Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

Abbreviation	CIJA
Formation	2004/2011
Type	Organizations based in Canada
Legal status	active
Purpose	advocacy
Region served	Canada
Official language	English, French
Chief Executive Officer	Shimon Koffler Fogel
Website	www.cija.ca

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations of Canada.

CIJA is a non-partisan, non-profit organization, representing the perspectives of 150,000 Canadian Jews affiliated through local Jewish Federations. With a focus on building relationships with leaders in government, media, academia, civil society and other faith and ethnic communities CIJA advances the public policy interests of Canada's organized Jewish community.

Founded as The Canadian Council for Israel and Jewish Advocacy, CIJA was formed as a non-partisan organization to oversee Jewish community advocacy efforts aimed at improving the quality of Jewish life in Canada and abroad, increasing support for Israel, and strengthening the Canada-Israel relationship. As the advocacy agent of UIA Federations Canada, with the Canadian Jewish Federations and Regional Communities, CIJA coordinated the activities of Canadian Jewish Congress, Canada-Israel Committee and Quebec-Israel Committee, and the University Outreach Committee.

In 2011, CIJA assumed its current name following an 18-month restructuring process in which the functions of the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canada-Israel Committee, Quebec-Israel Committee, National Jewish Campus Life and the University Outreach Committee were consolidated. The group's Chief Executive Officer was Hershell Ezrin, who served in that position until his retirement at the end of 2010.Shimon Koffler Fogel, former CEO of the Canada-Israel Committee, now serves as CEO.

CIJA is based on an integrated national-local model that emphasizes national leadership while empowering grassroots Jewish communities. CIJA works closely with its Jewish Federation partners across Canada, providing strategic advice and advocacy solutions both tailored to local conditions and consistent with the Jewish community’s national advocacy priorities. CIJA maintains offices in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and Jerusalem.

The Canadian Rabbinic Caucus, an interdenominational body of Rabbis from across the country, provides support and advice to CIJA on behalf of Canadian synagogues. The Caucus is chaired by Rabbi Reuben Poupko of Montreal.

CIJA's lobbying and outreach efforts include meetings and functions that attract high-ranking members of the Canadian government, including the Prime Minister, and supporting trips to Israel for Canadian officials and thought leaders.