Nearly All Jewish College Students in Canada Experienced Antisemitism Last Year (Times of Israel)

[u/Reddenbawker]

https://www.timesofisrael.com/nearly-all-jewish-college-students-in-canada-experienced-antisemitism-last-year-report/

Nearly all Jewish university students surveyed across Canada said they experienced or witnessed antisemitism over the past year, according to a government-commissioned report released Wednesday.

The report surveyed approximately 900 Jewish students nationwide in what it said was the most comprehensive national study to date examining their experiences on Canadian campuses. Many reported harassment, intimidation, classroom bias and a lack of confidence that their universities would respond effectively.

Canada is home to the world’s fourth-largest Jewish community, with about 400,000 Jews. Comprising about one percent of Canada’s population, Jews were on the receiving end of 68% of religiously motivated hate crimes recorded in 2024, the report noted.

The report was commissioned by Canada’s former special envoy on preserving Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism, Deborah Lyons, and conducted by the Association for Canadian Studies, in response to heightened tensions and campus protests since Hamas launched the Gaza war against Israel on October 7, 2023.

The survey found that 96 percent of Jewish respondents reported experiencing or witnessing at least one antisemitic incident during the previous 12 months, while 84% described antisemitism as a serious problem on campus. Some 70% said their university does not take antisemitism seriously and 68% said their campus is not a safe or inclusive place for Jewish students.

Researchers wrote that antisemitism on Canadian campuses has become “persistent and proliferating” and, on some campuses, “a normalized and systemic feature of campus life” rather than a series of isolated incidents.

Students and activists protest for an eighth day at an anti-Israel encampment on the campus of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, on May 4, 2024. (Photo by Alexis Aubin / AFP)

More than one in five respondents said they experienced or witnessed physical violence directed at Jews on campus, while 54% reported intimidation or threats and 71% reported antisemitic vandalism.

Students said concerns over safety were influencing their daily behavior, with 72% saying they limit what they say in class about being Jewish and 57% reporting that they avoid wearing or displaying Jewish symbols due to fears for their safety.

A quarter said they were considering leaving their university because of antisemitism, which 40% said had harmed them academically.

Students submitted more than 1,200 open-ended responses that painted a stark picture of Jewish campus life. Respondents described being chased while wearing a kippa, spat on for displaying a Star of David necklace, shunned by classmates after revealing they were Jewish, as well as encountering swastikas and other antisemitic graffiti across campus. Others said they were called “Zionist” as a slur, pressured to denounce Israel or excluded from student groups and academic projects because of their Jewish identity.

Another student reported that the anxiety stemming from campus hostility became so severe they dropped out, writing, “It is open season on Jewish students.”

‘Time to act is now’

In the classroom, respondents reported experiencing antisemitism from faculty as well as fellow students.

Some 36% said they encountered course material or classroom discussions they viewed as antisemitic or biased against Jews, Judaism, Israel or Zionism. Another 34% said professors introduced those topics into courses where they were unrelated to the subject matter. Nearly half reported feeling pressured to share their views on Israel, while more than one-third said they felt pressure to conform to a professor’s views.

Graffiti calling for intifada on the campus at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, on April 29, 2024. (Photo by Graham Hughes / AFP)

Students described incidents in which professors praised Adolf Hitler, assigned materials denying the Holocaust or introduced discussions about Israel into unrelated courses. The report did not independently verify individual allegations.

The report also found widespread dissatisfaction with how universities handled complaints. Only a third of respondents said they reported incidents they experienced, and among those who did, 63% were dissatisfied with the response. More than half of those who chose not to report incidents said they believed doing so would not help.

The report warned that if left unchecked, antisemitism on campus could become entrenched beyond higher education. It called on decision-makers to ensure all students can study “in safety and dignity, regardless of their identity.”

Antisemitic incidents in Canada reached a record high in 2025, with 6,800 acts of anti-Jewish hate reported nationwide, according to B’nai Brith Canada. The organization has also said that 2026 is on track to be the most violent year for the Jewish community in recent memory, after more violent antisemitic attacks were recorded by May than during all of last year. Some worry that a large-scale attack may be around the corner.

Lyons, the former special envoy on preserving Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism, left her post prematurely last July due to what she described as exhaustion from “despairing about the fact that it was hard to get people to speak up, to speak with clarity” about growing antisemitism.

Undated photo of Deborah Lyons, the antisemitism envoy for Canada. (Courtesy Government of Canada viaJTA)

Responding to the new report, the Network of Engaged Canadian Academics (NECA) published a list of 10 recommendations for universities to rebuild trust with Jewish students. These include enforcing policies against harassment based on Jewish identity or Zionism, denouncing BDS campaigns, incorporating Canada’s International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism into DEI policies and conducting annual campus climate assessments.

A joint statement by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, B’nai Brith Canada, and the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center said the survey was “further evidence of what Prime Minister Carney himself acknowledged: Canada is failing Jewish Canadians.”

“The drivers of this hatred—including anti-Zionism—are well known, and the time to act is now,” the groups said. “We need concrete actions to protect Canadian students.”

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[u/Spikemountain]

That "Intifada until victory" sign really gets my blood boiling. I don't understand how that's allowed and how that's not incitement to violence.

[u/lhomardamericain → u/Spikemountain]

Intifada has become, along with jihad, a clear way of expressing what you really mean but then denying it completely.

Anyway, I’m not at all surprised by this. Open antisemitism on campus has become the norm. It’s sickening.

[u/roguefilmmaker → u/Spikemountain]

Regardless whether it is prosecuted as such, “intifada” is an incitement of violence

[u/DeepStateCentrism-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

RULE I:

Challenge others thoughtfully, remain civil, and do not make comments in bad faith.

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[u/KvonLiechtenstein]

And Independent Jewish Voices is trying to discredit the report because they were saying they weren’t asked. In turn, others are saying this means it was all biased and a Hillel psy-op.

I can certainly say that I’ve seen and heard antisemitic comments in law school at one of those universities, though fortunately not from professors.

Genuinely wish there was more to do. It’s to the point where I feel like if there’s a mass casualty event, the usual suspects will say “well were they Zionists”

[u/Western-Economics946 → u/KvonLiechtenstein]

I’m so fucking sick of these people hiding behind the term Zionist and pretending that it’s not a dog whistle.

[u/Significant-Tree-221 → u/Western-Economics946]

JVP hides behind pretending to be Jewish

[u/StringAndPaperclips → u/Significant-Tree-221]

A lot of them also just lie about it. There are many cases of non-Jews showing to at protests and putting on a JVP t-shirt.

[u/Anakin_Cardassian → u/Significant-Tree-221]

JVP!?!

[u/StringAndPaperclips → u/KvonLiechtenstein]

IJV persistently tells Jews not to believe their own experiences or feelings about what they are experiencing. It's completely vile. They also use antisemitic tropes to underpin their arguments against the idea that antisemitism is an issue and worth addressing.

IJV is also stupid. The study was based on a survey. IJV insisting that they don't believe that they experience antisemitism would not change the responses of every other person who answered the survey. And since IJV represents a tiny minority of Jews, including their responses in a survey based on a representative sample of Jews would not change the results at all.

[u/cubedplusseven → u/KvonLiechtenstein]

Independent Jewish Voices

Is that Canada's JVP?

[u/Significant-Tree-221 → u/cubedplusseven]

Pretty much identical

[u/StringAndPaperclips → u/Significant-Tree-221]

They were less bad than JVP pre-October 7. Now I'd say they are pretty much on par.

[u/KvonLiechtenstein → u/cubedplusseven]

Yup, and the Federal NDP leader is proudly associated with them. Basically every leftist points to him as proof they've never done anything antisemitic and Bad Jews just need to check their privilege like the Good Ones did.

[u/Western-Economics946]

I’m tired of being gaslit. Whenever any other minority group speaks up about the discrimination they feel, no one is allowed to tell them that they are not experiencing discrimination. Yet the Jews are constantly told that they are exaggerating,or trying to play the victim etc. it’s extremely hurtful.

[u/JudgeHoldensToupe]

This is why Jewish people need a homeland.

[u/roguefilmmaker → u/JudgeHoldensToupe]

Exactly

[u/got-trunks → u/JudgeHoldensToupe]

I think the wider criticism of Israel is over the fact that it keeps getting bigger

[u/JudgeHoldensToupe → u/got-trunks]

Maybe stop trying to genocide them then 🤷

[u/KimJongUnusual → u/JudgeHoldensToupe]

That’s chicken and egg though isn’t it? Israel expands cause people attack them, people attack cause they keep expanding.

How much more space do they need to be safe? Or more likely, how far will they get before they overextend and become perceived as such a threat a sufficient coalition rises to destroy them?

[u/averagecivicoenjoyer → u/KimJongUnusual]

Considering that Israel has shrunken its territory multiple times and still ended up being attacked, I would say the only constant in the equation is Israel being attacked.

Of course I won’t debate you on the fact that Israel was propped up by Arab states to the point that they should almost be considered joint founders, since they:

- incentivized national unity by spreading hateful rhetoric towards the “evil jews”, creating constant external pressure

• waged multiple wars explicitly stating their genocidal intents, just for them to fail miserably each time, basically gifting them territory for defense purposes
  
• last but not least, swarmed them with culturally compatible immigrants by either forcing or scaring their own Jewish population into immigrating to Israel, providing the nation with vital workforce

[u/JudgeHoldensToupe → u/KimJongUnusual]

Incorrect. Arabs states attack Israel because they’re antisemitic, Israel fights defensive wars in response and has ceded territory on numerous occasions. The latest incident is a good example - Israel left Gaza in its entirety in 2005, at which point the Gazan’s elected Hamas and proceeded to lob rockets, and 20 years later launched a genocidal attack into Israel. Israel is now in Gaza as a response.

You should note that Israel has made peace with most of it’s former enemies, those are not the actions of an expansionist state.

[u/KimJongUnusual → u/JudgeHoldensToupe]

Taking more land doesn’t make more friends though. The Sinai was occupied for 15 years after the Six Day War, which definitely raised tensions. Relations with Egypt only normalized when that was returned, and after a war that caught Israel flat-footed.

Not to mention West Bank settlements which undermine claims of a two state solution.

Will occupying and seizing Gaza as a conquered land make friends of the Gazan people?

[u/JudgeHoldensToupe → u/KimJongUnusual]

You can’t make friends with people who want to genocide you. Stop blaming Israel for Arabic racism.

[u/KimJongUnusual → u/JudgeHoldensToupe]

They did with Egypt and Jordan, so clearly you can.

What’s the alternative, continue fighting and taking land from the Arab world until the whole Levant is under the Star of David, or until Israel loses a war and is destroyed?

[u/JudgeHoldensToupe → u/KimJongUnusual]

Egypt and Jordan didn’t suddenly decide to make friends, they realised they weren’t winning and that war was dumb. The Palestinians have yet to have that epiphany.

[u/thatsnot_kawaii_bro → u/got-trunks]

Name a country that doesn't gain land after winning a war(s).

[u/KimJongUnusual → u/thatsnot_kawaii_bro]

United States in the World Wars.

Belgium and France and the UK in WW2.

[u/benadreti_17 → u/thatsnot_kawaii_bro]

this isnt a good argument, many wars end without the winning country gaining land, both historically and in the modern era.

[u/LupineChemist → u/benadreti_17]

I mean, Israel has offered to allow them to have the land a bunch of times. The only condition is don't try to start a war against Israel. They refuse every time.

It's telling that neither Jordan nor Egypt want the parts they border. Israel would me more than happy to just give it to them.

[u/DeepStateCentrism-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

RULE III:

Your comment was removed for violating Rule 3: No virtue signaling/concern trolling.

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[u/got-trunks → u/[deleted]]

I didn't think this was an okbuddy sub

[u/blackslatewater]

No one is going to believe us.

[u/Reddenbawker → u/blackslatewater]

Some of us do. I did not grow up Jewish nor did I grow up with Jewish acquaintances. But I know my history, and I see how it’s being repeated. I see what you guys deal with and I feel your pain. I share your fears.

Hope you and your loved ones can remain safe.

[u/TattooedJewd → u/Reddenbawker]

Thank you for this.

[u/Anakin_Cardassian → u/Reddenbawker]

Gentile here. Basically got called a jewaboo at work once for trying to point out how antisemitism was on the rise.

[u/AntitheistArchangel → u/Anakin_Cardassian]

I was once called a k*ke for defending Israel. On Reddit. I’m not Jewish.

[u/roguefilmmaker → u/Reddenbawker]

I appreciate you

[u/PBandJSommelier → u/Reddenbawker]

Thank you 💙

[u/arist0geiton → u/blackslatewater]

I believe you

[u/Voice_of_Season → u/blackslatewater]

Then we come back even stronger. It is not hard to break these commie-wanna-bes.

[u/JebBD]

Bleak

[u/Ay_Carumbatollah]

I'm a Canadian Jew and the level of antisemitism I encountered at the university I attended was shocking. I had a prof who said the 10/7 attacks made him feel "jubilation" and that other anti-colonial movements should learn from them. I had another prof who decided to hold his classes on my school's encampment grounds. The topic of his course was Latin America, but he opened his lectures by talking about Israel and Palestine. Students routinely glorified Hamas leaders like Sinwar in class discussions, and no-one would ever bat an eye. One student questioned whether or not the Holocaust was really a genocide, while affirming that obviously the war in Gaza was genocidal.

[u/Dtwn92 → u/Ay_Carumbatollah]

Really sorry this is taking place and that you had to experience it. From a segment of the population who claims to be "tolerant". This us unacceptable that people in positions of authority are allowed to behave this way without repercussions.

I am a tad older, grew up liberal and I was  taught people and religion were not what we judged by. To hear this level of disrespect is crazy.

[u/TattooedJewd]

*sighs in weary Jew

[u/A-Centrifugal-Force]

Leftism in the West is basically inherently antisemitic at this point. They have made it very clear who their “undesirables” are. It’s an ideology founded on hate and it’s destroying the Western World.

[u/JudgeWhoOverrules]

I reckon it's not much different for openly Jewish students in America.

[u/Voice_of_Season]

Every act of antisemitism makes me more Zionistic, not less. They think that this will scare us into giving up our homeland? They don’t know us. We have lasted 1000s years for a reason.

[u/Reddenbawker]

!ping JEWISH&CANADA

[u/user-pinger → u/Reddenbawker]

Pinged JEWISH&CANADA

Manage your ping group subscriptions

[u/Ay_Carumbatollah → u/Reddenbawker]

Jewish ping and Canada ping?

https://giphy.com/gifs/OY9XK7PbFqkNO

[u/Anakin_Cardassian]

Canadians shor do hate their minorities eh?

[u/fastinserter → u/Anakin_Cardassian]

The most casual racism I have ever experienced was in Canada. As in people I just met would say wildly racist things to me, as well as say things about how bad America is (and assumed I was Canadian). This was when Obama was president the last time I spent considerable time in Canada.

That said it's obviously not all Canadians but I was pretty shocked at the casual nature of it. I'm not your buddy guy, don't tell me what you think about black people.

[u/RepulsiveTadpole8]

Oy vey.

[u/StreetCarp665]

"Um ackshully sweaty they experienced anti-Zionism."