Enforcing Neutrality In Countering Antisemitism

"Today's targeting of Hezbollah operatives was brilliant. It struck a major blow against a terror group that has fired thousands of rockets against civilians all while the useless UN mission in Lebanon stands by. There is a price to pay #Hezbollah #FAFO."

"There has been significant misunderstanding of my use of the word 'brilliant'. The loss of innocent lives in any conflict is abhorrent & must be avoided. As a retired national security & intel leader, my use of that word was about the complexity & sophistication of an operation."

"With the rise in hate, prejudice and exclusion, we need to address the specific challenges Jewish students, faculty and staff face."

Artur Wilczynsky, University of Ottawa special adviser on antisemitism

 

"His mandate includes studying antisemitism and advising the university's senior leadership on strategies to combat it and other forms of racism, discrimination and harassment to promote a safer campus for all."

"The special adviser's role includes serving as a liaison between members of the Jewish community and the university administration, and providing his vast expertise as a resource to faculty, students and staff."

University of Ottawa President Jacques Fremont

Artur Wilczynski was appointed antisemitism adviser at the University of Ottawa June 25, 2024, and resigned from the position on Sept. 19, 2024. Photo by University of Ottawa/Handout

 

In response to the news on Tuesday that thousands of communications devices in the use of the terrorist group Hezbollah exploded across Lebanon and into Syria, wounding thousands and killing a handful of Hezbollah operatives, along with a few unfortunate civilians, the University of Ottawa's appointed antisemitism adviser spoke of his personal reaction to the event, informed by his professional identity as a man involved for years in national intelligence. A reaction which alluded to the technical achievement of pagers suddenly morphing into surprise IEDs. With subsequent results.

 

Posting on X in the immediacy of the news of exploding pagers reducing the numbers of terrorist operatives that Hezbollah could count upon in its war against Israeli civilians forced to relocate in their tens of thousands as a result of hundreds of rockets raining down on Northern Israel in a concerted effort to aid another Canada-listed terror group, Hamas in Gaza, which was reaping the consequences of its deadly savage pogrom in southern Israel, his admiration at the technical initiative proficiency of Israelis was expressed as "brilliant".

That comment on the exploding pagers: "Today's targeting of Hezbollah operatives was brilliant. It struck a major blow against a terror group that has fired thousands of rockets against civilians all while the useless UN mission Lebanon stands by" triggered a predicable backlash. An observation that is in and of itself a reflection of reality. But one that sat poorly in the estimation of those who find it in themselves to have a special place reserved in their hearts for terrorist murderers as long as it is Jews/Israelis that are in their sights. A social-media backlash was ignited.

And thus, the perfect antisemitism adviser to the university came under the death-of-a-thousand-cuts lashing of public criticism, emanating from very specific sources reeking with antisemitism and from those whose progressive-woke sensibilities were tweaked in outrage. Leading this longtime public servant, former ambassador to Norway, with his unique background in foreign policy, intelligence, security and defence, to apologize gracefully, and to resign from his advisory position with the University of Ottawa. 

"I believe in accountability."

"My posts on the Hezbollah/Israel war caused harm & affected my ability to help combat antisemitism at U[university] of Ottawa."

"My intent in sharing is irrelevant when it is clear many were hurt by them. I apologize." 

"Because unlike you people [his critics], I don't believe in re-writing history [by removing the offending post]. I did write it and it should be part of the record. It's called transparency."

Artur Wilczynsky

With his master's degree in international relations and conflict studies, Wilczynski became the first federal government-wide executive champion for the Jewish Public Servants Network. His family had arrived in Canada in 1969 as refugees from Communist Poland. According to the Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship, Mr. Wilczynski is the son and grandson of Holocaust survivors. As a federal public servant in  Canada he was director general of international affairs and order policy at Public Safety Canada.

He was, as well, assistant deputy minister for equity diversity and inclusion at the Communications Security Establishment. And it is the equity, diversity and inclusion component that is partly responsible for the avalanche of criticism his post on the 'brilliance' of the Israeli plot to neutralize the terrorist effectiveness of a death cult-group in the Middle East occasioned. 

His more latterly role from which he has now removed himself was to advise senior university authorities on strategies to combat antisemitism and other forms of racism at the university. A position for which his experience, studies, and professionalism made him the perfect candidate. During which time he overlooked the necessity/expectation that he understand spontaneous utterances readily construed as condemnation of terrorists and admiration for spectacular successes in eliminating their threats could not be countenanced.

 

He will surely be missed.

"In his short time in the role, Artur Wilczynski made a large impact, and we're thankful for his service to the Jewish and university communities."

"Unfortunately, reflecting the problem, there is a large cohort who will attack and smear anyone who defends the Jewish community, and journalists and politicians across Canada are beginning to experience this themselves."

"The role of adviser on antisemitism is critical to fighting hate at the university. Our message to the university is, find a replacement as soon as possible."

David Sachs, community relations and antisemitism specialist, Jewish Federation of Ottawa