AVI students honoured by Premier Ford in Toronto

AVI Student Ambassadors Liat and Bisrat's courageous advocacy efforts celebrated at Chanukah party hosted by the Consulate General of Israel

Ontario Premier Doug Ford honouring AVI Students Liat (second from left) and Bisrat (far right) with the Maccabee Award for their advocacy work

Coming off the heels of our first annual Herzl Awards, it appears that awards season is not yet over for our hardworking and passionate AVI Student Ambassadors.

This week, Toronto Metropolitan University student Liat and York University student Bisrat were honoured with the Modern Maccabee Award for their advocacy work on campus at the fifth annual Chanukah Reception. 

The event was hosted by the Consulate General of Israel in Toronto and Western Canada, in partnership with the Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario.

Consul General Idit Shamir (left) presenting the Modern Maccabee Award to AVI Student Ambassador Bisrat

Our students were joined by eight Ontario MPPs, community leaders, and representatives from Hillel Ontario, CJPAC, StandWithUs Canada, and Students Supporting Israel TMU, as they were honoured for their courage and integrity on campus when it was easier to stay silent.

AVI Student Ambassador Bisrat spoke about his efforts to bring Jewish, Persian, and Ethiopian students together on his campus of York U, shining light and unity to drive away darkness and hatred.

To hear an excerpt from Bisrat's speech and see more photos from the Chanukah event, please click here.

(Left to right): MP Shuvaloy Mujamdar, Senior Rabbi Menachem Matusof, and Alberta Campus Advisor & Advocacy Associate Jean-Luc

This week, our Calgary AVI Student Ambassadors connected with community members and leaders at the 37th Calgary Community Menorah Lighting, hosted by Chabad of Alberta.

(Left to right): AVI Students Noa and Delano

AVI got a lovely shoutout at the event, and we are so proud of our Student Ambassadors Delano, Arielle, and Noa, who were helping distribute food to attendees!

⁠To see more photos and videos from these two Chanukah events, please click here. 

Click the above graphic to listen to a recent excerpt from the latest episode of Common Voices

On November 12th, we hosted a webinar featuring four powerful AVI student allies from campuses across Canada. They shared their experiences fostering allyship, building community, and standing up against anti-Jewish hatred on campus.

On episode 10 of Common Voices, we give you the opportunity to listen to this important conversation between these brave and remarkable students.

Moderated by our very own Jean-Luc Mudingayi, the panel features Emerson from Mount Royal University, Tiauna from Western University, Joseph from the University of British Columbia, and Katie from the University of Ottawa, who is featured in the above excerpt talking about the importance of standing up for what’s right.

To listen to “Why Canadian Students Stand with Jewish Students,” please click here.

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Click the above still to watch a heartwarming visit to Abouelafia - an Arab-owned bakery in Yafo

When AVI Alumna Ora visited Abouelafia Bakery – an Arab-owned bakery in Yafo – she encountered a rather sweet surprise. As exuberant employee Abu Zaid narrates, the bakery happily sells sufganiyot (traditional jelly-filled doughnuts enjoyed around Chanukah time), to both its Jewish and Arab customers.

In times like these, it’s important to remember that peace and unity can be found in one’s own backyard! 

To watch the uplifting reel, please click here.

Click the above graphic to watch

Even with Ora lifting our spirits through doughnuts and allyship in Israel, this Chanukah feels different.⁠

As Jews in Australia were murdered for being Jewish, the darkness feels closer than ever.⁠

Chanukah is not just a holiday, it is a reminder of why Jewish survival matters.⁠

Of light in the face of violence.⁠

Of resilience in the face of hate.⁠

Over 2,000 years ago, Jews fought to remain Jewish in our homeland.⁠ That story continues today.⁠

We light candles in remembrance, in defiance, and in hope.⁠ May the memories of the lives tragically taken at Bondi Beach be a blessing.

To listen to our powerful Chanukah message, please click here.

Introducing...AVI Wrapped 2025!

With 2025 coming to an end, everyone has been sharing their Spotify Wrapped for the year and that includes us at AVI. Except, instead of playlists and tunes, we decided to summarize some exciting growth statistics this year.

Our students did a phenomenal job – standing up for Israel, building coalitions, and making their voices impossible to ignore. Here’s to their continued efforts in standing up for Am Yisrael in 2025!

Our #AmbassadorSpotlight is Western University Student Tiauna!

This week's #AmbassadorSpotlight is Tiauna, one of our amazing Common Ground Ambassadors studying Business and Law at Western University!⁠

“My experience with Common Ground was deeply impactful and eye-opening. Learning about Jewish history and how to effectively combat antisemitism alongside my Jewish friends was a privilege and a powerful opportunity. As a Bible-believing Christian who loves Israel and the Jewish people, I gained meaningful insights into Jewish identity, the history of antisemitism, and the challenges faced by Jewish students on campus today.⁠

What made this experience even more enriching were the honest, thoughtful conversations I had with students from a wide range of backgrounds and worldviews. I'm thankful to have been part of Common Ground and am excited to carry what I’ve learned into my university setting—standing with the Jewish community and growing my love for God, who keeps His promises and preserves His people!”⁠

Tiauna was one of four student panelists at our Speaking Up Against Jew Hatred: Allies on Campus webinar, which is the latest episode on our Common Voices podcast!