The president of one of Canada’s largest corporations says my asking a leading capitalist about donating to the Israeli military reflects “runaway hate”. Harley Finkelstein’s twisting of the truth would be amusing if it didn’t enable Palestinian suffering and attacks on Canadian civil liberties.
Wednesday’s National Post blared: “Canada Promised Jews Safety. Instead, we face runaway hate.” In the front-page commentary Shopify President Harley Finkelstein describes “two moments” that brought home antisemitism. “The first happened in Montreal”, writes Finkelstein. “I host a podcast called Big Shot, a project dedicated to telling the stories of Jewish entrepreneurs. It is about culture, resilience, creativity and contribution. It is intentionally non-political. Last summer, we recorded our first live episode at Startupfest.
Part way through the conversation, protesters attempted to disrupt the event and rush the stage. Not because of anything we were discussing, and not because of any policy position, but because Jewish hosts and a Jewish guest were publicly celebrating Jewish stories.”
Here’s what actually happened during that July 2024 incident. At an event promoted as a conversation with Heather Reisman I interrupted the billionaire asking about her funding non-Israelis who join an occupation force brutalizing Palestinians. I said, “Mrs. Reisman you’ve given 200 million dollars to non-Israelis joining a military force brutalizing Palestinians. Mrs. Reisman you’re supporting a genocide.” Video of the incident, which includes security removing me brutally, remains available on my social media.
This how a Canadian Press journalist reported on it: “Reisman was briefly interrupted Friday by a pro-Palestinian protester who accused her of ‘funding genocide.’ Indigo has been targeted in recent months by activists who take issue with the HESEG Foundation, created by Schwartz and Reisman in 2005, which offers scholarships to people from outside Israel who join the Israeli Defense Forces.
“Reisman, who appeared unfazed by the disturbance, called the protester’s allegation a ‘lie,’ and said the truth is the foundation ‘fund(s) education for people with no parents.’ The man was quickly removed by security guards.
“Since the conflict in Gaza began last fall, demonstrators have protested outside Indigo bookstores and called for boycotts of the company because of Reisman’s foundation. A Toronto store was vandalized last November. More recently, a group of high-profile members of Canada’s literary community have called on the Scotiabank Giller Prize to cut ties with sponsors ‘directly invested in Israel’s occupation of Palestine,’ including Indigo.”
In 2005, Reisman and her husband Gerry Schwartz established the HESEG Foundation for Lone Soldiers “to recognizeand honor the contribution of Lone Soldiers to Israel.” The HESEG Foundation provides scholarships and other forms of support to Torontonians, New Yorkers and other non-Israelis (Lone Soldiers) who join Israel’s occupation force. Incredibly, all Canadians have subsidized the billionaire power couple’s support for the Israeli military despite Canada Revenue Agency rules for registered charities stating that “increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of Canada’s armed forces is charitable, but supporting the armed forces of another country is not.”
Clear to anyone who understands that criticizing Israel or its enablers is legitimate (and necessary) political protest, unfortunately Finkelstein’s ravings carry weight. He is the president of a $200 billion company and Melanie Joly appointed him to the board of the CBC in 2017. Finkelstein’s words were on the front of a national newspaper and were promoted by former Conservative cabinet minister Jason Kenney, Liberal MP Leslie Church, Anthony Housefather and other pro-genocide politicians.
On the next episode of his podcast Harley Finkelstein should discuss wealthy whinny supremacists who support exterminating all Palestinians in Gaza.
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