Untitled Page

CLICK HERE For Online Registration

FASTFORWARD

May 11, 2012

James Carville: U.S. Election "NOT IN THE BAG!"

Donate Online

THUMBS UP!

. . . To Canada for honouring Shimon Peres.

FSWC was honoured to participate in the State Dinner in honour of Israeli President Shimon Peres given by Governor General David Johnston at Rideau Hall in Ottawa earlier this week.

"It was an elegant event and a wonderful opportunity to meet with the Governor General," said Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) President and CEO Avi Benlolo. "The warm reception Peres received from the leaders of all three political parties while visiting Canada is a testament to the values of freedom and democracy shared by both countries."

THUMBS UP!

. . . To Israeli athlete Moran Samuel, who recently won an Italian rowing competition for the disabled. When it became clear that event organizers had neglected to have a CD of the Israeli national anthem Hatikvah on hand during the medal ceremony, Samuel took the microphone from the Master of Ceremonies and, in a show of Israeli initiative and confidence, sung Hatikvah herself!

LEARN MORE. . .

THUMBS DOWN!

thumbs down . . . To Dieudonné M'bala M'bala, a comedian from France whose antisemitic hate-laced humour has him banned from performing in much of Europe, and to Montreal concert promoter Evenko, which is providing him with a stage for four performances in downtown Montreal next week.

M'bala M'bala, who has labeled Jews 'slave-dealers' and whose performances include Holocaust denial, slurs against the Talmud and a positive view of Hitler, has been charged and convicted of antisemitic defamation numerous times in France.

READ MORE . . .

___________________

DID YOU KNOW. . .

. . . That Democratic pundit and Spirit of Hope panelist James Carville, speaking this week on CNN's 'The Situation Room' said that, despite the belief of many Democrats, the 2012 Presidential election james carville is not "in the bag."

"It's going to be a brutally tough election. . . You can shoot five Bin Ladens, you can save 10,000 banks and 20 car companies, even pass the most sweeping legislation in modern American history; if people don't think that you are connected to their lives and are fighting for their interests they will vote your tush out of office in a nano-second."

_________________

NEWS FEATURES OF THE WEEK

Coalition of the Willing

By Shmuel Rosner in the International Herald Tribune

The Collision: Fred Herzog, the Holocaust and me

By Marsha Lederman in the Globe and Mail

CLICK HERE to read the antisemitic vitriol in the Comments section in response to the above article

______________________

FOLLOW US ON

THE MEDIA ATTENTION IS OVERWHELMING

Intense media focus on antisemitic hate in Toronto Madrassah

CLICK HERE to view interview with Avi Benlolo on Global TV

As the police investigation launched in response to a Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) complaint about antisemitism being taught at a Toronto Madrassah continues, media interest in the issue remains unabated. Although FSWC has in the past uncovered numerous instances of anti-Jewish hate, this particular issue seems to resonate with both the media and the general public.

"I think this matter has really brought into sharp focus the problem of Muslims exporting hate, particularly of Jews, into Canada" explained FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. "The fact that this hatred is being taught to students using Toronto school board facilities and posting it on the internet provides concrete evidence of the importance attached and the effort made to promote antisemitism in the Muslim community and we sincerely hope this example is not simply the tip of an iceberg," he added.

While FSWC awaits the report of the York Region Police Force investigating the complaint, further steps will be taken to address this issue with the Toronto District School Board as the host of the Madrassah responsible for the antisemitic teachings.

CLICK HERE to view further interviews with Avi Benlolo on this topic

CLICK HERE to read more about this story

FSWC OUTREACH TO UNITED CHURCH MARKED BY DISAGREEMENT

In a meeting with United Church Moderator Mardi Tindal United Church emblem

and Reverend Bruce Gregersen, disagreement over the content of the church's recently released "Working Group on Israel/Palestine Policy" proposing a boycott of products made in Israeli settlements was clear.

"Although the language of this report is less inflammatory than previous UC proposals, and recognition of Israel's right to exist is clearly stated, there is still a one-sided and explicit condemnation of Israel alone that taints the entire undertaking," said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo. "Additionally, the report conflates the Holocaust with the experiences of the Palestinians living in the West Bank and this is, in our view, reprehensible," he added.

The Working Group Report's proposals will be debated at the Church's 41st General Council in Ottawa in August. FSWC will continue to reach out to members of the United Church, including those opposed to the anti-Israel tone of the report, in an effort to ensure that the biases of the report's authors are not ultimately reflected in official church policy. A Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center Response to the Working Report will be released to the media and general public next week.

"IF WE STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH GREATNESS"

Iranian Canadian Student Wins 2012 Wiesenthal Scholarship

Four outstanding high school students are the proud recipients of the 2012 Wiesenthal Scholarship designed to promote the legacy of Simon Wiesenthal and recognize students who have pursued and promoted tolerance, justice and human rights in high school, and plan to carry those values forward in their academic and

professional careers.

First place recipient Arash Khazaei, an Iranian Canadian from Toronto who experienced firsthand the effects of discrimination as a Muslim living in the United States after 9-11, was honoured to be considered for the award. "The words of Simon Wiesenthal are ever so applicable to my life journey. . . Although it may be difficult, if we stand up for what is right, we can accomplish greatness."

Second place recipient Ursula Kressibucher of Beaverton, Ontario is currently living in the mountains of Rwanda working with orphans affected by the Rwandan genocide, while a tie for third place went to Mississauga residents Marta Jesionowska and Kaitlyn Mathews.

"It was so inspiring to speak with these students, to listen to their dreams and plans for the future," said FSWC Managing Director of Education Melissa Mikel. "It's good to know that there are students who truly care about issues of tolerance and human rights and are working to incorporate them in their daily lives. These kids are really walking the talk."

EXTREMISTS' STRONG SHOWING IN EUROPEAN ELECTION MUST SERVE AS WAKE UP CALL

By Rabbi Abraham Cooper in FoxNews.com

After elections Sunday in Europe Americans are concerned that if the Europezone turns sour economically and politically the contagion may spill over and affect us, too.

Such concerns are justified, but the problem could be bigger than that. What happens in Western civilization's European heartland-which the U.S. fought two world wars and the Cold War to save-has a significance far beyond short-term financial or political trends.

While global economists are demanding that European banks pass rigorous stress tests to justify future investments, the growing menace from mainstream extremism and demagoguery leaves us wondering whether the very democratic values, born in the crucible of this continent's blood-soaked history, remain strong enough to withstand the resurgence of xenophobia and anti-Semitism.