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Gerardo, Baharak, et al:
The statement attached to Baharak’s e-mail uses Heather Reisman’s past support of CIJA as a justification for targeting her. Heather is not on the Board and has no other public leadership role at CIJA.
CIJA is a mainstream Jewish advocacy organization.
I generally support CIJA (with the occasional minor caveat or disagreement).
Baharak, Gerardo, Leanna, and Behraad: should I also be a target?
Heather is a prominent member of the same large Reform synagogue in Toronto I went to growing up (though we haven't met personally). The lead rabbi there consistently
speaks in favour of a two-state solution and teaches us to care about the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians. This is the type of Jew you deem worthy of targeting.
David Freeman From: James Fleming <james_fleming@sfu.ca>
Sent: November 29, 2023 6:43:25 PM To: Behraad Bahreyni; power@sfu.ca; Leanna Jantzi; Rachel Altman; Baharak Yousefi; Gerardo Otero Cc: academic-discussion@sfu.ca Subject: Re: York professor among those charged in Indigo store vandalism (The Globe and Mail (BC Edition)), Nov 25, 2023 In my judgment, since you ask (rather than answering), it is manifest that the attack on the NYPL occurred solely because its building has a Jewish name on the side, and was associated with Israel on exactly that basis, and no other, by the attackers.
And in my judgment the attack on Indigo occurred for exactly the same appalling reason. JDF
James Dougal Fleming Professor, Department of English Simon Fraser University Burnaby/Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The truth is an offence, but not a sin. -- Bob Marley From: Behraad Bahreyni
Sent: November 29, 2023 6:31:25 PM To: James Fleming; power@sfu.ca; Leanna Jantzi; Rachel Altman; Baharak Yousefi; Gerardo Otero Cc: academic-discussion@sfu.ca Subject: RE: York professor among those charged in Indigo store vandalism (The Globe and Mail (BC Edition)), Nov 25, 2023 I do not know James. Please use your information and judgment to see if in your opinion the event was motivated by actions of Israel or actions of jews. The two are not the same.
From: James Fleming <james_fleming@sfu.ca>
Does the same analysis hold for the recent vandalism at the main branch of the New York Public Library (now named after donor Steven Schwartzmann)?
From: Behraad Bahreyni
In your example, the event would likely be hate-motivated, possibly targeting Islam. However, in the actual story, the CEO (not a religious leader) of Indigo (not a sinagog) was targeted, likely because of their support for Israel (not being jews).
From:
power@sfu.ca <power@sfu.ca>
If in the night a Toronto mosque were spattered with 'blood' and had posters attacking its imam plastered over it should we not agree that this is a regrettable act of hateful lslamophobic vandalism whatever the beliefs of the imam? And that charges are merited? If suspects are identified and arrested and we sympathize with their politics should we gloss it over in order to support them with critiques of the police and the charges and the imam and his politics/religion?
From: James Fleming <james_fleming@sfu.ca>
1. "Targetting Israel is not anti-Semitic." From: Leanna Jantzi <leanna_jantzi@sfu.ca>
It's interesting to note that the JFN's launch event (link shared below) was a "press conference in support of the recent motion of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) challenging the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism (IHRA)."
For further context (and to offer an example of a national organization that does not support the IHRA definition) here’s information from CAUT's 2021 Council, where "Council delegates unanimously passed a resolution to oppose the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition of Antisemitism (IHRA) at Canadian universities and colleges, citing threats to academic freedom on Canadian campuses" and an editorial posted on CAUT's website.
I think the JFN’s letter provides a very helpful and thoughtful voice to the reasons why the protest at the Indigo store is not a hate-motivated crime; rather it is a protest against the actions of the State of Israel and the CEO of Indigo’s sponsorship of the Lone Soldier Program. Being charged with vandalism may be a risk that protestors accept. Charging protestors with a “hate motivated” crime and breaking into their homes to make arrests – that I find unconscionable.
Leanna
From: Rachel Altman <rachel_altman@sfu.ca>
I, for one, am really tired of the (ab)use of the views of a small proportion of Jews to justify antisemitism and the demonization of Israel. IHRA is very widely accepted in Jewish circles, which is why so many countries, organizations, regions (including the city of Vancouver) and have adopted it. To deny this fact is to deny Jews' understanding of and experience with antisemitism. And holding up this letter -- or statements from fringe groups such as Independent Jewish Voices -- as evidence that this crime (yes, vandalism is a crime, not a peaceful protest!) was justified is, frankly, unconscionable.
Rachel
From: Baharak Yousefi <byousefi@sfu.ca>
Dear Gerardo,
I thought you may be interested in the attached letter sent by the Jewish Faculty Network to Mayor Olivia Chow and others.
Apologies for the JPEG format. I am sharing it from this Twitter/X post. While this particular letter is signed collectively, over 170 Jewish scholars from across the country signed the Network's 2021 statement against the IHRA definition of antisemitism. You can see their names here:
https://jewishfaculty.ca/jewish-faculty-against-the-ihra-defn/
And a link to JFN's launch event for anyone interested in learning more.
All best, Baharak
From: Gerardo Otero <otero@sfu.ca>
Among other things, this article tells the story of tremendous abuse of police power in Toronto against a professor engaged in protest.
York professor among those charged in Indigo store vandalism SEAN FINE JUSTICE WRITER
The Globe and Mail (BC Edition) Nov 25, 2023
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