Who today in Toronto really speaks out for Judaism?

This past Sunday, March 8th, a quagmire of politicians and elites stood front and centre, outside the Shaarei Shomayim Congregation synagogue in Toronto, all waiting to give their vowed media statements to combat antisemitism. In the back row, out of harm’s way, a lonely rabbinical member of the synagogue’s community perhaps waited patiently for an opportunity to explain first-hand to Toronto’s multicultural community what it was like as a Jew to have his place of worship attacked by gunfire.

Instead, we heard from Canada’s Public Safety Minister, Gary Anandasangaree. “I condemn this in the strongest possible terms. This is unacceptable. The forms of antisemitism we see that’s turning into violence is not the Canadian way.” What a load of codswallop!

Unfortunately, our communication today from the privileged is floundering in a sea of political self-importance, self-centred and swaggering declarations preached to the converted, which are not only communicated to death, but offend others like me.

J.J. Rousseau, the 18th century French philosopher said, “The Jews in Dispersion have not the possibility of proclaiming their own truth to humankind; but I believe that when they once have a free Commonwealth, with schools and universities of their own where they can speak out safely, we shall be able to learn what it is that the Jewish people have to say to us.”

Communication, as we know, is about giving-taking, asking-answering, sending-receiving. It is not something our Jewish leaders are known to be good at accepting.

Today, in 2026, our Jewish leaders, in desperation, have taken the comfortable route in preaching to the converted, the diaspora, instead of communicating what we have to say to non-Jews living in Toronto’s vibrant multicultural community.

Today, why are Jews such lousy communicators?

As Frank Luntz, the US-based political and business pollster, pointed out years ago, “Why do Jews make such lousy communicators? For hundreds of years, we used the great art of language development to entertain as well as educate. It is no coincidence that so many of the great intellectuals, academics, writers and performers come from our ranks.”

He added, “The ability of Jews to understand and connect with people transcends international boundaries. It is in our culture and in our blood. But over the past [20] years, we have developed some very destructive communication habits that have seriously undermined our efforts and the causes we believe in. Our words lose their resonance, and our style and tone offend. We assert when we should inform. We reject when we should interject. We push people away when we should pull them in. . . . Non-Jews do not want to hear our complaints. They want to know our solutions.”

To put it bluntly, who is there amongst us that stands up for unity, in one cohesive voice, within the ranks of Toronto’s Jewish people?

Who is regarded as being in the forefront as the designated Toronto Jewish voice by non-Jews in this city? Who stands foremost in areas of communication, public affairs, and advocacy? Who in education, heritage and outreach programs has received admiration, especially in the area of communicating articulately to non-Jews in an age where we have to face the fact that our religious institutions and schools are being terrorized and shot at?

Change does not come easily for us Jews.

To quote the American, King Whitney junior: “Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful, it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful, it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident, it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.”

Many Toronto Jews must admit that acquiring non-Jewish friends is hard to come by. As Jews, we are perhaps so ingrained in believing no one really cares about who we are, that after so many generations of experiencing antisemitism, when it comes to change, we continually turn inward to have little trust not only with our non-Jewish neighbors but also in our own Jewish leadership.

There was a time when our Jewish leaders had a mission. It was where Jews, as part of the multicultural fabric of this country, live and contribute to an environment of opportunity and mutual respect.

In times of change, mutual respect between all must prevail, and today, dialogue with non-Jewish communities has utterly failed. Instead, we have been left with an incessant exchange of communication by our leaders between Jews for Jews, preaching to the converted, as it were.

At least, that’s how I see it.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)