Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy
Encyclopedia
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) (formerly the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy) 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
(and the Quebec-Israel Committee), the Canadian Jewish Congress
/United Jewish Appeal
and National Jewish Campus Life. It is the advocacy arm of the United Israel Appeal in Canada. Due to a restructuring effective July 1, 2011, these subsidiary organizations were dissolved with CIJA assuming their functions and responsibilities.
The CIJA's chief executive officer was Hershell Ezrin
, who served in that position until his retirement at the end of 2010. The group's current CEO is Shimon Fogel
, former CEO of the Canada-Israel Committee
.
CJIA's lobbying and outreach efforts have included meetings and functions that attract high-ranking members of the Canadian government, including the prime minister, and it has financed trips to Israel for Canadian officials and thought leaders. The CIJA's creation has been criticized as an attempt to "corporatize" the funding structure of Jewish community organizations and tie them to pro-Israel
lobbying
.
In April 2008, CIJA was at the center of a global controversy when Iran
objected to its receiving non-governmental organization
accreditation for a United Nations
conference on racism
; CIJA withdrew its accreditation request.
In 2011, CIJA assumed its current name following an 18-month restructuring process in which the functions of the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canada-Israel Committee, Quebec-Israel Committee, National Jewish Campus Life and the University Outreach Committee were consolidated.
Canada-Israel Committee
The Canada-Israel Committee was the official representative of the organized Canadian Jewish community on matters pertaining to Canada-Israel relations....
(and the Quebec-Israel Committee), the Canadian Jewish Congress
Canadian Jewish Congress
The 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...
/United Jewish Appeal
United Jewish Appeal
The United Jewish Appeal was a Jewish philanthropic umbrella organization that existed from its creation in 1949 until it was folded into the United Jewish Communities, which was formed from the 1999 merger of United Jewish Appeal , Council of Jewish Federations and United Israel Appeal, Inc.In...
and National Jewish Campus Life. It is the advocacy arm of the United Israel Appeal in Canada. Due to a restructuring effective July 1, 2011, these subsidiary organizations were dissolved with CIJA assuming their functions and responsibilities.
The CIJA's chief executive officer was Hershell Ezrin
Hershell Ezrin
Hershell Ezrin was the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy, a national lobby group which funds the Canadian Jewish Congress and is linked with the United Jewish Appeal across Canada. He retired from CIJA in 2010...
, who served in that position until his retirement at the end of 2010. The group's current CEO is Shimon Fogel
Shimon Fogel
Shimon Koffler Fogel is the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy . He assumed the position on January 1, 2011 as part of an impending restructuring of Jewish agencies in Canada that resulted in the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canada-Israel Committee and...
, former CEO of the Canada-Israel Committee
Canada-Israel Committee
The Canada-Israel Committee was the official representative of the organized Canadian Jewish community on matters pertaining to Canada-Israel relations....
.
CJIA's lobbying and outreach efforts have included meetings and functions that attract high-ranking members of the Canadian government, including the prime minister, and it has financed trips to Israel for Canadian officials and thought leaders. The CIJA's creation has been criticized as an attempt to "corporatize" the funding structure of Jewish community organizations and tie them to pro-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
.
In April 2008, CIJA was at the center of a global controversy when Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
objected to its receiving non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
accreditation for a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
conference on racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
; CIJA withdrew its accreditation request.
In 2011, CIJA assumed its current name following an 18-month restructuring process in which the functions of the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canada-Israel Committee, Quebec-Israel Committee, National Jewish Campus Life and the University Outreach Committee were consolidated.
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...
- B'nai Brith CanadaB'nai Brith CanadaB'nai Brith Canada is the Canadian section of B'nai Brith . It was founded in 1875 and is the country's oldest Jewish service organization.-Members:...
- Independent Jewish Voices (Canada)
- 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....
External links
- Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
- AIPAC North by Dan Freeman-Maloy