An injustice of epic proportion has occurred in our country, Canada, on our watch. 

A lawyer by the name of Viktor Hohots took freedom away from close to 5,000 Roma refugees to Canada. Three of those individuals were Josezf, Timea and Lulu Pusuma. Like the other 5,000, the Pusumas are no longer in Canada. Their whereabouts are not for public consumption, but suffice it to say, they are not feeling safe. 

According to a report I received from Rev. Alexa Gilmour, the minister of Toronto's Windermere Church, where the Pusumas found sanctuary for 18 months, “On March 2 of this year, the Law Society made a finding of professional misconduct after Mr. Hohots had officially admitted to them all of the major accusations against him made by the Pusumas and several other refugees who had filed complaints against him.” 

Rev. Gilmour shared with me a message from the sanctuary committee and a multifaith group, all of whom fought on behalf of the Pusumas, that now all that remains for the Law Society of Upper Canada is to decide how to punish or discipline Hohots “for his misconduct and inadequate representation of some of society’s most vulnerable people.” 

In a March 3 story on CBC Radio’s Metro Morning in Toronto, Rev. Gilmour spoke about the Pusumas’ plight and how the law society took three years to bring Hohots to justice. Similarly, Andrew Brouwer, the Pusumas’ current lawyer spoke about the travesty committed by Hohots and how it is incumbent on Canadian society, and particularly the Canadian government, to now allow the Pusumas back into Canada. 

A March 2 Toronto Star article about this case reported about the government’s disappointing response. Rather than commending the Pusuma family for testifying against Hohots, Stephen Harper’s government condemned them for seeking sanctuary. Hohots would likely have continued to operate in a fraudulent manner if not for the Pusumas’ testimony.

Rev. Gilmour’s message to me continued, “It is a good day for justice, which we celebrate even as our hearts break knowing how many lost their right to live in a safe country because of this lawyer’s greedy misconduct. May today’s victory encourage and inspire all who believe a kinder and more just world is possible.”

The Roma walked hand-in-hand with our people, the Jewish People, in Auschwitz. Adolf Hitler hated them as much as he hated us. Today they are besieged by neo-Nazis and many “good” Europeans once again. They are without a homeland and are considered “none is too many” by our Canadian government. The percentage of Roma coming into Canada is down to one per cent of what it was. Why?

Yet, when I approached a number of people of influence in our community to help the Pusumas, a Roma family who were hiding in a church, most of them dismissed the need. They weakly argued in favour of Harper’s refugee policies, having no real understanding of its nuances. Why? 

I know full well in my blood that Israel is paramount to the security of the Jewish People. I would die for Israel. Yet I ask, when will we begin caring once again about the needs of the “stranger,” the most vulnerable among us, like the Roma, who are simply not welcome in our country anymore? 

Do we live and die for Jewish nationalism at the expense of all other Jewish obligations? 

If you feel so inclined, now would be a good time to write a letter, send an email or make a phone call to your MP and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, asking them to bring the Pusumas back, now that their story has been proven true. 

Chag Samayach. Freedom is not just for us. Happy Pesach.