Portage-Lisgar's MP was one of about 100 parliamentarians from 40 different countries discussing the issue of anti-Semitism recently. Candice Bergen attended the three-day Berlin Conference on Combating Anti-Semitism recently. Bergen's been involved with the issue of religious freedom for quite some time, including her role in a working group to combat anti-Semitism prior to her appointment as Cabinet Minister in 2009. During the three day conference they discussed the growing issue of anti-Semitic hatred, and Bergen describes the issue as surprising, noting the issue's much more apparent in Europe, than it is here in Canada.

"Some of it is kind of surprising. Here in Canada we don't see that type of hatred. In Europe it's online, in the sports world, there's an effort called BDS, which is boycott, divest, and sanction against Israel, Jewish business,  Jewish artists, academics, sports figures."

Bergen says while relatively new, the online comments about anti-Semitism are "horrendous". She notes one of the attendees even revealed some of the hate-filled messages she had received the day she had announced she'd be coming to the conference.

"We talked a lot about online hatred, and how providers and things like Facebook and Twitter need to be looking, and when there's online hatred, especially when it's anonymously. The online world is somewhere where people think they can do things anonymously, and there needs to be a crackdown on that kind of hatred."

Bergen says they discussed more than just challenges during the conference, also looking for ways members of parliament could help tackle the issue and sharing what's been done in different countries. Bergen says she shared Canada's work to combat DBS through a recent motion in the house of commons.

"I was part of a motion recently in the house of commons that would reject some of the efforts on campuses and efforts to de-legitimize Israel, and Israel's right to exist. We have to stand up against those kinds of attitudes, we have to stand up for Israel."

She feels the best thing all countries can do to combat anti-Semitism is promoting education, and cross-culture tolerance especially among youth who may harbour feelings of resentment passed down from generations.

"Many times it starts with young people and children, and educating them to help them see that some of the old hatreds don't have to continue. (Teach them that) People can get along, even if they have different religious beliefs they can get along, and live in peace."