On February 4, the Macdonald-Laurier Institute hosted a private roundtable to discuss global trends in antisemitism, moderated by MLI Senior Fellow Alan Kessel and featuring Dr. Carl Yonker, Senior Researcher and Project Manager at the Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry and Academic Director of the Irwin Cotler Institute for Democracy, Human Rights and Justice at Tel Aviv University. The discussion also included representatives from the Embassy of Israel to Canada and other participants from academia, government, the private sector, and civil society.
The discussion centered on the evolving nature of antisemitism and anti-Jewish incidents in countries with some of the world’s largest Jewish populations, including Canada, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Argentina, and Australia. Participants considered comparative trends across these jurisdictions, placing recent developments in the context of both the period preceding and following the October 7 attacks.
The discussion also explored the broader international challenges posed by rising antisemitism and the factors contributing to its resurgence. Drawing on comparative research and international perspectives, participants examined how recent events have shaped the security environment for Jewish communities worldwide and considered the implications for policymakers, researchers, and civil society.
Following a presentation by Dr. Yonker, the floor was opened to other participants to discuss the importance of understanding antisemitism through an international comparative lens and the need for continued dialogue, research, and collaboration to address one of the most pressing challenges facing democratic societies today.
