Opinion: Universities get failing grade on antisemitism

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The Abraham Global Peace Initiative’s annual report card on antisemitism on Canadian campuses, which was released this week, highlights the serious problems our universities have with antisemitism, anti-Zionism and anti-Jewish hate. Out of 52 universities, three institutions received an F, five received a D and 10 found themselves in the C category. Given this poor performance, some faculty members are starting to fight back.

After CUPE local 3903, which represents teaching assistants and contract staff at York University in Toronto, began circulating a “toolkit” calling on TAs to hijack classes and use them to promote anti-Israel views, numerous faculty members decided to withdraw from the Osgoode Hall Law School’s family law skills and practice program. As a result, Victoria Watkins, Osgoode’s assistant dean, in a leaked email to faculty on Wednesday, announced the cancellation of the program for this academic year.

It was a small victory, but more people need to stand up and take action. In recent years, Canada has grappled with a concerning surge in antisemitism, a sentiment that has permeated the hallowed halls of our educational institutions. While the rise of antisemitism in Canada is not a new phenomenon, our report delves into the less-explored territory of its manifestation within the academic sphere.

While much attention has been focused on antisemitic incidents globally — notably in the United States, where Congress recently launched an investigation into antisemitism at elite universities — our new report turns the lens inward, asking Canadians to reflect on how our institutes of higher learning have just as many problems as those south of the border.

The schools that scored an F on our report card — those with the most reports of antisemitic incidents and the lowest institutional commitment to promoting inclusivity and protecting Jewish students — were Concordia University, the University of Toronto and York.

On the other side of the ledger, the universities that received an A include: Acadia, Algoma, Brock, Cape Breton University, École de technologie supérieure, HEC Montréal, Lakehead, Laval, Memorial, Mount Saint Vincent, Nipissing, Polytechnique Montréal, Saint Mary’s, Thompson Rivers, University of King’s College, University of Montreal, University of Northern British Columbia, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, UQAM, University of Saskatchewan, Sherbrooke and Wilfrid Laurier.

The release of our report comes four months after Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel, which offered a stark reminder of the urgency of our mission. The Oct. 7 massacre has seemingly unleashed a troubling wave of antisemitism, normalization of hate and an apparent acceptance of anti-Jewish sentiments on Canadian campuses.

What is particularly disconcerting is how antisemitism is camouflaged under the umbrella of anti-Zionism, often shielded by equity, diversity and inclusion policies and the guise of academic freedom. While many universities received commendable grades on our grading rubric, the report reveals a system in which antisemitism thrives under the pretext of challenging Zionist ideology.

Instances of on-campus antisemitism are multifaceted, with Jewish students and groups facing targeted harassment. Jewish dorms have been subjected to the theft of mezuzot, ritual scrolls placed on doorposts in Jewish homes, while anti-Zionist propaganda infiltrates lectures and academic materials. Disturbingly, students report feeling harassed and intimidated through comments made by their instructors, which creates an environment in which being Jewish is unjustly stigmatized.

Academic institutions have traditionally been spaces for free expression and critical thinking, but our report highlights a concerning shift. The infusion of pro-Hamas narratives in guest lectures, the unjust comparison of Israel to Nazi Germany and the labelling of recognized terrorist entities as “resistance” and “freedom” fighters have distorted historical realities and fuelled a new wave of antisemitism.

So often, history students ask, “How did the Holocaust happen?” Unfortunately, the manner in which Jews were denigrated and persecuted is now happening right before our eyes in academia. Addressing the root causes of antisemitism requires collaborative efforts from academic institutions, students and policymakers.

While universities are put under the microscope for failing to devise and enforce authentic and sustainable policies that protect all students — regardless of their race, religion, creed or colour — our report sets out to start a conversation with these schools and help them understand what upholding the principles of academic freedom while fostering an atmosphere of true inclusivity looks like.

Universities must re-evaluate their commitment to genuine academic freedom, and ensure that inclusive environments truly embrace diversity, including the Jewish community. As Canadians, we must collectively reject the insidious normalization of hate and work towards fostering campuses that embody the values of tolerance, understanding and true academic freedom.

Our report serves as a call to action for Canadians to recognize and address the alarming rise of antisemitism within our academic institutions. Our collective responsibility is to create a society that values diversity, promotes understanding and stands against all forms of discrimination. Only through a genuine commitment to these principles can we hope to build a future where our educational institutions truly embody the ideals of peace, tolerance and coexistence.

National Post

Avi Benlolo is the founder and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative; Neil Orlowsky is the organization’s director of education.