North Star with Ellin Bessner

While RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucki has been in the hot seat all summer, facing an inquiry into the mass shooting that struck Nova Scotia in 2020, she's also been quietly working on another project with a huge impact on Canadian Jews. For the first time in the history of the RCMP, Jewish members and cadets will be permitted to wear a kippah while on duty. It began with a request—which was denied—from a Jewish officer in B.C. to wear the Jewish head covering. B'nai Brith's human rights arm got involved, snowballing into an official move by the federal police to match what they'd already done for turbans and hijabs: pay for the design and creation of a regulation RCMP kippah. While we won't see it for a while, in the interim, Jewish staff can bring their own. Marvin Rotrand, the director of B'nai Brith Canada's League for Human Rights, joins to discuss what went on behind the scenes of this groundbreaking move for Canada's national police. What we talked about: Read about how police forces in Ontario and Vancouver agreed to allow officers to wear kippot Read about Toronto's new antisemitism program Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Production assistance by Gabrielle Nadler and YuZhu Mou. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

When Vancouver's current Jewish community centre opened in Oakridge in 1962, the local community numbered about 8,000. Today, Vancouver's Jewish community is the third largest in Canada and nearly twice as big as it was back then—about 14,000 people. But the JCC is used by more than just Jews, with about 40,000 regular visitors. That's why the campus is undergoing one of the most expensive renovations for a Jewish building project Canada has ever seen. With two phases costing a total of $450 million over 10 years, the new site, dubbed JWest, will eventually be home to 20 Jewish agencies, a new Holocaust education centre, a library, a performing arts theatre, a daycare and 500 affordable rental units. While various governments have so far contributed the bulk of the funds, organizers are turning to Vancouverites to pitch in the remainder, to the tune of $125 million for starters. To discuss the scope and hopes of this project, we're joined by Alex Cristall, head of the JWest campaign; Eldad Goldfarb, head of the current JCCGV; and Ezra Shanken, CEO of Vancouver's Federation. What we talked about: Watch the video announcing JWest and visit their website Read The CJN's coverage from June 2022 Join The CJN Circle Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Production assistance by Gabrielle Nadler and YuZhu Mou. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

At 98, Alex Polowin, one of Canada's most prominent Second World War veterans, passed away at his home in Ottawa. He was the last surviving veteran of HMCS Huron, who, after the war, spoke regularly to thousands of people across Canada and Europe about his experience as a 17-year-old Jew fighting Nazis. He saw action on D-Day and served in the Soviet Union and Northern Scotland; he helped sink a German battleship; and he even charmed political leaders, including Queen Elizabeth, with his gentle humour and harmonica skills. In his twilight years, he became good friends with The CJN Daily's own Ellin Bessner. The two forged a bond, particularly during the pandemic, which isolated Polowin, alone, in his home. On today's episode, Ellin remembers Alex Polowin's life and accomplishments, and you'll hear from a few family members—as well as former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole, who worked closely with Polowin, and spoke at his funeral in mid-August. What we talked about: Watch Alex Polowin play “Lili Marleen” for the Ottawa Jewish Historical Society Read "Ottawa Jewish war veteran awarded Canada’s Sovereign Medal for Volunteers" Read "The Toronto Board of Rabbis calls on Benjamin’s funeral home owners to ‘uphold their sacred responsibilities’ after complaints" Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Production assistance by Gabrielle Nadler and YuZhu Mou. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

This week, the families of the 11 Israeli athletes who were murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics have finally earned a formal apology by the German president, also reaching an agreement over compensation. The deal comes after months of some victims' family members threatening to boycott the 50th anniversary event, being held on Sept. 5 in Munich. The news is a relief for Francine Zuckerman, a Canadian filmmaker who spent years shooting a documentary about four women involved in the Munich massacre and its aftermath. Her film, After Munich, directly follows some of the women struggling to get exactly what the German government only now has offered: compensation and a formal apology. After Munich debuted in 2019, but because of the pandemic, it never got a global release. Now, on the eve of the tragedy's 50th anniversary, Zuckerman has been touring the world giving talks and screenings. She joins our show to discuss her film and the important lessons still being learned today. What we talked about: Watch _After Munich_ on CBC Gem Listen to _The CJN Daily_ episode about Laith Marouf Read The CJN's coverage of _After Munich_ from 2019 Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Production assistance by Gabrielle Nadler and YuZhu Mou. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

Fifteen years ago, Alexandre Matte was working in finance, running a Francophone cultural centre. He admits he was pretty shy. Then he joined a Toastmasters club in Sudbury and began learning how to speak more confidently in public. He ended up quitting his job to make a living as a professional storyteller and speaking coach for kids and adults. On top of this career shift, one of his goals has been to win the World Championship of Public Speaking, Toastmasters' international public-speaking contest. This month, he came as close as he's ever gotten, finishing second with a story about his grandmother's "no bake cake" and his family's traditions. Matte joins the show from his home in Sudbury to tell us more about his Jewish and Francophone roots—and how he got the idea for his prize-winning speech. What we talked about: Watch his winning speech Visit his website at alexandrematte.ca Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Production assistance by Gabrielle Nadler and YuZhu Mou. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

When 500 members of the Kuklya family got together in England a few years ago for their first-ever reunion, the story got a lot of international attention. They were all descendants of the same man, Aba Kukla, who lived in a tiny village in Lithuania in the late 1700s. He had nine sons and a few daughters, and each went on to produce huge families of their own, creating a sprawling family tree that, only now, with the advent of DNA testing, can be fully grasped. Despite hundreds of their relatives being wiped out in the Holocaust, the Kuklyas believe they are now part of the largest documented Ashkenazi family in the world, with 75,000 relatives and counting—including some pretty famous cousins, such as Barbara Streisand, Bob Dylan, Bette Midler and Billy Crystal. There are also Kuklya cousins in Canada, including Ralph Cilevitz in Toronto. At a recent family gathering in New York City, he was the only Canadian present, but knew he couldn't be the only Canadian relative. So he's since made it his mission to track them down—and look for others even farther abroad. What we talked about: Watch the BBC documentary on the family Read the _Jewish Insider_ story Learn about Ashkenaz at ashkenaz.ca Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Production assistance by Gabrielle Nadler and YuZhu Mou. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

A few weeks ago, we brought you the story of Raziel and Jeanne Zisman, a Toronto family who lost their only child, Liam, in January. Before his funeral, the Zismans agreed to use the Benjamin Foundation, a charity arm of the Benjamin Group that collects memorial donations to later disperse among charities selected by the family. The Zismans discovered that the Foundation took 10 per cent of the donations for administrative fees. The family ended up taking the funeral home to provincial court, and they lodged a complaint with the Bereavement Authority of Ontario. Since that episode aired, numerous other Benjamin's clients have come forth with similar stories. The CJN Daily also learned of a months-old case, settled in April 2022, in which Benjamin's was forced to repay 258 clients a total of more than $75,000 for "inappropriate" extra COVID fees and transfer costs during the pandemic. Now, the BAO is giving Benjamin's an ultimatum. The provincial licensing body wants Benjamin's to clean up its act, or risk sanctions—which could include suspension or even revoking the company’s license. David Brazeau, the BAO's communications manager, joins to discuss several years' worth of complaints lodged against Benjamin's. Plus, you'll hear from three Toronto families with their own stories—as well as what Michael Benjamin himself has to say. What we talked about: Listen to the first episode of this investigation, "For nearly 40 years, Benjamin’s charity foundation has been keeping 10% of donations—until a family sued" Read Ellin's print story, "How this grieving Toronto family took on Canada’s largest Jewish funeral home and won" Read Ellin's follow-up story, "Benjamin’s charitable foundation ordered to refund ‘administration fees’ to potentially hundreds of clients" Read the BAO's decisions at thebao.ca Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Production assistance by Gabrielle Nadler and YuZhu Mou. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

In December 2021, at a Toronto District School Board meeting, Alexandra Lulka Rotman made a rare public statement after being accused by the TDSB of breaking their code of conduct. The story began in May, 2021, when a pro-Palestinian TDSB staff member sent out teaching materials that linked to sources supporting anti-Israel terrorist activities, including suicide bombings. Lulka Rotman subsequently spoke out against those materials—and wound up the subject of an internal TDSB report labelling her Islamophobic, and suggesting she be censured. Since then, that TDSB meeting in December was the only time she spoke openly about the fiasco. The trustees voted in her favour, deciding not to censure her. But the ordeal has weighed heavily on her since then, to the point that she hasn't felt comfortable talking about it—until now. In her first-ever media interview, Lulka Rotman joins The CJN Daily to describe what the last year has been like for her, how antisemitism is seeping into classrooms and why, despite all of this, she's decided to run for re-election. What we talked about: Listen to _The CJN Daily_ episode on Lulka Rotman's case from December 2021 Read "Montreal’s deteriorating YM-YWHA building gets pledged $7.9M in federal funding" How to subscribe to _The CJN Daily_ Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Production assistance by Gabrielle Nadler and YuZhu Mou. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

While summertime is usually quiet for news, The CJN's obit department (which is mostly veteran reporter Ron Csillag) has been busy at work covering some of the biggest losses in the Canadian Jewish community. In the third part of our recurring segment, The CJN Daily Dead Beat, Ellin and Ron sit down to discuss the lives of six prominent Canadian Jews: Max Eisen, one of the country's most famous Holocaust survivors and educators; historian Irving Abella, whose seminal work, None is Too Many, defined Canada's disgraceful past attitudes towards Jews; Rabbi Dow Marmur, who spent 17 years as spiritual leader of Toronto’s Holy Blossom Temple; memoirist and survivor Leslie Vertes; Clayton Ruby, a lawyer who dedicated his career to social justice; and Mel Hoppenheim, known as "Mr. Hollywood North". Read and listen to The CJN's original obituaries and tributes: ‘I must tell the world what happened’: Max Eisen, in his own words ‘A better Canada because of him’: Tributes pour in at the funeral for renowned historian Irving Abella Obituary: Rabbi Dow Marmur, 87, led Toronto’s Holy Blossom Temple—and described himself as having lived six lives Obituary: Mel Hoppenheim, 84, was a Canadian film industry pioneer known as ‘Mr. Hollywood North’ Eulogy: Clayton Ruby, 80, a lawyer who led a half-century battle for justice and equality Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Production assistance by Gabrielle Nadler and YuZhu Mou. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

The World Zionist Congress turns 125 this week. The international organization bills itself as a kind of global Jewish parliament, setting policies for major Israeli institutions and allocating more than a billion dollars a year to support them. Usually, the delegates meet every five years in Israel; this Sunday, August 28, however, they'll be meeting in Basel, Switzerland, where Theodor Herzl convened the very first iteration of the congress in 1897. The World Zionist Organization is holding two days of events in Basel to mark what's being called the most significant Zionist gathering this decade, featuring leading speakers such as Israel's president and Canadians Gil Troy, Sylvan Adams and Danna Azrieli. Given the weight of the event, it's no surprise that David Matlow, the world's leading collector of Herzl memorabilia and a regular CJN contributor, is heading to Basel to attend. Matlow joins the show to give a taste of what the first Congress was like and what challenges still face Zionists today. What we talked about: Learn about the 125th anniversary See David Matlow's collection from the 1897 Zionist Congress Monday's episode on the Laith Marouf scandal How to subscribe to our podcast Credits The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Production assistance by Gabrielle Nadler and YuZhu Mou. Our theme music is by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We're a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.