“The situation in Israel is very difficult for us,” sighed my conversation partner, a person deeply involved in Jewish life in Canada. “The lack of clarity that accompanies the militant declarations is creating tension between the countries, and we, the Jewish community, are caught in the middle.”
These are not easy days for Jewish communities in the Diaspora, and they are certainly a challenging time to be an Israeli emissary abroad. From time to time, the Israeli media reports on antisemitic incidents around the world. What is less frequently reported is the growing sense of division within Jewish communities themselves.
Jews overseas are exposed to unfiltered and uncensored coverage of events in Gaza. Unlike the Israeli media, traditional foreign outlets and, even more so, social media are filled with graphic images and footage from the war zone. These are accompanied by reports of division and polarization within Israeli society. This reality directly affects Jewish communities abroad.
The growing hostility of the Canadian government toward Israel has also caught many by surprise. No one expected the situation to deteriorate further, yet that is exactly what has happened since the Mark Carney government was sworn in.
Jews in Canada, who see themselves as proud Canadian patriots, now find themselves torn between loyalty to their country and devotion to their heart, which beats for Zion. There is a significant difference between the Jewish community in Canada and that of the United States. Canadian Jews tend to be more closely connected to Israel and more actively engaged in community life. According to the latest survey, 80 percent contribute to Jewish organizations or to causes in Israel.
This division has also reached the younger Jewish generation. In one Jewish summer camp, a counselor refused to engage with Israeli emissaries who had arrived for the two-month program. Last summer alone, the Jewish Agency sent 2,000 shlichim (emissaries) to Jewish camps across North America, including 120 to Canada, with the mission of strengthening Jewish identity, Zionism, and the connection to Israel.
Yet even in this setting, tensions surfaced. In another camp, a few campers and counselors proposed painting a watermelon, the symbol associated with Palestinian solidarity, in the main dining hall. A vocal group of campers, Canadians and Israelis alike, opposed the idea, and a heated debate followed.
Ultimately, the pro-Palestinian initiative was withdrawn. Instead, it was agreed to paint poppies, an international symbol of remembrance for victims. Alongside them, a yellow ribbon representing solidarity with the Israeli hostages in Gaza was also added to the dining hall mural.
These incidents serve as fresh examples of the complex and diverse reality of Jewish life in North America.
Diaspora Jews lack clarity from Israel on pressing questions
What frustrates many Jews most is the lack of clarity. Questions are raised, yet few answers follow. Why is Hamas still in power after nearly two years of war? How long will the fighting continue? What is the strategy going forward? And above all, why have the hostages not yet been released?
In most synagogues, prayers for the hostages are recited regularly, week after week, for almost two years. Across Jewish institutions in Canada and around the world - synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and schools - their portraits are displayed prominently. In Canada, both Israeli and Canadian flags have remained at half-mast since October 7, 2023.
The concern is real and sincere. It amplifies the unanswered questions: How can hostages still be held in Gaza’s tunnels?
For Israeli emissaries abroad, these questions make their mission increasingly difficult. They are working at a time when antisemitism is on the rise in North America and around the world, and when more and more young Jews are distancing themselves from both Jewish identity and Israel.
At such a moment, clarity and direction are needed more than ever. Without them, it becomes increasingly difficult to preserve the vital bond between the Jewish communities of the Diaspora and the people of Israel, especially among the younger generation.
The author is the Regional Director of the Jewish Agency for Israel in Canada.