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AVI staff meet Holocaust survivors in Montreal

Allied Voices for Israel (AVI)

A jam-packed week for AVI students and staff with several initiatives and events


Click the above photo for a recap of our presentation to a special group of Holocaust Survivors at the Cummings Centre in Montreal

It was a very meaningful week for our students and staff. Our AVI Campus Advisor Noa Peretz Benchaya and AVI Allyship Advisor Raihaana Adira gave a presentation on AVI’s mission and what inspired them to get involved to a group of Holocaust Survivors at “Cafe Europa,” hosted by the Cummings Centre in Montreal. In fact, our session brought out the largest group of Holocaust survivors they've had in two years!


It was a touching and powerful convergence of past and future generations. As some of the Survivors shared their harrowing stories of suffering and resilience, we shared our hope for a future where peace and coexistence can finally trump hatred and division.


A huge thank you to the wonderful staff and volunteers at the Cummings Centre for giving Noa and Raihaana the space to share AVI’s mission and initiatives with such a special group.


To see some inspiring snippets of this event, please click here.

Over 20,000 Jews and allies marched in solidarity in Montreal last Sunday!

On Sunday, our Montreal delegation of AVI staff and students joined over 20,000 Jews and their allies for Federation CJA's March For Jerusalem. We were so proud to see a united Montreal, with residents marching boldly through the streets, and declaring proudly that “I am not a Jew with trembling knees.”


Our Montreal team got to connect with both Israel advocates such as Loay Alshareef, Jonny Daniels, and Ysabella Hazan. A unifying performance by Eurovision Finalist Eden Golan was the cherry on top.


To see a recap of our incredible day at Montreal's Hampstead Park, please click here.

Left to right: AVI's Communications Associate Sharon Krasnianski, Nova Festival Survivor Jessica Elter, and Director of Chabad Town of Mont Royal Dina Krasnianski

AVI had the honour of partnering with Chabad TMR (Town of Mont Royal), who brought Nova Festival Survivor Jessica Elter to Montreal to tell her story.


Jessica is a Social Media Influencer and Model who has been using her platform to honour the memory of her partner of six years Ben Shimoni z”l – a hero who courageously saved many lives at the Nova Festival, before tragically losing his own.


In honour of Ben, and those who lost their lives to Hamas brutality, including the six hostages recently murdered in Rafah, we listened to Jessica’s story of survival, resilience, strength, and the observance of the Shabbat that saved her and changed her life forever.


To listen to Jessica's story, please click here.

Left to right: AVI Communications Associate Sharon Krasnianski, Amazigh Ally @ayenzion, Common Ground Israel Ambassadors Ilan Kojdan, Eden Kojdan, Solenn Doueb, and AVI Campus Advisor Noa Peretz 

Our team was honoured to stand with the Montreal community at Tuesday’s Candlelight Vigil In Honour of Our Hostages outside of Concordia University’s Hall Building.


Columbia Professor Shai Davidai delivered a powerful testimony and tribute to the six hostages, who were senselessly slaughtered by Hamas. Not even hecklers could dim our light.


To hear Shai's speech, please click here.

Click the graphic above to read our thoughts on the recent news coming out of McMaster University and Concordia University

At McMaster University, three students – leaders of CUPE 390 – were recently declared persona non grata (banned from campus activities, excluding classes) for their involvement in anti-Israel protests.⁠

At Concordia University, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) was denied club registration due to violations of the university’s Code of Rights and Responsibilities.⁠

Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) commends these two universities for taking decisive action against disruptive, hateful, and discriminatory anti-Israel activism. We fully support the enforcement of campus codes of conduct to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all.⁠

To read our full statement, please click here.

Click the graphic above to learn more about our Common Ground Rome Ambassador Ben Morrison!

This week's AVI #AmbassadorSpotlight is Common Ground Ambassador Ben Morrison, who is currently studying Political Science at the University of British Columbia. ⁠

“Following the October 7th terrorist attacks on Israel, I expected people around the world to mourn the horrific tragedy as they did after 9/11, the 2015 Paris attacks, or the Boston Marathon bombings. Instead, I witnessed celebrations and the glorification of an authoritarian terrorist group on my campus and in my own city of Vancouver. That was when I knew I couldn’t remain on the sidelines any longer,” said Ben. ⁠

“It's unacceptable to stay silent while a terrorist group, similar to ISIS and al-Qaeda, is being praised in the very streets we call home. It’s horrifying to see synagogues targeted with gunfire and arson attempts. AVI provided the resources and leadership to empower those of us who wanted to speak out, equipping us with the tools to make our voices heard,” he said.⁠

“During our Common Ground trip, we had the chance to learn about the only democratic country in the Middle East. We not only explored Israel’s achievements, but also engaged in honest discussions about its challenges, fostering a deeper understanding of its history and current situation.”

To read Ben's full testimony, please click here.

Journalist and Television Personality Chris Cuomo is our #allyspotlight 

Journalist and Television Personality Chris Cuomo has recently ignited widespread discussion with his recent monologue on his show NewsNation.


Cuomo addressed the media’s coverage – or lack thereof – of the brutal murders by Hamas of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five other hostages in Gaza last weekend. His words have resonated with many, shedding light on the discrepancies in how the media has covered these tragedies.


⁠Cuomo asked the poignant question: “Why are all these lost souls merely called deaths?” He emphasized the importance of calling out the acts of violence as murders, what they truly are, rather than simply reducing them to statistics or vague terms. The gravity of the situation, according to Cuomo, is not being adequately addressed by mainstream media.


To listen to Chris Cuomo's courageous and powerful monologue, please click here.

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