Local News
MPs Ben Carr & Anthony Housefather on the CRA’s decision to revoke JNF-Canada’s charitable status
![](https://jewishpostandnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Anthony-Housefather.Ben-Carr.jpeg)
Dear Members of Winnipeg’s Jewish Community,
For decades, the Jewish National Fund has inspired hope, optimism, and pride within our community. Thousands have fond memories of blue boxes and tree planting initiatives that have made you feel closer to Israel and the community.
As many of you are aware, there have been substantial developments regarding JNF over the past week. In the lead up to the recent decision by the Canada Revenue Agency to Revoke JNF’s charitable status, and since its publication that confirmed that decision in the Canada Gazette just a few days ago, we have been engaging with the senior leadership of JNF, CIJA, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, our colleagues in Ottawa, and the grassroots of our community.
It is important for us to note a few key aspects of this case that may help provide context for members of the community who are trying to make sense of what has happened.
This process started with a 2014 audit under the previous government, leading to the auditor making a recommendation to revoke JNF’s status. That was appealed to the charitable branch at CRA and last month a letter signaling CRA’s intention to strike was sent to JNF, leading to the appeal. The core issue for the revocation appears to be the CRA’s assertion that JNF’s original founding charitable object that it accepted almost 60 years ago is now no longer considered to be a charitable object.
We can deeply appreciate how this has left many of you feeling, particularly against the backdrop of all that has happened over the past year.
We have heard your concerns related specifically to the JNF issue. In addition, we want to assure you that the feelings of isolation, disillusionment, and fear that the Jewish community in Canada is experiencing by virtue of a rising tide of antisemitism and targeted hatred is being expressed regularly by us to colleagues in Ottawa. As we continue our advocacy to support and protect the Jewish community, your voices are at the forefront of our discussions and actions
We will stay closely attuned to the JNF court challenge as it proceeds.
Sincerely,
Ben Carr, MP for Winnipeg South Centre
Anthony Housefather, MP for Mount Royal
Local News
Weizmann Institute High School Physics Tournament
![](https://jewishpostandnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Weizmann-Physics-scaled.jpg)
Registration open for promising young scientists
The excitement is building as registration opens for the highly anticipated Annual International Physics Tournament, an event that promises to highlight the talent and dedication of budding scientists. Students have been participating in the Annual International Physics Tournament since 1973.
Organized by Weizmann Canada, this tournament invites high school students in grades 11 and 12 to test their knowledge, skills, and passion for physics in a competitive and collaborative environment.
Scheduled to take place in early February, the Canadian semi-finals for the Annual International Physics Tournament will provide participants the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of key physics concepts, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork while competing against their peers.
Then, two winning teams will travel to the International Physics Tournament hosted at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel to compete in a two-day showdown against schools from around the world.
“We are happy to announce the opening of registration for the Annual International Physics Tournament,” said Cindy Yelle, Weizmann Canada’s COO. “This tournament is an incredible opportunity for high school students to immerse themselves in the world of physics, test their abilities, and connect with peers who share their passion for science.”
Registration is now open, and interested participants can sign-up online.
For more information and details on how to register, please visit the Annual International Physics Tournament website or contact Morgan Leibner.
About the Physics Tournament:
Each year, the Weizmann Institute of Science hosts the greatest safe-cracking competition known to high schoolers – The Annual International Physics Tournament. Students in grades 11 & 12 form teams and take on the challenge to build a safe that only they can open and try to open the safes of all the other teams. Each team builds a safe and uses simple materials to create a lock that operates on the principles of physics. Each safe must be able to be opened in less than five minutes but should be built to keep opponents stumped for at least 10 minutes. Entries are scored by a panel of judges, not only for being pick-proof, but also for aesthetics and originality. Teams get added points for every safe they manage to crack. Following the Canadian semi-finals, two teams travel to a two-day showdown that takes place at the Davidson Institute of Science Education, on campus of the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel.
About Weizmann Canada (weizmann.ca)
Since 1964, Weizmann Canada has partnered with individuals, families, foundations, and the business community to develop funding for the Weizmann Institute of Science; sharing the Institute’s research with the Canadian public; and promoting science literacy and educational programs across all age groups. From coast to coast, Weizmann Canada hosts parlour meetings and interactive evenings with Weizmann Institute Scientists; provides opportunities for participation in educational programs for high school students and young adults; and brings Canadians a front row seat to research that has – and will continue to – change the world.
For more information contact:
Morgan Leibner
Annual and Education Programs Officer
Phone: 514-342-0777
Email: morgan@weizmann.ca
Local News
Shalom Square photo collage
![](https://jewishpostandnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Chai-male-dancers.jpg)
Shalom Square, the Israel pavilion in Folklorama, had another successful week, attracting large crowds despite the presence of protesters across the street from the Asper Campus every night. (In truth, there have been protesters outside the Asper Campus whenever Shalom Square is operating so this year’s protests were nothing new.)
Here is a collage of photos taken by Keith Levit:
![](https://jewishpostandnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Shalom-Square_Layout-1-677x1024.jpg)
Local News
Canada Revokes Charity Status of JNF-Canada
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By SHIRYN GHERMEZIAN, Algemeiner (August 14, 2024) Canada on Sunday officially revoked the charitable status of two Jewish nonprofit organizations that allocate funds to support projects in Israel, including the Jewish National Fund Canada, a move that JNF Canada described as a “wrong and unjustified decision” allegedly influenced by antisemites.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) made the announcement regarding JNF and the Ne’eman Foundation Canada in notices posted in the Canada Gazette, the government’s official newspaper. CRA said the charities failed to meet parts of Canada’s Income Tax Act but did not elaborate further.
JNF announced in late July that it filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court of Appeal to contest the CRA decision, saying that the agency’s review process “was flawed and fundamentally unfair.” The Jewish group is also arguing that there is “reasonable apprehension of bias” in the audit that CRA conducted. They claim the CRA was pressured by antisemites and anti-Israel activists to revoke the group’s charitable status, and that it “was an important consideration” for the CRA when it decided to take action against the charity.
“As a Zionist-inspired organization, JNF Canada has many vociferous antisemitic detractors who we believe have influenced the decision-making process in this matter,” the nonprofit explained in a released statement. “We believe that arguably there is a reasonable apprehension of bias on the part of the CRA. This evidence of bias comes from the CRA’s own records, which show that the public pressure on the CRA and the Minister of National Revenue to revoke JNF’s status was an important consideration within the chain of authority at the Charities Directorate. A review of the record would leave a reasonable person with the impression that this pressure resulted in a biased decision.”
JNF Canada said it has evidence that the Charities Directorate was monitoring campaigns and comments made by those who are opposed to the group’s support for the Jewish state, specifically the anti-Israel nonprofit organization Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV), which has been involved in four complaints against JNF Canada.
“Given the current environment, the CRA’s decision will be seen as a victory for anti-Israel and antisemitic movements and groups,” the pro-Israel group added.
In a Q&A shared on its website on Aug. 1, JNF Canada said CRA claims the Jewish group “has failed to exercise adequate direction and control” over its primary intermediary in Israel, which is Karen Kayemeth Le’Israel (KKL). The Israeli organization focuses on developing the land of Israel “for a sustainable future,” “strengthening the bond between the Jewish people and its homeland,” and “supporting Zionist and environmental education,” according to its website.
In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 Hamas massacre in southern Israel, KKL-JNF provided support to communities impacted by the terrorist attack, raised funds, and bought ambulances and equipment for community emergency squads, The Jerusalem Post reported. KKL-JNF also established a special scholarship program that provided NIS 4,000 (roughly $1,075) to thousands of college students who were living in the Gaza border communities or Sderot at the time of the Oct. 7 attack.
JNF Canada explained that CRA usually takes certain measures, like negotiating compliance agreements or invoking sanctions, before drastically revoking an organization’s charitable status. But, in its dealing with JNF Canada, the CRA “not only skipped steps 1-3, it also refused to enter into a dialogue with us and to entertain our suggestions of new objects for our charity or to discuss a compliance agreement,” the Jewish group said. “We maintain that the CRA erred both in fact and in law and that the process was flawed and unfair, which is why we have ended up in court.”
JNF Canada also maintains that it has addressed CRA’s concerns about its work with KKL by taking steps such as reducing the number of its projects with the group and engaging in a compliant agreement with the Israeli charity.
“KKL works for JNF Canada, just like any other agent that we utilize. JNF Canada selects the projects we wish to support and we always have direction and control over all of the funds as we reimburse expenses upon receipt of valid expense reports. In short, we have addressed the CRA’s concerns.”
JNF Canada’s National President Nathan Disenhouse said in a released statement: “Similar to other charities that support the needs of children, workers, and vulnerable communities we would expect CRA to work with, not against, our charity. Our position is that it is unjust for CRA to revoke a charity because a charitable object that it accepted almost 60 years ago is now no longer considered to be a valid charitable object.”
“It is simply unjust to close a charity supported by over 100,000 Canadians based on reversing a decision the CRA made in 1967,” he continued. “Today’s legal appeal will allow JNF Canada’s concerns to be considered before an impartial legal process.”
Independent Jewish Voices Canada applauded the CRA’s revocation.
“It means Canadian tax money will no longer subsidize the JNF’s illegal support of Israeli apartheid,” the group said. It accused JNF of being compliant in “colonization, occupation and apartheid,” and added that while JNF will appeal the CRA’s decision, “we will again fight every step of the way to make sure they never use this loophole to finance Israeli crimes again.”
The Ne’eman Foundation did not respond to The Algemeiner‘s request for a comment about the CRA’s decision.
According to its website, the Ne’eman Foundation “supports projects that reduce or eliminate poverty, advance education, religion and quality of life, and promote charitable initiatives for community development in Israeli communities.” It provides a “secure financial link” between Israel and Canada and helps Israeli nonprofits build their donor bases in Canada.
With offices in Toronto and Israel, the foundation says it offers Canadians with a wide selection of tax-deductible projects in Israel “that are monitored to guarantee that allocated funds are used accordingly and comply with the requirements of Canadian tax legislation.”
The post Canada Revokes Charity Status of Jewish Nonprofits Supporting Israel first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
On Wendesday, August 13, 2024 JNF Canada issued a call to its supporters to contact the Federal Minister of Revenue and oher Members of Parliament, “from all parties, to intervene on behalf of JNF Canada. We are requesting the government withdraw its revocation and allow JNF to pursue our legal right to appeal in court.”
Here is what was contained in the message issued by JNF Canada:
Dear JNF Canada Supporters,
This past Saturday, over Shabbat, the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Canada was blindsided when it learned via a posting in the Canada Gazette that its charitable status has been revoked despite court proceedings currently underway. This was done in a manner contrary to the CRA’s standard practice. The norm is that the CRA would hold the revocation until the legal proceedings conclude and a decision is delivered from the court.
This draconian and unjust action is consistent with the CRA’s attitude towards JNF since it informed us that it was intending to revoke our charitable status. We appealed while at the same time striving to reach an agreement with the CRA on a constructive path forward, while our overtures to have a dialogue in order to negotiate were consistently rebuffed.
In the coming days we will be advising the court of the severe damage the CRA is causing us and asking for an application for judicial review until our case is heard on its merits.
While for the time being we are unable to issue charitable receipts, please rest assured that we remain steadfast in our commitment to building Israel’s charitable environmental and social service infrastructure for the benefit of all Israelis.
We need your help now more than ever.
Please join us in calling on the Federal Minister of National Revenue responsible for CRA, Marie-Claude Bibeau, and other Members of Parliament, from all parties, to intervene on behalf of JNF Canada. We are requesting the government withdraw its revocation and allow JNF to pursue our legal right to appeal in court.
We will not be silent in the face of this attack on us as a charity. Join us in speaking up.
To go to the support page JNF-Canada has set up, click here: Stand with JNF-Canada