When One Community Feels Unsafe, All Canadians Are Less Safe

About the Episode

Gustavo Rymberg, CEO of Hamilton Jewish Federation, discusses how threats to any Canadian community affect us all and why safety matters for every citizen.

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Jewish Community Safety Canada: A Canadian Problem, Not Just a Jewish One

Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? What about when you visit downtown? These questions matter more than ever in today’s Canada. When any community feels threatened, it affects all of us.

Gustavo Rymberg, CEO of the Hamilton Jewish Federation, joined us to talk about something important. The Jewish community has been part of Canada for 265 years. They helped build this country before it even became Canada. But today, things have changed.

More Than Just One Community’s Problem

Jewish Canadians face a new reality. Since October 7, 2023, everything shifted. Gustavo explains that fighting antisemitism became his number one priority. This wasn’t the job he signed up for eight years ago.

“The first two years were the only ones I was doing the job I was signed for,” Gustavo says. After that came COVID-19, then Ukraine, then October 7. Each crisis brought new challenges for Jewish community safety Canada-wide.

But here’s the key point: when Jewish Canadians don’t feel safe at schools, workplaces, or places of worship, it’s not just their problem. It’s a Canadian problem. If one community feels unsafe, all Canadians are less safe.

What Changed in Canada?

Gustavo came to Canada from Argentina in 1997. He remembers a different country than the one we see today. Back then, he went through proper immigration channels with help from the Jewish Federation. The process took six months of paperwork and embassy visits.

Today’s Canada faces new challenges. Security has become a bigger concern. Healthcare access isn’t what newcomers expect. Jobs are harder to find than many immigrants believe.

“It’s not the same country that I moved to 29 years ago,” Gustavo explains. The ability to adapt has become crucial for any organization serving communities.

The Daily Reality

Jewish Canadians aren’t walking around in constant fear. They still go to synagogue. Children still attend camps. The Hamilton Jewish Federation has a beautiful building and museum. They maintain great relationships with local politicians and other communities.

But there’s a difference now. People need to be “extra careful” in ways they didn’t before. Parents worry about their children at school. Community leaders need security measures they never thought about years ago.

As Gustavo puts it, “We have to be aware that we are in a unique situation.”

Looking Forward with Hope

Despite these challenges, Gustavo remains optimistic. He believes the Jewish community will come out stronger from this experience. Neither Israel nor Jewish communities worldwide were ready for what happened after October 7. But they’re learning and adapting.

The goal isn’t to isolate. It’s to build bridges. Gustavo hopes to restart interfaith dialogue with Hamilton’s Muslim community once the situation improves. The Jewish Federation already has strong relationships with many churches and community allies.

What This Means for All Canadians

Canada’s strength comes from all its communities working together. Jewish Canadians contribute to the economy, culture, and social fabric. They’re not going anywhere. They’re part of Canada’s past, present, and future.

But we all have a responsibility. We must expect our government leaders to provide safety for everyone. We must stand up when any community faces hate. We must remember what makes Canada great.

When Gustavo received the King Charles III Coronation Medal for fighting hate and building community, it recognized work that benefits all Canadians. His efforts to ensure Jewish community safety Canada-wide help create a safer country for everyone.

The Bottom Line

Every human life matters. Every community deserves to feel safe. When we protect one community, we protect all communities. That’s what makes Canada the country we want it to be.

As Gustavo reminds us: “We have a great city. Hamilton is a great city to be. It’s an amazing Jewish community.” But it only stays that way when all Canadians work together to ensure everyone’s safety.

Do you feel safe in today’s Canada? That question matters to all of us, no matter which community we call home.

Want to learn more? Listen to the full episode with Gustavo Rymberg on the Your Grey Matters podcast.

The views and opinions expressed by our guests are their own and are not necessarily those of the Your Grey Matters podcast or its owners. Topics presented are for general information purposes only.

The Your Grey Matters podcast, name, and logo has been created and is owned by Neil Silvert and Jason Silvert.