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Venerable Canadian Jewish Civil Rights Association Strengthens B’nai Brith’s Matas Law Society

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August 16, 2022

TORONTO – B’nai Brith Canada is delighted with the fortification of its Matas Law Society by the transfer of members from a highly-esteemed civil-rights association.

The Canadian Jewish Civil Rights Association (CJRCA) – a registered Canadian charity whose purpose is to educate the public on issues affecting Jewish civil rights – recently decided to wrap up operations and transfer its entire membership base to the Matas Law Society.

“With the rise in antisemitism in Canada and the need to combat it through the use of the law, the CJCRA is extremely pleased to pass the torch on to B’nai Brith Canada, the country’s oldest independent Jewish human rights organization, via the Matas Law Society,” said prominent lawyer Donald Carr, longtime member of the CJCRA. “This next step will help to advance the landscape for Jewish lawyers in Canada and expand their united abilities to be the leading resource for legal matters of concern to the Jewish community.”

“We’re extremely honoured to have these legal giants put their faith in us by transferring their entire membership base and legacy to our Matas Law Society,” said Michael Mostyn, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada. “The CJCRA has played a critical role in educating the public and addressing threats to Jewish civil-rights issues. We are excited by the addition of their hundreds of members, consisting of many of Canada’s leading legal professionals. This will enable us to grow significantly as a central hub for Canada’s Jewish lawyers and law students.”

In the recent past, B’nai Brith established the Matas Law Society for Jewish legal professionals to help counter the rise in antisemitism and defend human rights in Canada. Jewish law students are free to join the Society at no cost. It is a fabulous opportunity to join all the luminaries already onboard, including David Matas, and those joining from the CJCRA.

Click here to register for the Matas Law Society membership  

“In essence, for Canada, there is a need for a more united and unified Jewish advocacy voice,” said esteemed Canadian lawyer Leo Adler, a veteran of CJCRA. “After assessing the various groups and reviewing the options, we felt that B’nai Brith Canada’s Matas Law Society was the best entity to have CJCRA join. We’re overwhelmingly enthusiastic about protecting Jewish civil rights through application of the law and look forward to the Matas Law Society’s continued success.”

Lorne Saltman, another distinguished lawyer who has spent many years with the CJCRA, echoed Adler’s sentiments, saying: “We decided to transfer these funds to an excellent Jewish charity, B’nai Brith Canada, that works to combat antisemitism and to stand up for civil rights, especially in areas of our society now under the most pressure in that regard.”

Founded in the 1970s to support the right of “Refuseniks” to emigrate from, or remain in, the former Soviet Union free from religious persecution, the CJCRA evolved to address threats to Jewish civil rights wherever they arise. It included 500 lawyers and judges across Canada who practise in diverse fields of law but share a common interest in upholding Jewish civil rights.

Click here to register for the Matas Law Society membership