AVI students speak at allyship workshop in Ottawa

PLUS: Toronto Police host luncheon in honour of Jewish Heritage Month, AVI students promote Mental Health Awareness Month, and more!

AVI Executive Director Daniel Koren and Director of Quebec Noa Peretz Benchaya with Consul General of Israel to Montreal Eliaz Luz and staff

It was a busy week for our AVI students and staff as we explored antisemitic media bias in Ottawa, strengthened our relations with the Israeli Consulate in Montreal, attended a special Toronto Police Services lunch in honour of Jewish Heritage Month, and much more. 

Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) Founder and Executive Director Daniel Koren and Director of Quebec and Atlantic Canada Noa Peretz Benchaya visited the Consulate General of Israel in Montreal this week and met with Consul General Eliaz Luf, Political and Cultural Attaché Elan Kunin and Public Diplomacy Executive Salomé Bouskila.

It was an honour to share more about our mission and explore ways to collaborate – stay tuned for a few exciting initiatives in the works!

AVI Student Ambassadors Zach (pictured above) and Arjun spoke at a media bias workshop organized by Upstanders Canada in Ottawa 

In Ottawa, AVI had the pleasure of supporting Upstanders Canada, which mobilizes Canadians to stand with Jewish people and Israel, on Media Bias: How Media Has Mainstreamed Antisemitism ... And What to do About It⁠ in Ottawa. We also partnered with Upstanders on their event in Vancouver.⁠

Attendees heard from Rob Roberts, editor-in-chief of the National Post, and journalist and writer Dave Gordon. ⁠Pat Johnson, president of Upstanders Canada, welcomed the audience and explain the organization's work.⁠

Our AVI Student Ambassadors introduced the speakers and spoke about their experiences combating anti-Jewish hatred on campus, and the importance of combating media bias by amplifying Jewish and allied voices.⁠

⁠For more photos, please click here.

AVI Staff with Toronto Police at a special lunch this week in honour of Jewish Heritage Month

A huge thank you to the Toronto Police Service for hosting a lunch in honour of Jewish Heritage Month and inviting AVI Operations Consultant Ofra Nissani, Director of Education Gabriela Rosenblum, and Director of Campus Affairs Idaliah Snajdman to join in on this beautiful celebration of allyship. ⁠

We would also like to extend our deepest gratitude for the brave, hardworking Toronto Police force for keeping our communities safe and contributing to such monumental efforts as the recent recovery of missing Thornhill teen Esther! We appreciate all that you do.

⁠For more photos, please click here.

Left to right: Director of Campus Affairs Idaliah Snajdman, MPP Laura Smith, and Director of Education Gabriela Rosenblum at CJPAC's Action Party

AVI staff connected with our incredible students and community partners this week at CJPAC's Action Party, Toronto's most prestigious networking event of the year! 

AVI was proud to network with some of the city's most impactful civic leaders, young professionals, political insiders, elected officials, philanthropists and change-makers.

Until next year, Action Toronto!

⁠For more photos, please click here.

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May is mental health awareness month

This is your reminder to take some time away from your screens and go take care of your mental health! AVI Social Media Intern Kyla made a heartwarming video in honour of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, reminding us that regardless of which burdens each of us are carrying, we do not have to carry them alone.

To watch, please click here.

Click the above graphic to read about AVI Summer Intern Emily Praill's approach to intersectional allyship

AVI Summer Intern Emily Praill created a carousel breaking down her passions for allyship, Israel advocacy and animal rights, and how being a passionate advocate for one cause does not negate the other – in fact, quite the opposite.⁠ 

“Being an ally doesn't stop at one cause. Care, responsibility, and empathy can exist across movements,” writes Emily. 

“At the core of both is the same belief: that harm should be challenged, dignity matters, and silence allows suffering to continue.” 

To see the carousel, 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.

Click the above graphic to register

UJA's annual Walk With Israel is taking place on Sunday, June 7th and AVI staff, allies, and students are excited to take part.

AVI will also take part in the Walk with Israel shuk and festival taking place immediately after the walk. Come by our table and say shalom!

For tickets to the Walk Festival, please click here. 

Interested? Send your resume to daniel@alliedvoicesforisrael.org

Are you a Vancouver local? Are you passionate about empowering Jewish students and their allies to become leaders who stand against hatred on their campuses?⁠

We are looking for a passionate and dedicated BC Campus Advisor to join our team!

This will be a part-time or full-time position based in Vancouver. It’s an exciting and rewarding opportunity to work with incredible university students and help us grow our educational initiatives on the West Coast!⁠

Send your resume to: daniel@alliedvoicesforisrael.org