Celebrating allyship from Ethiopia to Israel
PLUS: AVI brings Sharaka to four Canadian cities, several AVI Student Ambassadors speak out against antisemitism on Parliament Hill, and more!
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On behalf of all of us at Allied Voices for Israel (AVI), we are proud to continue building bridges and cultivating solidarity between Jews and their allies in schools and on college and university campuses across Canada.
Ethiopian culture is an integral part of Israel's rich cultural tapestry. In fact, Balinjera, Tel Aviv's iconic Ethiopian restaurant, is a regular stop on our Common Ground Israel programs, which unite students of all backgrounds to stand up against hatred on campus. Many Ethiopian students have also joined us on our recent Common Ground missions.
Last March, AVI gathered a group of Jewish and Ethiopian students at York University for a solidarity dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant in Toronto!
Closer to home, AVI has hosted solidarity dinners bringing together Jewish and Ethiopian students and student clubs, including SSI York University and the York Ethiopian Student Association, to foster a campus environment of learning and growth.
Now, for the second year in a row, we are proud to partner with Jewish and Ethiopian students at York University for an authentic Ethiopian culinary experience.
Join us for a traditional Ethiopian meal celebrating the deep-rooted bond and strong allyship between our communities. Students from all university campuses are welcome!
Date: Thursday October 15th
Time: 7pm EST
Location: Bloor & Ossington Area, exact location provided upon registration
To register, please click here.
We are proud of our AVI Student Ambassadors who joined CIJA and Hillel Ontario in Ottawa last week
When Jewish students speak, Ottawa listens.
Last week, five of our AVI student ambassadors from various campuses walked into the halls of Parliament carrying something powerful: their own stories. Face to face with Members of Parliament, they spoke honestly about the anti-Jewish hatred and hostility students are confronting on Canadian campuses, and about what needs to change.
Jacqueline, Sara, Sha'anan, Zach, and Miriam: we could not be prouder of you. You represented your campuses, your communities, and AVI with courage, grace, and conviction. You reminded our leaders that behind every headline about campus antisemitism are real students who deserve to learn without fear.
A heartfelt thank you to Hillel Ontario and CIJA for organizing this important day on the Hill and giving our students the opportunity to be heard where it matters most.
This is what AVI's work is all about: equipping the next generation to stand tall, speak up, and lead.
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AVI and Sharaka, an NGO focused on promoting the Abraham Accords, are thrilled to announce the United We Stand: Voices for Peace in the Middle East Tour. In partnership with AVI, it is Sharaka's first ever cross-Canada speaking tour across schools, campuses, and community events around the country.
This unprecedented set of multi-city speaking engagements in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, and Langley will feature a powerful, diverse panel of leaders dedicated to real dialogue and regional peace: Luai Ahmed, Tamer Masudin, and Fatema Al-Harbi.
Beyond fostering interpersonal connections, Sharaka actively promotes tolerance and fights extremism through global outreach and specialized educational programs—including leading historic Arab delegations to Holocaust memorial sites to counter antisemitism and build regional empathy.
Tickets are limited so make sure you secure your spot today!
To purchase a ticket in your city, please click here.
Ottawa Kurdish Community Association (OKCA)'s official statement of solidarity with the Jewish communities of Canada
We are so grateful to Chato Wany, President of the Greater Toronto Kurdish House, as well as the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Kurdish Community Association (OKCA) for their heartwarming letter of support and solidarity following the devastating shooting at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville.
“Our Kurdish community across the country stands firmly with our Jewish friends and allies. At this difficult moment, we reaffirm our commitment to Kurdish–Jewish friendship, mutual respect, coexistence, and solidarity against hatred and violence.”
We are so grateful for the OKCA's support and stand in solidarity with our allies in the Kurdish community.
To read the Greater Toronto Kurdish House's statement, please click here.
Click the above to listen to the recorded webinar!
Last week, AVI's Director of Education Gabriela Rosenblum hosted a special webinar on Understanding the Jewish Connection to the Land of Israel, in collaboration with Kanata House.
Gabriela has done extensive work with with First Nations leaders, including our Jewish-Indigenous Friendship Symposium this year, in collaboration with Kanata House, Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF), and Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem.
To watch the recording, please click here.
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Webinar: Are Jewish People Indigenous to the Land of Israel?
What does it mean to be indigenous, and how does that definition apply to the Jewish people and the land of Israel?
Join AVI's Director of Education, Gabriela Rosenblum, for a webinar that draws on international definitions of indigeneity to examine the Jewish people's connection to the land through history.
Gabriela will explore:
What “indigenous” means under international definitions;
How the five key factors of indigeneity (land, culture, ancestry, residence, and language) apply to the Jewish people; and
How Jewish history and present-day realities shape the conversation around the Jewish people's connection to the land of Israel.
The webinar will be followed by a live Q&A.
This webinar is organized in partnership with the Israel Ambassador Academy (IAA).
To register, please click here.
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Calling All Jewish and Allied Students in Grades 10–12!
Looking for a way to get involved, try something new, and make a difference in your community? Here's your chance.
This municipal election season, CJPAC is launching a new initiative to help young people get involved in the democratic process as volunteers. AVI is proud to join more than a dozen partner organizations supporting this effort.
To get students ready, CJPAC is hosting a free training session on Zoom. It will prepare participants to hit the ground running at CJPAC's in-person Municipal Action Day on Tuesday, October 13, in Vancouver.
Best of all, participation can count toward your school volunteer hours!
Join LIVE at the link on the graphic!
TONIGHT: HonestReporting Canada Webinar Featuring AVI Alumna Anastasia
AVI student alumna Anastasia will guest host a HR Canada Charitable Organization webinar tonight at 7PM ET. The conversation will cover the toxic environment of antisemitism on social media, effective online advocacy for Jews and their allies, and how these issues apply in Canada.
She'll be joined by guest speaker Nick Matau, who has built a prominent platform debating anti-Israel activists and influencers, including some of the most prominent voices promoting anti-Israel and antisemitic views.
Drawing on his experience as a 12-year Navy veteran and nuclear engineer, Nick has become one of the most influential online debaters in this space and a powerful non-Jewish ally.
Date: Tuesday, September 29
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Where: Online
To join the webinar live at 7pm ET, please click here.
Wilfrid Laurier University student Jonah is our #AmbassadorSpotlight
Meet Ambassador Spotlight Jonah, who became an AVI Student Ambassador this semester after taking part in our Common Ground mission this summer.
“My common ground experience was so special and something that I’ve never experienced before. All my previous advocacy experience had been with people who looked like me and share the same Jewish values as me. On Common Ground this wasn’t the case. We were a diverse group of people who came together under that shared value of love for Israel.
Being able to share my Jewish knowledge with others as well as learning about other cultures was something truly special for me.”
To read Jonah's full statement, please click here.
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