MONTREAL — McGill University has established a new Working Group on Antisemitism, signaling a major step in the institution’s commitment to combating antisemitism and building a climate of safety and inclusion for its Jewish community.
Co-chaired by Associate Professor Alana Klein and Professor Eran Shor, the group brings together faculty, students, and staff, with a mandate to hear and act on the lived experiences of Jewish students and staff facing antisemitism.
The Working Group will undertake a broad review, starting with legal, policy, and human rights frameworks. It will describe how antisemitism manifests on McGill’s campuses and examine the ways it interacts with anti-Zionism and anti-Israeli discrimination.
“We are committed to listening to all voices and ensuring that our recommendations are both practical and grounded in community realities,” the co-chairs said in a joint statement.
A key focus of the group’s work will be analyzing how antisemitism overlaps with anti-Zionist rhetoric and discrimination. This comes at a critical moment, following highly publicized campus tensions including academic boycotts and polarized responses to global events related to Israel.
By exploring the relationship between academic freedom, free expression, and the imperative to protect students from hate, the group seeks to navigate complex campus dynamics with clarity and balance.
The task force is expected to recommend new educational initiatives, prevention strategies, and incident response procedures.
Consultations with affected students, staff, and faculty will begin soon, and regular updates will be provided throughout the academic year. The group intends to present a final report to the university president in spring 2026.
Jewish organizations and pro-Israel advocates have welcomed the move, saying it reflects an urgent need for robust action in the face of rising antisemitism on Canadian campuses. “We applaud McGill’s initiative and look forward to meaningful changes that will make students and staff feel safe and supported,” a spokesperson for a national Jewish advocacy organization stated.
The university’s statement emphasizes that the initiative is part of a long-term commitment to equity, inclusion, and the well-being of all community members. Feedback and inquiries from the McGill community are being directed to
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This article is based on verified information from McGill University’s communications, campus policy documents, and Canadian media coverage.