You know you’re probably not doing your best as a leader to stem an ever-growing wave of hate in your country when another leader has to personally phone you up to tell you so. That’s what happened Thursday after a repeated attack on Beth Tikvah synagogue in Montreal. That’s the message that was delivered.
No doubt frustrated and exasperated to be watching the relentless attacks on synagogues and intimidation in Canadian Jewish neighbourhoods from afar, the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, took to social media platform X on Thursday to let everyone know about the conversation he had with our often mealy-mouthed-in-the-face-of-antisemitism Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Herzog tweeted: “I reiterated to him my great concern over the intolerable wave of antisemitic attacks against the Canadian Jewish community. I stressed that words would not suffice, and that firm and decisive action must be taken to bring the perpetrators to justice, to stamp out antisemitism, and to educate and legislate in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the Jewish community.”
Herzog’s tweet was in response to a second firebombing on Beth Tikvah synagogue in Montreal early Wednesday morning. The first firebombing attack was in November of 2023.
And while Justin Trudeau did take to X to post some words about the event in Montreal, they didn’t appear to have a deferring effect, as the attack was followed up by another, this time, in North York on Friday. For the third time this year, Bais Chaya Mushka, a Jewish girl’s elementary school was riddled with gunfire.
And Hanukkah begins next week — historically-speaking, Jewish holidays are a favourite time for antisemites to attack and kill Jews.
Like Herzog pointed out in his tweet and conversation with Trudeau, words are not working. At least, not Trudeau’s words. This may have something to do with the fact that they’re often negated by his government’s actions towards Israel since October 7.
Jewish Canadians are well aware of the Liberal government’s, particularly Mélanie Joly’s, moves to handicap Israel’s ability to defend itself and to continue funding UNWRA whose schools train children in Gaza to hate and kill Jews.
Guess who else is well aware of this?
Anyone who hates Jews and who realizes that the Liberal party is more interesting in winning at all costs, rather than displaying an ounce of moral clarity since October 7. I imagine this is quite encouraging to those living among us in Canada who approve of the horrific events of that day.
Of course, it’s not only our great “Governor of Canada,” err.. prime minister who needs a scolding — some wishy-washy media outlets could use a dressing-down too.
CTV reported the most epically vague and impossible headline on the attack on Beth Tikvah which was rightfully mocked on X. The ridiculous headline has since been changed, but can still be accessed through the magic of the wayback machine: “Flames target place of worship on Montreal’s West Island.” The choice not to be specific about the fact that this was a synagogue is inexplicable and irresponsible. And I had no idea that flames had agency and were so hateful.
As for Trudeau, he still hadn’t commented by Friday afternoon about that shooting on a girl’s Jewish elementary school following his conversation with Herzog.
Perhaps he needs a stronger message — the results of a long-anticipated federal election.
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