Learning about indigeneity with Justice Harry LaForme
- Allied Voices for Israel (AVI)
- Nov 3
- 4 min read
Attention Montrealers! Come hear an Anishnaabe Zionist and Canada's first Indigenous Court Judge give his perspective on Israel and indigeneity!
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Fall is gearing up to be an exciting time for allyship and collaboration for our staff and students at Allied Voices for Israel (AVI).
We are honoured to serve as a cosponsor on an important upcoming event with Temple Emanu-el-Beth Shalom in bringing Justice Harry LaForme to Montreal. The event is being hosted in partnership with the Irwin Cotler Institute and several other groups.
Please join us and hear LaForme, an Anishnaabe Zionist and Canada's first Indigenous Court Judge, give his perspective on Israel and indigeneity. LaForme was also a recent guest on our Common Voices podcast. Please listen to it by clicking here.
🗓️ Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7pm
📍 At Montreal's Temple Emanu-el-Beth Shalom
🔗 Registration is mandatory
To register, please click here.
(Left to right): York University Students and Common Ground Ambassadors Bisrat and Brandon, Iranian Students at York representative Medya
Our Common Ground Ambassadors Bisrat and Brandon recently met with Medya, a representative of Iranian Students at York University, to explore partnership opportunities and strengthen campus collaboration at York.
While sipping Israeli-owned Aroma coffee, they discussed ways to foster dialogue, mutual understanding, and allyship between communities. They are creating spaces where students can connect across cultures and stand together against hate.
These conversations are at the heart of AVI’s Common Ground initiative, empowering young leaders to build bridges and promote unity on campus, one coffee at a time.
Nova Survivor Ela Levgoren (left), Director of Campus Affairs Idaliah
We had the pleasure of partnering on two powerful evenings with Nova survivor Ela Levgoren.
For the first event, we partnered with several Jewish organizations to bring Ela to Western University to tell her story of surviving Nova, and her journey of recovery and strength.
The second evening with Ela was a partnership between AVI, Hillel at UofT, StandWithUs Canada, and Hillel at TMU, where Ela spoke about her deeply personal story of resilience, healing, and hope — giving voice to those who can no longer speak and reminding us of the strength of the human spirit.
To see more photos and videos from the event, please click here.
Click the above photo of Lotan and Abhinav to watch!
When our Allyship Advisor Abhinav and Common Ground Ambassador Lotan visited the University of Toronto to engage in dialogue with students on the ancient Jewish-Hindu connection, they brought along traditional snacks from their respective cultures!
What kind of Hindu and Israeli treats did they sample from one another? Who had the superior snack? To watch and find out, please click here.
To watch Abhinav and Lotan engage with students about the ancient Hindu-Jewish connection, please click here.
The theme for our tote bag painting with the ladies of Zeta Beta Omega was Tel Aviv sunset!
The girls of Zeta Beta Omega, representing several campuses across Toronto, recently partnered with AVI on a tote bag painting night! Many of our Common Ground Ambassadors and alumni attended and spoke about their experiences with AVI in Israel.
The theme was Tel Aviv Sunset, which was on brand with our upcoming program to Israel taking place at the end of December.
To see more pics and AVI Student Ambassador Liat talk about her Common Ground Israel experience, please click here.
To learn more and apply to our upcoming Common Ground Israel trip in December, please click here.
Click the above flyer to register
Attention Vancouver students! Join us as we celebrate Jewish and Christian unity at our upcoming Unity Social, hosted in partnership with AVI, the Jewish Student Alliance at UBC, and the Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry of Canada.
📅 Wednesday, November 5th
️ ⏱️ 6pm PST
🍣 Sushi, fun, and allyship
To register, please click here.
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This week we are hosting a Unity Shabbat dinner in partnership with our friends at Hillel Ottawa!
Bring your friends, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, so they can experience an incredible community right on the UOttawa campus.
To register, please click here.
Click the respective flyer of the event you want to attend to register
We are partnering on two inspiring evenings with Shai DeLuca – a respected Israel advocate, acclaimed interior designer, media personality, and AVI friend.
On November 18th at 5:30pm at Western University, Shai will give a workshop on confronting anti-Zionism in media and on campus, sharing personal tools that have helped him along his courageous advocacy journey.
On November 20th at 5:30pm at Toronto Metropolitan University, Shai will share his journey and invites us to see Israel through his eyes, shaped by his experiences as an Israeli, designer, and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.
To register for Shai's Nov. 18th appearance, please click here.
To register for Shai's Nov. 20th appearance, please click here.
Click the above graphic to register
Four of our incredible student allies, representing schools in Alberta, Ontario, and British Columbia, will come together for a panel discussion at our upcoming webinar: Speaking Up Against Jew Hatred: Allies on Campus.
Join us for a powerful conversation featuring four of our AVI Common Ground Ambassadors:
💜 Katie at the University of Ottawa
💙 Emerson at Mount Royal University in Alberta
💛 Tiuana at Western University in Ontario
💚 Joseph at the University of British Columbia
They will share their experiences in fostering allyship, building community, and standing up against antisemitism on campus. Let’s learn how allies are making a difference — and how you can, too.
The panel will be moderated by Jean-Luc, AVI's Alberta Campus Advisor & Advocacy Associate.
📅 November 12, 7:00 PM EST | 5:00 PM MST | 4:00 PM PST
To register, please click here.