President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports on his first day in office. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago last week for a meeting with Trump, hoping to dissuade him from this plan. Trudeau has been a supporter of the Canadian Jewish community and a strong voice against antisemitism, noting that “Antisemitism has no place in Canada—or anywhere else...we reaffirm our commitment to continue to take concrete action to combat antisemitism in all its forms.” He has also said that “Israel has the right to defend itself and its people.” Why did Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issue an apology to the Canadian Jewish community in 2018?

Justin Trudeau - Icebreaker Collaboration Effort - 2024 by Adam Schultz / The White House  is  in the public domain  via Wikimedia Commons

A. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a visit to Canada, a trip which included an official state dinner at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the governor general of Canada. Arrangements were made to kosher the kitchen for the meal, but at the end of the meal, in addition to the kosher apple pie dessert, Trudeau surprised his guests by presenting Tim Horton doughnuts. Trudeau did not realize that he was violating kosher laws by including this famous Canadian food product. The Prime Minister’s office issued a statement noting that “Tim Hortons products are the pride of all Canadians, and we love to show them off to our world visitors. Prime Minister Trudeau apologizes to Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu and his entire delegation, as well as all Canadian Jews, for this inadvertent slip in disregarding the kosher issue when serving those treats.”

B. Following an antisemitic vandalism attack on a Toronto synagogue, Trudeau spoke on national television. He apologized to the Jewish community that such an incident could occur in Canada, and he decried the incident in the strongest terms. Trudeau stated that “I will never be silent in the face of hatred and intolerance, nor will our government. Diversity is our greatest strength, it enriches our lives, it strengthens our society, and it unites us as a country. It is our most cherished value.”

C. In 1939, the ocean liner St. Louis set sail from Hamburg, Germany to Havana, Cuba, carrying more than 900 Jewish refugees attempting to escape Nazi Germany. The vessel was turned away by the Cuban government, and then it sailed to the United States, where it was also denied entry. An effort was then made to receive permission to sail to Halifax, Nova Scotia, but Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King refused to provide sanctuary to the passengers, many of whom ultimately were killed when the St. Louis returned to Europe. Prime Minister Trudeau issued a statement saying that “the [Canadian] government chose to turn its back on these innocent victims of Hitler’s regime...We are sorry for the callousness of Canada’s response. And we are sorry for not apologizing sooner.”

D. When Trudeau paid a visit to New York, he ate breakfast with Mayor Bill de Blasio at Zabar’s, where they had lox and bagels. Trudeau remarked on how they were the best bagels he ever ate. This provoked a huge outcry from the Canadian Jewish community who consider Montreal-style bagels (typically smaller, denser, and sweeter) to be superior to New York bagels. Said Trudeau, “I truly misspoke and apologize to the Jewish community of Canada, whose bagel is a wonder of baking. I only meant that those were the best New York bagels I had ever eaten. And I welcome Mayor de Blasio on a future trip north to give a taste to our wonderful bagels.”

E. Prime Minister Trudeau attended a Passover seder at the Beth Tzedec Congregation in Toronto. When it was time to eat the maror, Trudeau pulled out a bottle of maple syrup and poured some on the bitter herbs. When asked what he was doing, Trudeau replied, “Maple syrup can make anything taste good.” He later apologized to Canadian Jews, saying “On all other nights I eat maple syrup. I promise that on next year’s seder night I’ll eat only matzah and bitters.”

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