Dear DARA member,

Our social work colleagues require signatures on a petition which urges the inclusion of the study of antisemitism in the social work curriculum while other forms of prejudice are being taught. They face many obstacles, as detailed in this recently published article, ‘The Inclusion Delusion': Confronting antisemitism in social work | Annette Poizner | The Blogs (timesofisrael.com). We ask our supporters to sign the petition and circulate the article, request friends and colleagues to post it on social media and direct their contacts to sign the petition by accessing the link. This urgent matter requires our active support.

Here’s the petition:
Hineni – CAEF Reaching Out to Include Antisemitism in Social Work Curriculum (nationbuilder.com)

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement.

DARA Board of Directors

Click HERE for the full open letter

This is the letter subsequently sent following our meeting:

On behalf of DARA, we would like to thank Mr. Craig Roxborough and Ms. Alex Wong for taking the time and hearing our concerns. As we discussed, our concerns relate to the adjudication and enforcement of CPSO’s forthcoming social media policy.
 
As discussed by Professor Irwin Cotler and others, the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition is helpful in trying to understand/define what anti-Jewish prejudice (antisemitism) is.  The IHRA definition is an anchor as an interpretative tool.  Despite its non-binding nature, its acceptance by various jurisdictions, including the Provincial Govt. and the International Council of Imams, its adoption gives it some weight in the attempt to formulate a policy that is aimed at (among other things) protecting Jewish students/faculty from antisemitic displays coming from CPSO Members.
 
We strongly believe that the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism would serve the CPSO’s interest, as it would provide a framework by which anti-Jewish racism can be adjudicated and enforced, where applicable. Accordingly, we urge the CPSO to adopt the IHRA definition to help inform such policy and adjudication.
 
We thank you for your attentiveness, and look forward to receiving your correspondence.
 
Kind regards,
DARA (Doctors Against Racism and Anti-Semitism) Board of Directors

The CPSO is requesting submissions from CPSO members before the end of day this Friday August 27, 2021. Here’s CPSO link:
http://policyconsult.cpso.on.ca/?page_id=13475

Bearing in mind this deadline, it would be a huge help if as many of us as possible submit our opinions and suggestions to the College. Please take just a few minutes to support this effort.

Thank you all.
Kind regards,
DARA Board of Directors

At an unprecedented town hall event, supported by 34 communal organizations and synagogues from all the major religious denominations of Judaism, a panel of students and professors called on the entire Jewish community to contact the University’s administration and demand the following two actions:

• That the University begin enforcing its own by-laws and policies to protect Jewish students on campus;
• That the University adopt the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism.

The office of university president Meric Gertler can be reached by phone at 416-978-4163 or by email at president@utoronto.ca

Enough is enough. It is time for our entire community to come together as one united voice and demand better from one of our country’s largest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning.

Our collective, unified voice must be heard loudly and clearly – inaction on antisemitism is unacceptable.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF THE EVENT

Mr. President of the Republic of Nicaragua

Daniel Ortega Saavedra

The recent mass firings of doctors and other health care workers in your country speak louder than any policy paper or campaign rally could. In one fell swoop, your administration has undermined the gains your country has made towards democracy, self-determination, improved civil liberties, and your international reputation.

You have no doubt received feedback from concerned observers spanning the public sphere: civil rights groups, religious leaders, heads of governments. Allow us to add our specialized voice to the conversation.

Doctors Against Racism and Anti-Semitism opposes all forms of racism and discrimination in the medical profession. We also oppose violations of the practice rights of physicians, as well as any violations of the civil or human rights of physicians and patients.

Our concerns for Nicaragua are both practical and philosophical.

At a practical level, we want to ensure Nicaraguans receive the health care they need and deserve – both in the short and long term. Highly skilled physicians have emigrated from your country, taking with them years of training and experience. How many of your citizens will perish as a result?

The philosophical point runs deeper, and touches on the values defining present-day Nicaragua. As health practitioners, we care for all patients no matter their beliefs. Doctors who treated protesters in your country were simply doing their job – and obeying their calling. Care is apolitical.

We ask that you immediately reinstate all health practitioners who have been terminated in your country for their treatment of protesters.

Sincerely,

Leon Kadish, MD
Chair, Board of Directors
Doctors Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (DARA)

Two years seems like a long time.

It certainly has been for Rebecca Katzman, who experienced anti-Semitism firsthand at Toronto’s Ryerson University in August 2015.

That’s when staff at the School of Social Work disqualified her choice of placement: UJA Federation of Greater Toronto and the Prosserman Jewish Community Centre.

These very mainstream organizations were, she was told, anti-Palestinian. Katzman could potentially work there – but only if she pledged to preach pro-Palestinian politics.

UJA Federation and Prosserman were disqualified because they were Jewish.

After she complained, senior administrators eventually intervened to apologize to Katzman. But the damage was done. She completed her placement at a different organization, and her Ryerson experience was marred, with a member of our community feeling targeted.

Katzman graduates this year and has gone public with her story for the first time, forced to keep it secret for two years.

Every once in a while, extreme beliefs penetrate the mainstream and demand forceful condemnation.

Extremist anti-Israel activists in Europe have suggested that Jews and Jewish organizations be required to pledge allegiance to their cause – or be deemed offensive and suffer the consequences.

Ryerson has apologized for its horrible behaviour.

Ryerson has said it won’t tolerate anti-Semitism.

But Ryerson refuses to reveal the disciplinary action it says was taken. It declines to detail its steps to guarantee this won’t happen again. It rejects calls to show accountability.

Ordinarily, schools have a right to privacy on internal issues. But this is no ordinary matter. The Jewish community, other minority communities and the general public are questioning Ryerson’s commitment to ethnic diversity. All this, in Canada’s most multicultural city.

We call on Ryerson University to demonstrate the good faith that we have considered a hallmark of this increasingly important institution.

It has been two years. Let’s redress Ryerson’s racism before two more minutes pass.

In less than sixty seconds, you can help by taking action.

Here is what you can do:

Write:

• Lisa Barnoff, Dean at Ryerson’s School of Social Work, at lbarnoff@ryerson.ca
• Mohamed Lachemi, President, pres@ryerson.ca

Here is a sample e-mail that you can use in whole or in part when contacting Ryerson University and its School of Social Work:

E-mail subject line: Redress Anti-Semitism at Ryerson
 

Dear Drs. Lachemi and Barnoff,

The Rebecca Katzman affair at Ryerson’s School of Social Work has no doubt occupied your mind this last little while. I appreciate Ryerson’s statement of apology on the issue.

I would submit, however, that final steps need to be taken to ensure that nothing similar happens again. Katzman’s case is a clear case of anti-Semitism. Whatever one’s position on the Middle East, rejecting Jewish institutions for being Jewish is unacceptable. A student was made to feel targeted at her school of choice – solely because of her ethnicity.

While I appreciate any action taken to this point by administrators, I feel that a departmental failure like this requires more transparency to regain the public’s trust. I agree that internal Ryerson matters should generally remain private, but a larger issue should rule here. Respectfully, I request that you publicize:

• What disciplinary actions have been taken already?
• How can we be sure nothing like this will happen again?
• What protocols and standards are in place to ensure that junior staff members follow appropriate criteria when making decisions like placement qualification?

Ryerson is situated in the vibrant downtown of our country’s most diverse city. As Ryerson continues to grow its profile among Canadian institutions of higher education, I ask that Ryerson lead the way on multiculturalism – and on accountability.

Sincerely,

[your signature]

This week, the City University of New York is scheduled to make a fateful mistake.

The school’s Graduate School of Public Health has invited the pro-Palestinian activist to serve as its commencement speaker.

The gesture is the latest marker of Sarsour’s rock star status in liberal circles, following her highly public role organizing the post-inauguration Women’s March protesting Donald Trump’s election.

But Sarsour is no star. This American child of Palestinian immigrants is one of the most visible voices supporting the BDS campaign.

BDS, by supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel, violates the U.S. State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism, which includes the application of standards to Israel that are expected of no other democracy in the world.

Sarsour also supports a so-called one-state solution, which is code for the elimination of the Jewish state, another of the State Department’s signs of contemporary anti-Semitism.

In recent months, she was called out for endorsing convicted terrorist Rasmea Odeh as a speaker at a conference. Prior to that, she posted pictures of a Palestinian boy preparing to throw stones at Israeli police.

And she has one-sidedly blamed Israel for poor health care in the West Bank and Gaza, ignoring Israel’s care for the areas’ residents and the record of negligence and, at times, outright cruelty by leadership in the Palestinian Authority and Gaza.

She is not the right choice as a speaker in any public health forum.

Sarsour’s ascent as a supposed feminist activist provides cover for her hateful rhetoric and normalizes views that by rights should remain far out of the mainstream. Sharia law, of which Sarsour is a proponent, is certainly not compatible with any form of feminism.

By inviting Sarsour to perhaps the most important event on its calendar, CUNY’s Graduate School of Public Health is legitimizing this hate and enabling the progress of a Trojan Horse in respectable society.

Her racism violates the civil rights of the Jewish people, including the students at the CUNY commencement.

Now is your chance to make a difference.

In less than sixty seconds, you can help by taking action.

Here is what you can do:

1. Write CUNY’s Graduate School of Public Health at info@sph.cuny.edu.
2. Call CUNY’s Graduate School of Public Health: 646-364-9600.

Here is a sample e-mail that you can use in whole or in part when contacting CUNY’s Graduate School of Public Health:

E-mail subject line: URGENT response required

To Whom it may Concern,

This week, you are scheduled to make a fateful mistake. Your Graduate School of Public Health has invited the pro-Palestinian activist, Linda Sarsour, to serve as its commencement speaker. This American child of Palestinian immigrants is one of the most visible voices supporting the BDS campaign.

BDS, by supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel, violates the U.S. State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism, which includes the application of standards to Israel that are expected of no other democracy in the world. Sarsour also supports a so-called one-state solution, which is code for the elimination of the Jewish state, another of the State Department’s signs of contemporary anti-Semitism.

In recent months, she was called out for endorsing convicted terrorist Rasmea Odeh as a speaker at a conference. Prior to that, she posted pictures of a Palestinian boy preparing to throw stones at Israeli police. She has one-sidedly blamed Israel for poor health care in the West Bank and Gaza, ignoring Israel’s care for the areas’ residents and the record of negligence and, at times, outright cruelty by leadership in the Palestinian Authority and Gaza.

She is definitely not the right choice as a speaker in any public health forum.

Sarsour’s ascent as a supposed feminist activist provides cover for her hateful rhetoric and normalizes views that by rights should remain far out of the mainstream. Sharia law, of which Sarsour is a proponent, is certainly not compatible with any form of feminism.

By inviting Sarsour to perhaps the most important event on its calendar, CUNY’s Graduate School of Public Health is legitimizing this hate and enabling the progress of a Trojan Horse in respectable society.

Her racism violates the civil rights of the Jewish people, including the students at the CUNY commencement. In light of these facts, I would strongly urge CUNY’s administration to reconsider this invitation and to appoint an alternative speaker who would much better serve as an exemplary role-model for your graduating students. Not to do so would seriously & irreparably tarnish the reputation of CUNY.

[your signature]

Turkish Medical Association website announcement of decision:
The ATO case dismissed: Medicine for the benefit of humanity in on duty!

The following letter was sent to TMA:

President Bayazit Ilhan
Turkish Medical Association
GMK Bulvarı Ş. Daniş Tunalıgil Sok. No: 2 / 17 – 23
Maltepe
Ankara
06570

Feb 24, 2015

Dear President Ilhan:

As colleagues in the healthcare professions, the board of Doctors Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (DARA) wishes to congratulate the physicians of Turkey on the February 20, 2015 court decision overturning the Ankara government’s attempt to interfere in the care of patients requiring medical intervention, specifically as related to injuries that were sustained during civil demonstrations in Gezi Park in 2014. It was a great sense of relief to read the news of your success posted on your website today.

Every year, Turkish citizens come to Canada to study or teach at our medical schools and work alongside doctors and nurses in our hospitals. We also meet with Turkish doctors at international medical conferences. Because of this, Canadian doctors have first-hand knowledge of both the professional capabilities and personal integrity of our counterparts in Turkey. As a result, the news in 2014 that, in crisis situations, the government in Ankara would disregard principles of medical neutrality and seek to implement a subjective, politically-motivated emergency care policy, had an emotional impact on the members of our organization.

Thanks to your efforts, the message delivered to Ankara now — and, going forward, to all other national governments — is loud and clear: governments have no right to interfere in the professional role of healthcare providers who are dedicated to looking after the sick and injured, regardless of their political, religious or ethnic affiliation.

We applaud you for your efforts and look forward to working closely with you in the future to ensure emergency personnel in all countries will have the legal right to use their objective, medical judgement in all aspects of their public service.

Sincerely,

President & Board of Directors
DARA (Doctors Against Racism and Antisemitism)
www.daradocs.org