CWAA – Cool New Model of Jewish Women’s Advocacy
I was pleased to learn recently about an up and coming and compelling new pro-Israel Jewish women’s non-profit advocacy group, Canadian Women Against Antisemitism (CWAA). Look them up at https://www.cwaa.ca/ or online on Instagram. You will love their cheeky communications and style!
I first heard about them following a spate of hate crimes in Toronto in which mezuzahs were torn down from the doorposts of many senior citizens’ apartments, causing considerable alarm in the community. Many traditional Jewish organizations responded, including B’nai Brith Canada and the Jewish Russian Community Centre (JRCC) and local synagogues.
What I admired very much about CWAA’s comprehensive and practical response is that they immediately launched a fundraising campaign just for mezuzahs, linked up with local Judaica vendors for mezuzah parchments and covers, and urged local residents to call them directly if their mezuzahs had been stolen. In other words, they took care of business comprehensively from start to finish and hit the ground running! These women are ACTIVISTS!
As well, given recent concerns about Jewish women’s safety in Toronto following the arrests of three ISIS linked Islamist terror suspects threatening to abduct and sexually assault Jewish women, CWAA immediately arranged for self-defense classes for women only in Toronto and Montreal using Krav Maga ‘shadowing’ techniques. I had recommended self-defense training to women some time ago, but this group had already arranged it, and framed it in ways appropriate to the needs and cultures of Jewish women at risk. Way to go!
CWAA is all about empowering Jewish women to take charge of their lives proudly and Jewishly. They are doing it with style and spirit!
I was especially charmed by their New Year’s 2026 message celebrating Jewish women’s unique beauty and chutzpah with an Instagram video featuring their zaftig and sweet religious outreach director dressed in an evening gown, dancing and blowing kisses to the camera, to the tune of Lizzo’s lyrics, “I do my hair toss, check my nails….”
Fabulous! She is us, and every Jewish woman we love, our mothers, aunts and sisters and friends. She is beautiful. And so are we! That is CWAA’s message.
CWAA is still a nascent organization, in a growing phase, but they are off to a splendid start. Following concerns about sexual violence to female Israeli victims of the Hamas terror attacks on Israel, they have launched a ‘Voices Unbroken’ campaign to encourage women to speak openly about their experiences of sexual violence.
They have employed high tech communications and a streetwise style and cool swag to empower and inspire a new generation of Jewish women who may not have considered joining Jewish women’s groups before. They are in building mode – with chapters currently in place in Toronto and Montreal, and one slated to launch in Vancouver later this year after a fundraising blitz.
They are actively involved in advocacy – having made submissions to the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in regard to antisemitism and hate crimes in our schools and communities and the graphic and real abuses and harassment Jewish women and their children are facing. One mother spoke about being called ‘Zionist Whore’ and having her child victimized at his school and pushed in front of a moving school bus.
They are Jewish sisters doing it for themselves – they refuse to have their voices filtered or diluted and have a daily checklist to empower their members to take time to write to their political representatives and celebrate their proud Jewish identities and Zionism. You go, girls!
They seem to have borrowed some of the best features of established Jewish women’s groups, including launching a fundraising gourmet cookbook and holding regular book club lectures. These are women who are learning and growing, networking, and making change happen in our communities.
Like Jewish women have always done in philanthropic movements, they are cooking for the hungry and active in their synagogues and schools and communities, but they are swinging it with a whole new attitude and inspiring swag, everything from water bottles and coffee mugs to stylish pink baseball caps and warm up jackets and ‘Lioness of Judah’ sweatpant outfits.
I have great respect for our established Jewish women’s organizations – such as Hadassah, Na’amat (Pioneer Women), Jewish Women International (formerly B’nai Brith Women), O.R.T., National Council of Jewish Women, Mizrachi Women, Emunah Women, and our many synagogue sisterhoods who continue the legacy of our foremothers, who hold our communities together and do well by doing good. More power to them all. But CWAA focuses on advocacy.
I think Canadian Women Against Antisemitism is an interesting new addition to the mix, with considerable style and substance, and is one to watch, with great appeal for a whole new generation of Jewish wives and mothers. Keep an eye on them – I am sure you will be hearing more and more about them. May they go from strength to strength.
[This post is written on my dear mother’s Yahrzeit (memorial anniversary) and is dedicated to her strong, smart and stylish example of proud Jewish womanhood and to all our mothers and all the Jewish women we love. Thanks for everything, Mom. I miss you.]