Canadian Jewish Congress and B’nai B’rith District 22 Jointly Condemn Actions of Jdl

Monroe Abbey, president of the Canadian Jewish Congress and Abel Selick, president of B’nai B’rith District 22, have issued a joint statement condemning the actions of the Jewish Defense League, including “the use of violence to combat anti-Semitism” and “appeals to extremism and paramilitary tactics.” The statement was in response to a story in a recent issue of the Montreal Gazette with a picture showing 13 youths and one girl practicing the “art of attack” in karate under the instruction of JDL member Dov Kaufman. The Jewish leaders voiced their community’s confidence in the efforts and ability of the police to deal with anti-Semitic acts. It added. “The irresponsible involvement of an inexperienced small number of persons in highly sensitive areas is dangerous, counterproductive to the best interests of our country in general and our community in particular.”

Arnold Mintzberg. 26-year-old Quebec coordinator of JDL, said “Establishment leaders of B’nai B’rith and the Canadian Jewish Congress represent nobody and they never will. They just assume to represent the Jews because there has never been anyone else to represent them.” Asked by a Gazette reporter why the JDL does not attack anti-Israel Jewish radicals like Stan Gray of Montreal and U.S. Yippie leader Abbie Hoffman, “who are dangerous enemies of the Jewish people.” Mr. Mintberg replied, “We can’t do anything about them. We just have to sit back and accept them for what they are because we would look pretty silly attacking our own people.” The JDL claims to have 300 members in Canada and to be supported by its members’ dues. Canadian Jewish leaders claim JDL membership figures are inflated and say. “Mintzberg represents no one but himself and a few excited young people.”