We, the undersigned, request the return of Elise Gravel’s books to the public shelves of the Jewish Public Library, without delay. The Jewish Public Library opened its doors in 1914, at a time when prevailing optimism and exuberance would soon collide with the arrival of fascism and intolerance. Throughout its 100 years of existence, the Jewish Public Library has been an oasis for user communities as well as a privileged destination for readers and writers.
The Jewish Public Library’s recent decision to remove from public view more than 30 titles by bestselling children’s book author Elise Gravel is more than worrying. Censorship and shelving of books is an abomination for any library. This is why we believe that freedom of expression must be at the heart of the Jewish Public Library’s commitments.
Elise Gravel’s books have been recognized around the world for her efforts to “promote diversity, tolerance, respect and empathy”. The most worrying thing about this withdrawal is that it does not emanate from the possible risks of its contents, but that it is a response to the declarations of Elise Gravel on the current situation in Israel and Palestine. This contradicts the values of excellence set out by the Jewish Public Library: diversity, discovery, accessibility and collaboration.
The Jewish people are recognized as the “people of the book”. It is disheartening to see such a beloved Jewish institution following in the footsteps of censorship and repression. Withholding a book from the public because an author’s political opinions differ from those of the establishment is a slap in the face to freedom of speech and democracy.
A library is one of the only places where the most varied ideas, perspectives and opinions come together peacefully, side by side, page by page and from one shelf to another. We, citizens of the Jewish community and other communities, from the world of literature, translation, publishing, cultural circles and all walks of life, ask the Jewish Public Library to relocate the books of Elise Gravel on her original shelves and to firmly engage in an open debate.
* Co-signed this letter: 1. Rula J. Abisaab, professor, poet, novelist; 2. Mark Abley, writer; 3. Eugene Abrams, writer; 4. Tom Abray, writer, teacher; 5. Brian Aboud, educator and researcher; 6. Sondos Aburihan, social activist; 7. Fiona Ainsworth, concerned citizen, registered nurse; 8. Yassaman Ameri, photographer; 9. Anita Anand, writer; 10. Daphnée Anctil, co-owner, Librairie Pulp Books & Café; 11. Fortner Anderson, poet; 12. Joy Aragootak, concerned citizen; 13. Guy Archambault, retired diplomat; 14. Phyllis Aronoff, translator; 15. Richard Aubé, reader opposed to censorship; 16. Shira Avni, professor, filmmaker; 17. Colleen Ayoup, teacher; 18. Gabriella Baillargeon, concerned citizen; 19. Loch Baillie, poet and writer; 20. Heidi Barkun, artist, independent researcher; 21. Leila Bdeir, professor; 22. Paul Bélanger, poet, writer; 23. Khosro Berahmandi, concerned citizen; 24. Rachel Berger, professor, writer; 25. Irwin Block, journalist; 26. Stephanie Bolster, writer and professor; 27. Michel Bonneau, musician; 28. Sam Boskey, former Montreal City Councilor; 29. Gilbert Boyer, reader; 30. Felix Chau Bradley, writer; 31. Diana Bronson, coach; 32. Emma Maryam Bronson, musician, student; 33. Peggy Burns, publisher, Drawn & Quarterly; 34. Dave Bronstetter, reader; 35. Jonathan Burnham, former director, Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Israel in Montreal; 36. Renée Charron, PhD, Humanities, Concordia; 37. Ellie Chartier, author; 38. May Chiu, concerned citizen; 39. Maryse Choinière, citizen against censorship; 40. Moe Clark, multidisciplinary Métis artist; 41. Nisha Coleman, writer; 42. Myriam Comtois, public relations specialist; 43. Colette Connors, lover of libraries; 44. Sophie Crabbe-Field, journalist; 45. Rani Cruz, concerned citizen; 46. Alain Cuerrier, poet, writer, translator, botanist; 47. Paula Danckert, playwright; 48. Tahieròn: iohte Dan David, reader, writer; 49. Christopher DiRaddo, writer; 50. Cheryl Donison, teacher; 51. Hasmik Egian, former senior UN official and Montrealer; 52. Tawhida Tanya Evanson, writer, performer; 53. Maria Faija, concerned citizen; 54. Endre Farkas, writer; 55. Maryann Farkas, retired teacher; 56. Alyssa Favreau, writer, editor, McGill-Queen’s University Press; 57. Arlene Field, lawyer; 58. Anna Fuerstenberg, writer, director; 59. Charles Gagnon, musician; 60. Michel Gagnon, citizen against censorship; 61. Devon Gallant, writer; 62. Patrick Goddard, cultural administrator, translator, performer; 63. Ellen Goldfinch, librarian; 64. Ariane Gonzalez, concerned citizen; 65. Katia Grubisic, writer, translator; 66. Anne Guilleaume, reader; 67. Dipti Gupta, filmmaker, professor; 68. David Gutnick, retired CBC broadcaster; 69. Talleen Hacikyan, artist; 70. Maeve Haldane, writer; 71. Dyala Hamzah, professor of history, University of Montreal; 72. Michelle Hartman, professor, McGill University; 73. Carol Harwood, concerned citizen; 74. Daniel Harwood-Farkas, concerned citizen; 75. James Hawes, writer; 76. Jeremiah Hayes, filmmaker; 77. Matthew Hays, author, journalist; 78. Dorothy Henaut, filmmaker; 79. Anne Henderson, filmmaker; 80. Patrick Hutchinson, musician; 81. Manuel Johnson, lawyer-activist in social law; 82. Jan Jorgensen, pastor, writer; 83. Katherine Kasirer, librarian; 84. Rana Kattan, concerned citizen and free speech enthusiast; 85. Paul Keenan, musician, teacher; 86. Arshad Khan, filmmaker; 87. Adrian King-Edwards, bookseller; 88. Christian Knudsen, concerned citizen; 89. Christine Lalonde concerned citizen; 90. Anne Lagacé Dowson, freelance journalist; 91. Lee Lai, graphic novelist; 92. Renée Lallier, professor; 93. Christine Lalonde, concerned citizen; 94. Mary Lamey, concerned citizen; 95. Pierre Largy, reader; 96. Sylvie Lauzon, concerned citizen; 97. Hubert Lavallée, concerned citizen; 98. Sharon Lax, writer; 99. Lazer Lederhendler, translator; 100. Cory Legassic, professor, sociology / humanities, Dawson College; 101. Linda Leith, writer and publisher; 102. Patrice Lessard, writer, teacher; 103. Angela Leuck, writer, poet; 104. Catherine London, reader; 105. David London, professor; 106. Sophie London, psychoeducator; 107. Rachel London Wallace, writer; 108. Ehab Lotayef, writer; 109. Nadine Ltaif, poet; 110. Martin Lukacs, concerned citizen; 111. Steve Luxton, poet; 112. Eli Tareq El Bechalany Lynch, writer; 113. Derek Maisonville, educator; 114. Myriam Mansour, professor; 115. Justin Marshy, concerned citizen; 116. Leila Marshy, writer; 117. Samia Marshy, concerned citizen; 118. Zahia El-Masri, community activist; 119. Vasilios Mavreas, artist; 120. Gregory McCormick, cultural arts manager; 121. Rachel McCrum, poet / performer / cultural worker; 122. Guy Melhuish, musician; 123. Mélanie Ménard, citizen against censorship; 124. Pauline Michel, author; 125. Liz Millar, professor; 126. Joel Asa Miller, writer; 127. Ken Monteith, concerned Montrealer; 128. Dr. Linda Morra, professor, writer; 129. Barbara Moser, publisher, The Senior Times ; 130. Elise Moser, writer; 131. Michal Moser; 132. Erin Moure, poet; 133. Mathieu Murphy-Perron, artistic director, Tableau D’Hôte Theater; 134. Deborah Murray, writer, editor; 135. Gigi Nadeau, children’s librarian; 136. Nassim Noroozi, professor; 137. Dimitri Nasrallah, writer; 138. Norman Nawrocki, writer, activist; 139. Timothy Neidermann, writer; 140. Charlene Nero, social activist; 141. Alex Nierenhausen, co-owner, Librairie Pulp Books & Café; 142. Stanley Péan, writer, radio host; 143. Louise Perrault, concerned citizen; 144. Robin Philpot, editor, Baraka Books; 145. Loreen Pindera, editor, retired CBC broadcaster; 146. Julia Pohl-Miranda, Drawn & Quarterly; 147. Erica Pomerance, filmmaker; 148. Shelley Pomerance, interviewer, translator; 149. Rohan Quinby, writer, editor, photographer; 150. Marc Raboy, writer, professor; 151. Ragné Raceviciute, educator; 152. Deanna Radford, writer; 153. Line Richer, president, Reading and Living; 154. Raquel Rivera, writer, children’s author; 155. Guy Rex Rodgers, writer, director; 156. Lucie Rodrigue, concerned citizen; 157. Vincent Romani, professor, UQAM; 158. Joseph Rosen, writer, teacher; 159. Ted Rutland, writer, professor; 160. Gabriel Safdie, writer, photographer; 161. Ethel Saltzman, concerned citizen; 162. Katharine dos Santos, concerned citizen; 163. Alejandro Saravia, writer; 164. Maria Schamis Turner, editor, writer; 165. Howard Scott, translator; 166. Jason Selman, spoken word artist; 167. Sandra Shatilla, activist; 168. Eric Shragge, retired professor, Concordia University; 169. Rachel Shugart, concerned citizen; 170. Yumna Siddiqi, professor; 171. Deanna Smith, writer; 172. Mary Soderstrom, writer; 173. Su J. Sokol, writer; 174. Carolyn Marie Souaid, writer; 175. Mich Spieler, activist; 176. Kimberley Stephenson, bookseller; 177. H. Nigel Thomas, writer; 178. Jacky Vallée, teacher; 179. Rahul Varma, playwright; 180. Susan Van Gelder, retired educator, reader; 181. Deb Vanslet, writer, performer; 182. Claudia Vaucher, concerned citizen; 183. Jean Vaucher, engineer and professor opposed to censorship; 184. Philippe Vaucher, animator; 185. Sophie Voillot, translator; 186. Wendy Wayling, children’s librarian; 187. Gage Michael Wheatley, writer, artist; 188. Donald Winkler, literary translator; 189. Alan Wong, PhD, teacher, Vanier College; 190. Ameri Yasserman, photographer, filmmaker; 191. Meryem Yildez, writer; 192. Christine York, senior lecturer, Concordia University; 193. Dr. Luca Zanotto, physicist; 194. Alice Zorn, writer. For an up-to-date list of signatories, click here.