In a sharply worded opinion piece published in the National Post, two Jewish Canadian writers have accused the advocacy group Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) of representing only a tiny fringe of the community while being platformed as a mainstream voice on issues related to Israel and antisemitism. Ori Freiman, who holds a Ph.D., and Lauren Frenkel, both identifying as Jewish and Zionist, argue that elevating IJV amounts to 'tokenism' that misleads the public and shields radical agendas. The column, titled 'There's Independent Jewish Voices, and then there’s the other 99 per cent of Canadian Jews,' comes amid ongoing debates in Canada about Jewish representation, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and efforts to combat antisemitism.
The piece responds to a recent National Post column by Corey Balsam, associated with IJV, who argued that opposing Israel's existence is not inherently antisemitic. Freiman and Frenkel contend that such views from IJV distort public understanding. 'Tokenism misleads Canadians by elevating a loud fringe as if it were the mainstream, turning a tiny group of individuals into the supposed voice of an entire community,' they write. They reference rebuttals from academics and commentators like Robert Brym, Matthew Taub, and Lynne Cohen, who have challenged Balsam's core claims, though the opinion focuses more on why IJV deserves scrutiny beyond the immediate debate.
At the heart of their critique is the assertion that anti-Zionism today often functions as a 'modern hate movement,' using 'Zionist' as a proxy for 'Jew' and denying Jewish self-determination. Freiman and Frenkel express concern over engaging with IJV in these discussions, saying it 'legitimizes a well-founded radical network, to which they lend their tokenized status.' They point to IJV's alliances, including long-standing support for the Canadian BDS Coalition, which promotes boycotts, divestment, and sanctions against Israel.
More controversially, the writers highlight IJV's past statements defending Samidoun, an organization now designated as a terrorist entity by Canada. Samidoun, they note, celebrated the one-year anniversary of Hamas's October 7, 2023, attacks at a Vancouver rally where chants of 'death to Canada, death to the United States and death to Israel' were heard. A speaker at the event reportedly told the crowd, 'We are Hezbollah and we are Hamas.' IJV has also collaborated with the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) on fundraising, workshops, town halls, and events such as the All Out for Gaza protest on October 14, 2023.
The opinion piece details further connections, including IJV's Instagram collaborations with Ottawa doctor Yipeng Ge. Ge has posted on X (formerly Twitter) that 'Palestinians as an indigenous population living under brutal military occupation and colonialism have every right to armed resistance against their oppressors,' and has shared content appearing to support Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader behind the October 7 attacks. IJV and Ge have jointly participated in press conferences, issued statements, and shared social media posts, according to the writers.
Freiman and Frenkel also reference David Mivasair, often associated with IJV, who in early December 2023 posted a report questioning whether sexual violence occurred during the October 7 attacks. Mivasair cited statements from released female hostages describing their captivity positively. However, in March 2024, Pramila Patten, the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, visited the attack sites and concluded there were 'reasonable grounds to believe' that sexual violence had occurred during the assaults and was ongoing with hostages.
On the political front, IJV's 'Vote Palestine' platform for federal elections pressures politicians to oppose many of Israel's policies, the writers say. They cite independent researchers and Senator Leo Housakos, who have noted that IJV shares a mailing address with Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME). CJPME's president, Yara Shoufani, previously held roles with McMaster University's Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR), a suspended student club focused on anti-Israel activities, and an international leadership position in PYM.
The column warns that IJV is infiltrating public discourse on antisemitism under the guise of expertise. For instance, IJV contributed to the Senate of Canada's Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights study on antisemitism, which the writers say imported radical ideology and could mislead perceptions of Jewish representation. Additionally, IJV was selected by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Ontario to provide antisemitism training. Yet, IJV defended CUPE Ontario leader Fred Hahn after he posted a video many viewed as antisemitic, showing an Olympic diver with a Star of David morphing into a bomb amid scenes of injured civilians.
To bolster their claim that IJV does not represent most Canadian Jews, Freiman and Frenkel cite surveys. While IJV references a poll showing only 51 percent of Canadian Jews identify as Zionists, a 2025 survey they mention found just 1 percent identify as anti-Zionists. As an advocacy group, IJV uses its Jewish identity to lend moral authority to anti-Zionist causes, they argue.
The writers frame this as part of a historical pattern where 'tokenized voices' are elevated to legitimize attacks on communities. 'While minority views can be valuable for an inclusive discussion, tokenized voices are harmful to any discussion, particularly when those tokenized voices push a radical ideology,' they state. Platforming IJV, they say, creates a 'false and damaging consensus' that marginalizes mainstream Canadian Jews.
This opinion emerges against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Canada following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people and led to the abduction of over 250 hostages. The subsequent war in Gaza has sparked protests, debates over antisemitism, and questions about free speech on campuses and in public forums. Groups like IJV have positioned themselves as voices for Jewish dissent against Israeli policies, while critics, including mainstream Jewish organizations, argue such positions fuel division.
Neither IJV nor Corey Balsam responded immediately to requests for comment on the National Post piece. In past statements, IJV has described itself as a grassroots organization of Canadian Jews working for justice and peace in the Middle East, emphasizing criticism of Israeli government actions without rejecting Jewish self-determination outright. The group has denied associations with terrorist entities and framed its work as anti-occupation advocacy.
The debate underscores broader challenges in Canada's multicultural landscape, where balancing diverse voices on sensitive issues like Israel-Palestine is fraught. Incidents of antisemitism have risen, with reports from Jewish advocacy groups citing vandalism, harassment, and protests that blur lines between anti-Zionism and anti-Jewish sentiment. Meanwhile, Palestinian advocacy has highlighted civilian casualties in Gaza, estimated at over 40,000 by health authorities there.
Freiman and Frenkel call for media and institutions to scrutinize whom they platform. 'Combating hate means combating tokenism, and it requires action,' they write. 'If Canada is to uphold its commitment to pluralism and genuine inclusion, media outlets, public broadcasters and other institutions should carefully consider whom they elevate and how those voices are presented.' They conclude that further platforming IJV would endorse exclusion rather than inclusion.
As discussions on antisemitism continue in parliamentary committees and union trainings, the role of groups like IJV remains contentious. Observers say the coming months, including potential federal election influences from platforms like 'Vote Palestine,' could intensify scrutiny. For now, the opinion piece has reignited calls for authentic representation within Canada's Jewish community, estimated at around 400,000 people, the majority of whom support Israel's right to exist according to various polls.