The CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, who took over a debt-riddled non-profit and revitalized it into one of many nation’s main Jewish advocacy teams, died Feb. 4 of mind most cancers. He was 50 years outdated.
Quickly after he took on the highest job, Michael Mostyn started to show the 150-year-old group round. The group’s closely mortgaged workplace constructing in Toronto was offered, as was an Alzheimer’s care facility.
B’nai Brith’s free weekly newspaper, based in 1964 as The Covenant and later renamed the Jewish Tribune, was additionally closed as a part of the overhaul in how the group dealt with communications.
“We’re great at affordable housing. We’re fantastic at standing up for human rights and fighting antisemitism, fighting bigotry, putting on programs to help the least fortunate in our community” Mostyn instructed The CJN in 2016.
“So, it’s a matter of prioritizing, which we did, and [we’re] really going through a process of reinvention for the next generation.”
Mostyn was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the King Charles III Coronation Medal, for his advocacy on behalf of the Jewish neighborhood and marginalized teams.
At an overflowing funeral on Feb. 5 at Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel in Toronto, politicians and colleagues testified to the affect he had.
“He was front and centre in leading the efforts to have Iran’s IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) listed as a terrorist organization, and for provinces and cities to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism,” mentioned Toronto metropolis councillor James Pasternak in his eulogy.
“Michael was a regular at city hall deputing on important issues at the various committees, joining us at times of celebration of Israel, Jewish holidays and remembrance and reaching out to elected representatives of all three levels of government to spread the important message of watching for the dangers of hate and the scourge of antisemitism.
“He was not afraid to call out those in society who would incite and give speeches of hate. He praised police when the job was well done, but pointed out when there was work to be done.”
Reflecting on cherished recollections of collaborating with my good buddy, Michael Mostyn. He was a mensch, an individual of knowledge, optimism and energy. He put all his vitality into his household and neighborhood, guaranteeing we had a safer, extra hopeful Canada. He will likely be vastly missed by many. pic.twitter.com/JbTTIJmEqs
— James Pasternak (@PasternakTO) February 5, 2025
Mostyn ran for the federal Conservatives in 2004 and 2006, and for the Ontario PCs in 2011 within the using of York Centre, however was not elected. It was via campaigning that he met Michael Levitt, the previous Liberal MP for the using who’s now the top of the Jewish advocacy group, Buddies of Simon Wiesenthal Heart.
“Even though Michael and I were playing on different teams in the political arena, we hit it off right away,” Levitt mentioned in his remarks on the funeral. “We both shared a strong commitment to the Jewish community and to Israel.
“I remember him coming to Parliament to brief MPs each year on the B’nai Brith’s annual audit of antisemitism in Canada. Everybody in Ottawa on both sides of the aisle knew just how strong and driven he was. He commanded great respect on Parliament Hill.”
Completely heartbroken by information of my buddy Michael Mostyn’s passing. Michael was energy personified when it got here to advocating for our Jewish neighborhood and his management at B’nai Brith Canada was inspiring. I’ll miss our walks and our chats and simply spending time collectively.… pic.twitter.com/OaoPbpuEW0
— Michael Levitt 🇨🇦🎗️ (@LevittMichael) February 4, 2025
Born and raised in Toronto, to folks Sheila and Alan, Mostyn studied legislation and joined his father and brother within the household legislation agency.
“And then B’nai Brith called for him and he left me, but it was a good move, I couldn’t afford him. He was a great lawyer,” his father mentioned.
He served as B’nai Brith’s nationwide director of public affairs in Ottawa from 2006 to 2010. He then joined a high-tech agency as chief strategic officer in 2012—however he quickly returned to B’nai Brith.
Because the CEO, he turned the group’s efforts to confronting antisemitism, which included inviting a politician who made adverse remarks about Jews to affix him at a kosher restaurant for dialog.
“The politician loved the food, and more importantly he became a friend and supporter of B’nai Brith,” mentioned Marty York, a veteran sports activities journalist who Mostyn employed as communications director in 2016. “Michael provided him with a clearer understanding of our community’s concerns and some of the politician’s votes would reflect what Michael outlined to him.”
Earlier than getting his profession underway, Mostyn took improv comedy courses at Second Metropolis, and frolicked finding out movie in Los Angeles, recalled his buddy Mark Arbus.
The efficiency abilities proved helpful in his CEO function, like when B’nai Brith promoted the movie Want You Weren’t Right here, which centered on the anti-Israel views of Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters.
Throughout a 2017 live performance in Toronto, Waters paused his present to name out Mostyn by title.
Mostyn was delighted, telling The CJN on the time “We’re very proud that he singled out B’nai Brith, because first of all, it means he took note of our campaign.
“He’s taking note of these film screenings that are taking place across the country, coinciding with his shows across the country, and it shows that it’s having an impact and that this campaign is very effective.”
Mostyn’s pals savoured the second as effectively, Arbus mentioned on the funeral.
“We thought it was amazing too. We still watched the video often,” Arbus mentioned, referring to the shut group of childhood and college pals who had been like a second household to Mostyn.
In his final weeks, quite a few politicians, pals and colleagues known as Mostyn to reminisce, mentioned Rabbi Moshe Steiner. A type of who known as was Conservative chief Pierre Poilievre who recalled the deft means that Mostyn managed to divert an excessively talkative stranger at a diner.
Conservatives ship our deepest condolences to the household and pals of Michael Mostyn.
Michael was a real mensch who devoted his life to combating antisemitism, together with as CEO of B’nai Brith Canada.
Might his reminiscence be a blessing.
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) February 4, 2025
Rabbi Steiner additionally recounted a name from Rabbi Chaim Mendelsohn of Chabad in Ottawa. Mostyn wished to erect a sukkah on Parliament Hill, however didn’t have any of the required permits and permissions.
Mostyn and Rabbi Mendelsohn nonetheless took boards and instruments to the Hill and had been beginning to construct a sukkah when the RCMP approached and commenced asking questions. Mostyn had such confidence, that even the RCMP started to agree {that a} sukkah might be constructed there, Rabbi Steiner mentioned.
Drawing a comparability to the Lubavitch Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson—with whom Mostyn shared a Hebrew title—Rabbi Steiner continued, “Michael had the confidence to bring Jewish pride to the public sphere in halls of power; like the Rebbe, Michael was not afraid to go against the grain and was vindicated time and again.
“Like the Rebbe, Michael had boundless faith and optimism, even when things did not appear to be good at all.
“Like the Rebbe, Michael was never too small to do big things and never too big to do small things.”
Michael Mostyn is survived by his spouse Ella, his kids, Benjy and Bella, his dad and mom Alan and Sheila; his sister, Sari Rudick and brother Matthew, and nieces and nephews.
