119: Canada’s Jewish reckoning, with Prof. Gil Troy

To support our work, please consider joining our Patreon community (  / askhavivanything   ), Substack (https://havivgur.substack.com/ ), or Buy Me a Coffee (https://buymeacoffee.com/havivrettiggur ). And be sure to check us out on Instagram (  / haviv.rettig.gur   ) and TikTok (  / haviv.rettig.gur   ). — Historian Gil Troy joins the podcast to trace the remarkable story of Canadian Jewry, from its post-war flourishing in Montreal and Toronto to its current crisis of rising antisemitism and violence. We confront the “Europeanization” of Canada, the polite face of rising antisemitism, and what happens when a decent society stops defending its Jewish minority. -- This week's episode is sponsored by the Feinberg family, who asked us to include this beautiful dedication: "Today we honor our mom and grandma, Sandy Danto, on her 75th birthday. Inspired by her parents, Regina and Saul Muskowitz -- Holocaust survivors from Poland -- Sandy has devoted her life to strengthening Israel and supporting the Jewish people. While rooted in the Detroit Jewish community, her impact reaches far and wide, guided by her belief that Jewish strength, learning, and unity are essential to our future. She leads with conviction, generosity, and deep care for others. We are so proud of the example she sets and the difference she continues to make. We love you and celebrate you today and always. Love, Aaron, Julie, Noa, Ari and Raya Feinberg." Thank you to the Feinberg family for that beautiful and sweet dedication. -- If you like what we do here, please consider joining our Patreon community at   / askhavivanything   or our Substack at https://havivgur.substack.com/. You can also Buy Me a Coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/havivrettiggur. It helps us keep the lights on. Patreon and Substack are also the platforms where you can ask the questions that guide the topics we cover on the podcast, join our great discussions where listeners share news and valuable resources, and take part in our monthly livestreams where Haviv answers your questions live. If you would like to sponsor an episode, please email us at [email protected]⁠. Musical intro by Adam Ben Amitai. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Canadian Jewry and Rising Anti-Semitism 02:07 The Distinctiveness of Canadian Jewish History 04:08 The Impact of Immigration on Canadian Jewry 07:07 Europeanization and Its Effects on Canada 09:40 The Historical Context of Canadian Jews 12:59 Post-World War II Jewish Immigration to Canada 15:53 The Rise of the Sephardic Community in Canada 18:27 The Evolution of Jewish Identity in Canada 21:19 The Future of Canadian Jewry 24:28 Conclusion and Reflections on Canadian Jewry 37:26 The Shift from Montreal to Toronto: A Jewish Perspective 39:10 Defining Antisemitism: A Complex Landscape 41:11 Understanding Antisemitism: Obsession and Its Implications 45:22 Polling Insights: Canadian Attitudes Towards Jews 49:33 The Rise of Antisemitism: Trends and Demographics 54:11 The Current State of Antisemitism in Canada 58:29 Community Response: Leadership and Action 01:05:48 The Role of Canadian Jewish Institutions 01:14:48 Conclusion: A Call for Unity and Action