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April 1, 2011
A diverse celebration
Groups join together to show support for Israel.
DAVID J. LITVAK
Canadian Christian, First Nations and Jewish groups will join forces in April for Canada Celebrates Israel: The Land and the People. The cross-Canada celebration, which kicks off in Vancouver this Monday at the Tsawwassen First Nations Longhouse, is being organized to show that Canadian Jews, Christians and First Nations representatives are united in their support for Israel.
A Canadian coalition of Christian groups, including Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, Bridges for Peace, Christians for Israel Canada, For Zion’s Sake, Return Ministries and the International Christian Embassy’s Canadian branch will team up with Jewish and First Nations groups in cities across the country and the events will feature appearances by members of the Israeli Knesset who will appear at the events taking place in Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, Canada-Israel Committee, Pacific Region, State of Israel Bonds and Magen David Adom will represent the Vancouver Jewish community at the local celebration.
This coalition also includes the Canada-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group, represented by the Hon. James Lunney, an MP from Nanaimo, who serves as committee chair. Promotional materials for the event note that Lunney’s position of support for Israel is inspired by that taken by Prime Minister Stephen Harper at the International Conference to Combat Antisemitism.
Vancouver-based Rev. Giulio Gabeli serves as the event’s national chair and is the Canadian representative of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus. “The purpose of the event is to show support for the prime minister’s very strong statement at the International Conference to Combat Antisemitism at which he affirmed Canada’s unwavering support for Israel, whatever the cost, and to promote Jewish, Christian and First Nations dialogue in our nation, and strengthen bonds of friendship,” he said in an interview with the Independent. “We would like to bring awareness to our communities right across the nation about why it is so important to support Israel,” he added. To this effect, events across the country will take place in a synagogue, a church, a conference centre and at a longhouse.
Gabeli has a special interest in bringing Christian and Jewish groups together because he is part Jewish. His father is a Jew from Italy and his mother is an Italian Catholic, and he considers himself a bridge between the Jewish and Christian communities. His mission to bring Jews and Christians together “relates to my DNA,” he said.
The late Dr. Yuri Stern founded Christian Knesset Allies Caucus in 2004. His initial focus was to build a direct line of communication and cooperation between the Knesset and Christian leaders around the world. In Canada, Gabeli said, the group’s mandate has expanded to include First Nations communities.
There will be a number of First Nations dignitaries at the Vancouver event, including Grand Chief Edward John and the Hon. Tagak Curley, a prominent Inuit leader, politician and businessman from Nunavut. The Tsawwassen Longhouse is “the perfect venue and right environment to welcome MKs from Israel to Canada,” Gabeli said.
The April 4 event will feature dances by members of First Nations communities and participants will sign a declaration recognizing the legitimacy of Israel. Hundreds of people have already signed this proclamation, which will be presented to the government of Canada and eventually to the Knesset.
The Israeli politicians who will be appearing locally and across the country represent a cross section of the Israeli political spectrum and include Likud MK Ayoob Kara, deputy minister of development for the Negev and the Galilee and an Israeli Druze, Kadima MK Shai Hermesh and Robert Ilatov from Yisrael Beiteinu. Rounding out the Israeli delegation will be Josh Reinstein, director of Knesset Christian Allies Caucus.
Christians for Israel Canada will be represented locally by Rev. Joe Campbell, who is the ministry’s national director of development. “Our mission is to speak in churches every week and to try and help Christians understand why it is important that we support Israel,” he told the Independent.
Canada Celebrates Israel will take place Monday, April 4, 7 p.m., at the Tsawwassen First Nations Longhouse, 2148 Tsawwassen Dr. For more information about events across the country, visit jfgv.com or icejcanada.org.
David J. Litvak is a freelance writer and publicist living in Vancouver.
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