Fears for the future of Canadian Jewry in the face of increasing disunity in the nation over the Provincial separatist movement–particularly in Quebec–was voiced here by the former Jewish Mayor of Toronto. Philip Givens, now a Liberal Member of Parliament, told a B’nai B’rith regional council meeting, “People tell us that we Jews are paranoid. We live in times reminiscent of the 1930s. The whole fabric of our country is at stake and seems to be coming apart at the seams. We Jews have learned by experience that when anything happens to dis-unify a country, we are the minority group that suffers first.”
Concern was voiced at the meeting over the growth of black anti-Semitism, particularly in the port city of Halifax where the B’nai Brith Anti-Defamation League was investigating black militant accusations that Jewish “slumlords” own most of the Negro ghettos.
Allan Grossman, Ontario Minister of Correctional Services, agreed with Mr. Givens that there was cause for alarm. “It may be that we are at the 11th hour now as Jews and as Canadians.” he said, predicting that conditions would worsen before improving. Arthur Harris, chairman of the event, expressed concern that Canada might import from the United States violent clashes between races and ethnic groups. “The percentage of Negroes is higher in Halifax than it is in Omaha or Minneapolis,” he said. The black accusation of Jewish slumlord-ship in Halifax had a “frighteningly familiar ring.” he said.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
