Published: 26 July 2019
Last updated: 4 March 2024
CANADA’S NATIONAL ELECTION is on a Jewish holiday, and two main Jewish groups disagree how to handle it
Canada’s two main Jewish groups are at odds over a lawsuit on whether it’s OK to have a national election on a Jewish High Holiday.
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs – the official Canadian Jewish advocacy group — says there are enough alternative measures to accommodate Canada’s 75,000 Orthodox Jews who can’t cast their ballots on Oct. 21, which is both Shemini Atzeret and election day.
But B’nai Brith Canada, which was granted intervener status in a lawsuit launched by Toronto Conservative Party candidate Chani Aryeh-Bain and voter Ira Walfish, said that because of the end-of-Sukkot holiday, Jews will have significantly fewer hours to vote at advance polls than others. Of the four advance polling days, three are on other Jewish holidays or Shabbat.
“At its heart, this is a case of what it means to count in Canadian society,” said Colin Feasby of B’nai Brith. “Holding the federal election on a date where a religious minority cannot vote by reason of their beliefs sends a message to the community that it does not count.”
FULL STORY Canada’s two main Jewish groups at odds over national election on Succot (Times of Israel)
Photo: Canadian Parliament (Centre Block and Centennial Flame - Tony Webster/Flickr)
