The Social Action Committee Council
Announces:
Anti-Semitism
Up In Canada
.
Toronto (JTA) — The
number of anti-Semitic in-
cidents reported in Canada
last year was the highest
since B'nai B'rith's League
for Human Rights began
tabulating such data in
1982, according to the
league's annual audit of an-
ti-Semitic incidents.
The report enumerated
251 incidents of harassment
and vandalism, a 19 percent
increase over 1990 and a 42
percent increase over the
year before that.
This parallels the trend in
the United States, where a
record number of anti-
Semitic incidents was
recorded last year by the
Canadian league's U.S.
counterpart, the Anti-
Defamation League.
The ADL, in its annual
report published last week,
registered 1,879 acts of
violence, threats or harass-
ment against Jews in the
United States for the year.
That is an 11 percent in-
crease over 1990 and a
record high since ADL began
its annual audit of anti-
Semitic incidents 13 years
ago.
While the overall number
of incidents in Canada is far
fewer than the U.S. number,
the percentage increase from
1990 is larger.
In Canada, the most seri-
ous anti-Semitic attacks
noted were the spray-
painting of neo-Nazi graffiti
on a synagogue in Bramp-
ton, a suburb of Toronto; the
re-emergence of the Ku Klux
Klan in Quebec's Eastern
Townships; and a national
speaking tour by Holocaust-
denier David Irving.
Most of the incidents fell in
the categories of verbal
abuse and hate propaganda.
Violent attacks against Jew-
ish institutions and desecra-
tions of synagogues and
cemeteries declined, the
report stated.
The Canadian league's na-
tional chairman, Professor
Stephen Scheinberg, at-
tributed the increase in total
incidents to tensions
preceding and stemming
from the Persian Gulf War
and the impact of the global
economic recession.
"The Gulf War provided
an emotional stimulus for
anti- Semites to vent their
hatred of Jews. The turmoil
evident this year also cre-
ated a conducive envi-
ronment for hate groups to
increase their racist ac-
tivities," he wrote.
This, too, was paralleled in
the United States.
The Helping Hand Drive
For New Arrivals
Can you imagine trying to pack your life into two suitcases?
Russian families arrive in our community with 2 pieces of luggage per person.
You can help provide our new Americans with basic living needs —
join the Social Action Committee of your synagogue or temple.
From February through June, the Helping Hand Drive For New
Arrivals will be collecting items for the new Americans. To make it
even easier for you to help, each participating synagogue and temple
will be a collection point for donated items.
March Donation Needs:
Artwork, Posters and Framed Paintings,
Small Throw Rugs
EXTEND YOUR HELPING HAND
To OUR New AMERICANS!
For drop-off point locations, call
642-5393
PARTICIPATING CONGREGATIONS
Adat Shalom Synagogue, Birmingham Temple, Congregation Beit Kodesh,
Congregation Beth Abraham HMO Moses, Congregation Beth Achim,
Congregation Beth Isaac, Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation B'nai David,
Congregation B'nai Moshe, Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Congregation Shir
Tikvah, Congregation T'Chiyah, Temple Beth El, Temple Emanu-El, Temple Israel
Temple Kol Ami, Temple Shir Shalom
Adiw A
566. rig'
It's Coming
To Leo Knight Photography
April 1st!
Don't Be Left Out
.44a\
SPRING MERCHANDISE
ARRIVING DAILY
352.7030
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 43