The Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy is a relatively new, Calgary-based, think tank. According to its website, the Foundation “aims to renew a civil, common-sense approach to public discourse and public policy in Canada.”
On October 5, Mark Milke, the Foundation’s president, published a personal letter about the Foundation’s work on antisemitism and Israel. It is a succinct, substantive communication that warrants wide reading.
Entitled, An attack on all of us: Why the Aristotle Foundation will not be silent on antisemitism, Milke identifies at least three reasons for the rise in antisemitism and radicalism across Canada this past year. Equally as important, he articulates a statement of principle concerning the deeper truth of the current, namely, that Israel is fighting against Iran and its appointed armies all of whom are dedicated to Israel’s annihilation.
“Aristotle Foundation’s scholars refuse to be silent on antisemitism’s rise in Canada. We also refuse to abandon moral clarity on Israel.”
Milke’s statement is rare.
When so many governmental, academic, media and other purported leaders of men and women these days are silent or equivocate or worse, condemn Israel for deigning to defend itself, Milke is forthright and direct in explaining Israel’s case and pointing to its justice.
That is why we call readers’ attention to his words in this update.
“In the past year, we have written and spoken out on this issue. Know that we will do even more work in the coming year to educate Canadians about antisemitism and radicalism.
“Antisemitism and attacks on our liberal democratic ally, Israel, are not “just” an attack on Jews, Arabs, Christians, and Baha’i who live in Israel. They are also an attack on Canada and on the tolerant, open civilization painstakingly and progressively built here and in the rest of the West, and increasingly in recent decades, in non-Western nations as well.”
It is this last point that should compel the attention of all Canadians. Since the manifestations of anti-Israel/anti-Jewish hatred have appeared in Canada after October 7, GAJE has made the very same point: [Antisemitism and attacks on Israel] are also an attack on Canada and on the … civilization…built here.
Milke’s letter is available at:
The page on which Milke’s public letter appears is also a portal to a trove of other opinion essays related to combatting antisemitism and to explaining Israel’s predicament defending against Iran’s annihilationist axis.
That the Jewish community is not alone in its campaign to protect our society against the purveyors of antisemitism is deeply heartening. GAJE is grateful to Mark Milke and the board of the Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy for understanding the underlying importance of Israel’s struggle against theocrats, autocrats, thugs and dictators opposed to the West.
But, as GAJE has often stated and restates in this update, the first and most effective lines of defence and offence against haters of Jews and of Israel, is finding pride, purpose and expression in being Jewish. We protect cherished universal values by asserting the particular profundity of our Judaism. Education is the pathway to discovering, reinforcing and celebrating who we are.
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On September 10, a three-member panel of the Divisional Court agreed with the Province of Ontario that GAJE’s lawsuit for fairness in educational funding should be dismissed. On September 25, GAJE filed a Notice of Motion seeking leave to appeal the court’s decision.
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If you wish to contribute to GAJE’s lawsuit for fairness in educational funding, please click here.
For further information, please contact Israel Mida at: imida1818@gmail.com
Charitable receipts for donations for income tax purposes will be issued by Mizrachi Canada. Your donations will be used for the sole purpose of underwriting the costs of the lawsuit.
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Shabbat shalom. Am Yisrael Chai
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
November 1, 2024
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 