Toronto Rallies To Declare “Anti‑Zionism Is Antisemitism”

In a powerful display of solidarity, roughly 400 Jewish and non‑Jewish allies assembled in near‑freezing temperatures at Toronto’s Mel Lastman Square on April 16, 2025, to proclaim that “anti‑Zionism is antisemitism” and push back against rising Jew‑hatred disguised as political critique. Led by Tafsik, a Jewish civil‑rights group committed to fighting all forms of hate, attendees held signs and banners calling out “Anti‑Zionism is Jew‑Hatred,” echoing a growing global consensus that rejection of Israel’s right to exist is intrinsically tied to age‑old antisemitic tropes. The rally, the first of its kind in Canada, explicitly framing anti‑Zionism as modern antisemitism, was part of Tafsik’s broader campaign to reshape public discourse on Jewish self‑determination.

Organizers and Objectives

Amir Epstein, Tafsik’s co‑founder and director, explained the urgency of the event: “Our haters should not get to define us anymore. They seek to define what we are, what we believe, what our identities are,” he told JNS. Epstein emphasized that Zionism, Jewish self‑determination in the ancestral homeland, has deep roots in Jewish history and cannot be dismissed as “colonialism,” a narrative increasingly peddled by anti‑Israel activists. The rally sought not only to confront hate speech but to educate attendees and passersby on the factual, millennia‑old relationship between Judaism and Zionism.

Ali Siadatan, Tafsik’s director of education, added that the event aimed to replace conspiratorial, false definitions of Zionism with a historically accurate understanding grounded in religious and cultural tradition. Siadatan, of Iranian descent, told the crowd, “We just wanted to stand against that and set the record straight, that it’s not a nebulous idea. It’s a very well‑defined idea with deep roots among Jews and Christians”.

Diverse Voices Stand United

The rally drew speakers from across Canada’s Jewish and allied communities. Goldie Ghamari, former Ontario legislator and Iranian immigrant, proclaimed, “I’m also a proud Zionist,” warning against terrorists defining Jewish identity. Guidy Mamann, president of the Toronto Zionist Council, and activist Esther Mordechai reinforced the call for unity and vigilance against hate. Donna Holbrook, national executive director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, affirmed “unconditional Christian support for Israel and the Jewish community”.

Goldie Ghamari @gghamari's speech at last night's rally against antisemitism in Toronto:

"Love is stronger than hate, and we will not let a terrorist society that holds murdered baby parades define who we are. Shame on Hamas!" pic.twitter.com/N48mSv88W8

— Beth Baisch 📸 (@BethBaisch) April 17, 2025

Salman Sima, a former Iranian political prisoner, drew parallels between Iran’s regime and Canadian anti‑Zionist activists, charging that “the same forces of evil are working here against our Canadian values”. He warned that linguistic manipulation, rebranding antisemitism as “anti‑Zionism”, threatens both Jewish safety and broader civil liberties in Canada.

Defining the Debate

The assertion that anti‑Zionism equates to antisemitism aligns with the concept of “new antisemitism,” where hostility toward Israel serves as a veneer for classic Jew‑hatred. This viewpoint has been championed by many Jewish organizations, including the Anti‑Defamation League, which in recent years has officially classified anti‑Zionist rhetoric as antisemitic when it employs double standards or demonizes Israel’s existence.

Globally, the question “Be it resolved, anti‑Zionism is antisemitism” has taken center stage at high‑profile forums such as the Munk Debate at Roy Thomson Hall, where leading voices, including Douglas Murray and Natasha Hausdorff, argued that denying Jewish self‑determination is itself a form of racial prejudice.

Significance and Next Steps

As Canada grapples with a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents since October 7, 2023, this rally represents a pivotal effort to shift public perceptions and policy responses. By framing anti‑Zionism as a direct attack on Jewish identity and rights, Tafsik aims to influence universities, media outlets, and lawmakers to adopt clear anti‑hate definitions and stronger protections for Jewish Canadians.

Looking ahead, Tafsik plans additional educational events across Canadian campuses, leveraging its growing momentum to ensure that “Jew‑haters do not get to define our story.” With a united front of Jewish and non‑Jewish allies, the movement seeks to carry its message beyond Toronto, demanding accountability and clarity in the ongoing struggle against modern antisemitism.