Friday, August 16th, 2024

When I was growing up, JNF was the organization that planted trees in Israel. Every year on Tu B’Shvat, we would send our dollars to JNF and we would receive a certificate saying that a tree had been planted. Very exciting for little kids. Years later, I saw the Israeli movie, Sallach Shabati, starring Topol as Sallach the Yemenite immigrant (before he became Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof). In this classic comedy, there is an unforgettable scene when different American donors are brought to observe “their” personal forest, being planted by Sallach and other immigrants, and the name of the forest-in-progress changes, depending on the name of the donor visiting. That, to me, was JNF. Obviously, not the ever-changing sign, but trees, gardens, forests, growth. 

Over the decades, JNF has grown into a formidable organization for Eretz Yisrael. Yes, they still plant trees, but they have also branched out, building everything from trauma centres to schools, reaching every needy segment of the Israeli community. Right now, though, JNF Canada needs our help.

Most Jewish Torontonians know by now that JNF Canada recently received notice that CRA intended to revoke JNF Canada’s charitable status. JNF Canada appealed this decision to the Federal Court of Appeals.

This past week, however, the charitable status was indeed revoked, despite ongoing court proceedings. This outrageous action from CRA goes against their standard practice of waiting for legal decisions. JNF Canada is asking for an application for judicial review until the case is heard on its merits.

Folks, we can not ignore this. Perhaps they begin with JNF Canada, but you can be sure that it will not end with them. Our enemies here in Canada, in enormous numbers, have been actively lobbying CRA to revoke the status of Jewish and Israeli charities. 

We not only have an opportunity to help, we have a responsibility. We absolutely must speak up and get involved. Here in Toronto, we have experienced 10+ months of pro-Palestinians screaming at us, vandalizing our shuls and schools, burning our flags, tearing down our hostage posters, occupying our campuses, frightening us as we go about our day-to-day activities. We have put up with the silence of our political leaders. But this, this is one of those straws that is breaking the camel’s back. Please help JNF Canada, who are working to gather the largest number of signatures possible to let our elected officials and CRA know that we will not stand by, doing nothing, while this injustice takes place. 

Click here to include your name. The Song Shul stands firmly with JNF Canada, and Klal Yisrael.

Am Yisrael Chai!