The conference has not been canceled, but it will not be held at Beth Tikvah Synagogue. This is because there were not only “security concerns,” which is bad enough, as kowtowing to violent intimidation only invites more violent intimidation; there were also charges of “Islamophobia” from Michael Coren, the ex-Catholic author of Why Catholics Are Right. Maybe one day the establishment Leftists whose favor Coren is so assiduously courting will forget that one of his other books is entitled Hatred: Islam’s War on Christianity. Coren has become much more enlightened since the days when he featured me weekly on his Sun TV show; now he knows there is no jihad threat, only one of “Islamophobia,” and has joined the fascist ranks of those who believe that those who hold views that dissent from his own should be denied platforms and forcibly silenced. It’s an odd position to take for someone who has shifted sides as often as he has, but so be it.

Coren does have the residual decency in his hit piece to omit any comment on one of the featured speakers, Jihad Watch writer Christine Douglass-Williams, his former colleague at the Canadian Television System. He likely knows that charges of “bigotry” against her are even more ludicrous than the charges that he did include in his article against others who were scheduled to speak at this conference.

Note also this: “Also slated to speak is broadcaster Christine Douglass-Williams, who last year was fired from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s board of directors over comments she made about Islam.” The Canadian Jewish News fastidiously doesn’t say what exactly Christine Douglass-Williams said about Islam, inviting the reader to imagine lurid “fear-mongering” and “hate speech.” In reality, she was fired for writing for Jihad Watch, and for warning about false moderate Muslims, who manifestly exist. The fact that she was fired, and that this synagogue has refused to host this conference after the “Islamophobia” charges were published, are two more indications that any critical word regarding Islam, no matter how true or accurate, and no matter how genuine the jihad threat, is denounced as “Islamophobic” nowadays, and Leftists endeavor to silence it forcibly.

As far as the Left is concerned, there is no jihad threat. There is no reason to be concerned about the elements of Sharia — the denial of the freedom of speech, the denial of rights to women — that are incompatible with Western laws and principles. Any such concerns are simply manifestations of “Islamophobia,” and must be ruthlessly stamped out. This assumption sits comfortably in Leftist brains next to “security concerns,” i.e., the fear that if anything critical of Islam is said aloud, Muslims will murder innocent people. Cowardice is pandemic today. No one seems to realize what we all learned in fifth grade, that giving in to bullies only encourages more bullying. But no one, of course, will come out and say “I’m a coward,” so instead the cowards say things like this: “Rabbi Grover said something interesting to me. He said ‘I’m not Pam Geller’. To explain, Pam Geller hosted a draw Mohammed contest, and as a result two armed Islamists attacked the event. Rabbi Grover meant that he was not willing to put the lives of his congregants in danger to prove a point.”

It would have been more accurate, albeit self-incriminating, if Rabbi Grover had said that he didn’t have the courage to stand in defense of the freedom of speech, whatever the risks.

And so, in the West, since so very many people are just like Michael Coren, and Bernie Farber, and Rabbi Grover, we are in very real danger of losing that freedom of speech, and our free societies as a whole.

“Shul backs out of hosting controversial rule of law conference,” by Ron Csillag, Canadian Jewish News, December 13, 2018:

A prominent synagogue in Toronto has pulled out of a controversial event that it was scheduled to host in March. Canadians for the Rule of Law (CFTRL), whose board includes high-profile members of the Jewish community, had planned an “All-Day National Teach-In” on March 17 at Beth Tikvah Synagogue. But after the event was criticized due to some controversial figures who were scheduled to speak at it, the congregation withdrew, citing security concerns. The topic to be explored was “the new taboo: respect for the rule of law in Canada.” There are organizations and “political tribes” that threaten the rule of law in Canada, the group explained on its website. Those include the radical left, radical Islamists and the radical right. “These groups include free speech disruptors and deniers on campuses, terrorist-funded Canadian jihadi organizers, Muslim Brotherhood public curriculum developers, hate speakers on social media, returning ISIL fighters, victimized me-first exceptionalism that overrides the survival of Canadian values, violence-promoting anti-Semites and deniers of religious pluralism and freedom.” The program promised “extensive, in-depth and sensitive content about who those disruptors are, the threats they pose to traditional respect for the rule of law and how new measures can be taken by law-abiding Canadians to address these threats.” The organizations listed as supporting the program were B’nai Brith Canada, Canadian Citizens for Charter Rights and Freedoms, the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Mozuud, ACT! For Canada and the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research. Beth Tikvah, a Conservative synagogue with 1,100 member families, was contacted on Dec. 9 by Karen Mock, the president of the progressive Jewish group JSpace Canada, who asked the shul’s spiritual leader, Rabbi Jarrod Grover, for a meeting to discuss “potential damage control” over media interest in the event “because of the Islamophobia and bigotry associated with some of these groups and individuals. “The last thing our community needs at this stage is more divisiveness,” Mock wrote. On Dec. 11, Rabbi Grover issued the following statement: “Beth Tikvah Synagogue, in addition to serving as a house of worship, regularly rents its space to community groups for the public benefit. We agreed to rent out space to Canadians for the Rule of Law for the purpose of hosting their teach-in conference this coming March. Beth Tikvah was never a sponsor or organizer of this event, only a rental facility. Taking into account security and police concerns, we have decided that our synagogue is not an appropriate venue. We have advised the organizers to find an alternative location.” The rabbi’s statement came a day after a story was published in NOW magazine, in which journalist Michael Coren alleged that some of the groups behind the event and some of the scheduled speakers have a “disturbing” history of anti-Muslim and anti-gay rhetoric, and support for far-right causes. Donald Carr, president of the CFTRL, said in a statement that, “We champion free speech and we promote the rule of law. That’s what the teach-in is all about. We reject any attempt by those who wish to stifle free speech. Their aims will ultimately be thwarted and rejected by the many communities who need positive programs like this one.”… Among the scheduled speakers and moderators are: Calgary lawyer John Carpay, founder of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms; Charles McVety, president of Canada Christian College; Benjamin Ryberg of the Lawfare Project; Robert Walker, executive director of Hasbara Fellowships Canada; and Michael Mostyn, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada. Also slated to speak is broadcaster Christine Douglass-Williams, who last year was fired from the Canadian Race Relations Foundation’s board of directors over comments she made about Islam….

“Synagogue bullied by so-called ‘Anti-Racism Activist,’” by Daniel Bordman, The Post-Millennial, December 19, 2018: