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In August 2024, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) formally revoked the charitable status of the Jewish National Fund of Canada (JNF Canada). JNF Canada was a “long-time, Zionist, indoctrination apparatus that for decades has operated within Canadian Hebrew schools and places of worship.” In essence, JNF Canada was a conduit, providing support to the Israeli military and illegal settlements. JNF Canada attempted to appeal this ruling but lost, not once, but twice. Nonetheless, they have continued to raise funds for Israeli apartheid and occupation. For instance, they launched an emergency campaign for “Canada Park” – a park created by JNF Canada atop the remains of three West Bank Palestinian villages – after wildfires reduced the park to ashes.
On September 2, 2025, JNF Canada announced their “friends” agreed to “dedicate their charity to carrying out similar work” to JNF Canada, and “have appropriately renamed it, Friends of JNF Canada” [emphasis in original].
It is clear that this “new” organization, Friends of JNF Canada (F-JNFC), is simply a burner charity that allows a revoked Canadian charitable organization to continue and funnel money to Israel. This is evident, for example, by the fact that F-JNFC’s address is simply the same address as JNF Toronto.
Since this announcement we have discovered:
- None of the phone numbers listed on F-JNFC are associated with any such organization. The main number provided goes to DUCA Credit Union, a financial services company in Richmond Hill that reported to have no relation to or knowledge of F-JNFC or JNF Canada.
- F-JNFC is not registered as a charity with the Charities Directorate (not yet, at least). We reached out to the Directorate who confirmed they have no knowledge or record of F-JNFC.
- F-JNFC is recycling board members. Three of the five board members are on the JNF Toronto Board and Committee. Two of the five, including the president, are on the board of the far-right organization Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation (CAEF).
- The “friend” who “dedicated their charity” to JNF Canada is the Benzimra Foundation (unsurprisingly, F-JNFC’s new president was the Vice President of the Benzimra board). F-JNFC was officially registered in Ontario on August 21, 2025, ‘replacing’ Benzimra. Notably, Benzimra is also a federal charity with programs listed as “promotion of Israel’s legal rights through publications and working with other registered charities and qualified donnees.” Unsurprisingly, Benzimra is also connected with CAEF (noted above). In their “About Us” section, CAEF lists its projects, including one called “Advancing Israel’s Legal Rights”. Originally, this project was carried out under the name “Canadians for Israel’s Legal Rights” (CILR), until it was incorporated as Benzimra in 2021.
- JNF Canada has explicitly stated they will be communicating with supporters via F-JNFC. If individuals do not want to receive JNF Canada communications through F-JNFC, they are required to actively opt-out (by September 5). Further, when someone new signs up for F-JNFC’s newsletter, the confirmation email comes directly from JNF Canada (helpdesk@jnf.ca).
- Perhaps most notably, JNF Canada / F-JNFC appears to be trying to re-write history. A simple Google search for “Friends of JNF Canada” turns up various posts in which JNF Canada has been replaced by F-JNFC. F-JNFC did not exist until approximately two weeks ago, yet it is being cited in articles dating back to at least 2014.
F-JNFC is not JNF Canada’s first time using other charities as their conduit. For example, they are also using the Israel Magen Fund, another charity that supports the Israeli military, to finance their activities. In 2025, Israel Magen accepted funds for JNF Canada’s 2025 Negev Dinners, which are advertised on Israel Magen’s site.
JNF Canada’s attempt to continue its work under a new name is not unique. After the Ne’eman Foundation’s charitable status was revoked in August 2024, Emunim began collecting donations on behalf of Ne’eman. Within six weeks, the CRA suspended Emunim’s charitable status. Therefore, we know they can act quickly.
JNF Canada must not be allowed to continue, under any name. Our communities have put too much time and energy into this for JNF Canada to simply reincarnate itself under another charitable registration. And, too much tax money has been spent, not only on decades of subsidizing JNF Canada activities, but on years-long CRA audits and court challenges. Enough is enough. Demand the CRA take action now!
Just Peace Advocates joins with Independent Jewish Voices to demand the CRA:
- Immediate refusal of charitable status for Friends of JNF Canada
- Revocation of Benzimra Foundation’s charitable status
- A full-scale audit of Canadian charities funneling funds to Israeli apartheid, military operations, and illegal settlements in violation of Canadian law
Register to join our phone zap on Monday September 8, where we will call the CRA and demand no more tax receipts for JNF Canada’s crimes!
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