Jewish group launches Passover-themed election awareness campaign

The initiative is part of CIJA's "More Than Just a Vote" campaign, encouraging Jews and allies to ask tough questions of their candidates

Bryan Passifiume

Published Apr 04, 2025 • 1 minute read

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Thousands of Jewish community members and allies from across the country united on Parliament Hill in solidarity with the hostages, the people of Israel, and the safety of Jewish Canadians, Dec. 4, 2023. Photo by JEAN LEVAC /POSTMEDIA NETWORK FILES

OTTAWA — How is this election different from all other elections?

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That’s the question being posed by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs ahead of this month’s federal election, seeking to raise exposure of issues deemed important by Canada’s Jewish community.

As this year’s federal election takes place adjacent to the Jewish holiday of Passover, CIJA’s hoping Jewish Canadians and their allies will ask four questions of their local candidates — echoing the custom of the youngest child during a Passover Seder posing four questions to the rest of the table.

“This campaign came about because it’s been a really challenging 18 months for the Jewish community,” said CIJA’s interim president Noah Shack.

“With skyrocketing antisemitism across Canada, people marching through the streets calling for Jews to be sent back to Europe, for Jewish communities to be destroyed, where schools have been shot at repeatedly, synagogues firebombed repeatedly, people chanting slogans supporting terrorist organizations, while at the same time burning Canadian flags.”

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The initiative is part of CIJA’s “More Than Just a Vote” campaign.

The Oct. 7, 2023 terror attacks saw Palestinian terrorists conduct a campaign of murder, kidnapping and sexual assault against innocent Israeli men, women and children — and touched off an unprecedented and well-managed campaign of anti-Jewish hatred right here in Canada.

The “four questions” CIJA hopes to get answers on involve what candidates would do to guarantee the physical safety of the Jewish community, holding those accountable who spread hatred against Jews, strengthening Canadian-Israeli ties, and enduring the future of Jews in Canada.

“We’re encouraging members of the community to go out and meet with their candidates, to email their candidates, phone their candidates and ask them what they’ll do to stand up for the community on those four issues,” Shack said.

More information can be found on the More Than Just a Vote website at www.jewishcanadavotes.ca.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
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