Recap: Understanding Israel, Iran, and the moment we’re in

PLUS: BBQ with U of T students, AVI's Director of Education engages high school students, Indigenous and Iranian allies speak out, and more!

AVI's Founder Daniel Koren got called to the stage at Prosserman JCC's “Town Hall: Understanding Israel, Iran & The Moment We’re In”

With the Iran-Israel war making waves globally, people beyond the Middle East needed answers and a better understanding of the geopolitical tensions in the region.

In response, Prosserman JCC hosted its “Town Hall: Understanding Israel, Iran & The Moment We’re In” event earlier this week in Toronto. Our Founder and Executive Director Daniel Koren was brought up to the stage to offer his perspective on the climate on Canadian campuses from October 7th to the present war.

The program was hosted in partnership with Allied Voices for Israel (AVI), UJA Federation of Greater Toronto, and Beyond the Echoes. It included an intro from Jonathan Conricus, Sr. Fellow at at Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), and a panel discussion between Gadeer Kamal-Mreeh, a groundbreaking voice in Israeli society as the first Druze woman elected to the Knesset, and Kaveh Shahrooz, a lawyer and advocate with the Iranian Justice Collective.

This was more than an event — it was a call to clarity, courage & connection. Together, we explored the geopolitical realities on the ground and the impact felt here at home, especially within Jewish and Iranian diaspora communities.⁠

For some of Daniel's insightful soundbites during the panel, please click here.

Click on the above image to watch a recap of our pre-Canada Day BBQ with U of T students in Toronto

We were thrilled to partner on a pre-Canada Day BBQ at Christie Pitts Park this week with students attending from University of Toronto, McGill, and other campuses.

It was a fun day of solidarity, allyship, and hearing various perspectives across the political spectrum. Such a great way to kick off the summer.

We had a chance to discuss our mission, MPP to Thornhill Laura Smith came out to schmooze with the students, and MPP to Willowdale Stan Cho showed up to give a few words of support.

To watch a recap of this fun event, please click here.

Toronto Diller Teens participated in a session on understanding Jewish indigeneity, led by our Director of Education Gabriela Rosenblum

Our Director of Education Gabriela Rosenblum led a session on understanding Jewish Indigeneity with a great group of Diller Teen Fellows in Toronto. 

For more photos, please click here. 

Gabriela also engaged students at King David High School in Vancouver!

We had a nice visit at King David High School in Vancouver earlier this month! Gabriela set up a table of our educational materials and had great conversations with students. Plus, our new AVI hats were definitely a hit.

It was very meaningful to spend time connecting with students, talk about identity, and celebrate King David's graduating class.

Thank you to everyone who came by and to the school for welcoming us so warmly.

For more photos, please click here. 

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Click on the above still to hear from Chief Reggie David Neeposh, Chief of the Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation in Northern Quebec

Chief Reggie David Neeposh, Chief of the Oujé-Bougoumou Cree Nation in Northern Quebec from 2011 to 2015, gives a message of support to Israel and AVI's mission to unite people of all backgrounds against hatred. 

“As an Indigenous person, it is both an honour and a privilege to support lsrael,” says Reggie.

This video is part of our Indigenous Heritage Month series, in partnership with Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF) and Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem. 

To watch the full video, please click here. 

Click the above still to watch Shermineh's message to Iranian Canadians 

At the conclusion of the Iran-Israel war, our incredible Iranian ally Shermineh Esmati Novak gives her perspective as an Iranian from the Canadian diaspora.

“Iranian Canadians and all diaspora across the globe and in Iran are peace-seeking,” says Shermineh. 

To watch the full video, please click here. 

Click the above image to read the full piece

Dr. Ragini Sharma, President of Canadian Organization for Hindu Heritage Education (COHHE) and AVI ally, was published in The Toronto Sun this week on her experience visiting the NOVA Festival Exhibit.Dr. Sharma attended an event at the exhibit hosted by AVI and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. 

“The ideology that drove the NOVA massacre is not confined to one place. Nor is it ancient history. It thrives wherever hatred is allowed to spread unchecked through radicalization, propaganda, and the willful blindness of those who excuse it. Here in Canada, we must confront this reality. Antisemitism is rising. Violent hate is on our streets,” writes Ragini. 

“We must stand united — Jews, Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, and all Canadians — in affirming the dignity of every human being. We must name the ideologies that seek to divide and destroy, and refuse to normalize them in our schools, media, or public discourse.” 

To read OPINION: Why Canadians should bear witness to the NOVA massacre, please click here.

This week, our #allyspotlight is brave Muslim resident of Northern Israel Raja Khatib

“Brotherhood binds all of us. That missile that came from Iran, they're Muslims, right? And I'm a Muslim. Is there a difference? The missile didn't choose Raja Khatib the Muslim and go to Avi or to Moshe? It doesn't distinguish.”

Heartbreaking words from Raja Khatib, an Israeli Muslim whose wife, Manar, and two daughters, Hala and Shada, were murdered when an Iranian regime missile struck their home in northern Israel. The Iranian regime does not differentiate between Muslims, Christians, Druze, or Jews — its terror targets all.

May the memories of Manar, Hala, and Shada Khatib forever be a blessing.