CIJA Legal Rapid Response Team
You hear the stories every day. Stories of antisemitism experienced by your friends, your family, your neighbours, your colleagues, and so many others.
We don’t need to tell you about the huge spike in antisemitism experienced by Jews here at home and around the world – we’re all living it.
At CIJA, we’ve focused especially on the problem in schools and universities. Simply put, administrators have failed to address Jew-hatred in our educational institutions. Universities and schools have, all too often, failed to keep our students safe.
Let’s be clear – all students, all faculty members, staff, and administrators are entitled to a safe learning or working environment. This should not be the exception, it should be the rule. But, to ensure safe academic environments, we need people who are willing and ready to step up and say something about hateful incidents on campus. We need to know when they happen, where it happens, and, most importantly, to whom they happen.
To take effective action, we need you to be willing to lend your name. So many of these incidents can’t go further in any investigative process without people officially coming forward. In legal terms: without a named plaintiff, there is no case.
We know it’s not easy. We recognize that. We also know allowing antisemitism to go unchecked doesn’t make Jewish lives easier – it makes them exponentially harder.
That’s why, in the wake of the rise in antisemitism in Canada since October 7, we’ve set up a special Legal Rapid Response Team that is here to help you. Our volunteer lawyers will represent you pro bono in any preliminary, investigative or legal proceedings. You will not be liable for costs, as those would be covered. The whole Jewish community stands with you.
We are committed to exploring every possible alternative, including formal legal proceedings, to protect Jews at schools, universities, and colleges in Canada.
If you or your children are the subject of antisemitism or are aware of antisemitic incidents, please let us know:
LTF-War@CIJA.ca
If you experienced something, please say something.
We need your help in this.
Sincerely,
Nanette Rosen and Mark Freiman
Co-Chairs, Legal Task Force
Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs