Attention university students – join AVI in Italy this summer and learn about Jewish indigeneity!

Allied Voices for Israel (AVI)
4 days ago
4 min read

PLUS: AVI's first-ever French language event with Journalist Nora Bussigny, AVI educational resources now available in French and Portuguese, and more!

Click on the above flyer to register!

Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) is inviting passionate student leaders to join the Common Ground Italy Ambassadorship, a transformative leadership experience for those committed to creating positive change on college and university campuses across Canada.

From May 31 – June 8, 2026, travel through Rome, Florence, Venice, and Vatican City while engaging in immersive learning, leadership development, and cultural exploration.

Students will take part in workshops and discussions on allyship, identity, and Jewish history and heritage, while hearing from a range of diverse educators and perspectives. Participants will build the skills and confidence to foster respectful dialogue, challenge antisemitism, and strengthen understanding about Israel across campus communities.

After the trip, students will return to their respective campuses as Common Ground Ambassadors, leading initiatives that promote inclusion, education, and coexistence on campus, with ongoing support, mentorship, and resources from AVI.

The cost of the trip is $250 – plus a $250 refundable deposit, which will be returned to you upon completion of the ambassadorship. It is open exclusively to college and university students across Canada.

To become a Common Ground Ambassador in Italy this Summer, please click here.

AVI Founder & Executive Director Daniel (second from right) and Director of Quebec & Atlantic Canada Noa (centre) joined an evening with Nora Bussigny (second from left)

AVI hosted an exceptional evening in Montreal last week – our first-ever program hosted entirely in French – with journalist Nora Bussigny, who presented her striking book, Les nouveaux antisémites (The New Antisemites).

After spending months infiltrating anti-Israel movements in France as an undercover journalist, Bussigny returned with a chilling account of the evolution of systemic hatred within certain political circles.⁠

The program was hosted in partnership with our friends at Doctors Against Racism and Antisemitism (DARA) and moderated by journalist Christian Rioux, who took an in-depth look at Bussingby’s findings, the intersection between radical politics and modern antisemitism, and what these developments mean for the future of social cohesion in France, Quebec, and beyond⁠.

We would like to thank our sponsors for this evening – The Bissell Family Foundation and The Institute for Public Affairs of Montreal.

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Speaking of French-language initiatives, we are proud to share that our AVI educational resources have been translated and are now available in both French and Portuguese!

Understanding Jewish Indigeneity to Israel, The Beginner's Guide to Combating Anti-Jewish Hatred on Canadian Campuses, Glossary of Terms: Arab-Israeli Conflict, and BDS: Undermining Coexistence and Dialogue are now available in three different languages – free of charge on our website!

To learn more about our resources and have them delivered straight to your inbox⁠, please click here.

AVI Board Member Jonathan Spiegelman (top left) with MPP Michelle Cooper, MPP Laura Smith, and representatives of Jewish and Iranian groups Cyrus the Great, CIJA, and StandWithUs Canada at the Ontario Legislative Assembly

AVI Board Member Jonathan Spiegelman was proud to join our friends from the Iranian community and the organization Cyrus the Great at the Ontario Legislative Assembly this week for Cyrus Accord Awareness Day. Ontario MPP Laura Smith delivered a meaningful Member's Statement in the chamber.

April 19 is not a random date. On this date in 2023, Prince Reza Pahlavi visited Israel in a historic trip, where he invoked the legacy of Cyrus the Great – a symbol of respect, freedom, and coexistence between peoples.

To learn more about this initiative to commemorate Cyrus Accord Awareness Day⁠, please click here.

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Our Social Media Intern, Kyla, recently shared an inspiring reel about her journey as an Israel advocate and a proud Zionist. In the video, she highlights the importance of finding a supportive community of like-minded students on campus.

Being seen and accepted for who we are is something we all strive for — keep up the incredible work, Kyla!

To watch, please click here.

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Did you know that Jewish history in Ireland goes back 900 years!?

AVI Social Media Intern Emily dives into the unique and ancient history of Jewish communities in Ireland, inspired by her Irish roots and Jewish allyship!

To watch, please click here.

Meet us Sunday, April 26th outside of Toronto's Israeli Consulate

As we all know, the Iranian and Jewish peoples are two nations united by history, tragic circumstances, and shared values.

In the past few months, this has been particularly pronounced on campuses across Canada where Jews and Iranians are working together, on social media where we are refuting hateful propaganda, and at rallies around the world that have consistently featured both the Iranian Lion and Sun flag and the Israeli flag, which represents not only Israelis but Jewish People around the Diaspora.

In that vein, Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) is proud to partner with Iranian freedom advocacy organization Cyrus the Great and our friends at B'nai Brith Canada and Yalla on an Iranian-Jewish solidarity rally in downtown Toronto.

On Sunday, April 26th at 1pm, on the heels of Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut we will be gathering outside Toronto's Israeli Consulate to march together. Everyone is welcome and no registration is required.