Avi Lewis defends Yom Kippur message called ‘despicable,’ claims critics are after ‘partisan points’

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsCanadaCanadian Politics Avi Lewis defends Yom Kippur message called 'despicable,' claims critics are after 'partisan points' Liberal MP Ben Carr told reporters on Monday that the post was 'naive, it was miscalculated, irresponsible, and dangerous' Author of the article: By Stuart Thomson Published Sep 22, 2026 Last updated 1 hour ago 2 minute read Join the conversation New Democratic Party leader Avi Lewis speaks during a press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. PHOTO BY HYUNGCHEOL PARK /Postmedia Article content OTTAWA — NDP Leader Avi Lewis defended his social media post made on Yom Kippur saying his fellow Jews had “failed” to do enough to stop a “genocide,” referencing the war between Israel and Hamas, and accused critics Tuesday of trying to “score partisan points” after he was assailed for the comments. Article content Lewis’s message was posted on Sunday evening, as the Jewish holiday was beginning and just before news broke that a police office had been critically injured when a gunman opened fire at a Belleville, Ont. synagogue where worshippers had gathered for the evening. The gunman, a 29-year-old former Canadian Armed Forces soldier, later died in hospital after an exchange of gunfire. Article content Article content Article content “Holding Canadian Jews and Jews across the world collectively responsible for events over which they have no control is despicable,” Liberal MP Anthony Housefather said on X in response to Lewis’s post. Article content EXCLUSIVE NEWSLETTER Political Hack Political Hack gets at what’s really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill. Wednesdays and Fridays. Subscribe Now See all of our newsletters Article content Lewis, who like Housefather is Jewish, had posted: “This year I’m reflecting on the fact that we failed to do our part to stop an ongoing genocide committed in our name. There are many other fronts where I have to do the work of repair. But nothing on this scale.” Article content Liberal MP Ben Carr, who is also Jewish, told reporters on Monday that Lewis’s post was “naive, it was miscalculated, irresponsible, and dangerous.” Article content On Monday, Lewis accused them of his distorting his comments. Article content “I did not blame Jews for the actions of the Israeli government, that’s simply untrue,” said Lewis…