TORONTO — Tafsik Organization issued a forceful public condemnation of Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, saying the mayor promoted what Tafsik called the false and inflammatory claim that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow accused Israel and the Jewish people of genocide pic.twitter.com/OLZDmlav1a
— Israel Now (@neveragainlive1) November 2, 2025
In a statement posted to social media, Tafsik charged that Chow’s remarks were reckless, defamatory, and harmful to Jewish communities in Toronto, across Canada, and around the world. The group said the mayor pledged taxpayer money for anti-Islamophobia advertising at a National Council of Canadian Muslims event that took place while Torontonians were watching Game 7 of the World Series. Tafsik said the mayor had not taken comparable action for the Jewish community and that her alleged declaration of a “genocide in Gaza” constituted a betrayal of Jewish residents.
Tafsik announced immediate practical measures. The organization said Mayor Chow is no longer welcome at Tafsik events, commemorations, or meetings. The group also called on Jewish organizations to formally reject Chow’s attendance at communal events and, in its statement, used the term “excommunicated” to describe the response it seeks. Tafsik said permitting the mayor a platform at Jewish events risks legitimizing antisemitism and anti-Zionism and would harm community safety and integrity.
City officials and Mayor Chow’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tafsik’s statement. In public communications and on the mayor’s official website, Chow has emphasized anti-Islamophobia work through a “Toronto For All” public education campaign and has posted messages noting that Islamophobia has no place in Toronto.
Tafsik’s rebuke is the latest in a series of clashes between municipal leaders and Jewish advocacy groups over public language and municipal responses to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The group previously urged Mayor Chow to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism and has publicly campaigned for stronger municipal steps to combat antisemitism.
Community reactions were mixed. Some Jewish advocacy organizations and community leaders praised Tafsik’s stance. They said municipal leaders must be held accountable for language that community members perceive as delegitimizing Israel or that they fear could encourage threats against Jews.
Other local groups urged restraint and a fuller context before punishing elected officials for comments they say were taken out of context. Observers noted that public discussions about Gaza and Israel have sharply divided Toronto civic and cultural life and have led to demands for clearer municipal policies on hate speech and public safety.
Legal and civic experts said decisions by community organizations to ban public officials from events are political choices that raise questions about civic engagement and pluralism. They said organizations are free to set participation rules for their events, but that public calls to bar an elected official from civic functions can intensify polarization and complicate efforts to build cross-community coalitions against hate.
Tafsik said its actions are driven by concern for Jewish safety and communal dignity. The organization’s post framed the mayor’s actions as a public betrayal and urged other Jewish groups to adopt similarly firm measures. Tafsik also reiterated its call for municipal adoption of clearer definitions and tools to combat antisemitism and to ensure equitable support across Toronto’s diverse communities.
This dispute is likely to deepen ongoing local debates about where to draw the line between legitimate criticism of state policy and rhetoric that some community members view as delegitimizing a people or a nation. Municipal officials, community groups, and civic leaders now face the task of balancing free expression, public safety, and intercommunal trust.
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This article is based on verified information from Tafsik Organization social posts, the City of Toronto “Toronto For All” campaign page, Mayor Olivia Chow’s public posts and statements, and related public materials from community groups and advocacy organizations.
