Monday night at Queen's: we are not powerless

Last night, E. and I were at Queen's University in Kingston for a terrific event hosted by the Jewish Law Students' Association, with support from B'nai Brith, the Network of Engaged Canadian Academics and the broader Kingston Jewish community. About 150 people attended - and many more watched online, I'm told. I was honoured to be there to talk about my book The Hidden Hand, (now number two on the Amazon political bestseller lists) and our documentary The Campaign (which has started showings across North America).

We discussed the antisemitic information war, terrorism and propaganda, and domestic politics. And there was quite a lot of discussion of the terrible events in Belleville. Below is a bit from my speech, aimed at the students present.

Thanks to JLSA and Kingston folks for hosting me!

"Let's take a look at the events of the past few days.

A madman with a shotgun went to a synagogue in Belleville Ontario with the intention of slaughtering 25 people who had gathered for Yom Kippur. He was only stopped because of the heroic actions of two Belleville police officers, one of whom barely survived. That is what they mean when they say "globalizing the Intifada."

A couple days later, I revealed in my newspaper column that a veteran and award-winning CBC news reporter, Neil Herland, had been suspended by CBC. What was his offence? He filmed and posted a mob screaming antisemitic epithets and threats, as Jews were going into a Yom Kippur service in Toronto.

In the midst of all of that, our Prime Minister pledged $100 million to a state governed by a designated terrorist entity. He also restated his year-old recognition of Palestine, a state governed by Hamas.

That is just what has happened in the past week. One week. That doesn’t even include the ongoing online propaganda campaign I’ve described to you.

As citizens, I know you are as frustrated and angry about all of that as I am. As Jews, I know that you are hurt and in some cases afraid of what is happening to this country.

As students at law, you are wondering what you can do.

That is the final thing I wanted to talk to you about. In this place, you are being equipped with the knowledge in the means to push back on the hatred we now see everywhere. You are being given the skills and the wherewithal to create a more tolerant and just society.

Although it may seem like you are around exam time, you are not powerless. All of you – every single one of you – can play a critical role in combating antisemitism and hatred. You are not powerless."