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THUMBS UP!
Thumbs up this week to the Canadian government for taking a strong stand for fairness and sanity at the United Nations with nine votes
aimed at voicing Canada's frustration with the overwhelming number of
anti-Israel resolutions at the UN.
A statement by Foreign Minister John Baird noted, "No other conflict area in the world draws even a fraction of the time and energy of member
states-even though there are a number of long-standing and destabilizing
conflicts that seem intractable."
THUMBS DOWN!
Thumbs
down this week to Libby Davies, the anti-Israel NDP MP who
has called on the Canadian government to support the crew of the most recent
(failed) mini-flotilla to Gaza, despite government warnings to Canadians not to
engage in a provocative encounter with Israel aimed at deligitimizing the
country.
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POLL
QUESTION
Do you believe there should be a greater focus on Holocaust education in
the school system?
CLICK HERE to vote
PREVIOUS POLL RESULTS
Do you
believe the fallout from the UNESCO vote on admitting Palestinians will have a
material effect on the work of the UN organization?
Yes:
41%
No: 50%
Uncertain: 8%
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NEWS FEATURES OF THE WEEK
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 Your Thoughts?
The following comments are from Grade 12 students in Trenton, Ontario who
participated in an FSWC Holocaust workshop. The facts about the Holocaust and
racism in Canada seemed to be quite startling to them, as noted in these
representative responses to the following statement:
I was surprised or shocked by . . .
- "The statistics of racism in
Canada."
- "The percentage of how many people admit they are racist and that there are
people who deny the Holocaust."
- "How many racist people there are mainly against Jews."
- "How bad the Holocaust was and what they did to Jewish people and other
races."
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ON REMEMBRANCE DAY WE HONOUR THE GUARDIANS OF FREEDOM
By Avi Benlolo in the National Post 
Today, Canadians will once again turn their attention to our fallen soldiers.
Remembrance Day provides an opportunity for one of the most sacred acts of
humanity. Not only do we sanctify the dead, we also provide moral nourishment to
the living. If the saying that those who forget the past are destined to repeat
it is true, remembrance is integral to ensuring a better, more peaceful world
for future generations.
In this day and age, when morality is defined by self-need; when hypocrisy in
the name of human rights has turned the world upside down; when individualism
has overtaken community; and when the underpinnings of freedom and democracy
have been eroded, Remembrance Day is an annual reminder of who we are and what
we ought to stand for.
READ MORE. . .
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NEED FOR HOLOCAUST EDUCATION DEBATED ON SUN TV
As a guest on the SUN TV program 'The Arena' this week Friends of Simon
Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) President and CEO Avi Benlolo spoke with host Michael
Coren abou t the need for more education on
the Holocaust, rebutting Coren's argument that society has reached a Holocaust
saturation point, and arguing instead that the Holocaust is humanity's 'moral
compass'.
Click on the image at right watch the interview.
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FSWC CONVEYS ALARM AT MCGILL INVITATION TO RICHARD FALK
In a letter of concern to McGill Principal Dr. Heather Munroe-Blum, Friends of
Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) has conveyed our alarm at the university's
invititation to known antisemite, 9-11 conspiracy theorist and apologist for
Iran and Palestinian terror groups Richard Falk, a man censured by the
 UN for
antisemitism after his posting of an extreme antisemitic cartoon on his blog
(see left) earlier this summer.
The letter by FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo to Dr. Munroe-Blum
states, in part:
"This is not an issue of free speech, but one of the university's
responsibility to its students and the wider community to which it belongs . .
. I cannot help but wonder what message you hope to give the entire Jewish
community of Canada by hosting him, and I beg of you to explain why he was
invited to speak at McGill."
READ MORE . . .
Learn more about Richard Falk in Alan Dershowitz's excellent article in
today's "News Features of the Week" (left)
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MOSHE ARENS COMMUNITY
EVENT!
"Failure is the opportunity to
begin again more intelligently."
- Moshe Arens
Israel: Jewish homeland, 'start up' nation & social and economic
miracle, is under increasing attack in the media and on university campuses
worldwide. What does the future hold?
FSWC is proud to
present!
The Future of Israel with Moshe Arens
- Former Israeli
Minister of Defense, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador to the United
States.
Date: Monday, November 21, 2011
Location: Beth Shalom Synagogue, Toronto
Time: 7.30 p.m.
Cost: FREE! All
welcome
For information and reservations email Tracey Steyn at
tsteyn@fswc.ca
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SWC MEETS WITH UNESCO DIRECTOR GENERAL
Paris, UNESCO Headquarters - November 8, 2011-
SWC Dean and Founder Rabbi Marvin Hier led a delegation that met with UNESCO
Director-General Irina Bokova where they discussed last week's vote granting
full membership of 'Palestine' into UNESCO. Rabbi Hier was joined by U.S
Ambassador to UNESCO T.Killion and Simon Wiesenthal Center senior officials.
In the hour-long meeting, the Center's delegation expressed its indigation
at the vote endorsing 'Palestinian' membership into UNESCO. Rabbi Hier also
protested the statement by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas
delivered to the United Nations General Assembly which recogznied only two
religions in the Holy Land: Islam and Christianity. The statement effectively
deleted Judaism from history and Director-General Bokova asked that her aide
obtain the Abbas speech.
READ MORE . . .
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 PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY MUST PLAY BY UNESCO'S RULES
OP-ED in the Jewish Chronicle by Shimon Samuels
In the 1980s, UNESCO was a theatre for the Cold War. When the USA and the UK
walked out in 1984, they cited mismanagement; the real motive was a series of
Soviet-led resolutions against press freedom.
In 2009, the Arab bloc front-runner, Egypt's Education Minister, Farouq Hosni -
who threatened to burn any Hebrew book on Egyptian territory - lost in a bitter
election to Bulgarian diplomat Irina Bokova.
At her inauguration, I congratulated Ms Bokova as the first UN leader from a
country which saved its Jews in the Second World War. She has since championed
Holocaust education and focused on the rights of women in the Muslim world.
READ MORE. . .
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MEDIA CONTACT
Stacey Starkman
Communications Manager
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies
416.864.9735 x 32
sstarkman@fswc.ca
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