Join us in celebrating Jewish Heritage Month and Asian Heritage Month this May

PLUS: Talia Yosef & Sahar TV talk confronting antisemitism in Toronto, AVI Student Ambassadors celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut in Calgary, and more!

Click the above graphics to register!

Allied Voices for Israel (AVI) is proud to partner with the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF) on a webinar series celebrating Jewish Heritage Month and Asian Heritage Month – two cultures that share similar values and are serendipitously highlighted in May.

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, May 24th, Dr. Vera Schwarcz will lead a discussion with Dr. Elliott Malamet on Jewish moral thought and the ways it has been shaped through sustained, lived engagement with Chinese civilization. They will address how to stay grounded and truthful when the world feels confusing, polarized, or morally unstable, and how long-standing traditions help people decide how to live, not just what to think.  

To register for Truth and the Way / Tao, please click here. 

On Sunday, May 31st, Dr.  Jack Daniel will draw from his book A Universe Made for Two, inviting a cross-cultural exploration of Genesis as a relational, dynamic act of creation, viewed through the complementary wisdom of Jewish tradition and ancient Chinese cosmology, with a particular focus on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). 

This session will highlight how the Genesis creation narrative resonates with the Chinese understanding of yin and yang, qi, balance, and the generative cycles of nature. Rather than static creation ex nihilo, both traditions describe a universe brought into being through polarity, differentiation, rhythm, and relationship. 

To register for A Universe Made for Two: Genesis Through the Lens of Chinese Cosmology and Traditional Chinese Medicine, please click here.

On Sunday, June 14th, our very own Founder and Executive Director Daniel Koren will moderate a panel discussion featuring AVI Student Ambassador Brandon Liu, Dr. Weidong Pei, and AVI friend Karen Wood 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.

(Left to right): AVI Board Member Johnathan Spiegelman, AVI Founder Daniel Koren, Talia Yosef, Director of Campus Affairs Idaliah Snajdman

AVI was proud to partner with the Leah Posluns Theatre and Prosserman JCC in Toronto on a panel discussion with two prominent digital influencers and Israel advocates Sahar TV and Talia Yosef.

With a combined reach of over one million followers, Sahar and Talia shared their experiences confronting anti-Jewish hatred and disinformation online.⁠

They also shared their dynamic approach to misinformation, anti-Zionist rhetoric, and attacks on the Jewish community. Through real examples and deep conversation, they discussed how they stay confident, challenge false narratives, and stand up for the Jewish community with conviction. ⁠

We all came away more motivated to share our perspectives with confidence and strength.⁠ AVI Founder Daniel Koren also spoke to the audience about AVI's efforts uniting students of all backgrounds against hatred. ⁠

A huge thank you to AVI stakeholder Dr. Steven Stein for moderating this discussion!⁠

For more photos, please click here.

AVI Alberta Campus Advisor & Advocacy Associate Jean-Luc Mudingayi celebrating Israel's independence with our awesome Calgary students

Our incredible Calgary community celebrated Yom Ha'atzmaut the right way: together.

Our Calgary students showed up in their finest summer linens and dancing shoes to celebrate Israel's independence and resilience! ⁠

A huge thank you to Hillel Calgary, StandWithUs Canada, and Students Supporting Israel (SSI) Calgary for partnering on such an incredible mesiba.

For more photos, please click here.

Click the above graphic to watch

At our recent Allyship Evening in partnership with North City Church, AVI Student Ambassador Samantha delivered a compelling speech on two medieval Christian figures and their historical influence on Jewish-Christian allyship.

She also spoke about her experience as a Jewish student on campus to an audience of Christian and Jewish students and young professionals.

To learn more about Ecclesia and Synagoga, please click here.

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Click the above graphic to watch a recap of our Yom Ha'atzmaut celebration in Toronto with over 500 university students in attendance!

We are so grateful to our partners Mishpacha Social Club and Hillel Ontario for partnering with us on Midnight in Tel Aviv, where over 500 people showed up to celebrate Israel's independence.

To watch a recap of this celebration, shot by the talented Gokay, please click here.

Click the above still to watch an excerpt from our Common Voices episode featuring Dr. Sheree Trotter, head of the Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem

On Episode 13 of the Common Voices podcast, we sat down with Dr. Sheree Trotter – head of the Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem – regarding the intersection of indigenous identity, Jewish history, and current global political narratives.⁠

In the above clip, she discusses the shared Importance of Genealogy. Māori culture views the world through relationships and genealogy, known as whakapapa.⁠

In the clip, Dr. Trotter shares her heartfelt experience in taking delegations to Israel and hosting Israelis, which fostered deep emotional connections between the two groups. Trotter notes that Jewish people are very similar to Māori people in their shared love for family, food, and the high value placed on relationships.⁠

⁠To watch the clip in question, please click here. ⁠

To listen to A Māori Zionist's take on indigeneity, please click here.

Click the above still to watch Communications & Social Media Coordinator Yardena Rosenblum's response to Israel Advocate Rudy Rochman's recent appearance on Jubilee

Communications and Social Media Coordinator Yardena Rosenblum created a video responding to a recent Jubilee debate featuring Israel Advocate Rudy Rochman vs. 20 pro-Palestinian Advocates. 

The video brought up an important question: How do we identify anti-Jewish hatred in the modern world?⁠

The 3D Test provides a clear framework to recognize when rhetoric crosses the line into anti-Jewish hatred.⁠

• Delegitimization: Denying the Jewish people’s right to self-determination⁠

• Demonization: Portraying Jews or the Jewish state as uniquely evil or sub-human⁠

• Double Standards: Singling out the Jewish community or state for standards not applied to anyone else⁠

Hatred often hides behind politics. These tools help reveal it.⁠

To watch Yardena's insightful response, please click here.

Click the above flyer to register for our upcoming Common Roots cohort; click the bottom graphic for a sneak peak of what the program offers!

Applications for our Common Roots Ambassadorship for high school students ARE NOW OPEN!

We offer a wide range of ways for students to get involved, from social media campaigns and writing op-eds, to creating events, volunteer opportunities, and so much more!⁠ 

• For Grades 8-12⁠

• Runs October to May⁠

• Open to students of all backgrounds & religions⁠

• Monthly webinars with awesome speakers⁠

To learn more and become a Common Roots Ambassador, please click here. 

To watch a brief preview of all the fun to be had as a Common Roots Ambassador, please click here.