United in the fight against antisemitism

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/11/2022 (1350 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

RECENTLY, the Manitoba government recorded a significant achievement by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. A few days later, the legislative assembly of Manitoba approved the decision with unanimous support.

In doing so, Manitoba became the third province in Canada to adopt this definition. Politicians across the political spectrum united with a clear message to the Jewish community about combating the world’s oldest form of hate.

Antisemitism continues to plague Manitoba, Canada and the world with a pernicious and insidious resiliency that threatens the safety of Jews and the stability of society. Every year, B’nai Brith Canada and its League for Human Rights publishes its Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents. The latest B’nai Brith audit, compiled in 2021, found a 125.7 per cent increase in incidents in Manitoba.

The IHRA definition is used by democratic governments around the world, including the Canadian federal government and the provinces of Ontario and Alberta. More recently, New Brunswick adopted the definition, as well. The definition is an essential tool in distinguishing what constitutes hate against Jews and what does not.

Sadly, antisemitism has been rampant in Manitoba, Canada and the world. Jews have been falsely accused of conspiring against governments, of controlling the media and owning the banks. They’ve been falsely accused of being responsible for Ebola and being behind the 9/11 terror attacks in the United States.

Israel, the world’s only Jewish state, is also frequently singled out for unfair criticism and held to a standard that is not applied to any other country.

However, an increasing number of jurisdictions recognize the broad harms of antisemitism and use the IHRA definition as a method to determine what constitutes hatred against. B’nai Brith Canada strongly urged Manitoba’s provincial government to do so, and thanks to the leadership of Premier Heather Stefanson, the advocacy of Liberal MLA Dr. Jon Gerrard and the support of NDP Opposition Leader Wab Kinew, we saw the province unite around the definition.

Antisemitism creates hostile environments. On university campuses, Jewish students are often confronted and judged when they express support for Israel. Many Jews have stopped wearing a kippa (skull cap) or Star of David in public because these visible signs often lead to hateful remarks. We hope adopting the IHRA definition will prompt Jewish students to proudly express themselves.

Adopting the definition, though, is only the first step. We now must embark on its implementation and entrenchment. This will require training policy-makers, judges, law-enforcement units, educators and others. After Ontario adopted the IHRA definition, there was a 27 per cent decrease in antisemitic incidents in that province. We hope that this will be the effect in Manitoba, as well.

Antisemitism, unfortunately, is only one form of hatred and discrimination. Other minority groups such as Muslims, Asians, African-Canadians, members of the LGBTTQ+ community and people suffering from mental illnesses or physical disabilities are often victims of hate crimes, as well.

By adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism, Manitoba has taken a significant step in the right direction. Indeed, our politicians have shown their strong support for making our province safe and inclusive for all its citizens by committing to the IHRA definition and ensuring its use.

Ruth Ashrafi is the Manitoba regional director for B’nai Brith Canada.