THREE INVITATIONS

Please join with me in tangibly contesting antisemitism and antizionism.

Dear Friends,

This post and a previous post have been different than my usual Substacks.

In my previous post, I shared some personal news.

I’m getting personal again.

Well, not that personal.

The thing is, I wear a bunch of hats and I try to keep them somewhat separate.

This Substack is my personal blog. It represents no one but me, no organization I am associated with and nothing but the mad ramblings of myself.

As I mentioned in passing in my earlier post, though, I am also involved with Upstanders Canada. I’m the founder and president, actually. Totally separate from this Substack.

Upstanders Canada mobilizes (primarily) non-Jewish Canadians to stand with Jewish people and Israel. (We also enthusiastically welcome Jews and non-Canadians! The projects we are working on are scalable. If they work in Canada, we aim to export them to ally groups around the world.)

Upstanders is fairly new. We received charitable status from the Government of Canada in late 2023.

In the coming weeks and months, Upstanders is going to be releasing several major initiatives. We are taking innovative approaches to the problem of antisemitism and antizionism. As a reader of my Substack, I know you will be interested in these developments.

So …

I have three invitations for you.

INVITATION #1 – Join Upstanders Canada

If you want to stay up-to-date and get involved with Upstanders, I hope you will click here to join the Upstanders mailing list.

INVITATION #2 – Participate in Upstanders Idea Lounge

More than ever, we need spaces to connect, reflect, and stand together against hate and division. That’s why Upstanders Canada launched an online group where we can engage over ideas.

We’re calling it the Upstanders Idea Lounge. It’s like a book club – but you don’t have to read the book! It’s pretty casual. Pour a glass or wine or a cup of tea and join in.

We’re creating an inclusive online community gathering where people can come together to explore ideas that are thoughtful, inspiring, informative—and sometimes even uplifting.

Our monthly sessions alternate between fiction (led by Dr. Gefen Bar-On Santor, University of Ottawa) and nonfiction books (led by me. Not a doctor. No university affiliation) that help to better understand the Jewish experience, antisemitism and resilience.

The next session is Sunday, January 11, with Gefen discussing “Shakespeare and Antisemitism: The Merchant of Venice and Beyond.” Click here to sign up for the resources and to get the Zoom link.

INVITATION #3 – Share Your Ideas

I believe that a major rupture in the discourse around antisemitism revolves around Israel and antizionism.

Put simply, if “critics of Israel” do not understand the passionate connection between Jews worldwide and the State of Israel, they cannot appreciate how words that leave their mouth as “political commentary” land in Jewish ears as antisemitism.

I am working on a number of projects around this topic. I am writing about it on Substack and I am participating in larger initiatives with Upstanders and other organizations addressing the intersection of antisemitism and antizionism.

I am hosting an online brainstorm on Sunday, January 18. I want Jewish friends (and non-Jewish allies with relevant contributions) to share thoughts on the centrality of Israel to you (the land, the state, the idea, however you interpret the question).

The ideas expressed in this brainstorm session will be used in my writing and in other projects already underway and not yet imagined. Anonymity is assured (and, since it’s a brainstorm, you’re kind of agreeing to let me swipe your ideas to use at my discretion).

I hope you will join me for this free-ranging discussion. (BTW, this is not a forum for debate. We’re not looking for people who don’t agree with the premise. We are exploring aspects of the subject among like-minded Jews and allies. Trolls will be precipitously disgorged.)

Register here.

I hope you will join me in accepting one, two or three of these invitations.

Happy new year.

May 2026 bring peace, hope and freedom from hate.

No.

May we help bring peace, hope and freedom from hate in 2026.

It’s up to us.