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Working Together to Combat Antisemitism: ALCCA’s 9 Guiding Principles

  • Writer: Mark Sandler
    Mark Sandler
  • Jul 10
  • 3 min read
The ALCCA logo with a colourful sunset in the background

Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism (ALCCA) is a coalition of more than 60 Jewish and non-Jewish organizations working to combat antisemitism through legal action, public advocacy, community empowerment, and respectful dialogue.


We are now guided by 9 key principles:


1. Grounded in our common humanity, we believe in the power of working together. When Jewish communities and democratic values are at existential risk to remain effective, we must coordinate our efforts and collaborate with both Jewish organizations and our allies.


2. We support the IHRA definition of antisemitism. The definition, adopted by 43 countries, including Canada, most provinces, many municipalities, institutions and agencies recognizes that it is not antisemitic to criticize Israel’s government, policies or practices in a manner similar to how other countries are criticized. However, it is antisemitic to demonize Israel, the world’s only Jewish democratic state, and Zionists, who include the vast majority of Jews, without distinction.


We support the use of the IHRA definition, including its illustrations, and the accompanying Government of Canada Handbook as important tools for law enforcement, governments, educational institutions and others in understanding and addressing antisemitism and we call for its implementation.


3. We reject discrimination against any vulnerable groups or their members, including discrimination against Palestinians, Israelis, Arabs, Muslims, Jews, Indigenous or other identifiable groups entitled to human rights code and criminal law protection. However, we oppose the introduction of Anti-Palestinian Racism (APR) into anti-racism strategies or programs when defined or used by its proponents to categorize as racist anyone who disputes, challenges or fails to accept Palestinian political narratives or anyone who supports the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish democratic state, with equality rights for its minorities.


4. We believe in respectful dialogue, including with those who disagree with us. But we reject hatred in all its ugly forms, including intimidation, harassment and the celebration of violence or barbarity.


5. We believe that Canadians have a duty to reject all forms of extremism. This is not a Jewish issue, it is a Canadian issue. It is not Islamophobic or anti-Muslim to identify and address the severe dangers posed by Islamist extremism or jihadism to Muslims, Jews, our national security and Canadian society as a whole.


6. We believe that protecting our children, from the youngest to those in universities and colleges, is among our greatest imperatives. They are entitled to embrace their Jewish identities, without fear. Their voices need to be heard and supported.


7. We support principles of academic freedom, research integrity and institutional neutrality at Canadian universities and colleges. The suppression of pro-Israel or Zionist views on campus undermines academic freedom. The boycotting of Israeli educational institutions, academics and researchers undermines the integrity of Canadian research, apart from its adverse impact on building peace through dialogue.


Efforts to compel Canadian universities and colleges to take positions on political issues in the Middle East, and efforts to indoctrinate through teaching, rather than promoting critical thinking and analysis undermine institutional neutrality. We support the expression of diverse viewpoints as long as such expression does not violate the law, codes of conduct or create a poisoned environment for students and faculty on campuses. This is true regardless of the viewpoint under consideration.


8. We support true inclusiveness in a diverse and equitable society. This includes recognizing that Jews experience discrimination and hatred, and ensuring that, when they do, they are afforded the full protection of the law and the benefit of anti-discrimination policies.


9. We believe in the Rule of Law and the robust enforcement of the law, using all the legal tools available to combat unlawful antisemitic activities and other forms of hatred.


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You can stay informed in the fight against antisemitism by subscribing to ALCCA’s newsletter, where you’ll receive important updates, legal insights, and action alerts: www.alcca.ca/subscribe.

About The Author

Mark Sandler, LL.B., LL.D. (honoris causa), ALCCA’s Chair, is widely recognized as one of Canada’s leading criminal lawyers and pro bono advocates. He has been involved in combatting antisemitism for over 40 years. He has lectured extensively on legal remedies to combat hate and has promoted respectful Muslim-Jewish, Sikh-Jewish and Black-Jewish dialogues. He has appeared before Parliamentary committees and in the Supreme Court of Canada on multiple occasions on issues relating to antisemitism and hate activities. He is a former member of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, a three-time elected Bencher of the Law Society of Ontario, and recipient of the criminal profession’s highest honour, the G. Arthur Martin Medal, for his contributions to the administration of criminal justice.



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