The conference has not been canceled, but it will not be held at Beth Tikvah Synagogue. This is because there were not only “security concerns,” which is bad enough, as kowtowing to violent intimidation only invites more violent intimidation; there were also charges of “Islamophobia” from Michael Coren, the ex-Catholic author of Why Catholics Are Right. Maybe one day the establishment Leftists whose favor Coren is so assiduously courting will forget that one of his other books is entitled Hatred: Islam’s War on Christianity. Coren has become much more enlightened since the days when he featured me weekly on his Sun TV show; now he knows there is no jihad threat, only one of “Islamophobia,” and has joined the fascist ranks of those who believe that those who hold views that dissent from his own should be denied platforms and forcibly silenced. It’s an odd position to take for someone who has shifted sides as often as he has, but so be it.
Coren does have the residual decency in his hit piece to omit any comment on one of the featured speakers, Jihad Watch writer Christine Douglass-Williams, his former colleague at the Canadian Television System. He likely knows that charges of “bigotry” against her are even more ludicrous than the charges that he did include in his article against others who were scheduled to speak at this conference.
Note also this: “Also slated to speak is broadcaster Christine Douglass-Williams, who last year was fired from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s board of directors over comments she made about Islam.” The Canadian Jewish News fastidiously doesn’t say what exactly Christine Douglass-Williams said about Islam, inviting the reader to imagine lurid “fear-mongering” and “hate speech.” In reality, she was fired for writing for Jihad Watch, and for warning about false moderate Muslims, who manifestly exist. The fact that she was fired, and that this synagogue has refused to host this conference after the “Islamophobia” charges were published, are two more indications that any critical word regarding Islam, no matter how true or accurate, and no matter how genuine the jihad threat, is denounced as “Islamophobic” nowadays, and Leftists endeavor to silence it forcibly.
As far as the Left is concerned, there is no jihad threat. There is no reason to be concerned about the elements of Sharia — the denial of the freedom of speech, the denial of rights to women — that are incompatible with Western laws and principles. Any such concerns are simply manifestations of “Islamophobia,” and must be ruthlessly stamped out. This assumption sits comfortably in Leftist brains next to “security concerns,” i.e., the fear that if anything critical of Islam is said aloud, Muslims will murder innocent people. Cowardice is pandemic today. No one seems to realize what we all learned in fifth grade, that giving in to bullies only encourages more bullying. But no one, of course, will come out and say “I’m a coward,” so instead the cowards say things like this: “Rabbi Grover said something interesting to me. He said ‘I’m not Pam Geller’. To explain, Pam Geller hosted a draw Mohammed contest, and as a result two armed Islamists attacked the event. Rabbi Grover meant that he was not willing to put the lives of his congregants in danger to prove a point.”
It would have been more accurate, albeit self-incriminating, if Rabbi Grover had said that he didn’t have the courage to stand in defense of the freedom of speech, whatever the risks.
And so, in the West, since so very many people are just like Michael Coren, and Bernie Farber, and Rabbi Grover, we are in very real danger of losing that freedom of speech, and our free societies as a whole.
“Shul backs out of hosting controversial rule of law conference,” by Ron Csillag, Canadian Jewish News, December 13, 2018:
A prominent synagogue in Toronto has pulled out of a controversial event that it was scheduled to host in March.
Canadians for the Rule of Law (CFTRL), whose board includes high-profile members of the Jewish community, had planned an “All-Day National Teach-In” on March 17 at Beth Tikvah Synagogue.
But after the event was criticized due to some controversial figures who were scheduled to speak at it, the congregation withdrew, citing security concerns.
The topic to be explored was “the new taboo: respect for the rule of law in Canada.”
There are organizations and “political tribes” that threaten the rule of law in Canada, the group explained on its website. Those include the radical left, radical Islamists and the radical right. “These groups include free speech disruptors and deniers on campuses, terrorist-funded Canadian jihadi organizers, Muslim Brotherhood public curriculum developers, hate speakers on social media, returning ISIL fighters, victimized me-first exceptionalism that overrides the survival of Canadian values, violence-promoting anti-Semites and deniers of religious pluralism and freedom.”
The program promised “extensive, in-depth and sensitive content about who those disruptors are, the threats they pose to traditional respect for the rule of law and how new measures can be taken by law-abiding Canadians to address these threats.”
The organizations listed as supporting the program were B’nai Brith Canada, Canadian Citizens for Charter Rights and Freedoms, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Mozuud, ACT! For Canada and the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research.
Beth Tikvah, a Conservative synagogue with 1,100 member families, was contacted on Dec. 9 by Karen Mock, the president of the progressive Jewish group JSpace Canada, who asked the shul’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Jarrod Grover, for a meeting to discuss “potential damage control” over media interest in the event “because of the Islamophobia and bigotry associated with some of these groups and individuals.
“The last thing our community needs at this stage is more divisiveness,” Mock wrote.
On Dec. 11, Rabbi Grover issued the following statement:
“Beth Tikvah Synagogue, in addition to serving as a house of worship, regularly rents its space to community groups for the public benefit. We agreed to rent out space to Canadians for the Rule of Law for the purpose of hosting their teach-in conference this coming March. Beth Tikvah was never a sponsor or organizer of this event, only a rental facility. Taking into account security and police concerns, we have decided that our synagogue is not an appropriate venue. We have advised the organizers to find an alternative location.”
The rabbi’s statement came a day after a story was published in NOW magazine, in which journalist Michael Coren alleged that some of the groups behind the event and some of the scheduled speakers have a “disturbing” history of anti-Muslim and anti-gay rhetoric, and support for far-right causes.
Donald Carr, president of the CFTRL, said in a statement that, “We champion free speech and we promote the rule of law. That’s what the teach-in is all about. We reject any attempt by those who wish to stifle free speech. Their aims will ultimately be thwarted and rejected by the many communities who need positive programs like this one.”…
Among the scheduled speakers and moderators are: Calgary lawyer John Carpay, founder of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms; Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College; Benjamin Ryberg of the Lawfare Project; Robert Walker, executive director of Hasbara Fellowships Canada; and Michael Mostyn, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada.
Also slated to speak is broadcaster Christine Douglass-Williams, who last year was fired from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s board of directors over comments she made about Islam….
“Synagogue bullied by so-called ‘Anti-Racism Activist,’” by Daniel Bordman, The Post-Millennial, December 19, 2018:
The overwhelming irony of this article will write itself, as a conference set to deal with the issue of how threats of Islamophobia hinder the ability for free speech had to be relocated due to threats of Islamophobia. This story would be funny, if there wasn’t something much more sinister behind it.
About a week ago I was contacted by the Rabbi of Beth Tikvah synagogue, Jarrod Grover, who was rather distraught over this article in Now magazine labeling his synagogue “anti-Muslim”. The very first thing you see in the article is a picture of the chapel at Beth Tikvah with the name of the synagogue right below it.
To understand the gravity of the story, we need to go over the sequence of events that lead up to the article, the history of antisemitism and the consequences of an accusation like this and the major figures in the “anti-racism” movement.
What happened?
Synagogue was to host conference on threats to Canadian freedomsA group called Canadians for the Rule of Law (CFTRL) organized a conference in March of 2019 to discuss issues and groups that pose a threat to Canadian freedoms, specifically “far-left, Islamist, and far-right” groups. You can read their description of the event here.
The event organizers went looking for a venue to host the conference and settled on Beth Tikvah. Just to be clear here, Beth Tikvah was never a sponsor or had any control over the event, they were just the host venue, which means they were paid a fee for their space.
This is a very common way for religious institutions to earn money to pay their rent.
Canadian Anti-Hate Network intimidated synagogue with negative media attentionOn December 9th, Rabbi Grover was contacted by email by Bernie Farber, chair of the Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN), who demanded to know why Beth Tikvah would let such an event take place.
The CAHN was set up to monitor far-right groups across Canada and claims to be inspired by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) in the U.S.
It is interesting to note that the SPLC just had to payout a $3.4 million lawsuit to Maajid Nawaz for slandering him as an anti-Islam activist despite being a Muslim himself and former radical who now speaks out against extremism.
One would think that Bernie Farber and the CAHN would want to participate in an event that talks about the dangers of the far-right, not shut it down.
However, as I will go into later, that is not Bernie Farber’s MO.
Farber’s email made it clear to Rabbi Grover that unless Beth Tikvah condemns the event and repents their association, the media around it would not be positive. Rabbi Grover told me that he wanted to make a stand for free speech and Canadian values and did not give into Farber’s demands.
Low and behold the very next day, there is an article in NOW magazine by Michael Coren talking about the anti-Muslim element in the Jewish community with a picture of Beth Tikvah right on it.
You might wonder who is quoted at the end of the article?
None other than Bernie Farber himself, how convenient.
This set off a firestorm as the national media got involved wanting to know the same thing as Bernie Farber.
Does Beth Tikvah support the views of the listed speakers?
Exposure lead to security concerns at the SynagogueHere is some inside information for the readers here.
I know some of these speakers, and a lot of them disagree with some of the views or reasoning of the other speakers involved. Which is why this is a conference and not a rally!
Regardless, this is the new era of moral puritanism, where any association to anything the far-left and media establishment disagrees with is blasphemy and must be punished.
After the massive uproar, there started to be threats against Beth Tikvah and their board needed to get involved.
After meeting, they determined that they could no longer host the event due to the ongoing security concerns.
Was Beth Tikvah Threatened?
Anti-hate activists only care when it’s politically convenientAntisemitism is on the rise and synagogues are under threat. Don’t take my word for it, listen to Bernie Farber.
We all remember the horrific shooting by Robert Bowers at the Tree of Life synagogue that spawned the “together against antisemitism” movement.
However, not so many of us remember the next week when Mohamed Mohamed Abdi rammed his car into a crowd of Jews leaving a synagogue in LA, spawning the much more popular “together against antisemitism, only when it is politically convenient” movement, implicitly endorsed by the progressive Left and mainstream media.
This was followed up by a foiled ISIS-inspired attack on a synagogue in Ohio.
Yet, if you were to read Bernie Farber’s column, there is not one mention of any Islamist or far-Left group in connection to antisemitism, despite the overwhelming evidence of these two influences on the new influx of antisemitism. Instead, we must worry about the Proud Boys, a group that has not even sneezed near a synagogue.
Rabbi Grover said something interesting to me. He said “I’m not Pam Geller”.
To explain, Pam Geller hosted a draw Mohammed contest, and as a result two armed Islamists attacked the event. Rabbi Grover meant that he was not willing to put the lives of his congregants in danger to prove a point….
Renate says
I’m not a fan of Michael Coren. He changes his opinion so often.
Terry Gain says
Given Islamic doctrine and history it is completely rational to fear Islam. The cowardly failure of Beth Tikvah Synogogue to stand up to Islam has increased my fear of Islam.
Michael Coren’s search for relevance by pandering to Islam was predictable.
Daniel Moshe Johnson says
Shalom Aleichem
Great article, How are you Robert, this is Moshe, former security for JDL.
I smelled this rat years ago, and I told Meir Weinstein that this guy was not a lover of Tzion (Jews).
Ex-Catholic, means he was never a doctrinal Catholic to begin with. He is like Roger Waters, Sting, moonlighting Islam, while living the freedom and security in a democracy based in a Christian and Jewish value system. A system, where the freedom of sexual expressions are not met with death, the same program our beloved State of Israel provides.
I enjoyed each time seeing you, your wisdom belongs in the Knesseth my friend.
As a son of parents who grew up in the Ottoman Empire, you speak to the depth, as I have seen personally. You exposed the ignorance of the followers of the modern day ideology, as it is printed in a form of Arabic that only 6% of individuals speak, the people are oblivious to the true Hadith,
a personal scroll about the personal accounts of Muhammad, most about his personal hygiene’s.
Remember, you gave it three years,
Be well Professor.
Daniel Moshe Johnson
Mirren10 says
“Rabbi Grover said something interesting to me. He said ‘I’m not Pam Geller’. ”
That should be, ”I’m no Pamela Geller.” (because I haven’t the guts of a mouse).
Wanker.
I AM THE INFIDEL YOUR IMAM WARNED YOU ABOUT says
Michael Coren is nothing but a twit……. a man with Jewish heritage.. converts to Catholicism and then converts to an Anglican and re-converts back to Catholicism and then once again re-converts to an Anglican citing that the Catholic Church’s teachings on homosexuality and contraception as some of the reasons for his conversion to Anglicanism and now identifies himself as a Christian Socialist. This idiot has not sense of direction as he goes wherever the wind blows. He may have authored books and biographies of famous people which in my opinion means nothings…… he’s an imbecile and an idiot. A man of no substance whatsoever
Let’s wait for his next conversion……. this time embracing islam.
Tony Porcaro says
Well stated! Coren reveals himself to be the shallow “hack” and politically correct sham he has always been, hiding under his pseudo-intellectual positions and fake “religious beliefs”; sadly, his lack of substance and honest critical judgment are reflective of a large part of Canadian (and North American) “leftist thinking” characterized by the all too familiar ignorance, cowardice, and just plain stupidity we have become very familiar with…
I AM THE INFIDEL YOUR IMAM WARNED YOU ABOUT says
Michael Coren is nothing but a twit……. a man with Jewish heritage.. converts to Catholicism and then converts to an Anglican and re-converts back to Catholicism and then once again re-converts to an Anglican citing that the Catholic Church’s teachings on homosexuality and contraception as some of the reasons for his conversion to Anglicanism and now identifies himself as a Christian Socialist. This idiot has no sense of direction as he goes wherever the wind blows. He may have authored books and biographies of famous people which in my opinion means nothing…… he’s an imbecile and an idiot. A man of no substance whatsoever
Let’s wait for his next conversion……. this time embracing islam.
mortimer says
Islam is the greatest ‘DISRUPTER’ of free speech today. The threat of violent death for anyone who criticize Islam or Mohammed is in everyone’s mind.
The Western world had to stand up to totalitarians a number of times and at great cost.
We must tell Muslim censors that our freedom of expression is not negotiable, it is paid for, and they may go to a Sharia Berzerkistan and live there if they don’t like it.
James Lincoln says
Mortimer,
You state that “Islam is the greatest ‘DISRUPTER’ of free speech today.” That is a correct statement.
I would put the “hard left” in as a close second – especially as they continue to form synergistic bonds with Islam.
eduardo odraude says
mortimer,
Unfortunately, the threat of violent death to anyone who criticizes Islam is NOT on everyone’s mind. It is not on the minds of those who pay no attention or who believe Islam is a religion of peace. It is not on everyone’s mind in part for the following reason: 99% of those who have that terror in mind are silent. So very few people who are aware of that terror discuss it publicly in their own names and with their own faces. Most Islam-criticism is anonymous internet criticism. There is an invisible self-censorship, and that leads the majority of people, who are not paying attention, to assume all is well, nothing much to worry about, only a few crackpots criticizing Islam, the vast majority say it’s a religion of peace, I can go back to sleep.
Tony Porcaro says
Very insightfully stated!
mortimer says
It was on the mind of the synagogue’s members. Anyone with responsibility for other’s is aware of security concerns.
Kay says
I am very concerned about that antisemitism and the lack of outrage about it. The press has been successful, it seems, in marking the pattern as a need for gun control and mental health facilities. Even those who read the news are ignorant and feel good about their tolerance and lack of fear.
somehistory says
It’s really sad when one or another person or persons, cannot speak the truth and say everyone should obey the laws that serve to protect the individual and the public from crimes.
Any time the charge…of a fake crime of “phobia’ of an evil, filthy belief system…is made, it should ring some loud bells of warning. The very ones making the charge here are the very ones who don’t want to be subject to, and obedient to, the laws everyone is supposed to obey.
If a large household had a large cookie jar filled with coins and a meeting was held to discuss missing coins and what to do, the thief would be most likely not to want the meeting. He might just throw up a fuss or smokescreen to prevent the discussion…about him and his activities…from taking place.
Indiana Tom says
there were also charges of “Islamophobia” from Michael Coren, the ex-Catholic author of Why Catholics Are Right.
So did he write a book called Why Catholics Are Wrong?
Hatred: Islam’s War on Christianity. Coren has become much more enlightened since the days when he featured me weekly on his Sun TV show; now he knows there is no jihad threat, only one of “Islamophobia,” and has joined the fascist ranks of those who believe that those who hold views that dissent from his own should be denied platforms and forcibly silenced.
So he wrote Love Fest:Islam’s Adoration of Christianity?
Healer says
https://www.therebel.media/news-pamela-geller-interview-islam-trump-rebel-media-show-ezra-levant-december-24-2018?safari_redirect
SPECIAL: Pamela Geller on Islam, Trump, social media and free speech