Canadian New Democratic Party Leader Avi Lewis is facing widespread criticism following a social media post published on Monday at the start of Yom Kippur, with critics alleging that he stated that Jewish people failed to do their part to “stop an ongoing genocide” in Gaza.
Lewis posted on X on Sunday, "Tonight Yom Kippur begins, the most somber moment of the Jewish calendar. It’s a time of atonement - a time to grieve those who have been lost, a time to acknowledge and take responsibility for harms we have caused, individually and collectively. For Jewish people, the personal has always been political and the political always personal. This year I'm reflecting on the fact that we failed to do our part to stop an ongoing genocide committed in our name. There are many other fronts where I have to do the work of repair. But nothing on this scale."
Later that evening, news broke that a gunman had opened fire outside the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, during Erev Yom Kippur services. Constable Jeff Smith was injured during the exchange of gunfire while protecting the community as congregants took cover inside.
Following the shooting, Lewis published a second post on X, stating, "The shooting outside a synagogue in Belleville is deeply upsetting and has traumatized a community that gathered to pray. It is yet another reminder of the work that remains to create a Canada that is truly safe for people of all faiths, including Jewish people – to worship, to come together, to live without fear. Today, I am sending love and solidarity to the Jewish community in Belleville and across the country on this Yom Kippur, the most solemn and holiest day of the year."
The initial remarks drew immediate backlash from federal politicians, advocacy groups, and commentators, who argued that attributing collective responsibility to Jewish people for the actions of the Israeli government violates standard definitions of antisemitism and endangers communities.
'Holding Jews responsible is despicable,' says Liberal MP
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather condemned the remarks on X, writing that "holding Canadian Jews and Jews across the world collectively responsible for events over which they have no control is despicable."
Fellow Liberal MP Ben Carr similarly criticized the post when speaking to CPAC reporters, calling the comments "irresponsible" for a political leader, and warning that "it's dangerous and it's the type of narrative that is actually contributing to the type of threats that we're seeing levied against the Jewish community."
Advocacy organizations also weighed in heavily on the controversy. The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) issued strong rebukes, pointing out in a post on X that "libels have consequences," and emphasizing that "when Jewish people are collectively portrayed as complicit in atrocities, that rhetoric can become a justification for targeting Jews here at home."
Mike Fegelman, executive director of HonestReporting Canada, criticized the post online as well, writing that "the criticism of @avilewis is entirely warranted. His Yom Kippur message is a near-perfect example of the hypocrisy at the heart of the anti-Zionist movement," and noting that "he is invoking Jews collectively, on Yom Kippur, and assigning them a responsibility to atone for the conduct of a foreign government."
In The Globe and Mail, columnist Robyn Urback published an op-ed arguing that "Avi Lewis's foolish statement on Jewish people should be disqualifying," emphasizing that assigning collective responsibility to a religious group during their most solemn holiday crosses a dangerous line where portraying Jewish communities collectively as complicit serves as a justification for targeting them at home.
Lewis defends his remarks on Jews
Addressing the controversy during a press conference on Monday, Lewis defended his remarks and rejected accusations that he was blaming Jewish people for Israel's military actions. When asked by a reporter to respond to criticism regarding his post on Gaza, Lewis stated: "Yeah, I did not blame Jews for the actions of the Israeli government. That's simply untrue. Holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel is antisemitic. I've never done it. I think it's dangerous, and that's absolutely not what I did."
Lewis added, "I spoke as a Jewish Canadian from a place of profound sadness on the day of atonement and a day of the deepest and most solemn reflection in our calendar and said what many, many Jews feel and many Jews have said, that we have not done enough as Jewish people among a family of faiths and communities around the world. Humanity has not done enough to stop an ongoing genocide in Gaza."
Lewis also noted, "I just read today as part of my own reflections three Kol Nidre sermons from rabbis over the last couple of years about the failure of humanity and of Jewish people of the Jewish faith to stop an ongoing genocide."
Concluding his remarks on the controversy during the press conference, Lewis stated: "I come from a religious tradition which has a diversity of views which has debate at the center of our practice and our culture as Jews. I'm not going to police how other people reflect on Yom Kippur. And I think it's pretty ugly to see these partisan points being used to score partisan points like that. I won't be doing that. This was a personal reflection that I know is shared by many people. And just one more time, holding Jewish people collectively responsible for the actions of the state of Israel is not something I would ever do. It's antisemitic, and it is wrong."
The NDP did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.