Jewish Independent Ca: Leadership void in the community

http://www.jewishindependent.ca/archives/nov13/archives13nov01-14.html

"Shimon Fogel, explains in an Oct. 1 Canadian Jewish News article that CIJA’s advocacy approach is “evidence-based and empirically tested,” as if matters of human affairs are science projects with definitive outcomes and that the Canadian public is little more than so many lab monkeys."

"Not only that, the original ads were conceived and funded by groups representing Jewish community members of a different political bent than the “mainstream.” To cry antisemitism under these circumstances is not only hyperbolic but unbecoming of an agency that claims to be the umbrella for a diverse community, even if those voices fall outside of the general consensus views on Israel."
"The message we receive, at times like these, reflects an elitist view that the opinions of the rabble who are likely to be swayed by ads on public transit are insignificant to the bigger objective, which seems to be convincing those opinion leaders who do matter..."
"CIJA abandoned any pretense of being a democratic, representative body, adopting instead a structure more resembling a monarchy.""The messages from CIJA and the local federation on this matter were too confused to reflect such a coherent approach. They first urged the public to mobilize against supposedly dangerous ads that had the potential to provoke anti-Jewish animus and make Jewish transit riders feel threatened. At the same time, we were urged not to worry about the ads, as they were innocuous." "We see no evidence of a smart, effective plan and certainly no satisfaction, even fleeting."