By George Lee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A provincial NDP member contrasted rich traditions and welcoming hearts with the darkness of antisemitism, while he marked the start of Passover Wednesday.
As members of the Jewish community made their final preparations to gather around the Seder table, Samir Kayande recounted his own interactions with Jewish friends, acquaintances and constituents.
But a frightening Jewish reality is always close by, Kayande said.
“I’ve lived for many years under the illusion that antisemitism had gone away,” he told the legislature.
“Sadly, antisemitism has been a part of Alberta’s history for a long time,” he said. “Today we’re seeing a resurgence of anti-Jewish hate. We’re openly hearing slurs and conspiracy theories that I thought we would never hear again.”
The Calgary-Elbow MLA was a boy when the Jim Keegstra story broke in 1980s Alberta. Keegstra was a high school teacher and the mayor of Eckville in central Alberta.
For teaching antisemitic propaganda, conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial, the local school board fired him and he lost his teaching certificate.
After several trials and appeals, the Supreme Court of Canada in 1996 upheld his Criminal Code conviction for willfully promoting hate. Keegstra received a one -year suspended sentence and a year of probation and was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service.
He died more than a decade ago.
Kayande spoke of visiting a Calgary temple as an Alberta politician. “They have welcomed me, a stranger, and shown me so much hospitality.”
A security detail, however, does not go unnoticed. “Every time I’m at the temple, I make sure that I thank the guards standing there outside, even at minus 20, keeping people inside safe. I’m thankful for their presence and saddened that they need to be there.”
Alberta is home to around 3.5 per cent of Canada’s Jewish population. The national number ranges up to about 450,000 people, depending on who’s included in the count.
B’nai Brith Canada’s 2024 Annual Audit of Antisemitic Incidents documents that reported cases have reached unprecedented heights. The organization tallied 6,219 incidents nationwide in 2024, representing a 124 per cent increase over 2022.
That’s an average of 17 incidents each day.
In early March three greater Toronto synagogues were targeted with gunfire overnight, damaging windows, walls and doors. The shootings are being investigated as hate crimes.
Statistics Canada data from 2023 corroborates the trend, showing that hate crimes against Jewish people increased by 71 per cent over 2022.
Despite Jewish people making up roughly one per cent of the Canadian population, they were the target in 2023 of nearly 70 per cent of all religion-motivated hate crimes across the country.
The Alberta government published a Passover statement from UCP member Muhammad Yaseen, the associate minister of multiculturalism.
“Tonight, as the sun sets, Alberta’s Jewish community will gather to begin observing Passover, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt,” the Calgary-North UCP MLA’s statement says.
“Passover, one of the three pilgrimage festivals, is celebrated over eight days and marks the liberation of the Jewish people. Families and communities come together during this time of reflection, resilience and faith to strengthen their bonds and recall the journey from slavery to freedom.
“As the Jewish community in Alberta and around the world observes this important holiday, may the themes of freedom, resilience and renewal at the heart of Passover bring hope and comfort to all.
“Chag Pesach kasher v’sameach – wishing you a happy and kosher Passover.”
Kayande said that Jewish people everywhere need support in a time when they worship behind guards and are soften afraid to publicly show their authentic selves.
“To Jewish Albertans: I want you to know that I admire the spirit of Passover that you keep in your hearts every day,” he concluded.
