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Best Gambling Sites for Canadians in 2026: Gambling Nerd Ranks the Top Picks
Gambling Nerd approaches Canadian gambling sites with a simple question: does the platform actually work well for someone in Canada? Accepting Canadian registrations is only the beginning. CAD accounts, Interac availability, withdrawal times, licensing, provincial restrictions, games and sportsbook coverage can make two apparently similar sites very different once real money is involved.
There is also no universal “best” gambling site. An NHL bettor looking for player props has different priorities from someone interested in slots, live blackjack or poker-style games. Gambling Nerd’s Nerd Nook Hub adds an educational layer to that comparison by examining concepts such as RTP, house edge, probability, sportsbook margins and odds.
For a broader look at the market, the Gambling Nerd guide to gambling sites in Canada covers Canadian casinos, sports betting, banking and regional considerations.
Best Gambling Sites for Canadians in 2026
For Canadian players, Gambling Nerd currently places IZZI Casino first overall, with Betway standing out for slots, North Casino for its welcome package and Hell Spin for poker variants. Sports Interaction is also particularly relevant to players who want casino games and Canadian-focused sports betting within the same platform.
The important distinction is that these sites have different strengths. Instead of treating the ranking as five interchangeable casinos, Canadian players can use it to identify the platform that most closely matches how they actually play.
| Rank | Gambling Site | Gambling Nerd Score | Best For | CAD Support | Interac | Sportsbook |
| 1 | IZZI Casino | 4.5/5 | Overall experience | Yes | Check current cashier | No |
| 2 | Betway | 4.5/5 | Online slots | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | North Casino | 4.5/5 | Welcome package | Yes | Yes | No |
| 4 | Hell Spin | 4.5/5 | Poker variants & game variety | Yes | Yes | No |
| 5 | Sports Interaction | 4/5 | Sports + casino | Yes | Available payment options vary | Yes |
Payment methods, promotions and availability can change, so current conditions should always be checked before opening or funding an account.
1. IZZI Casino – Best Overall for Canadians
Gambling Nerd score: 4.5/5
IZZI takes the overall position because its strengths aren’t concentrated in a single area. Gambling Nerd’s Canadian research highlights its game variety, promotions and flexible banking, while its minimum deposit starts at $5.
The casino has more than 600 video slots alongside digital table games, live blackjack, roulette and baccarat. Providers include Yggdrasil, Betsoft, BGaming and Evolution.
Banking includes cards, e-wallets and several cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Tether.
That makes IZZI a better fit for someone looking for an all-around casino than a player choosing exclusively according to one promotion.
Main advantage: Strong balance between games, banking and promotions.
Potential drawback: Players specifically looking for Interac should confirm its current availability in the cashier before depositing.
Best for: Canadians who want a balanced casino rather than choosing primarily according to bonus size.
2. Betway – Best for Canadian Slot Players
Gambling Nerd score: 4.5/5
Betway is Gambling Nerd’s specialist pick for slots.
Its library includes established titles and providers, while progressive jackpot games provide another reason it stands apart from smaller casino platforms. Canadian players can also access familiar banking methods, including Interac.
Betway additionally operates a sportsbook, making it relevant to players who might spend Saturday on NHL markets and use the casino at another time without maintaining completely separate accounts.
The drawback is that its promotions shouldn’t automatically be considered the strongest simply because the platform itself is well established. Bonus terms still need to be compared independently.
Main advantage: Strong slot selection combined with casino and sportsbook products.
Potential drawback: Bonus value should be compared with newer, more promotion-focused competitors.
Best for: Slot players who value established software providers and also want access to sports betting.
3. North Casino – Best Welcome Package
Gambling Nerd score: 4.5/5
North Casino demonstrates why bonus size and bonus value aren’t necessarily the same thing.
Its Canadian welcome package advertises up to C5,000acrossthefirstfivedeposits.Thefirstdepositreceivesa100%matchuptoC1,000, followed by four 50% matches worth up to C$1,000 each.
The headline number is substantial, but so is another figure: 60x wagering requirements apply to the package.
That needs to be considered before opting in.
North Casino also supports CAD and Canadian-friendly banking methods including Interac. Its game library covers thousands of slots alongside table and live dealer games.
Main advantage: Large multi-deposit welcome package and broad game selection.
Potential drawback: The 60x wagering requirement makes reading the complete bonus terms particularly important.
Best for: Canadians who prioritize promotions but are comfortable evaluating wagering requirements before claiming them.
4. Hell Spin – Best for Poker Variants and Banking Choice
Gambling Nerd score: 4.5/5
Hell Spin is particularly useful for demonstrating the difference between a poker room and casino poker.
It doesn’t operate a traditional player-versus-player poker room, but its large casino library includes games such as Casino Hold’em and Caribbean Stud alongside live dealer poker formats.
Its banking selection is another strength for Canadians. Options include Interac, Interac e-Transfer, cards, e-wallets and cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Litecoin and Ethereum.
The casino has more than 4,000 games, so players who regularly move between slots, table games and live dealer products have considerably more variety than they would at a smaller specialist platform.
Main advantage: Extensive game library and broad Canadian banking support.
Potential drawback: Players seeking traditional online poker against other players will need a dedicated poker room instead.
Best for: Casino players who enjoy poker variants and want Interac and crypto payment choices.
5. Sports Interaction – Best for Canadian Sports Fans
Gambling Nerd score: 4/5
Sports Interaction fills a different role in this ranking.
Its biggest attraction is the combination of a sportsbook and casino with a distinctly Canadian focus. CAD support and coverage of sports popular with Canadian audiences make it particularly relevant to people who consider sports betting their primary activity and casino games a secondary feature.
For an NHL bettor, that may be more useful than joining a casino with thousands more slots but a weaker sportsbook.
The trade-off is that its casino isn’t as extensive as some casino-first competitors.
Main advantage: Strong combination of Canadian sports betting and casino gaming.
Potential drawback: Casino-first players can find larger game libraries elsewhere.
Best for: Canadians who primarily follow sports but want casino games available through the same platform.
Best Gambling Sites That Accept Canadians
The phrase “Canadian gambling site” can be misleading because it can describe several different things.
A site might be operated within a provincial regulatory framework. Another could be an international gambling site that accepts Canadian customers. A third may specifically support Canadian dollars and local payment methods.
Those characteristics aren’t interchangeable.
This matters particularly when evaluating international sites. Accessibility tells you whether an account can be created from a location. Licensing tells you which regulatory framework governs the operator.
The Gambling Nerd-check: Don’t assume that accepting Canadian players means a gambling site is regulated by a Canadian provincial authority.
Which Canadian Gambling Site Fits You?
Someone who mainly plays slots should start the comparison with Betway. Its strength is its slot library rather than simply having the largest headline promotion.
A player prioritizing a substantial welcome package might look more closely at North Casino, but its 60x wagering requirement should be evaluated alongside the C$5,000 advertised package.
Hell Spin makes more sense for someone who regularly switches among slots, live dealer tables and poker-style casino games.
Sports Interaction has the clearest role for sports fans who want to combine betting with occasional casino play.
IZZI is the more balanced choice when none of those individual specializations dominates the decision.
This is ultimately more useful than declaring that one gambling site must be best for every Canadian.
Which Canadian Gambling Sites Accept Interac?
Interac is one of the clearest ways a gambling site can adapt its banking experience for Canadians.
Betway, North Casino and Hell Spin are among the ranked platforms offering Interac support. However, players should check the cashier before depositing because payment availability can change and deposit options aren’t necessarily identical to withdrawal options.
| Gambling Site | Interac | CAD | What to Check |
| Betway | Yes | Yes | Current deposit and withdrawal limits |
| North Casino | Yes | Yes | Minimums and maximums |
| Hell Spin | Yes | Yes | Interac vs Interac e-Transfer options |
Interac transactions can be considerably easier for someone accustomed to Canadian online banking than dealing with foreign currency or unfamiliar payment processors.
The detail beginners often miss is two-way support.
A casino might allow a payment method for deposits but require another method for withdrawals.
The Gambling Nerd-check: Before making an Interac deposit, verify whether Interac is also available for withdrawals on your account.
Why CAD Support Matters
Imagine starting with a C$200 bankroll.
With a CAD account, a C$10 wager represents exactly 5% of that starting amount. The deposit, balance, individual bets and eventual withdrawal remain easy to interpret in the same currency.
A USD-denominated account introduces exchange rates into that process.
That doesn’t automatically make a USD gambling account unsuitable for Canadians. It simply creates an additional variable, particularly if conversion fees or exchange-rate changes apply.
For a Canadian choosing between otherwise similar sites, native CAD support can therefore be a genuinely useful feature rather than a minor convenience.
The Gambling Nerd-check: Confirm the account’s base currency before depositing, not when requesting your first withdrawal.
Which Canadian Gambling Sites Have the Fastest Withdrawals?
There isn’t a single payout time that applies to every Canadian gambling site.
The payment method can matter almost as much as the operator.
Interac and e-wallet withdrawals can often be relatively quick. Cards and bank transfers may require additional business days. Crypto can process particularly quickly after the casino approves a withdrawal.
That last distinction matters.
Casino processing time describes how long the operator takes to approve and send a withdrawal.
Payment processing time describes what happens after the transaction enters Interac, an e-wallet, banking network or blockchain.
Gambling Nerd’s Canadian methodology includes testing withdrawals rather than relying entirely on advertised payout claims. Its real-money casino testing has also found particularly fast crypto withdrawals at some operators.
The Gambling Nerd-check: When a site says “fast payouts,” determine whether that claim refers to casino approval time, payment processing or the entire withdrawal.
Real Money Gambling Sites in Canada: What Does That Actually Mean?
“Real money gambling site” is a broad term.
It can describe an online casino where money is wagered on slots or blackjack, a sportsbook accepting wagers on the Stanley Cup, an online poker room or a platform combining several products.
It also distinguishes these platforms from free-play casino games and social casino products where the economic model and prize structure can work differently.
For beginners, this distinction matters because different real-money products require different comparisons.
A slot player should understand RTP and volatility. A sports bettor should understand odds and sportsbook margin. A poker player needs to distinguish games played against the house from poker played against other users.
The word “gambling” connects them, but the underlying products are very different.
Best Gambling Sites for Canadian Sports Fans
Canadian sports bettors have several locally relevant markets to consider.
NHL coverage is an obvious priority. A Toronto Maple Leafs or Edmonton Oilers fan may want player props, period markets, puck lines and live betting in addition to a simple game winner.
CFL bettors might care more about market depth around regular-season games and the Grey Cup.
Toronto Raptors fans introduce NBA player props and same-game markets, while Toronto Blue Jays followers need MLB coverage across a much longer season. NFL betting also remains important despite Canada not having an NFL franchise.
The best sportsbook shouldn’t therefore be determined solely by its welcome offer.
Check whether it actually provides strong coverage of the sports you follow, then compare the prices.
Two sportsbooks can offer the same Maple Leafs moneyline at different odds. That difference directly changes the potential return.
The Gambling Nerd-check: Compare sportsbook odds before sportsbook bonuses. A promotion is temporary; pricing affects every qualifying wager.
What Casino Games Should Canadians Compare?
A casino advertising 5,000 games isn’t automatically better than one offering 1,500.
The more useful question is what those games actually are.
Slot players should look at software providers, RTP information, volatility and bonus mechanics. Jackpot players may prioritize progressive networks. Live casino players need to consider table availability, limits and streaming quality.
Table rules can also affect the mathematics.
European roulette generally uses one zero, while standard American roulette adds a double zero. That changes the house edge despite both games being called roulette.
Blackjack works similarly. Rules concerning dealer actions, doubling and payouts can alter the mathematical return.
This is why Gambling Nerd treats game quality as more than a count of how many thumbnails appear in the lobby.
Are Bigger Canadian Gambling Bonuses Better?
Consider two hypothetical promotions.
Casino A offers 200% up to C$2,000.
Casino B offers 100% up to C$500.
The first appears obviously better until the terms are opened.
If Casino A requires 60x wagering while Casino B requires 20x, the comparison becomes substantially more complicated. Game contribution, expiry dates, maximum bets and cash-out restrictions can change it further.
North Casino provides a practical example. Its C$5,000 package is one of its most noticeable features, but the 60x wagering requirement belongs in the same conversation.
The Gambling Nerd-check: Don’t compare bonus percentages until you’ve compared what must be wagered to use them.
Best Gambling Sites in Ontario vs the Rest of Canada
Ontario needs to be treated separately when discussing Canadian online gambling.
The province has a competitive regulated iGaming market overseen through Ontario’s provincial framework. Players participating within that market use operators authorized for Ontario.
International gambling sites available elsewhere in Canada shouldn’t simply be presented as Ontario alternatives.
This means a national ranking needs an important qualification: a site that Gambling Nerd evaluates for players in Alberta, British Columbia or Quebec may not be the appropriate recommendation for someone located in Ontario.
Ontario players should confirm that an operator is authorized for the provincial market before creating an account.
The Gambling Nerd-check: A national “Canada” ranking doesn’t override provincial availability. Check your province before evaluating the rest of the site’s features.
Do the Best Gambling Sites Change by Province?
Yes, because Canada doesn’t have one identical online gambling environment from coast to coast.
Ontario has its competitive regulated iGaming framework. British Columbia operates PlayNow through the British Columbia Lottery Corporation. Quebec has its provincial offering through Loto-Québec, while other provinces follow their own models.
That creates a distinction between what exists provincially and which international gambling sites may be accessible from different parts of Canada.
Alberta is another particularly relevant market for online gambling research, while Quebec players may additionally care about French-language accessibility.
The practical lesson is simple: check provincial availability before spending time comparing bonuses, games or payment methods.
What Should Quebec Players Look For?
Quebec introduces several additional considerations.
CAD support and familiar banking remain important, but French-language accessibility may also matter. Players should determine whether the site itself, its terms and its customer support are available in a language they’re comfortable using.
Quebec also operates its own provincial gambling products through Loto-Québec.
International sites should therefore be evaluated separately rather than being presented as though they operate within the same provincial framework.
For a beginner, understanding that distinction is more important than immediately comparing welcome bonuses.
How Gambling Nerd Tests Canadian Gambling Sites
Gambling Nerd’s rankings aren’t based solely on reading promotional pages.
The site’s Canadian methodology includes practical testing of the player experience, including registration, deposits, mobile usability and withdrawal requests. Licensing, game software, customer support and bonus terms are also evaluated.
Canadian reviews introduce additional questions.
Does the platform support CAD? Which Canadian banking methods are actually available? How does the site handle withdrawals? Is it appropriate for the player’s province?
That testing matters because advertised specifications don’t always describe the complete user experience.
A casino can advertise thousands of games but have inconvenient banking. Another might promote fast withdrawals while requiring a lengthy internal approval process. A huge welcome offer can lose much of its appeal once the wagering conditions are examined.
The goal is therefore to assess the platform rather than one headline feature.
Nerd Nook Hub: The Site Doesn’t Change the Mathematics
The Nerd Nook Hub approach becomes particularly useful once players move beyond comparing operators.
Consider a slot advertised with 96% theoretical RTP.
That does not mean someone depositing C100shouldexpecttofinishasinglesessionwithC96. RTP is a theoretical long-run measurement calculated across a very large number of plays.
Sports betting has its own mathematics.
Decimal odds of 2.00 correspond to a 50% break-even probability before accounting for how the wider market has been priced. If another sportsbook offers a better price on the exact same outcome, the underlying basketball or hockey game hasn’t changed—the price has.
Bonuses, site design and payment methods don’t alter these underlying mathematical principles.
That’s why choosing a gambling site and understanding the games are two separate decisions.
The Gambling Nerd-Check Before Joining a Canadian Gambling Site
Start with location rather than the welcome bonus. Confirm that the platform is appropriate for your province and understand which regulatory framework applies.
Then check the currency. If you want to manage your bankroll in Canadian dollars, confirm CAD support.
Next comes banking. Verify that your preferred deposit method is available and, crucially, determine how you will withdraw.
After that, examine what you actually want to play. A sports bettor should compare markets and odds. A slot player should look at providers and games. Someone interested in both needs a platform that performs well in both areas.
Only then does it make sense to evaluate the welcome offer.
That produces a useful rule for Canadian beginners:
Don’t ask only whether a gambling site accepts Canadians. Ask whether it actually works well for Canadians.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canadian Gambling Sites
What are the best gambling sites in Canada?
Gambling Nerd currently ranks IZZI as its best overall option for Canadian casino players, while Betway stands out for slots, North Casino for its welcome package and Hell Spin for poker-style casino games. Sports Interaction is particularly relevant to players who prioritize sports betting alongside casino gaming.
Which gambling sites accept Canadians?
Numerous international gambling sites accept Canadian customers, but availability can differ by province. Acceptance from Canada also shouldn’t be confused with regulation by a Canadian provincial authority.
Which Canadian gambling sites accept Interac?
Betway, North Casino and Hell Spin are among the ranked sites offering Interac banking. Players should verify current cashier availability and whether Interac is supported for both deposits and withdrawals.
Which gambling sites accept Canadian dollars?
Several gambling sites targeting Canadians offer CAD-denominated accounts. CAD support can make deposits, bankroll tracking and withdrawals easier to understand by removing the need to continually translate balances into another currency.
What are the best gambling sites outside Ontario?
The answer depends on the player’s province and preferred product. Gambling Nerd evaluates international sites including IZZI, Betway, North Casino and Hell Spin for Canadian audiences, while Ontario requires separate treatment because of its regulated provincial market.
Are gambling sites different in Ontario?
Yes. Ontario operates a distinct competitive regulated online gambling market. Players in Ontario should verify that a platform is authorized for use within the province rather than assuming that a general Canadian recommendation applies there.
How long do Canadian gambling sites take to pay out?
It depends on the operator and withdrawal method. E-wallets, Interac and cryptocurrency can be relatively fast, while cards and bank transfers may take longer. Casino approval time should also be distinguished from the time required by the payment network.
What should Canadians check before joining a gambling site?
Province availability, licensing, CAD support, deposit and withdrawal methods, payout conditions, games or sports markets, bonus terms and player-control features should all be checked before depositing.
Finding the Best Gambling Site for You
The best gambling site for a Canadian NHL bettor doesn’t necessarily have to be the best casino for a slot player.
Someone following the Maple Leafs may prioritize hockey markets and sportsbook pricing. A slots player might care about software providers and Interac withdrawals. A Quebec user could put French-language support higher on the list, while an Ontario resident first needs to establish whether the operator is authorized for the provincial market.
That is why Gambling Nerd’s Canadian approach works better as a decision process than as a simple list of five brands.
For Gambling Nerd, the best gambling site for Canadians isn’t necessarily the platform advertising the biggest bonus. It’s the one that combines suitable games or betting markets, transparent terms, appropriate licensing and banking options that genuinely work for the individual Canadian player.
About Gambling Nerd
Gambling Nerd is the editorial brand and collective byline of GamblingNerd.com, an independent gambling media website that publishes experience-based reviews, guides, and analysis of online casinos, sportsbooks, and poker sites for gamblers of all experience levels worldwide. Its Nerd Nook Hub provides educational resources that break down sports betting mathematics, casino game theory, probability, odds, and other key concepts to help players make more informed decisions.
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Talarico blames Netanyahu, not the Israeli people, for devastation in Gaza
(JTA) — James Talarico, Texas’ Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, said he holds Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than the Israeli people, responsible for civilian devastation in Gaza.
Talarico, a Texas state representative, is running neck and neck against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, in a race whose results could affect which party controls the Senate this November. Israel has been one of many sources of disagreement among the candidates, who have sparred on issues ranging from affordability to immigration to reproductive rights.
“I believe that Israel, like any nation, has a right to defend its people,” the candidate said while fielding questions on Wednesday at a CNN town hall. “But I don’t believe that Benjamin Netanyahu has a right to wage war against civilians or use collective punishment or restrict aid to civilians.”
A Texas Politics Project poll, issued by the University of Texas this week, showed Paxton trailing Talarico by 3 percentage points, with 47% to the Democrat’s 50% and a margin of error of 3.34 percentage points.
Talarico said in August that he supported stopping arms sales to the Netanyahu government and conditioning military aid “on ending the death and the destruction in Gaza and the West Bank.” He declined to call the crisis “genocide,” noting that the term is being litigated in the International Court of Justice. But he said he’d “use every bit of our nation’s diplomatic and financial leverage to protect the lives of Palestinians.”
When he was pressed further by Rabbi Holly Levin Cohn of Congregation Beth El Binah in Dallas during the town hall, Talarico stressed the importance of directing his criticisms “toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and not the Israeli people.”
Addressing Israelis’ trauma, Talarico acknowledged that the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel “was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”
Cohn pushed back on his comments regarding aid restrictions, noting Israeli support of humanitarian efforts and arguing that there’s much more going on in the country than the media may be projecting.
Talarico told the rabbi he recognized that his “words carry weight” and gave her his word that he’s “going to continue to listen to all sides of this conflict.” He also expressed hope that “we can all come together to fight for a two-state solution where we have security for Israel and we have freedom and self-determination for Palestinians.”
Talarico also gave a “shoutout” to a local rabbi, Neil Blumofe at Congregation Agudas Achim in Austin. “I spent my first year of my seminary studies learning the Hebrew scriptures from a local rabbi,” he said. “Shout out Rabbi Neil Blumofe!” Cohn grinned.
The post Talarico blames Netanyahu, not the Israeli people, for devastation in Gaza appeared first on The Forward.
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Irish Jewish leader ‘shocked’ after hotel cancels over 70 rooms for antisemitism conference
(JTA) — DUBLIN — An Irish Jewish leader said a Dublin hotel canceled rooms reserved for European delegates after learning that they were visiting for an antisemitism conference.
Maurice Cohen, the president of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland, said he booked over 70 rooms at the Herbert Park Hotel for people attending a meeting of the Special Envoys and Coordinators Combating Antisemitism (SECCA).
The envoys, who included Jewish community leaders, diplomats and government ministers from across Europe, were invited to the conference this week organized by the World Jewish Congress and the European Commission. The event was tied to Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which rotates between EU member states, and included delegates meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. Most of the government-appointed special envoys are not themselves Jewish.
Cohen said he met with Herbert Park Hotel’s general manager in May to inspect its conference rooms and explained the purpose of the event. According to Cohen, the manager responded by asking, “Will the IDF be involved?”
That question “shocked” Cohen, he told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
“I said, this is about antisemitism. It’s not about Israelis, it’s not about Israel, it’s not about the IDF,” he said.
Cohen said the manager told him she had to consult with the hotel owners to determine if his booking could be accepted. The next day, he learned that the rooms were canceled without explanation. The Herbert Park Hotel did not respond to JTA requests for comment.
Cohen booked rooms for the delegates and the conference at different hotels. He described the cancellation in a speech at the SECCA meeting on Tuesday, calling it an example of “contemporary antisemitism.”
“How quickly does the word ‘Jewish’ change a conversation?” he said to the attendees. “How easily does a gathering about antisemitism become associated with the Israeli army? And how quickly can people who were welcome when they were simply 70 hotel guests become something rather different once they are known to be attending a Jewish conference?”
Yoni Wieder, Ireland’s chief rabbi, suggested that the hotel could have based its decision on fears of controversy.
“It’s possible that whoever took the decision had no objection to the conference itself,” Wieder told JTA. “They may simply have wanted to avoid the possibility of protests outside the hotel or some other backlash.”
Ireland’s government has been sharply critical of Israel. The country has recognized Palestinian statehood, barred Israeli far-right ministers from entering its borders and in July passed a law that banned imports from Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territories. Martin has said that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, a charge Israel vigorously rejects. He has also condemned rising antisemitism in Ireland, which is home to about 2,200 Jews.
Herbert Park Hotel is “actually quite familiar with Jewish guests,” according to Wieder, who said that he has overseen kosher catering at the hotel.
Cohen, who has lived in Dublin all his life, said he had fond memories of the hotel. For years it was his favored site for meetings, New Year’s Eve celebrations and his mother’s birthdays through her 93rd.
“Over time the hotel became associated in my mind with friendship, celebration and my mother,” he said in his speech. “So it was strange that, many years later, the same hotel would acquire a very different place in my memory.”
The post Irish Jewish leader ‘shocked’ after hotel cancels over 70 rooms for antisemitism conference appeared first on The Forward.
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Whatever you think of Ilhan Omar, these threats are unconscionable
The Trump administration is reportedly planning to build a case to strip Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) of her citizenship and eventually deport her.
It is my hope that American Jews — even those who do not like Omar and can recite every questionable comment she has made over the past 15 years to illustrate why — will understand this as offensive and outrageous not only because they are Americans, but because they are Jews.
The Trump administration may claim that it is building a case against Omar due to paperwork (reports suggest that they are interested in whether her father listed her age as 17 on her citizenship application when she was really 18). It is similarly filing dozens of lawsuits attempting to denaturalize citizens by trying to prove they lied in the process of gaining citizenship. However, that this is happening now, ahead of the midterm elections against a sitting member of Congress, a high-profile progressive whom the president has said should “go back” to her country of origin, suggests that it is, to put it mildly, politically motivated.

Evidently, the Trump administration sees citizenship not as a right or a responsibility but as a reward, one that can be taken away if that is seen as useful to the president and his adherents. That use could be silencing political opposition or something as simple (and callous) as an opportunity to brag about the sheer number of attempted denaturalizations.
Jews, too, have found themselves on the wrong end of political denaturalization. I do not mean to compare the Trump administration to the Nazis, but the stubborn fact is that Jews were indeed stripped of their citizenship as part of a political project in Germany and elsewhere in Europe in the 1930s and 40s. And in the early 20th century in the United States, it was Jews who politicians claimed were incapable of assimilating, of ever really being a part of the United States. These arguments culminated in legislation that kept out Jews who could have found refuge here. The threat of denaturalization and the experience of perpetual otherness is a grievous part of modern Jewish history; we should be offended by its presence in our political present.
Jewish tradition as well as history encourages us to stand up to authority when that authority is wrong. Mordecai refuses to bow to Haman; Nathan yells at King David for sleeping with Bathsheba and having her husband killed; Moses famously urges Pharoah to change his oppressive ways. Even God is on the receiving end of pushback when Abraham pleads and negotiates to spare Sodom.
I do not think one needs to be Jewish to be outraged by the attempt to denaturalize Ilhan Omar. I think it is also bone-chilling as an American who believes we, including our elected officials, have the right to openly oppose our president, and I am worried as a person who thinks it would be good to continue to live in a democratic republic. And I am sure that there are Jews who will say that Omar deserves to lose her citizenship because she has said things about Israel they do not like.
But the Jewish lens through which I see this is that it is right to challenge power when it is abused, and it is wrong for the powerful to make a show of trying to cast their opponents out of the country.
The point is not whether Trump can make good on the threat to strip Omar of her citizenship and deport her, but that it is obscene to use denaturalization as punishment for being a high-profile political opponent in the first place. If he is trying to make it more dangerous to speak out while being from the “wrong” country, then the rest of us need to say that this is a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to be an American citizen.
We should do this because we are Americans and we should do this because we are Jews. We should do this because of the ways in which our American and Jewish identities bleed into one another. And, we should do this because we may not know exactly whether it is as Americans or as Jews that we know we have to protect the right to speak truth to power, but we know we need to do it all the same.
The post Whatever you think of Ilhan Omar, these threats are unconscionable appeared first on The Forward.

