Beth Tzedec Congregation is deeply troubled and bewildered by Prime Minister Carney’s decision to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian State at this time. Doing so before the so‑called preconditions of meaningful reform within the Palestinian Authority, the disarmament of Hamas, and—most critically—the release of all Israeli hostages still languishing in captivity, sends the devastating message that terror and violence are rewarded rather than condemned.

The Jewish tradition teaches, “One who saves a single life, it is as if they have saved an entire world” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5). Today, those worlds remain held hostage in Gaza. Any step toward statehood that does not first secure their freedom and dismantle the machinery of terror abandons the sanctity of those lives and undermines the prospects of a just and lasting peace.

At the same time, as Jews and Canadians, we do not harden our hearts to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. Their humanitarian plight is real and urgent, and alleviating that suffering is a moral imperative shared by the global community. However, the onus of providing sustained aid and ensuring a peaceful future does not rest on Israel alone. Regional actors, international institutions, and Palestinian leadership itself must also take responsibility to secure the delivery and distribution of aid that does not embolden and support Hamas. 

True peace and the vision of the Prophet Isaiah that “They shall beat their swords into plowshares” (Isaiah 2:4) – will only come when violence is rejected, hostages are freed, and the foundations of mutual security and trust are laid such that the Palestinians can build a society free of terror and dedicated to life. Premature recognition endangers that hope rather than advancing it.

Beth Tzedec Congregation stands with Israel, prays for the safe return of the hostages, calls on all parties to ensure the well-being of Palestinian civilians, and reaffirms its commitment to a vision of peace built on justice, security, and the preservation of life for all peoples of the region.

Rabbi Steve Wernick,The Anne and Max Tanenbaum Senior Rabbinic Chair 

Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin 

Don Smith, President