Last week in this space we drew readers’ attention to a new initiative, called Simeon, by the independent think tank Cardus that will bring Christians and Jews together to fight, in common cause, against antisemitism.
The effectively key reason for waging a battle against antisemitism, the initiative’s co-founder Father Deacon Andrew Bennett explained, was to ensure that Canada remains a strong democracy based upon the rule of law and respect for the inherent dignity of every individual.
The Jews of Canada, indeed Jews generally, understand that Jewish life flourishes in a society where democracy and its institutions also flourish. Of course, in addition to safeguarding self and community, the safeguarding of democratic society is one of the prime motivations for the Jewish community’s determination to stand against antisemitism. This is why the failure by large swaths of the community-at-large to combat or even acknowledge the antisemitism is so dismaying to Jews around the western world.
Societal inaction and indifference to antisemitism betrays the Jewish community. They also betray our democratic way of life.
This was one of the conclusions drawn by Adam Hummel, Toronto lawyer, human rights advocate and activist in a recent posting on Catch. That is why we call the op-ed to our readers’ attention. The relationship between standing against antisemitism and standing for democracy is a lynchpin of modern, law-abiding, rules-based, rights-respecting society. The relationship is too important to ignore, and too important not to emphasize. Repeatedly.
In the op-ed, entitled Israel Derangement Syndrome, Hummel wrote about ‘the West’s absurd moral suicide”. The column was triggered by his revulsion and disgust with the Glastonbury concert in the U.K. two weeks ago.
In the article, Hummel sets out merely an illustrative list of the surrealistic, inverted, illogical, distorted, non-credible ways by which the anti-Israel, anti-Jewish proponents prove their utter contempt for and utter abuse of truth and fact.
Hummel wrote:
“Only by confronting their own absurd biases can Western societies reclaim any shred of moral authority. Until then, this cynical farce continues, leaving observers to wonder if Western values are nothing more than empty rhetoric, preying on the ignorant, conveniently discarded whenever Israel enters the equation.
“Don’t be afraid to call out the double-standard when you see it.
“Western civilization is worth fighting for. The Jews were happy to lead the charge in taking out Iran’s nuclear program for the benefit of global security, but we can’t fight all your battles for you.”
To be sure, Jews are at the vanguard in the battle to preserve western civilization. Former Canadian Justice Minister has often referred to the treatment of the Jews within a society as the “canary in the mineshaft.” Ill treatment of Jews is a certain predictor of the ill treatment of society at large. We stand on the battlements and on the ramparts fighting for the welfare of all Jews and for the welfare of all democratic society.
But as Jews take up our positions upon the ramparts of democratic life, it is important to remember at least the following two points:
• Jews fight antisemitism by “being” and “doing” Jewish; and
• as Father Deacon Andrew Bennett proclaimed two weeks ago, Jews are not fighting alone.
Hummel’s op-ed is available at: https://catchjcp.substack.com/p/israel-derangement-syndrome?utm_campaign=email-half-post&r=rvbar&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
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GAJE expects to be before the Court of Appeal in the Fall, arguing for the right to a hearing on the merits of our application for fair educational funding in Ontario. When we learn the date of the hearing, we will share it with our readers.
If you wish to contribute to GAJE’s lawsuit, please click here. Charitable receipts for donations for income tax purposes will be issued by Mizrachi Canada. Your donations will be used for the sole purpose of helping to underwrite the costs of the lawsuit. For further information, please contact Israel Mida at: imida1818@gmail.com
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Shabbat shalom. Am Yisrael Chai
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education (GAJE)
July 11, 2025
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 