Lessons for Canadian Jews from the American Democratic National Convention

Last night was the final night of the Democratic National Convention, and while the majority of the focus was rightly on domestic US issues, that the current Israel-Hamas war, Antisemitism and Islamophobia, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would be absent would be unrealistic.

How these topics were broached and how voters and supporters reacted give us lots to think about here in Canada. As we gear up for a federal election of our own, it would be wise to take some lessons from what we've seen this past week in the US.

First, that Jewish diaspora identity was so proudly on display, and so wholly embraced by attendees should fill us with naches about Jewish diaspora life and what Jewish diaspora communities in North America have built.

We know from Canadian research on Jews in Canada and Antisemitism that non-Jewish Canadians by and large have very positive feelings toward Jews and we are very well accepted in Canadian society. This is especially incredible considering that only a generation or two ago, Jews were still barred from certain clubs, resorts, beaches, and more. 

While we may critique our Jewish establishment organizations for their binary "Israel right or wrong" stance, it is in no small part due to the building of Jewish institutions and with them, political power and proximity to power for over 100 years that Canadian Jews enjoy the freedoms and acceptance that we do in Canada today. 

Despite certain media outlets or commentators attempting to portray today's American Democratic Party as moving to an extreme, anti-Israel left, one of the most well-received speeches was that of the parents of American-Israeli hostage Hersch Goldberg-Polin, Rachel Golberg-Polin and Jon Polin.

Rachel breaking down into tears as Jon comforted her, the silence in the massive auditorium as they spoke, and the spontaneous chants of "Bring Them Home" captivated everyone who watched. But something else beautiful and incredible happened in that speech, which was Jon holding the immense pain and suffering of both Israelis and Palestinians, proclaiming "there is a surplus of agony on all sides of the tragic conflict in the Middle East. In a competition of pain, there are no winners."

In parallel and on the sidelines of the convention, delegates of the Uncommitted Movement unsuccessfully petitioned the party to platform a Palestinian-American before the end of the convention. 

As delegates held a sit-in on the second-last night of the convention protesting the lack of a Palestinian voice, a heckler passed by and proclaimed "free the hostages" to which the delegates replied "we agree!"

Support of Israel may still be a bipartisan issue in both Canada and the US, but which version of Israel we want to support is very much dividing people across and within political parties, and this is undoubtedly necessary and good.

Those who wish to see an independent Israel that lives in peace alongside an independent Palestine far outweigh the extremists on either side - either those who believe Israel must "live forever by the sword" and must further entrench an unjust and illegal occupation, or those who believe Israel must be eradicated and see all Israelis as subhuman war-machines.

Our strong Jewish community must now use that strength to advocate for the Israel we want to see, and we must not go at it alone. We see the Palestinian allies who also seek peace, an end to occupation and war, and a desire for self-determination.

This is a new era of organizing, of allyship, of political mobilization, and it will undoubtedly come with some bumps along the way. We must all be willing to dialogue across difference, hear uncomfortable truths, and make difficult concessions. 

But we also know that we cannot continue with the status quo any longer, and we know the voices demanding the same are far greater than those who deny this basic truth. This is a chance to work together for a better future, for peace, for an end to a cycle of bloodshed that has taken too many precious, innocent lives.

As we ready ourselves for our own election cycle, let us bravely lead toward a third way - not a binary "anti" or "pro" Israel, but rather, pro-humanity, pro-freedom, and pro-peace for everyone, and for the sake of everyone.