Ottawa — Canadian Christian leaders marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27 with a renewed call to confront antisemitism and to stand publicly and consistently with Jewish communities, citing the Holocaust as a permanent warning of what happens when hatred is allowed to grow unchecked in civil society.
The remarks were delivered by Andrew Bennett, director of Faith Community Engagement at Cardus, and a leading voice within the Simeon Initiative, a network of Christian leaders committed to strengthening Christian-Jewish relations in Canada.
“Each year on January 27, we mark the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in 1945,” Bennett said in a statement released to mark the day. “This commemoration as International Holocaust Remembrance Day stands as an annual recollection of what happens when antisemitism and hatred in a civilised society expand unchecked.”
International Holocaust Remembrance Day, observed annually on January 27, commemorates the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet forces and honors the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust. In Canada, the day has taken on added urgency amid a documented rise in antisemitic incidents, including harassment, vandalism, and threats targeting Jewish institutions and individuals.
Bennett emphasized that remembrance is not solely an act of historical reflection but a present-day responsibility. “Those of us involved in the Simeon Initiative take this day as a reminder of our duty as Christian leaders to stand resolutely with our Jewish fellow citizens against the scourge of antisemitism wherever it is found,” he said.
The Simeon Initiative, supported by Cardus, brings together clergy, theologians, and Christian public figures who view opposition to antisemitism as both a moral obligation and a civic duty. Participants argue that Christian silence in the face of rising hostility toward Jews is incompatible with both faith-based ethics and democratic values.
Bennett framed the initiative’s stance in explicitly Canadian terms. “We do this not just as Christians but as Canadians dedicated to the upholding of peace, order, and good government for all who call this dominion home,” he said, invoking language drawn from Canada’s constitutional tradition.
Jewish community leaders have repeatedly stressed the importance of visible support from non-Jewish allies, particularly as antisemitism increasingly appears in mainstream political, cultural, and institutional settings. In recent months, Jewish organizations have reported incidents linked to Israel-related rhetoric that crosses into antisemitism, including threats, exclusion, and intimidation.
Bennett’s statement directly linked Holocaust memory to contemporary challenges. He warned that antisemitism rarely appears in isolation and often signals deeper erosion within a society’s moral and civic framework. By recalling Auschwitz, he said, Canadians are reminded that hatred left unanswered eventually manifests in violence and exclusion.
Cardus, a nonpartisan think tank, has in recent years expanded its engagement with faith communities on issues of pluralism, social cohesion, and religious freedom. Through initiatives like Simeon, it has sought to encourage Christian leaders to engage constructively with Jewish communities, particularly at a time when antisemitism is no longer confined to extremist fringes.
Observers note that Christian-Jewish relations in Canada have evolved significantly over recent decades, moving from historical distance toward active cooperation. Programs focused on education, dialogue, and public advocacy have played a role in building trust, particularly around issues related to antisemitism and Holocaust remembrance.
Holocaust educators and historians have long warned that as survivor testimony becomes rarer, the responsibility to preserve memory shifts increasingly to institutions, educators, and faith leaders. Bennett echoed that concern, describing remembrance as a living obligation rather than a symbolic ritual.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day is officially recognized by the Canadian government and observed by parliaments, schools, and civic organizations nationwide. Ceremonies and statements issued this year frequently emphasized the link between Holocaust memory and contemporary antisemitism.
Bennett’s remarks align with a broader effort by Christian leaders to articulate clear opposition to antisemitism without qualification or ambiguity. Supporters of the Simeon Initiative argue that such clarity is essential at a time when historical distortion and moral relativism increasingly shape public discourse.
As Canada continues to confront rising antisemitism, Bennett said the lesson of January 27 remains unchanged. Memory, he suggested, must be accompanied by action, solidarity, and an unwavering commitment to the dignity and security of Jewish life in Canada.
