Canadian NDP leader slammed for Yom Kippur message claiming Jews failed 'to stop ongoing genocide'

Canadian NDP leader Avi Lewis faces widespread backlash after posting a Yom Kippur message stating that Jewish people failed to do their part to stop an ongoing genocide in Gaza. Critics, including Liberal MPs and advocacy groups, argue the post attributes collective responsibility to Jews for Israeli government actions, violating antisemitism definitions and endangering communities.

Canadian New Democratic Party leader Avi Lewis is facing widespread criticism after posting a Yom Kippur message on X that stated Jewish people failed to do their part to stop an ongoing genocide in Gaza. The post, published on Sunday, read in part: "This year I'm reflecting on the fact that we failed to do our part to stop an ongoing genocide committed in our name." Liberal MP Anthony Housefather condemned the remarks as "despicable," and fellow Liberal MP Ben Carr called them "irresponsible" and "dangerous." The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) warned that portraying Jewish people as collectively complicit can become a justification for targeting them. Lewis defended his remarks in a press conference, stating he did not blame Jews for the actions of the Israeli government and that his post was a personal reflection shared by many Jews. The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of a shooting outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, on the same evening.