Jewish Organizations Voice Alarm Over New NDP Leader Avi Lewis
The election of Avi Lewis as the new leader of Canada's New Democratic Party has sparked significant concern among Jewish groups across the nation. Lewis, who identifies as an anti-Zionist Jewish individual, secured a decisive first-ballot victory during the party's convention over the weekend, succeeding former leader Jagmeet Singh.
A Painful Rupture Decades in the Making
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs issued a statement characterizing Lewis' election as a "painful rupture" that has been developing for decades. The organization expressed that the convention served as a stark reminder of how far the NDP has drifted from its historical roots as the voice of Canada's working class and trade union movement.
"Canadian Jews helped build that movement," the statement read. "Today, many are made to feel they no longer belong in it."
Anti-Zionist Views Raise Community Concerns
Lewis' longstanding anti-Zionist positions have generated particular anxiety within Canada's Jewish community. This concern has intensified amid growing anti-Israel sentiments within Canada's political left and the surge of antisemitism and anti-Jewish hatred following the October 7, 2023 Palestinian terror attacks.
The CIJA statement emphasized that when a leader declares Zionism inseparable from ethnic cleansing, it constitutes more than policy criticism. "He is telling Jewish Canadians that a core part of their identity is illegitimate," the statement continued. "That is exclusion."
Leadership Transition Follows Electoral Setback
Lewis assumes leadership nearly one year after Jagmeet Singh resigned following one of the worst electoral performances in federal NDP history. Under Singh's leadership, the party lost 18 seats, including his own in Burnaby Central, resulting in the loss of official party status in the House of Commons.
Advocacy Groups Warn of Political Irrelevancy
Amir Epstein, CEO of Jewish advocacy group Tafsik, told media outlets that Lewis' election signals what he called a "final descent" of the NDP into political irrelevancy. Epstein criticized what he perceives as misplaced priorities, suggesting that while Canadians face pressing domestic issues including housing crises, soaring grocery prices, and violent crime, Lewis' NDP would remain focused on international conflicts.
"By doubling-down on a leader who prioritizes global hypocrisy over national stability, the NDP has ensured that Lewis will be an even more catastrophic failure than Jagmeet Singh ever was," Epstein stated.
Calls for Concrete Action Against Antisemitism
B'nai Brith CEO Simon Wolle emphasized the need for the NDP to provide clear, concrete plans for addressing antisemitism within its ranks. "The NDP must set out, in concrete terms, how it will address antisemitism within its ranks," Wolle said. "Anything less from Avi Lewis will be understood as a failure of leadership."
Requests for comment sent to Lewis through the federal NDP went unanswered as of late Monday afternoon, according to media reports. The leadership transition marks a significant moment for Canada's political landscape as the NDP navigates internal ideological shifts and external community concerns.
