By Julius Melnitzer | March 20, 2025
It’s been years since Jewish lawyers in Canada had a united voice, and about 18 months since the horror of Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023. But the recent formation of the Canadian Jewish Lawyers’ Association (CJLA) has at last given a voice to a professional group that has largely maintained a collective silence in the fight against antisemitism.
“There used to be an iteration of the CJLA, but it disbanded many years ago,” says CJLA Chair Joseph Neuberger, founder of Toronto criminal law boutique Neuberger & Partners LLP. “Our goal is to unite the Jewish legal community through professional training, advocacy and networking.”
Lawyers have a unique role to play in the fight against antisemitism, says CJLA Vice-Chair Jeffrey Leon.
“CJLA brings together the skill and influence lawyers have in promoting legal action and influencing policy development in the fight against antisemitism. This approach differentiates CJLA from other Jewish organizations.”
Neuberger also sees CJLA as an access to justice source.
“We will be providing strategic representation to victims of antisemitism and hate crimes and to individuals facing charges, both on our own and in conjunction with like-minded organizations,” he says.
CJLA only took form in January, but it already has a website, and more importantly, an impressive board that includes former Supreme Court of Canada justice and special advisor to the association Russell Brown; Neuberger, a leading Toronto criminal defence lawyer and advocate against antisemitism; Leon, an experienced arbitrator and mediator at Arbitration Place in Toronto, recognized for his contributions to the legal profession; Deborah Palter, a prominent commerical litigation partner at Toronto’s Thornton Grout Finnigan LLP, and; Jill Mayer, a professional development consultant and advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion who is the founder and chair of Lawyers Combatting Antisemitism, whose mission is to help legal professionals deepen their understanding of antisemitism and the legal tools available to combat it.
Neuberger credits the behind-the-scenes work put in by Mark Sandler of Toronto criminal defence boutique Cooper, Sandler, Shime & Schwartzentruber LLP, a driving force behind the Alliance of Canadians Combatting Antisemitism, as instrumental in CJLA’s creation.
So far, the profession and the Jewish community has reacted positively.
“We have attracted about 250 members and there’s a steady stream of people signing up even though we haven’t commenced a formal membership campaign,” Neuberger says. “We’re taking our time to ensure things develop with the proper pieces in place.”
Funding, according to Leon, has to this point, come from “the generosity” of other organizations and individuals. Formal grant applications are taking shape.
“I’ve been blown away by the dedication of some of our members,” he says. “And eventually, we’ll encourage them all to contribute”.
Notwithstanding its incipient stage, CJLA has activated several committees.
“The most robust has been our education committee, which has set up workshops on antisemitism and a forum designed for our membership to learn from each other,” Neuberger says.
Julius Melnitzer is a Toronto-based legal affairs writer, ghostwriter, writing coach and media trainer. Readers can reach him at [email protected] or on his website.
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