiments.

"Few of them [anti-Semitic incidents] are physically violent, but a number of them are quite disturbing and involve symbolic acts like inscribing swastikas on synagogues or Jewish cemeteries ... they do psychological hurt", he pointed out.

As for Abraham Foxman, head of the ADL, he felt Canada's overall score of 14% gave room for hope: "Look, 1% of bigotry is too much but when you compare it to the rest of the world ... it's pretty good."

One seeks small comforts where one may.