A little over two years ago, on April 15, 2024, David Sachs of Ottawa’s Jewish Federation was leaving an interfaith iftar event near Parliament Hill. He was wearing a kippah. Outside the government building, anti-Israel protesters were waiting.

In his victim impact statement earlier this week, Sachs told the court he feared for his life during those “absolutely horrific” moments when he was swarmed, hit on the head, screamed at with anti-Israel insults, then followed for four blocks as he tried to escape, all while a dangerously loud electronic whistle was blasted near his ears.

Everyone in the crowd wore masks except well-known Ottawa protester Deana Sherif, who wore a keffiyeh and brandished the whistle. Ottawa police later arrested Sherif and charged her with eight offences, including resisting a police officer and two hate-motivated charges. Some stemmed from another confrontation that same day involving Conservative MP Brad Vis of British Columbia, who was trying to go the gym.

Her trial ended in February. Sherif was convicted on two of the original charges. The Crown did not concentrate on the hate-motivated allegations at trial, even though the judge agreed some of the shouted insults were antisemitic, but found Sherif herself was not the person making them.

On May 6, the judge sentenced her to the 17 months she had already spent in custody, plus one year probation, a peace bond, and a decade-long ban on using the loud whistle or possessing other weapons.

On this episode of The CJN’s “North Star” podcast, David Sachs explains why he believes the convictions were significant — but also why he feels the outcome fell short without hate-related findings. We also hear from University of Ottawa antisemitism adviser Jonathan Calof, who warns anti-Jewish hatred in Canada is no longer confined to street protests, but is becoming institutionalized.

Related links

How twice-convicted Ottawa protester Deana Sherif played a role in organizing and promoting the 2026 Al-Quds Day parade and rally in Toronto, in The CJN .
Learn more about Prof. Jonathan Calof, the special advisor on antisemitism appointed by Ottawa University in early 2025,
Read David Sachs' comments after an Ottawa man pleaded guilty in Feb. 2025 to sending hateful messages to local physician Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth in Feb. 2025, in The CJN. ****

Credits

Host and writer: Ellin Bessner ( @ebessner )
Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Izzie Helenchilde (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer), Alicia Richler (editorial director)
Music: Bret Higgins

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