Issuu

FROM UNCERTAINTY TO OPPORTUNITY:

CONFRONTING THE FUTURE OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is thrilled to present Spirit of Hope 2026, our annual marquee event. Taking place in Toronto on November 3, 2026, it will feature two internationally renowned public thinkers and cultural commentators, Sam Harris and Bernard-Henri Lévy, in a candid and thought-provoking conversation moderated by journalist and editor Alana Newhouse. Their discussion will explore the defining challenges of our time, including the rise of extremism, the defence of liberal democracy, and the implications for Israel, the Jewish people and the broader global community.

Also on the program, FSWC is honoured to welcome Masih Alinejad as a special guest. One of the world’s most prominent advocates for freedom and human rights, Alinejad will share her powerful perspective on the Iranian regime, the courage of those who stand against oppression, and the universal struggle for democracy and human dignity.

In celebration of light over darkness, FSWC will also honour our allies. We will pay tribute to extraordinary individuals who, especially over the past year, have demonstrated exceptional courage and moral clarity in standing up against antisemitism and other forms of hatred and intolerance, and in championing the values of truth, justice and human dignity.

Sam Harris is the host of the widely-acclaimed Making Sense podcast and the creator of the Waking Up app. He is also a neuroscientist, philosopher and author of five New York Times

bestsellers, including The End of Faith, The Moral Landscape, Free Will, Lying and Waking Up. Sam’s work spans a broad range of topics — neuroscience, moral philosophy, religion, political polarization, rationality — but generally focuses on how a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world can transform the way we live. He holds a degree in philosophy from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in

Bernard-Henri Lévy is a French philosopher, filmmaker and author of 49 books whose work has long focused on defending democracy and humanism against totalitarianism, fascism and

antisemitism. Among the West’s most prominent public intellectuals, he is the author of recent works including Israel Alone (2024), and The Will to See (2021). A committed Zionist, he has engaged in peace initiatives and dialogue with Israeli leaders across several generations and has remained a leading voice in the fight against antisemitism in France, Europe and around the world.

SAM HARRIS BERNARD-HENRI LÉVY

asih Alinejad is an Iranian-American journalist and human rights activist, and one of the leading voices for women’s rights and democratic freedom in Iran. She founded My Stealthy Freedom,

M the campaign against compulsory hijab laws that became the largest civil disobedience movement in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as the World Liberty Congress, United Against Gender Apartheid, and United for Navid. Despite surviving three assassination plots linked to the Iranian regime, which resulted in federal convictions in New York in 2025, she continues to advocate for women’s rights, freedom of expression, and an end to gender apartheid. Her work has earned numerous international honours, including Time magazine’s Woman of the Year in 2023 and the Oxi Courage Award.

BRAM BELZBERG AND ZACK BELZBERG co-chairs

Bram Belzberg is Chairman and CEO of KEV Group. A graduate of McGill University and Harvard Business School, he previously worked at Goldman Sachs and Amaranth Advisors.

A committed philanthropist and community leader, Bram has held leadership roles with UJA, the Annex Shul, and CJPAC, and currently serves on the Board of Governors of Huron University and as Vice President of CHAT.

Zack Belzberg is CEO of Dodds Garage Door Systems. A graduate of McGill University and Harvard Business School, he previously held investment roles at Alignvest, MDC Partners, and Credit Suisse.

An active community leader, Zack has founded several charitable fundraising initiatives that have collectively raised more than $3 million for healthcare and Jewish community organizations.

special guest