Activists Use Passover To Criticize Israel At Canadian University

Image by Facebook

By Daniel J. Solomon April 14, 2017

Palestinian activists at Canada’s Concordia University are facing charges of cultural appropriation after organizing a “Passover Against Apartheid” event that included a discussion about an anti-Zionist revision to the holiday’s traditional “next year in Jerusalem” blessing.

“This is more than Israel bashing. It’s an antisemitic slap in the face to every Jew and I think they crossed the line,” said Harvey Levine, regional director of B’nai Brith’s chapter in Quebec province.

“Come and learn about how Passover can be a time to analyze the oppression in our communities, and practice solidarity with Palestinians in the face of Israel’s apartheid state,” a flier circulated for the event read. It also included discussion questions, including “What blessings can we use to replace ‘Next year in Jerusalem?’”

“Passover Against Apartheid” – put together by the Concordia Student Union, the Fine Arts Student Alliance and Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights groups – included sponsorship from no Jewish organizations.

The event came to light after Eden Moalem, a pro-Israel advocate and Concordia student, notified the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which circulated the story on the Web.

_Contact Daniel J. Solomon at [email protected] or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon–

Daniel J. Solomon is the former Assistant to the Editor/News Writer at the Forward. Originally from Queens, he attended Harvard as an undergraduate, where he wrote his senior thesis on French-Jewish intellectual history. He is excited to have returned to New York after his time in Massachusetts. Daniel’s passions include folk music, cycling, and pointed argument.