Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on June 26, 2020

Bnai Brith Canada launched a petition on June 24 calling on York University in Toronto to take action against a professor for equating Zionism with white supremacy.

According to a press release from Bnai Brith Canada, York University Osgoode Hall Law Professor Faisal Bhabha said during a June 10 panel that Zionism is just Jewish supremacy. He later doubled down, saying, I am equating Zionism with white supremacy. Bhabha also said it was possible that Israel is exaggerating the Holocaust.

The notion that Zionism, which merely calls for Jewish statehood in the Jewish homeland no different than most other national movements is a uniquely evil form of supremacy, is a false and dangerous allegation, the petition stated. Mr. Bhabhas twisting of Zionism rhetorically transforms hundreds of thousands of Canadian Jews into Jewish supremacists.

Additionally, Bhabhas Holocaust comment is likely to sow hatred and division when no basis for it exists.

The petition concluded with a call for York University to remove Bhabha from teaching any human rights courses.

Any version of human rights that does not include a firm rejection of anti-Semitism is ethically and morally bankrupt, the petition stated. Students at York University and Osgoode Hall Law School deserve better.

Bnai Brith Canada CEO Michael Mostyn said in a statement, Now is the time for York to show that its commitment to fighting anti-Semitism includes concrete actions, not just words. In our opinion, someone who believes that the vast majority of Canadian Jews subscribe to Jewish supremacy and that the Jewish State might plausibly have exaggerated the Holocaust is clearly unfit to teach anyone about human rights.

The university did not respond to the Journals request for comment.

On June 2, York University President and Vice Chancellor Rhonda Lenton announced that the university would be taking measures to address anti-Semitism on campus after violence broke out during protests against a pro-Israel speaking event in November. The measures included adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism and making it clear when protests stop being peaceful.

York is not immune from anti-Semitism, nor are we unique in grappling with its manifestations within our community, Lenton said. The University has been clear: we condemn anti-Semitism in all its forms, just as we condemn Islamophobia, anti-Black racism, anti-Asian racism, anti-Indigenous racism, and any discrimination and hate based on national origin, race, religion, creed, ability, gender, or sexual orientation.

She added: We cannot police the beliefs of our community members, but we can strengthen our policies and procedures to protect our community from abhorrent views and actions. We also have an important role to play in addressing discrimination through research and education.

See the article here:
B'nai Brith Canada Calls on York University to Discipline Professor for Comparing Zionism to White Supremacy - Jewish Journal

Category: Zionism
Tags: