By ("Haaretz," November 23, 2012)
A Canadian Islamic organization is accusing a Toronto-area Jewish day school of using a textbook that vilifies Muslims.
In a Nov. 19 letter to Jewish groups, the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR-CAN, charges that a textbook used at the Joe Dwek Ohr HaEmet Sephardic School employs "inflammatory and hateful terms in describing Muslims."
CAIR-CAN alleges the book, "2000 Years of Jewish History," describes Muslims as "rabid fanatics" with "savage beginnings."
"The entire chapter devoted to Islam presents a pernicious and extreme portrayal of Muslims and the Islamic faith. The material further denigrates the Prophet Muhammad as a 'rabid Jew-hater,' and falsely portrays Islam as inherently anti-Semitic and devoted to hating Jews," the group said in its letter to the Friends of the Simon Wiesenthal Center For Holocaust Studies and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, or CIJA.
It said the text is used in grade 7 and 8 girls' classes at the Orthodox Jewish day school and "leaves impressionable young Jewish readers with a sense of suspicion and even intolerance towards their fellow Canadians."
The group wants the Centre for Jewish Education of UJA Federation of Greater Toronto to investigate.
No one from CIJA, the Wiesenthal Center or Ohr HaEmet responded to JTA's requests for comment.
CAIR-CAN's salvo comes on the heels of an investigation by Toronto-area police of a local Islamic school. Earlier this month, police cleared the school of hate crimes allegations following a complaint by Jewish groups. York Regional Police found that teaching materials at the East End Madrassah attacked Jews and "suggested intolerance," but were not criminal.
Part of the madrassah's curriculum encouraged boys to keep fit for jihad, compared Jews to Nazis, and referred to "Jewish plots and treacheries."
The complaint "prompted change" at the madrassah, noted CAIR-CAN in its letter, adding that the group "welcomes that change."
When police began their probe, the Toronto District School Board, which rented space to the school, revoked its permit and the madrassah had to relocate.
it sounds as if these two groups have been at each others' throats for longer than this textbook had been around. I think that they should have to investigate the claims that the book is hatefull because it sounds as if there may be cause for concern.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comment above they should investigate the issue. I also think they should just get rid of the old book and use a new one to teach the children.
ReplyDeleteWhile they should investigate the book, they should also take into consideration if these facts are true. In America we still talk about the holocaust. Also take into consideration that it is a Private all Jewish school.
ReplyDeleteWhile teaching any children of any faith hatred morals and ideals is wrong and should be avoided at all cost. If the school was located in America and was a private school which parents were paying tuition for then that school can educate the students with whichever books they seem fit. Since Canada is similar to the United States im assuming the same would follow in their country.
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