I have been monitoring Neil Oberman’s work for a while now.
And honestly, if any lawyer deserves a Jewish Defense Medal, it is him.
The first time I heard about Neil Oberman was when he took legal action against Montreal4Palestine and other activist groups through an injunction that forced protests away from Jewish institutions.
That moment stood out to me because it was not just another speech.
Not another statement.
Not another empty condemnation.
It was action.
It was the law being used to protect Jewish life.
Oberman, a Montreal litigation lawyer and partner at Spiegel Ryan, has more than 25 years of experience in civil and commercial disputes, with a focus on public injunctions.
He has appeared before Québec courts, including the Court of Québec, the Superior Court, and the Quebec Court of Appeal.
But what makes him important today is not only his legal résumé.
It is the way he has used his skills during a time when Jewish institutions, students, and families have felt increasingly exposed.
The injunction that made people notice
In March 2024, Oberman brought an injunction on behalf of Federation CJA and the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue after protests targeted Jewish community spaces in Montreal.
The injunction restricted demonstrations within 50 metres of several Jewish institutions, including synagogues, schools, and community buildings.
The case later expanded to protect more Jewish institutions across Montreal.
That matters.
Because Jewish schools are not military bases.
Synagogues are not foreign embassies.
Community centres are not battlegrounds.
They are places where Jewish families pray, learn, gather, and live.
When activists decide to bring intimidation to those spaces, the issue is no longer just political protest.
It becomes a question of public safety, dignity, and whether Jewish people are allowed to exist in peace.
He went to court
This is where Neil Oberman’s work becomes powerful.
He did not just complain about the situation.
He did not wait for institutions to find the perfect words.
He went to court.
He used the legal system.
He forced the issue into a place where slogans are not enough and evidence matters.
That is what real defense looks like.
Oberman has also testified before Parliament about antisemitism, describing himself as a frontline attorney who had to go to court to protect Jewish students and members of the community.
His message was simple and serious:
The law matters, but it must also be respected and enforced.
Why his work deserves recognition
This is exactly why his work deserves recognition.
In a time when antisemitism is often explained away, minimized, or buried under political excuses, Oberman chose clarity.
He understood that the right to protest does not include the right to harass Jews at their schools, synagogues, and community institutions.
He understood that freedom of expression cannot become a shield for intimidation.
Some people may dislike his methods.
Some may call him too aggressive.
But maybe that is exactly why he is effective.
There are moments when polite statements are not enough.
There are moments when a community needs lawyers who are willing to file, fight, argue, and push back.
Oberman became one of those lawyers.
Legal courage is also Jewish defense
For me, watching his work has been important because it shows that Jewish defense is not only done by soldiers, politicians, or activists.
Sometimes it is done by a lawyer with documents, court orders, and the courage to make institutions answer for their failures.
That is why I believe Neil Oberman deserves recognition.
He talks loudly because silence is not an option.
He seeks comfort for the community by confronting pressure directly.
He defends more than an abstract idea.
He has defended real Jewish institutions, real Jewish students, and real Jewish families in Montreal.
The medal
If there were a Jewish Defense Medal for legal courage in Canada, Neil Oberman should be one of the first names considered.
Because when the Jewish community needed action, he did not stay quiet.
He went to court.