Noa Tishby will be in Calgary December 7

By AJNews Staff

(Calgary) – On December 7, B’nai Brith Calgary will welcome one of the leading voices of Israel activism: Noa Tishby. She is an acclaimed Israeli actor, producer and a best-selling author and has been a leader in pro-Israel activism for over a decade. She will be the guest speaker and honoured guest in Calgary – in conversation with Amanda Eskenasi, former National Director for the B’nai Brith League for Human Rights and current Director of Education for HonestReporting Canada.

Tishby has become one of the most prominent and compelling voices advocating for Israel and fighting antisemitism worldwide. Her ability to speak truth with clarity and passion is both rare and urgently needed. She speaks directly to the challenges that North American Jewish communities face today, offering not only the facts but also empathy, historical context, and a message of resilience.

“We are really fortunate to have a speaker of Noa’s calibre to our event in Calgary,” said Howard Silver, one of the event organizers. “This is more than just a speaking event – it’s a moment to educate, inspire, and strengthen our voice against hate.”

Tishby was recently interviewed by National Post, just ahead of the second anniversary of the horrific attacks on Israel by Hamas and before the return of all the living hostages. When asked about Trump’s 20 point plan for peace, she replied, “I pray to God that Qatar will convince Hamas to say yes to this plan. What’s extraordinary about it is that for the first time, Hamas is isolated by the Arab world. For the first time, they’re kind of acknowledging – some fully, some kind of half – an acknowledgement, from Saudi Arabia to the UAE to Turkey to Indonesia, that the war has to end, and they have isolated Qatar and Hamas.

“To bring all these Arab countries together to stand as a united front against Hamas and to kind of acknowledge, to some extent, that Hamas simply took it too far and they cannot continue to rule Gaza, is absolutely extraordinary. Yes, Hamas needs to come to the table. If Hamas doesn’t agree, then I don’t even know how much more hell can break loose for the Palestinian people, but it is an absolutely extraordinary plan.

“Israel defended itself. Israel didn’t start this war. Didn’t want this war, but has to win this war. And nobody wins in wars. Everybody loses. But what Israel wanted the entire time was return the hostages and get Hamas to not rule Gaza anymore. And effectively, this is the plan.

“So look, Hamas is a Jihadi terrorist organization that is committed to destroying Israel, killing the Jews, and dying as martyrs for their 72 virgins. That’s who they are. They don’t hide it. So who knows what’s going to happen? But this was an extraordinary step.”

To read the full October 5 interview by Reporter Dave Gordon visit nationalpost.com. Interview with Noa Tishby: Two years after October 7, Israel has lost the PR war.

Tishby will be joined on the bimah by Amanda Eskenasi Hohmann, an educator, researcher, and analyst with over a decade of experience in Jewish advocacy and public education. She has led national and international initiatives combating antisemitism, developed curriculum and training programs for schools and community organizations, and played a key role in shaping public discourse on Jewish identity, human rights, and misinformation. With a background that bridges academia, grassroots activism, and policy engagement, Amanda brings both intellectual rigor and practical expertise to her work. Her research has been cited by NGOs, academic institutions, and government bodies around the world, and she has been a frequent guest in international media, offering expert insight on antisemitism and contemporary Jewish issues.

Amanda is a PhD candidate at York University, where her scholarship focuses on cultural narratives, systems of authority, and the politics of representation and identity.

In the lead-up to the event, B’nai Brith is once again reaching out to its members and Jewish Calgary to help them continue their generous support of charitable organizations and causes with emphasis on those most in need. As with all B’nai Brith Calgary initiatives, this is a fundraising event with all net proceeds donated to local Calgary charities.

According to the Calgary B’nai Brith website, proceeds from BB events have, over the years, added up to four million dollars allocated to a wide range of charitable organizations including support for Jewish schools, synagogues, youth programs including student groups and Camp BB Riback, seniors’ programs and heritage projects.

B’nai Brith also has a proud history of support for a range of causes beyond the Jewish community, including local health initiatives. They have previously given to the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Prostate Cancer, and Kids Cancer Care and contributed toward the building of accessible playgrounds.

The 2025 B’nai Brith event takes place December 7 at Beth Tzedec Synagogue. Doors open at 1 pm. Tickets at $72 per adult and $36 per student can be purchased and donations can be made at https://bnaibrithcalgary.org/buy-a-ticket/ or by calling the B’nai Brith Calgary office at (403) 255-6554.