2 days ago
Raymond J. de Souza: Christian and Jewish leaders unite to combat the scourge of antisemitism
An important summit of some 100 faith leaders — roughly 50 Jewish rabbis and 50 Christian pastors — was held in Toronto this week to combat rising antisemitism in Canada. The focus was more theological than strategic or political, with an opening address by the peerless professor Rabbi David Novak, Toronto's gift to all who sincerely desire to speak to God and about God. Novak spoke of Jacques Maritain, the French philosopher who served as France's post-war ambassador to the Holy See. It was that kind of gathering, where wise men shared the wisdom of the ages — a tonic for today's toxic twittering and taunting.
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The summit was a summons to Christian congregations to stand against antisemitism, not only in solidarity with Jews, but primarily because of their own religious beliefs.
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Two such beliefs are foundational, one general and one particular. Generally, Jews and Christians believe in universal human dignity, that everyone is created in the image of God. In particular, Jews believe that God chooses, and that they are a chosen people for the sake of all nations. Christians believe that from this comes, in Jesus Christ, a Jew, the universal gift of salvation for all peoples.
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For both reasons, Christians ought to be concerned about antisemitism, a rising scourge in Canada. Last year, columnist Terry Glavin documented the ' explosion of Jew hate ' that we have seen in our streets of late, with vile speech, vandalism and violence visited upon Jews, their synagogues, schools and shops.
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'This is not Paris,' said Rick Eckstein, the driving force behind what is called the ' Simeon Initiative, ' in his introductory remarks. Eckstein is an entrepreneur and philanthropist who is deeply convinced that one righteous person can make a difference. He recounted how his own mother was saved from the Holocaust by three righteous Poles, including a Catholic priest. His very existence is the fruit of those Catholics standing with courage for Jews.
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The Paris comment struck me. Rising levels of antisemitism, including terrorism, have meant that 'normal' Jewish life in France now proceeds under multiple layers of security — private, police and military. France's Jews have their own organized ' protection service,' which serves to co-ordinate the need for security. To be a Jew in France is to live under perpetual threat.
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Is Toronto headed in the same direction? Private security is now 'normal' at Jewish community centres, schools and daycare centres. Synagogues spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on security — costs that would sink many Christian parishes. Jewish neighbourhoods are regularly targeted by demonstrations supportive of Hamas and its explicitly genocidal goal of driving Jews into the sea.
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The Simeon Initiative is named after the biblical figure who greets the infant Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem, thus serving as a bridge between Jews and Christians. It is a joint venture of my colleagues at Cardus, Canada's leading Christian think-tank, and my former colleagues at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Canada's leading Jewish advocacy group. It is a pleasure to see Christian and Jewish colleagues in common cause; would that the cause be a happier one.
