B'nai Brith Canada
Encyclopedia
B'nai Brith Canada is the Canadian section of B'nai Brith (the Canadian organization uses no apostrophe in "Brith"). It was founded in 1875 and is the country's oldest Jewish service organization.
, B'nai Brith Canada had 4,000 full-dues paying members in 2007. At one time, the organization was struggling financially and mortgaged its head office in order to raise $850,000 to meet expenses.
as a subsidiary publication. The newspaper claims a circulation of over 62,000 copies a week which would make it the largest Jewish publication in Canada.
, executive director of the Islamic Social Services Association, filed a formal complaint against B'nai Brith Canada under the "discriminatory signs and statements" section of the Manitoba Human Rights Code. After speaking with several people who attended a Winnipeg conference on terrorism hosted by B'nai Brith Canada in October 2003, she wrote that the event was biased against Muslims and would encourage the response teams in attendance to engage in racial profiling. The Manitoba Human Rights Commission (MHRC) accepted the complaint and began an investigation that would last five years. In 2009, the MHRC issued a report that dismissed the complaint due to a lack of evidence. MHRC vice-chairwoman Yvonne Peters subsequently wrote that "the full investigation of the complaint that took place was warranted" and that "the decision was based solely on the insufficiency of the evidence with respect to this particular section of the Human Rights Code."
An editorial in the National Post
made several criticisms of the investigation:
David Matas
, B'nai Brith's senior counsel, accused MHRC vice-chairwoman Yvonne Peters of taking a contradictory position, stating that:
resigned from his position as the Ontario
chairman of B’nai Brith Canada’s Institute for International Affairs after making statements on The Michael Coren Show
defending the use of "terror"
tactics by Israel against Palestinians. B'nai Brith Canada disavowed his opinions.
that "[t]here’s too much of [B’nai Brith Canada] being run by one person.” Frank Dimant, CEO of BBC, responded to the criticism over the constitution by saying that BBC followed proper governance procedures and that B'nai Brith International's Court of Appeal determined that the constitution was properly enacted. Gimpel and seven other BBC members were expelled in June 2008 for what a disciplinary committee determined to be "conduct unbecoming a member." Gimpel referred to the committee as a kangaroo court
.
for hiring Hassan Diab
, who was alleged by French authorities to have been responsible for the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing
. Diab was living under virtual house arrest at the time (he had been granted bail but under very strict conditions) due to an extradition request from France. Diab, who has denied any involvement with the synagogue bombing, has not been convicted of any crime. Within a few hours of the B'nai Brith Canada complaint, Carleton University announced that it would “immediately replace the current instructor, Hassan Diab" in order to provide students “with a stable, productive academic environment that is conducive to learning.” B’nai Brith executive vice-president Frank Dimant later stated that "the university did the right thing.”
, CEO of B'nai Brith, said "overall, feedback from the ad has been very positive." At the same time, the ad drew the ire of the group Canadian Jewish Holocaust Survivors and the Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims.
Affordable Housing
Community Volunteer Service Programs
League for Human Rights
24-hour, 7-day-a-week Anti-Hate Hotline
Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents
Institute for International Affairs
Canadian Israel Public Affairs Committee (CIPAC)
Government Relations Office
National Task Force on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research
Operation Thank You: Educational Initiative Honouring Canadian Troops in Afghanistan
Communications Department
Legal Desk
Campus Outreach Program
Young Leadership Development Groups
Network of B'nai Brith Lodges
Sports Leagues
Jewish Canada Information Service
Alzheimer's Residence, Toronto
was awarded B'nai B'rith International's Presidential Gold Medal to honor what it described as his commitment to the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
Award-winning film producer Robert Lantos
has been a long-time supporter of B'nai Brith Canada and in 2008 was awarded the organization's Award of Merit. Among the other Canadian notables to have received the Award of Merit of B'nai Brith Canada are Lindsay Gordon, Blake Goldring, Frank Stronach
, Tony Comper, Al Waxman
, Wallace McCain
, Lloyd Axworthy
, Mayor Jean Drapeau
, George Cohon
, Leo Kolber
, former Liberal Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin
, hockey legend Jean Béliveau
, Paul Tellier
, former Ontario Premier Bill Davis
, Ambassador Allan Gotlieb
, Monty Hall
, Surjit Babra and Walter Arbib, Izzy Asper
, Guy Charbonneau
, former Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon
, former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Herb Gray
, former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed
, Edward Samuel (Ted) Rogers, and former Alberta Premier Ernest Manning
.
Members
According to an article in The ForwardThe Forward
The Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
, B'nai Brith Canada had 4,000 full-dues paying members in 2007. At one time, the organization was struggling financially and mortgaged its head office in order to raise $850,000 to meet expenses.
Publications
B'nai Brith Canada owns and operates the weekly Jewish TribuneThe Jewish Tribune (Canada)
The Jewish Tribune is a privately owned community-based weekly Jewish newspaper published by B'nai Brith Canada.The Tribune has a circulation of 60,410 copies a week which makes it the largest Jewish weekly publication in Canada...
as a subsidiary publication. The newspaper claims a circulation of over 62,000 copies a week which would make it the largest Jewish publication in Canada.
Hezbollah terror designation
On November 29, 2002, B'nai Brith Canada sued the Canadian government for "failing to crack down on the fundraising efforts of Hezbollah", by not adding Hezbollah's charity wing to the list of banned terrorist organizations; the military wing of Hezbollah was already listed, but not the entire organization. About a week later, Canada made the decision to designate all of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.Investigation by MHRC
In January 2004, Shahina SiddiquiShahina Siddiqui
Shahina Siddiqui is Executive Director of the Islamic Social Services Association Canada, which according to its brochure is "a charitable organization which works in collaboration with and integrated into mainstream human services to provide family, health and social welfare services, inclusive...
, executive director of the Islamic Social Services Association, filed a formal complaint against B'nai Brith Canada under the "discriminatory signs and statements" section of the Manitoba Human Rights Code. After speaking with several people who attended a Winnipeg conference on terrorism hosted by B'nai Brith Canada in October 2003, she wrote that the event was biased against Muslims and would encourage the response teams in attendance to engage in racial profiling. The Manitoba Human Rights Commission (MHRC) accepted the complaint and began an investigation that would last five years. In 2009, the MHRC issued a report that dismissed the complaint due to a lack of evidence. MHRC vice-chairwoman Yvonne Peters subsequently wrote that "the full investigation of the complaint that took place was warranted" and that "the decision was based solely on the insufficiency of the evidence with respect to this particular section of the Human Rights Code."
An editorial in the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
made several criticisms of the investigation:
- B'nai Brith Canada was never told of the identity of the people Shahina Siddiqui based her complaint on.
- It has never been revealed what exactly is alleged to have been said at the conference.
- MHRC investigator, Tracy Lloyd, spoke with seven anonymous witnesses, including one as late as November 2006. However, only one, a city of Winnipeg employee, shared Siddiqui's criticism that the conference was "one-sided." One of the witnesses, a diversity relations officer, stated that it was "pretty professional," and said police in general are capable of putting almost anything they hear into proper context.
- The MHRC commissioned a "secret expert report" but refused B'nai Brith's request to know the expert's identity, mandate or material provided. The secret report has still not been made public.
David Matas
David Matas
David Matas is the senior legal counsel of B'nai Brith Canada. He has maintained a private practice in refugee, immigration and human rights law since 1979. He has published various books and manuscripts and currently resides in Winnipeg....
, B'nai Brith's senior counsel, accused MHRC vice-chairwoman Yvonne Peters of taking a contradictory position, stating that:
"So what they're saying is that a full investigation is warranted even when there's no evidence, as long as the accusation is within the jurisdiction of the board. There's a lot of problems with this. What basically happened is that Siddiqui heard a rumour. She makes a complaint, as a result of which the commission goes on a five-year fishing expedition. They don't find anything. We're co-operating with them. And then they dismiss the complaint. That's not a proper procedure, in my view."
Aptowitzer resignation
In 2004, Adam AptowitzerAdam Aptowitzer
Adam Aptowitzer is a tax and charity lawyer in Ottawa, Canada. He studied at the University of Ottawa Law School and subsequently opened his own law firm in Toronto, Canada in 2002...
resigned from his position as the Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
chairman of B’nai Brith Canada’s Institute for International Affairs after making statements on The Michael Coren Show
The Michael Coren Show
The Michael Coren Show is an hour-long Ontario-based panel show hosted by Michael Coren which deals with current events and social issues. It aired weeknights on the Crossroads Television System, a multi-faith television network with affiliates in Ontario and Alberta...
defending the use of "terror"
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
tactics by Israel against Palestinians. B'nai Brith Canada disavowed his opinions.
Internal dispute
In 2007, a group calling itself Concerned Members of B’nai Brith Canada charged that a new constitution had been passed despite a majority of members having voted against it at a general meeting. Henry Gimpel, a former Toronto lodge president, told The ForwardThe Forward
The Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
that "[t]here’s too much of [B’nai Brith Canada] being run by one person.” Frank Dimant, CEO of BBC, responded to the criticism over the constitution by saying that BBC followed proper governance procedures and that B'nai Brith International's Court of Appeal determined that the constitution was properly enacted. Gimpel and seven other BBC members were expelled in June 2008 for what a disciplinary committee determined to be "conduct unbecoming a member." Gimpel referred to the committee as a kangaroo court
Kangaroo court
A kangaroo court is "a mock court in which the principles of law and justice are disregarded or perverted".The outcome of a trial by kangaroo court is essentially determined in advance, usually for the purpose of ensuring conviction, either by going through the motions of manipulated procedure or...
.
Hassan Diab
In July 2009, B'nai Brith Canada issued a press release denouncing Carleton UniversityCarleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
for hiring Hassan Diab
Hassan Diab
Hassan Diab is a sociology lecturer at the University of Ottawa and Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada who was arrested in 2008 for an alleged role in the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing. On June 6, 2011, a judge in Ottawa agreed to a French request to extradite Diab to France for trial...
, who was alleged by French authorities to have been responsible for the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing
1980 Paris synagogue bombing
On October 3, 1980, the eve of Simchat Torah, a bomb went off outside the Union Libérale Israélite de France synagogue on Rue Copernic, Paris. Four people were killed and more than forty injured. The bomb, consisting of about of Semtex explosives, had been hidden in the saddlebags of a motorcycle...
. Diab was living under virtual house arrest at the time (he had been granted bail but under very strict conditions) due to an extradition request from France. Diab, who has denied any involvement with the synagogue bombing, has not been convicted of any crime. Within a few hours of the B'nai Brith Canada complaint, Carleton University announced that it would “immediately replace the current instructor, Hassan Diab" in order to provide students “with a stable, productive academic environment that is conducive to learning.” B’nai Brith executive vice-president Frank Dimant later stated that "the university did the right thing.”
"Unholy Alliance" ad
On November 9, 2009, B'nai Brith Canada ran a full page ad in the National Post comparing radical Islam with Nazism. Frank DimantFrank Dimant
Frank Dimant is Executive Vice President of B'nai Brith Canada and CEO of the organization’s Institute for International Affairs and the League for Human Rights. He is the publisher of The Jewish Tribune....
, CEO of B'nai Brith, said "overall, feedback from the ad has been very positive." At the same time, the ad drew the ire of the group Canadian Jewish Holocaust Survivors and the Canadian Association of Jews and Muslims.
Agencies and Programs of B'nai Brith
Centre for Community ActionAffordable Housing
Community Volunteer Service Programs
League for Human Rights
24-hour, 7-day-a-week Anti-Hate Hotline
Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents
Institute for International Affairs
Canadian Israel Public Affairs Committee (CIPAC)
Government Relations Office
National Task Force on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research
Operation Thank You: Educational Initiative Honouring Canadian Troops in Afghanistan
Communications Department
Legal Desk
Campus Outreach Program
Young Leadership Development Groups
Network of B'nai Brith Lodges
Sports Leagues
Jewish Canada Information Service
Alzheimer's Residence, Toronto
Awards
It was on B'nai Brith Canada's recommendation that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen HarperStephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
was awarded B'nai B'rith International's Presidential Gold Medal to honor what it described as his commitment to the Jewish people and the State of Israel.
Award-winning film producer Robert Lantos
Robert Lantos
-Life and career:Lantos was born in Budapest, the son of Agnes and László Lantos, a mechanic and truck company owner. Lantos spent much of his childhood in Montevideo, Uruguay, where his family had fled after the Hungarian Revolution of 1956...
has been a long-time supporter of B'nai Brith Canada and in 2008 was awarded the organization's Award of Merit. Among the other Canadian notables to have received the Award of Merit of B'nai Brith Canada are Lindsay Gordon, Blake Goldring, Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach, CM is an Austrian-Canadian businessman. He is the founder of Magna International, an international automotive parts company based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, and Magna Entertainment Corp., which specializes in horse-racing entertainment...
, Tony Comper, Al Waxman
Al Waxman
Albert Samuel Waxman, CM, O.Ont was a Canadian actor and director of over 1000 productions on radio, television, film, and stage...
, Wallace McCain
Wallace McCain
G. Wallace F. McCain, was a Canadian businessman, co-founder of McCain Foods Limited. With an estimated net worth of $US 2.3 billion , McCain was ranked by Forbes as the 13th wealthiest Canadian and 512th in the world.- Background :Born in Florenceville, New Brunswick, he received a Bachelor of...
, Lloyd Axworthy
Lloyd Axworthy
Lloyd Norman Axworthy, PC, OC, OM is a prominent Canadian politician, statesman and University President from Manitoba. He is best known for having served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien...
, Mayor Jean Drapeau
Jean Drapeau
Jean Drapeau, was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as mayor of Montreal from 1954 to 1957 and 1960 to 1986...
, George Cohon
George Cohon
George A. Cohon, is an American-born Canadian businessman who is the founder and senior chairman of McDonald's of Canada and McDonald's of Russia....
, Leo Kolber
Leo Kolber
Ernest Leo Kolber, is a Canadian businessman, company director, philanthropist and former Senator.Born in Montreal, Quebec, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1949 and a Bachelor of Law in 1952 from McGill University. He was called to the Bar of Quebec in 1952...
, former Liberal Prime Minister of Canada Paul Martin
Paul Martin
Paul Edgar Philippe Martin, PC , also known as Paul Martin, Jr. is a Canadian politician who was the 21st Prime Minister of Canada, as well as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada....
, hockey legend Jean Béliveau
Jean Béliveau
Jean Arthur "Le Gros Bill" Béliveau, is a former professional ice hockey player who played parts of 20 seasons with the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens. As a player, he won the Stanley Cup 10 times, and as an executive he was part of another seven championship teams, the most Stanley...
, Paul Tellier
Paul Tellier
Paul Mathias Tellier, PC, CC is a Canadian businessman and former public servant. Born in Joliette, Quebec, Tellier was educated at Laval University and the University of Oxford.- Biography :Tellier entered Canada's civil service in the 1970s...
, former Ontario Premier Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
, Ambassador Allan Gotlieb
Allan Gotlieb
Allan Ezra Gotlieb, is a Canadian public servant and author.-Life and career:Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Gotlieb received his BA from the University of California at Berkeley, his MA from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, and his LL.B degree from Harvard University, where he was editor of...
, Monty Hall
Monty Hall
Monte Halperin, OC, OM , better known by the stage name Monty Hall, is a Canadian-born MC, producer, actor, singer and sportscaster, best known as host of the television game show Let's Make a Deal.-Early life:...
, Surjit Babra and Walter Arbib, Izzy Asper
Izzy Asper
Israel Harold "Izzy" Asper, , Canadian tax lawyer and media magnate, was the founder of the now defunct CanWest Global Communications Corp and father to its former CEO and President Leonard Asper, former director and corporate secretary Gail Asper, as well as Executive Vice President David Asper...
, Guy Charbonneau
Guy Charbonneau
Guy Charbonneau, PC was the longest serving Speaker of the Canadian Senate, serving from 1984 to 1993. During his tenure, amendments to the Standing Orders of the Senate extended the powers of the Speaker....
, former Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon
Gary Filmon
Gary Albert Filmon, PC, OC, OM is a Manitoba politician. He was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Manitoba from 1983 to 2000, and served as the 19th Premier from 1988 to 1999.-Early life and municipal career:...
, former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Herb Gray
Herb Gray
Herbert Eser Gray, is a retired Canadian politician. He was Canada's first Jewish federal cabinet minister, and is one of only a few Canadians ever granted the title The Right Honourable who was not so entitled by virtue of a position held.-Early life:Born in Windsor, Ontario, the son of Harry...
, former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed
Peter Lougheed
Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....
, Edward Samuel (Ted) Rogers, and former Alberta Premier Ernest Manning
Ernest Manning
Ernest Charles Manning, , a Canadian politician, was the eighth Premier of Alberta between 1943 and 1968 for the Social Credit Party of Alberta. He served longer than any premier in the province's history, and was the second longest serving provincial premier in Canadian history...
.
See also
- Canadian Jewish CongressCanadian Jewish CongressThe Canadian Jewish Congress was one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country, although it often competed with the more conservative B'nai Brith Canada in that regard. At its dissolution, the president of the CJC was Mark Freiman. Its past co-presidents were Sylvain Abitbol...
- Canada-Israel CommitteeCanada-Israel CommitteeThe Canada-Israel Committee was the official representative of the organized Canadian Jewish community on matters pertaining to Canada-Israel relations....
- Canadian Jewish Political Affairs CommitteeCanadian Jewish Political Affairs CommitteeThe Canadian Jewish Political Affairs Committee , is a Canadian political organization.The Executive Director of CJPAC is Mark Waldman, who has been active with the organization since its establishment....
- Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish AdvocacyCanadian Council for Israel and Jewish AdvocacyThe Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs was founded in 2004 as the principal advocacy, oversight and co-ordinating body for a number of Jewish Canadian organizations including the Canada-Israel Committee , the Canadian Jewish Congress/United Jewish Appeal and National Jewish...
- Independent Jewish Voices (Canada)
- B'nai B'rith Youth Organization
- B'nai B'rith InternationalB'nai B'rithB'nai B'rith International |Covenant]]" is the oldest continually operating Jewish service organization in the world. It was initially founded as the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith in New York City, on , 1843, by Henry Jones and 11 others....