RCA Condemns Antisemitic Motion on Toronto Campus

November 30, 2021 – The Rabbinical Council of America, the leading membership of organization of orthodox rabbis in North America, expresses its grave concern over a recent University of Toronto-Scarborough student union motion that any kosher food brought to campus must come from an organization that does not support “Israeli apartheid.” The Scarborough Campus Students Union, blacklisting organizations that support the Jewish state and mandates that a “BDS List,” which must be “accessible” to all members.

The RCA supports the opinion of Gabriela Rosenblum, a Hasbara Fellow at UTSC, who condemned the motion. “This BDS vote undoes all the critical work done by this student government,” she said. “This motion requires that Jews at UTSC prove that they are ‘good Jews’ in the eyes of the student government, distinct from the many ‘bad Jews’ who support Israel. This motion even defines antisemitism for the Jewish students on campus.”

She added, “These are hurdles that exist for no other group. It is clear that this motion targets Jews for discrimination. Even for something as simple as ordering jelly donuts for Chanukah, Jewish students at SCSU will now be forced to prove that kosher caterers do not support their Jewish homeland, which is basically impossible.”

The RCA applauds the quick and unequivocal response of University of Toronto President Meric Gertler who stated, “A requirement that providers of food as a religious accommodation be required to apply for an exemption, or even be asked about their views about issues elsewhere in the world, is unacceptable.”

The SCSU cannot “restrict the speakers that they [student members] can invite, or organizations with which they can cooperate based on their connections to a particular country,” he said.

“The motions are specifically focused on Israel in a way that is troubling to many members of the community. Such motions would be no more acceptable if focused on another country, or if a student organization in which members are enrolled by their registration were to take multiple stands on a wide variety of issues.”

Rabbi Binyamin Blau, president of the RCA, condemned the blatant antisemitism of this motion noting, “Such a litmus test of religious or political views targeted solely at the Jewish community is an all-too familiar antisemitic tool which cannot be tolerated in enlightened societies. We thank President Gertler for his quick and categorical response and urge him and his administration to move quickly in protecting the safety and integrity of the Jewish and pro-Israel students on the Scarborough campus.”