Canadian Jewish Congress
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The Canadian Jewish Congress is an umbrella group of Jewish organizations in Canada and constitutes one of the main lobby groups for the Jewish community in the country though it often competes with B'nai Brith Canada in that regard.
Founding
While the CJC was founded at a convention held in Montreal in March 1919, its creation had been discussed, and attempted for a number of years prior to that date. In 1915, the immediate predecssor to the CJC was formed by the Montreal chapter of Poalei Zion (Lovers of Zion), a working class Zionist organization. They were soon joined by 13 other organizations, mostly other chapters of Poalei Zion as well as the Arbeiter Ring in forming the Canadian Jewish Alliance. Despite this show of support, the Canadian Federation of Zionist Societies, run by the influential German Jew, Clarence de Sola, refused to support any democratic Jewish organization.Despite the opposition of the Federation, the CJA moved forward with their plan to create a democratic Jewish Congress, they were further pushed ahead with the creation in 1918 of the American Jewish Congress. Finally, in 1919, over 25,000 Jews from across Canada voted for delegates to the first Convention of the CJC.
Groups as diverse as Clarence de Sola's Federation, Poalei Zion, Mizrachi (a religious Zionist organization) and the Arbeiter Ring were present at the convention. While there, they were addressed by the Solicitor General of Canada, and were entertained at Montreal City Hall, where a large Zionist flag was draped over the Mayor's chair.
The main decision at that meeting was the founding of the "Jewish Immigrant Aid Society" to assist Jewish settlers and refugees in Canada. Although they also passed motions expressing the Jewish community's loyalty to Canada and others declaring their support for the Balfour Declaration. The convention also elected Lyon Cohen, former President of the Montreal Clothing Manufacturers Union, their President. Cohen would remain President until he was succeeded by Samuel Bronfman.
Despite this auspicious start, the CJC fell into abeyance and was inactive until 1934 when an internationally provoked Jewish leaders to call the Congress' second plenum which was held in Toronto in January.
World War 2
The CJC was active before and during World War II in lobbying the government (with limited success) to open the borders to Jewish refugees fleeing Europe. After the war the CJC organized relief aid for Holocaust survivors who were being detained in Displaced Persons camps.The Congress' dominant figure from 1939 to 1962 was its president, Samuel Bronfman.
In recent decades the CJC launched campaigns to pressure the Soviet Union to allow Jewish emigration, to pressure the Canadian government to prosecute Nazi war criminals who had settled in Canada, and to enact and use hate crimes legislation against anti-Semites and Holocaust deniers such as Ernst Zündel. The CJC also works to promote tolerance and understanding between religious and ethnic groups, promotes anti-racist work and other campaigns.
The CJC is the Canadian affiliate of the World Jewish Congress.
References
- Tulchinsky, Gerald. Taking Root: The Origins of the Canadian Jewish Community.
- Abella, Irving. A Coat of Many Colours: Two Centuries of Jewish Life in Canada.
External links
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