“Tonight at sundown, Jewish communities in Canada and around the world will celebrate Rosh Hashanah and welcome the Jewish New Year. It is a time to reflect on the year past and look ahead with renewed purpose and hope.
As the Jewish people celebrate this holy time of renewal, we are reminded of the community’s immense resilience. For the past three years, antisemitism in Canada has surged to levels not seen in the post-war period. It is unacceptable, and it is in direct contradiction to our foundational Canadian values.
Canadians, regardless of faith, origin, or identity, deserve to live freely, openly, and safely. That is the Canadian covenant, and that is the promise of Canadian citizenship. And it is the responsibility of the federal government to uphold it – for every Canadian. That’s why, to confront hate, the government introduced and passed new laws, including the Combatting Hate Act. Among the many important changes it made to the Criminal Code, it is now illegal to intimidate and obstruct someone at places of worship, schools, and community centres in Canada. To bolster these laws, the government has committed an additional $75 million to the Canada Community Security Program (CCSP) to provide faith-based institutions with vital security resources.
On Rosh Hashanah, the shofar’s call reminds us that we are always renewing ourselves – that our work is never finished, and that new beginnings are always possible. We are reaffirming our commitment to build a better country where all Jewish Canadians can be visibly, fully, and joyfully Jewish in public life.
Shana Tova.”