L’chaim! Raise a glass to Jewish heritage!

May is Canadian Jewish Heritage Month, a time to recognize the important contributions that Jewish Canadians have made to Canada’s social, economic, political and cultural fabric. This month, we are reminded to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the inspirational role that Jewish Canadians have played and continue to play in communities across the country. From 2017 to 2019, around 1% of people in Canada aged 15 or more reported being of Jewish faith, making the country one of the largest Jewish communities in the world.

Through courage and resilience, the richness of Jewish culture has endured, and Jewish Canadians have made and continue to make important contributions to our society. According to the 2016 Census, 19,530 people in Canada reported Hebrew and 13,555 reported Yiddish as their mother tongue. Many Yiddish terms have also been adopted by the English language. For example, the term klutz, which is commonly used to describe an uncoordinated, clumsy person, is a Yiddish word that’s been seamlessly incorporated into the English language. When we say spiel to refer to a persuasive story or speech, we’re also using a Yiddish word. Language is just one aspect of Jewish culture that has long enriched a diverse and inclusive Canada.

This month is not only an opportunity to celebrate Jewish culture, faith and history in Canada, but a time to recognize the courage, determination and resilience that members of Jewish communities in Canada and around the world have shown as they continue to face acts of antisemitism, discrimination and violence.

Police-reported hate crime incidents targeting the Jewish population increased 5% in 2020, from 306 to 321 incidents. Among the provinces and territories, notable changes occurred in Ontario (+15 incidents), Quebec (+10 incidents) and Manitoba (-13 incidents). These results mirror findings on self-reported discrimination from the 2019 General Social Survey (GSS) on Canadians’ Safety (Victimization). According to the GSS, the Jewish and Muslim populations were significantly more likely to report experiencing discrimination on the basis of their religion than most other religious affiliations.

More information on the ethnocultural and religious composition of Canada’s population, which will reveal important differences in the lived experiences of particular groups of Canadians, including Jewish Canadians, will be available on October 26, 2022, when we will release new data from the 2021 Census.

To celebrate Jewish culture, for the month of May, the National Film Board of Canada is featuring a Canadian Jewish Heritage Month channel. In addition, the Canadian Jewish Experience, which was launched in 2017 as part of Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations, tells the story of notable Jewish Canadians, some well-known and some lesser‑known.

Together, we can work to stop antisemitism and hate in all of its forms; to recognize the diversity within the Jewish community; and to honour the experiences and collective knowledge of Jewish Canadians and their contributions to a better Canada and world around us.