A major breakthrough for Indigenous-Jewish friendship

The Building Indigenous-Jewish Friendship symposium brought together Jewish & First Nations leaders from across Canada

(Top) Indigenous leaders share their perspectives; (Bottom) Taking part in a session focused on building conversations

Following the remarkable success of our Building Indigenous-Jewish Friendship symposium on Monday, presented by Allied Voices for Israel (AVI), the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF), Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem, and Kanada House, we wanted to share a brief update on this milestone.

The symposium has been years in the making, an initiative our organizations have built toward since we first connected years ago.

Over that time, AVI has worked closely with our First Nations friends on a variety of impactful initiatives, such as distributing our educational resources on Jewish indigeneity to Israel at First Nations conferences in Manitoba, raising awareness about the deep bonds between our communities, actively countering hostile and misleading narratives, and now, hosting this official symposium to bring together First Nations leaders and Jewish leaders from across Canada.  

The symposium itself spanned the full weekend. It included marching together in the Walk for Israel, a dinner featuring an insightful lecture by Concordia University professor Csaba Nikolenyi, and several core sessions with an incredible lineup of speakers. We heard from keynote speakers Dr. Sheree Trotter, Justice Harry LaForme, and Karen Restoule, as well as distinguished academics including Mark Dockstator, David Newhouse, and Andrew Pessin. 

(Top) AVI's Director of Education leads a workshop at our symposium; (Bottom) AVI's Founder & Executive Director moderating a session on shared values with Indigenous leaders across Canada

Our Director of Education, Gabriela Rosenblum, led an exceptional workshop exploring why Jews are indigenous to Israel, drawing powerful parallels to the experiences of First Nations peoples and our shared, central connection to ancestral land. 

AVI's Founder and Director of Education Daniel Koren moderated a panel on our shared concerns alongside Grand Chief Emeritus Harvey Yesno, Grand Chief Emeritus Reggie Neeposh, Melodie Greyeyes, and Métis advocate Ryan Bellerose. We were also glad to welcome colleagues from various organizations, including B'nai Brith Canada, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, to join us for the day.

The energy in the room throughout the weekend was truly palpable. Real, lasting friendships were formed, and we did not shy away from having some uncomfortable but necessary conversations. Jewish Canadians gained a deeper understanding of the distinct challenges facing First Nations communities across the country, while our Indigenous friends learned more about the harsh realities Jewish and allied students face on campuses today.

Personal stories shared by our AVI Student Ambassadors, Samantha and Emily, brought these realities to life. 

We are grateful to the Consulate General of Israel in Toronto and Western Canada for sponsoring this historic gathering.

Click the above image to read the full National Post piece

A piece in the National Post this week written by Journalist Dave Gordon celebrates the symposium as “the first of its kind.” The Building Indigenous‑Jewish Friendship symposium “was the culmination of a weekend of Indigenous-Jewish programming,” Gordon writes.

“The conversation often focused on building a shared framework for allyship — positioning dialogue and relationship-building as tools to counter misinformation about both communities.” 

To read Israel is 'the greatest decolonization project,' Indigenous leaders tell Toronto summit, please click here. 

Our incredible community leaders and allies walked alongside 60k others at Toronto's annual Walk With Israel, hosted by UJA Federation of Greater Toronto

Standing together. Walking together. Speaking together. 

Looking back at the Walk with Israel, we are still feeling overwhelmed by the incredible show of unity, strength, and friendship. To every single ally who showed up, spoke out, and marched alongside the Jewish community – thank you. When we stand together, our voices are amplified, our community is strengthened, and hope wins. We couldn’t do this without you.

⁠For more photos and a reel we put together featuring the incredible allies who marched alongside us, please click here and here. 

Click to watch AVI Social Media Intern Kyla Pugen's recap of the walk

AVI Summer Intern Emily Praill did a livestream at the walk!

“I had the absolutely best time at the UJA 2026 Walk With Israel,” said AVI Social Media Intern Kyla, who attended the walk. 

“There is nothing like the energy of the walk— with 60 000 coming out to stand with the nation of Israel and the amazing Jewish people. Our community is just unmatched, there is nothing like it.” 

“From Ireland to Israel,” wrote AVI Summer Intern Emily Praill, who livestreamed the walk, proudly displaying her Irish roots and solidarity with Israel.

⁠To watch Kyla's recap of the walk, please click here. ⁠

To see Emily's photos from the walk, please click here.

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Click the above photo for a recap of our Common Roots closing symposium!

We had such a wonderful time celebrating the graduation of our incredible AVI Common Roots High School Ambassadors. This cohort has shown up with so much passion, leadership, and dedication all year long, and our team wanted to give them the meaningful send-off they deserved.

Our Director of Education Gabriela Rosenblum, High School Advisor Michelle Gorokhovsky, and AVI Board Member Jonathan Spiegelman took part in a fantastic final day.

We started the morning with breakfast and an eye-opening workshop on the nuances of language, followed by a scavenger hunt in the park where the students tried out our new Drop Your Sides activity. Gabriela also led a masterclass on how to navigate and maintain truly effective dialogue. We made sure to balance the learning with plenty of fun, from bumper cars to a powerful webinar with our campus panelists, before wrapping everything up with a delicious graduation dinner at Kapara where Jonathan joined us to present their certificates.

We are endlessly proud of everything these students have accomplished at their respective high schools this year. They are finishing the program with the skills, confidence, and community they need to stand tall as leaders in the future.

For a recap of the weekend festivities, please click here.

Click the above photo for more pictures of our AVI Staff and Board Members at an evening celebrating 250 years of American independence

AVI Operations Consultant Ofra Nissani, Director of Education Gabriela Rosenblum, and Board Member Jonathan Spiegelman had an incredible night celebrating America's 250th independence anniversary with the US Consulate General in Toronto! 

Our team at AVI was honoured to attend and share the evening with notable attendees, including Consul General Baxter Hunt, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and Toronto Police Services Chief Myron Demkiw.

To see highlights from the celebration, please click here.

BC Campus Advisor Stefanie Broit and AVI Volunteer Ehud represented AVI at the Tri-Cities Jewish Culture Festival in Vancouver

BC Campus Advisor Stefanie Broit and AVI Volunteer Ehud represented AVI at the Tri-Cities Jewish Culture Festival in Vancouver, where over 300 people attended. The festival was a project of Chabad of the Tri-Cities in BC. 

Stefanie connected with various attendees through a tabling showcasing AVI's programs and initiatives, including the mayor of Port Moody and the MP’s assistant. 

Click each banner to register!

We are proud to promote two incredible upcoming events organized by the Collective at Makom Sanctuary. 

The Passion and Politics of Islam will include two sessions: June 24 from 6pm to 9pm and June 28 from 4pm to 7pm. Understanding Faith, Culture, History & Contemporary Challenges is a two-evening immersive course led by community members and AVI friends Raheel and Syed Raza. 

With nearly two billion followers globally and more than 1.8 million Muslims in Canada, understanding Islam is essential for anyone navigating today's multicultural society. This series exists for a reason: to actively combat racism and bigotry, counter antisemitism, and challenge radicalization — by replacing ignorance with understanding, and assumptions with direct human connection. 

To register for each session, please click here.

The Shabbat Lyla dinner for Young Professionals is on June 26, 7-10pm, a monthly Shabbat dinner series bringing together Jews and allies around a shared table to build connection, allyship, and community.

In a time when Jewish communities and our allies are actively seeking visible, supportive spaces, Shabbat Lyla creates room for meaningful conversation, belonging, and relationship-building—rooted in the beauty and ritual of Shabbat, and open to friends who want to experience it together. 

Each dinner is intentionally curated, hosted by community leaders, and centered around thoughtful dialogue, great food, and shared values. This edition’s community is for young professionals, students, and mentors. 

To register, please click here.

Click the above graphic to read the speaker bios and register!

In honour of Jewish Heritage Month and Asian Heritage Month, Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) is partnering with the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF) on a webinar series celebrating Jewish and Asian culture – highlighting our shared values as Canadians.

The events are also being sponsored by Doctors Against Racism and Antisemitism (DARA), Toronto Asian Parents Association (TAPA), and The Jewish Therapist Collective.

On Sunday, June 14th, our very own Founder and Executive Director Daniel Koren will moderate a panel discussion featuring AVI Student Ambassador at the University of British Columbia Brandon Lu, Dr. Weidong Pei, and AVI friend Karen Woods of the Canadian Chinese Political Affairs Committee (CCPAC). 

Each panelist will relay their personal story of connecting wth the Jewish community and fighting antisemitism, followed by a Q&A with the audience.

To register for Why I Stand with the Jews and Israel: Chinese Canadian perspectives, please click here.