Last week we referred to renowned French philosopher, Bernard-Henri Lévy’s advice to Jews the world over regarding the rising tide of antisemitism. We did so specifically in reference to the report published by the Federal Government, Campus Antisemitism and Student Experiences (CASE). The findings of the report were grim. For example, one of the key findings was that some 96% of respondents said they had experienced or witnessed at least one instance of antisemitism over the previous 12 months. The report’s other key findings were of the same alarming order.
Lévy urged us not to abandon our optimism or our resolve in fighting back. “One thing is certain, he said. “We must not give up, because the battle, contrary to what some believe, is not lost in advance. Jews, the friends of the Jewish people, the friends of democracy and genuine liberals can win this fight.”
We refer again to Lévy’s exhortation because it was relevant this week too in light of the published report describing the toxicity of anti-Israel, anti-Jewish hatred aimed at Jews permeating Toronto Metropolitan University.
We shall not report on the details of the report. It is more of the same: falsification, vilification, and intimidation. But worse. Rather, we reproduce a different sort of exhortation for Jews. This one from an educator suggesting an educationally-based response to the anti-Jewish campaign.
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Josh Schalk, executive directorof the Jewish Youth Promise and a trustee of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, recentlywrote of educating youngsters about their Judaism in a manner that fosters manifestations of courage in representing themselves to the bad-mouthers.
(https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/were-teaching-jewish-teens-to-be-afraid/?utm_source=cio)
The following is an excerpt from Schalk’s essay.
“Organizations like TalkIsrael and Lost Tribe are spearheading new models that engage teens directly in the digital spaces they inhabit, encouraging them to share Jewish culture and values with pride and confidence rather than simply mitigating misinformation….
“When teens interact with people or content expressing confidence in who they are and pride in their Jewish heritage, it reshapes their relationship with their own identity. It reminds them that being Jewish is not just something to defend, but something to live.
“Jewish education must offer more of this — not just awareness, but courage.
“Courage is what allows a student to speak openly about their values, even when it’s uncomfortable. It is what grounds pride — not in denial of challenges, but in a deep connection to heritage, culture, and purpose. And it is what enables young people to engage thoughtfully with complexity, rather than retreat from it.
“This kind of courage is not abstract. It can be taught, and it must be cultivated intentionally. Moral courage means giving students the language and confidence to articulate who they are and what they stand for. Cultural courage comes from experiencing Judaism not only as history or obligation, but as a living, meaningful source of identity and pride. Intellectual courage equips students to wrestle with difficult questions about Israel, about history, about belonging without losing their sense of self.
“These forms of courage require a coordinated effort across the environments that shape young people in schools, camps, families, and their own communities. Classrooms provide knowledge and context. Camps create joyful, identity-affirming experiences. Parents model what it looks like to live Jewishly with confidence. When these forces align, they model what we’re trying to articulate to our younger Jewish generations.
“None of this means ignoring the reality of antisemitism. It’s important our students understand the world they are navigating, and they deserve tools to respond to it. But caution is a survival tactic, not a foundation for identity. If we are not careful, we risk raising a generation fluent in responding to hate, but less confident in explaining why being Jewish matters in the first place.
The goal of Jewish education cannot only be survival. It’s our responsibility to raise the next generation of Jews who are proud enough and grounded enough to show up fully and lead.”
Schalk’s prescription is patently challenging and demanding. Bernard-Henri Lévy however would plead with us not to give up.
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If you wish to contribute to GAJE’s lawsuit to achieve fairness in educational funding, 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 Thank you, in advance, for considering doing so.
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Shabbat shalom
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education
August 21, 2026
Grassroots for Affordable Jewish Education 