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Blacks & Jews in Dialogue

"Blacks & Jews: Let’s Talk!"

By Rick Kardonne

Toronto - Mutual goodwill and a sincere desire to reconsolidate an alliance permeated a symposium entitled, Blacks and Jews: Let’s Talk, which recently took place at B’nai Brith Canada’s Headquarters. The symposium was organized by BBC’s League for Human Rights, in cooperation with the Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) and brought a large audience of both Blacks and Jews.

OBHS Director, Rosemary Sadlier, a prime force behind Black History Month celebrations in Toronto, termed this event “one of our most interesting engagements. We (Afro-Canadians) have been here and contributing to Canadian history for 400 years. We share our experience with Canadian Jews as people who have experienced negativity.” In response, Toni Silberman, Ontario Chair for the League, paid tribute to the OBHS’ “outstanding efforts”.

“Our two communities have so much in common,” continued Silberman.

“The Internet shows that intolerance is spreading, it perverts the natural instinct of young people for justice. Our time is now, we need a shared vision and commitment to justice.”

Zanana Akande, the only Black woman to hold an Ontario cabinet post, and Canadian Civil Liberties Association Legal Counsel, Alan Borovoy, both spoke on Black-Jewish anti-racist political cooperation from the 1930s to the 1960s. “Blacks and Jews in Toronto developed a common response to racism and anti-Semitism wherever it found us,” emphasized Ms. Akande.

“The U.S. has overt racism. In Toronto, we are dealing with shadows of racism which are harder to identify.” Borovoy, who successfully promoted the appointment of Dr. Daniel Hill as first director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, stated: “Despite impressive victories we have won, we have a long way to go.”

How are Black-Jewish relations today?

Two students at York University - Faye Rodzynek, who is Jewish, and Alicia Dyson who is Black - described the current youth campus scene: “York University is very segmented,” said Rodzynek.

Dyson went on to elaborate: “In the class there is interracial interaction, but not outside of class. We are exposed visually to different races but that’s it. Every ethnic group has its own club. York University is very multicultural. There are lots of interracial friendships but they never leave the classroom.”

Alicia Dyson voiced her disappointment when U.S. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan visited Toronto last year. “I went looking for a strong Black leader. I didn’t find him,” said Dyson.

The symposium concluded with the formation of discussion groups and the general tone of those discussions was positive and constructive. It augured well for the future of Black-Jewish relations in the new millennium.

Dr. Karen Mock, National Director of the League added: “We are very encouraged by the enthusiastic and overwhelming response by both the Black and the Jewish communities to this programme. It is indicative of the earlier successes of this coalition, and we’re optimistic that together we can go a long way to counter the rise in antisemitism and racism.”


The central mission of the Black/Jewish dialogue program is to address current issues of racism and antisemitism, and to develop practical strategies and initiatives to work together.

To contact the Blacks & Jews in Dialogue, League for Human Rights,
consult the B'nai Brith Staff Directory or
email us at bjd@bnaibrith.ca