How can the Canadian Jewish left urge faith leaders and institutions to publicly stand against Israel’s genocide? As more and more Jews are realizing that Israel’s unrelenting war on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is not being waged to keep Jews safe, either in Israel or around the world, they are supporting the growing calls for aid and a ceasefire.

In the wake of its Oscar win, No Other Land has been criticized for normalizing the Occupation and violating BDS guidelines. Yet, for a community that has fought so hard for the very right to exist, this film and the accompanying global discussion, opens up possibilities. The movie is important because it tells their story to the world.

In August, the Canada Revenue Agency notified JNF Canada that its charitable status was being revoked due to the organization’s contravention of Canadian charity law. This week, the JNF’s application for a judicial review of the revocation was denied. While this story is far from over, the ruling holds great significance for Palestine solidarity activists in Canada and around the world.

With JNF Canada vowing to appeal the CRA’s decision to revoke its charitable status, Canadian activists must use this victory to continue to fight and condemn the organization’s other fundraising initiatives. While it can no longer issue charitable tax receipts, the JNF is still free to raise money in Canada and send it directly to those who carry out ethnic cleansing in the Occupied Territories.

As those of us in Toronto watch the devastation occurring in Gaza, where Israel’s bombing campaign this month is estimated to have killed over 8,000 Palestinians, including over 3,000 children, and displaced 1.4 million residents, we are also witnessing Mayor Olivia Chow and other politicians condemning Palestinian activism here as antisemitic.