For over 12 years, Independent Jewish Voices Canada has been standing up for peace and justice in Israel-Palestine, and fighting antisemitism, white supremacy and colonialism at home. IJV opposes the Israeli occupation and supports the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Donate to support our work: www.ijvcanada.org/donate Join us: www.ijvcanada.org/join-ijv/ Video by Jesse Freeston www.jessefreeston.comSHOW LESS
Suzanne Weiss was one of the speakers at a anti war rally Saturday, 25, 2020. She is a member of Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) and a longtime Palestine solidarity activist.
President Trump and his government are threatening war against Iran!
Most Canadians polled are against this war.
No war against Iran!
Trump is trying to strangle and starve Iran through crippling sanctions.
These sanctions aim to starve the Iranian people and bring them to their knees.
No sanctions on Iran!
Forty years ago, the Iranian people rose up in a great revolution and asserted their national sovereignty against U.S. domination. Washington has never forgiven them for that. Canada should respect Iran’s sovereignty. Continue reading No War on Iran
We went down what seemed an uncertain aluminum ladder to the empty hold of the ship. These vessels would carry coal, ores, oils, and grains. Our job was to clean the area to receive the next product. I slowly adjusted to the dimly lit empty space, which reeked of unidentifiable odours. With scraper and pail, I stood on a rung of one of the many thirty-foot aluminum ladders leaning against the iron walls.
We went down what seemed an uncertain aluminum ladder to the empty hold of the ship. These vessels would carry coal, ores, oils, and grains. Our job was to clean the area to receive the next product. I slowly adjusted to the dimly lit empty space, which reeked of unidentifiable odours.
With scraper and pail, I stood on a rung of one of the many thirty-foot aluminum ladders leaning against the iron walls. I mimicked my co-workers, stretching out to scrape the crusted metal wall.
My face soon broke into a sweat as I alternated from one hand to the other. My gloves were covered with wall scrapings; when I wiped my itchy nose, I smeared my face. Perspiration hugged my clothes to my body, and the humid air tested my gut. I wondered whether I’d make it through the shift.
That evening I called Bernie at the union. “Where ya at, baby?” he greeted.
“Fine, thank you.” I pretended that the job was a breeze.
“Where do I go next?”
“Tomorra evenin’ at seven. At the Perrier dock.” I was surprised that I, the only white woman, was being given a chance to work this dirty and difficult job. Perhaps the union reps figured I wouldn’t last long. The work was indeed demanding for a woman unused to arduous physical labour. With a whole day to recover, I showered, ate a bowl of canned soup, and went to bed. The next evening, I joined the night crew of mostly young Black women. As we scraped the walls, high-pitched voices talked noisily and shouted greetings across the ladders.
Suddenly, the lights went out.
Continue reading What I Learned as a Ship-Scaler in New OrleansBy Suzanne Weiss
Here’s what I had to say about the “IHRA re-definition” of anti-Semitism September 30, 2019, during a meeting with Gordon Perks of the Toronto City Council. Another councillor has given notice of intention to ask for formal council support of the ill-conceived IHRA document.
The proposed International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism is self-contradictory.
The last of the Definition’s eleven proposed examples of anti-Semitism condemns “holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel.”
I agree. Jews are not collectively responsible for the actions of Israel’s government. But this principle must be applied to the Definition itself. Put to that test, the IHRA Definition itself is anti-Semitic in conception.
Continue reading My presentation to a City Councillor on the definition of Anti-Semitism
How did I become aware, as a young child, of hatred of Jews, the evil that had swept away so many Jews including my mother? The following passage from my book “Holocaust to Resistance, My Journey” describes my awakening.
When I arrived, I spent some time in the infirmary and was then assigned to a bedroom with half a dozen of my female peers. The monitors told stories of the war, adding context and meaning to our communal lives. They spoke of the Jewish heroes whose photos hung on the walls. “They died fighting for our freedom against the Nazi occupation.” Many Jewish people had mysteriously disappeared. Some of the children would whisper in hope after the lights went out for the night: “I’m waiting for my mother…” “I know they’ll be here soon…” “Dad is looking for me, I’m sure…”
Continue reading Awakening to Anti-SemitismIntroducing
‘Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey’
By Suzanne Berliner Weiss
Meet the author: Suzanne Berliner Weiss at our
BOOK LAUNCH: Fri., Oct. 18, 7 p.m.
60 Lowther Avenue, Toronto
St. George subway station
#1 : RETURN TO AUVERGNE
Once again, I was on my way back to Auvergne, to the hidden home of my early years. Exhausted from the transatlantic flight, I rested my head on John’s shoulder — John, my loving and devoted partner. We have done many expeditions to France, the land of my origin. I listened to the rattle of the train and watched the green fields fly by. It was on such a train that I first came to Auvergne, in 1943, still an infant in the arms of a woman. My mind drifted back. She was a stranger. I sensed her apprehension. I was restless and fretful. Then I drifted off. I felt a jolt. The stranger holding me was talking to two men. They asked questions. She showed papers. I sensed her fear — but the men passed on.
As I grew up, I forgot that voyage, forgot the green farmlands and hills of Auvergne, and forgot the French language, my mother tongue. I left France as a child and I vowed never to return. I wanted to erase those bitter years. But now, revisiting Auvergne after seventy-two years, I knew that I owed everything to this region — not only my life but its direction and its pervading sense of purpose….
An Auvergne journalist wrote that I had “lived many lives during my 75 years.” Very true. I had taken a battering during my childhood years that left its mark on me. My life took shape as a quest to heal wounds of wartime trauma and seek links with communities striving for social justice. My direction was set during that time in Auvergne as a child in the care of the anti-Nazi Resistance.
from Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey, pp. 2, 4 Copyright © 2019 Suzanne Berliner Weiss
All are invited to the launch of Holocaust to Resistance, My Journey, a memoir by Suzanne Berliner Weiss.
See also three-minute video:
‘Introduction to Holocaust to Resistance: My Journey.’
I was honoured to speak at a rally on May 12, 2018, for the right of return of Palestinians to their homeland, and in recognition of the Nakba. This is what I said:
Last week a bold Palestinian in Israel, Jamal Zahalka, reported that Israeli schoolchildren are being trained in school to fire paintball guns at cutout figures in Palestinian dress. “Psychological preparation to kill Arabs,” he said.
Children – who are naturally warm and loving – are taught to hate, and trained to kill Palestinians. This is Israel’s new low. Killing Arabs as a national sport! Killing for the game!
Israeli’s young men are sent to Gaza to fire real guns at unarmed Palestinians — including children — who rallied peacefully to celebrate their culture and affirm their right to their homeland. For THAT they are targeted and gunned down.
Such murderous, heartless, senseless killing! The world looks on in horror.
I am a survivor of Hitler’s holocaust. As a Jew, I was marked down for death. I was saved by solidarity – of individuals and an entire community.
Now I look at Israel’s brutal crimes and I ask: IS IT FOR THIS THAT WE SURVIVED?
When Nazism was smashed in 1945, we as Jews cried out: Never again! Never again for all humanity!
Yet now, as Israel carries out yet another murder campaign, Canada, the U.S., and their allies are silent. We tell Justin Trudeau: speak out for all humanity! End the killing!
Elizabeth May of the Greens calls this “a systematic plan to murder unarmed civilians.” Jagmeet Singh of the NDP says “the killing and blockade must end.” They speak for all Canada.
People in bondage have the right to defend themselves every which way and as best they can. They actions seek freedom! Freedom or death, they say.
But we, WE must speak out too! Boycott Israeli apartheid!
Today we pledge to redouble our campaign until Palestine is free! Our only course of action: Boycott divestment sanctions!