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Combatting Antisemitism
 
As Canadians, we are fortunate to live in one of the most free and tolerant countries in the world, with layers of institutional protection for minority and religious life. Yet, we still experience antisemitism.
 

Most people have no idea that Jews are, by far, the most targeted group for hate crimes in Canada. Yet Jews are consistently left out of anti-racism programs. These are examples of culturally embedded antisemitism that even people who pride themselves on being anti-racist are blind to. For a brief history of antisemitism in Canada, visit this entry at the Canadian Encyclopedia published by Dr. Irving Abella in December 2012. 

 
If you experienced antisemitism, you are not alone. The Jewish Federation of Ottawa is committed to fighting antisemitism with you. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

 

• Report incidents of antisemitism. (Please see below for detailed steps.)
 

• Join Ottawa Against Antisemitism (OAA) on Facebook as well as Ottawa City Watch on Twitter for community discussion or information sharing.
 


• Visit here for Antisemitism Resources including recommended reading, organizations, and a handout for parents of children facing peer situations.

 

• Become a Jewish Community Advocate
It is more important now than ever before to advocates for the Jewish community and for Israel. Jewish community advocates play a vital role in representing and advancing the interests, concerns, and well-being of the Jewish community. Help with letter writing, and communicating with various groups to ensure our community’s needs are heard. Please fill in this form to help us identify your area of interest and we will reach out to you with a toolkit to support you in these efforts.

 

• Right now, disinformation about Israel and Hamas is spreading on social media. It can be tempting to immediately comment on and/or share what we see online, but now, more than ever, it’s important for us to take the time to carefully assess what we’re reading and respond thoughtfully. Refer to this Guide for more information.

INCIDENT REPORTING

STEP 1 - Please fill in an incident form
 
The Jewish Federation of Ottawa tracks incidents of hate, online as well as in real life, to measure and combat antisemitism. Visit here  to report incidents of hate. Please be specific and include as many details as you can remember.
 
If the incident is hate-motivated, you can report it to Ottawa Police Services here.
 
If you are in immediate danger, please dial 911. If you are no longer in danger, police can also be contacted at 613-236-1222, extension 7300.

To report an incident to the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, please email David Sachs.

In an Ottawa school

 

  • Students, please tell your teacher AND your parents right away.
     

  • Parents/Students should then email the school principal, with several individuals copied (cc'd) on the email: David Sachs of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa dsachs@jewishottawa.com, and the school superintendent. The principal should be aware of all incidents, and Federation needs to track incidents.
    ​

  • For the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, please include Jewish Equity Coach Brian Kom, brian.kom@ocdsb.ca, and Superintendent of Equity, Mary Jane Farrish, mary.jane.farrish@ocdsb.ca. If there is a need to elevate the report, please contact OCDSB Director of Education Pino Buffone, director@ocdsb.ca, and email the appropriate school trustees.
    ​

  • For the Ottawa Catholic School Board, please include Director of Education Tom D’Amico, director@ocsb.ca 
     

  • For the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, students can also report any concerns about the health, well-being, and safety of themselves or others online using the OCDSB Cares anonymous reporting tool. 

 

In an Ottawa university, college
 
Formal complaint-filings may require identification, but consultation is confidential, and this can even include confidential mediation.
 
•   For Algonquin College, please email ombuds@algonquincollege.com
•   For University of Ottawa, contact the Human Rights Office here
•   For Carleton University, please email equity@carleton.ca
 
Hillel Ottawa is also there to help. Let them know about any incidents. They can advise and support you in any complaint, but they also track incidents, which is crucial to understanding (or demonstrating) the problem. Contact the director, Jamie Sweigman at jsweigman@hillelottawa.ca