North Star with Ellin Bessner

This week marks one month since Islamist rebels overthrew the brutal Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and took control of the country, forcing the former president to flee for his life to Russia on Dec. 8.  Jews around the world, including in Canada, might breathe a sigh of relief at some of the new regime’s stated attitudes toward Jews and Israel. Their leader has made promising comments about not wanting to continue its war with Israel, and the ruling party has also pledged to allow people of all religions to worship freely in the war-torn country, Jews included. There’s just one problem: there are barely any left. That’s according to retired human rights advocate Judy Feld Carr. The Canadian activist has spent decades masterminding the secret exodus of Syria’s remaining Jewish population; by 2001, she had successfully smuggled out more than 3,300 Syrian Jews, including many who had been imprisoned, tortured and falsely accused of being Israeli spies. Unsurprisingly, Feld Carr has been monitoring the recent developments in Damascus, including reports about the condition of the local Jewish community’s historic buildings and the whearabouts of millions of dollars worth of looted Jewish artifacts. She joins The CJN Daily to shed light on what what life was like for Syrian Jews under the Assad regime, and why there are still some parts of her clandestine mission that can never be made public. Related links Read more from Judy Feld Carr about her rescue mission for the Jews of Syria, in The CJN archives from 2017. Why growing up Jewish in Sudbury, Ont. helped Judy Feld Carr deal with bullies, in The CJN magazine from 2022.  Watch the documentary "Miss Judy" on YouTube. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

Over the past 12 months, The CJN team has produced more than 700 podcast episodes, news stories, opinion pieces and foreign dispatches. The overwhelming theme has been the reverberation of Oct. 7: firebombed synagogues, gunshots at schools, anti-Zionist campus encampments, cancelled Jewish artists, a crackdown on Jewish charities—and more. But we always make sure our coverage balances heartache and hope. Throughout the year, we've also reported on the powerful resurgence of Jewish pride and engagement in Canada's spiritual and communal life—increased numbers of Jewish conversions, secular artists embracing their Jewish identities, solidarity across political lines—which gives us a cause for optimism, even while tense conversations about the Israel-Hamas war continue dividing families, colleagues and civil society at large. On today's episode of The CJN Daily, host Ellin Bessner assembles a team of CJN reporters from across the country to weigh in on the most talked-about stories of the past year and predict what we might expect in 2025. You'll hear from news editor Lila Sarick; Quebec correspondent Joel Ceausu; Western Canada correspondent Sam Margolis in Victoria, B.C.; staff reporter Jonathan Rothman, who covers Toronto city hall and culture pieces; Local Journalism Initiative reporter Mitch Consky, whose beat is campus life and education; and the producer of this very podcast, Zachary Kauffman. What we talked about: Read more about Indigo Books winning legal action to block the BDS movement’s effort to boycott the retailer, in The CJN. Hear the interviews with Anthony Housefather about his decision to stay in the Liberal Party, and also our interview with Ya’ara Saks on her choice to meet with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, both on The CJN Daily. Read more about Selina Robinson’s new tell-all book, in The CJN. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

Just in time for Hanukkah, comes a century-old-tale of a young Jewish boy’s courage to take on an adult’s responsibilities as chief light keeper in his Russian shtetl. It’s the true story of Ottawa’s Samuel Saslove, who stepped up to keep his community's brand new electric street lights working, at the tender age of ten. Saslove arrived in Canada in the 1920s and while he didn’t divulge much about his experiences growing up in “the old country”, his daughter, Sheila Baslaw, preserved those memories for decades. Now, at 92, Baslaw has found a whole new audience for her father’s inspiring tale of bravery and resilience. Her debut children’s book “The Light Keeper”, co-written with Karen Levine of “Hana’s Suitcase” fame, has just been published by Second Story Press and is already a Heather’s Pick at Indigo. While Baslaw’s father did have to overcome antisemitism–and the persecution of Jews in Czarist Russia that sparked mass emigration to this country in the 1900s–her book’s message deliberately highlights the universal challenges many of her young readers could face. On today’s episode of The CJN Daily, Sheila Baslaw joins along with her co-author to explain why it’s never too late to learn a new skill. What we talked about: Learn more and buy 'The Light Keeper' book at Second Story Press. Read more about Hana’s Suitcase, the true story of the Brady family, on The CJN Daily. Hear more stories about the author’s family in her oral history with the Ottawa Jewish Archives from 2001. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

High drama continues in Ottawa, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces loud calls from his own MPs and opposition leaders to step down, following the surprising resignation of his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, from cabinet. Trudeau has so far withstood the criticism, shuffling his cabinet on Dec. 20—the same day that NDP leader Jagmeet Singh confirmed he would make a no-confidence vote as soon as Parliament resumes, on Jan. 27, sparking an election that the Liberals will almost certainly lose. Amid the chaos, Jewish Canadians have been caught in the middle. Since Oct. 7, politicans' responses to the Israel-Hamas war—and the ensuring flood of violent antisemitic attacks on domestic soil—have sharply divided political parties and the public. As a result of the federal cabinet shuffle, the Montreal-area MP for Outremont, Rachel Bendayan, has been given two portfolios—official languages and associate minister for public security—and immediately revealed that she'd been tasked to convene a new national summit on antisemitism in the new year. But will the Liberal government even last that long? As 2024 comes to a close, The CJN Daily called on its political panel to reflect on the tumultuous year that was—and kvell about their predictions from their last appearance on this program. They are David Birnbaum, former Liberal MNA for the Montreal riding of D’Arcy-McGee in the Quebec National Assembly; Emma Cunningham, the former NDP riding president in Pickering-Uxbridge who quit over antisemitism, and is now a school board trustee; and Stephen Adler, a Conservative insider and senior director at National Public Relations in Toronto. What we talked about: Hear the political panel on The CJN Daily in 2023 to hear if their predictions came true. Ottawa is convening a second national antisemitism forum focused on policing and law enforcement, in The CJN. Why Canadians and Jews are turning their backs on the Liberals, on Bonjour Chai. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

Some Canadians might be excited about this season’s federal tax break—an initiative that makes certain items GST/HST-free from Dec. 14, 2024, until Feb. 15, 2025. You’ll find prepared meals, books, video games and kids’ clothing on the list. “Christmas and similar decorative trees” are also included, which includes an unexpected nod to the Jewish community: “Hanukkah trees or bushes”. The tax department’s gesture prompted many Jewish Canadians to scratch their heads. What’s a Hanukkah bush? Have you ever seen one for sale in a store? Was this a just misguided stab at being inclusive for the holiday season? The CJN tried to find someone who has actually ever bought a Hanukkah bush, but we had no luck. We did, however, find Leah Markovitch, the longtime owner of the Solly’s Bagelry chain in Vancouver. Her three bakery and deli locations also sell an array of Hanukkah merchandise each year, including dreidels, socks, candles, cookies and hanukkiyot. Notably, she has never sold an actual Hanukkah bush—because it is not a thing. And it irks her that the festive items she actually _does _sell are not tax-exempt. Markovitch joins Ellin Bessner on _The CJN Daily _to explain why the she feels the government is being ignorant and insulting to Jews, and how she’s fighting back: she’s going rogue by offering her own tax breaks on some hanukkiyot, which she’s decided to call a “Hanukkah bush”. What we talked about See the full list of GST/HST-exempt items on the Government of Canada’s website. Learn about quality Hanukkah content for kids, in The CJN archives. Why these Christmas gingerbread houses are kosher and made in Toronto, on The CJN Daily. Check out Solly’s Bagelry in Vancouver, B.C. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

On Dec. 17, Toronto's city council will consider a report on a new package of measures aimed at better protecting vulnerable community spaces—including schools, houses of worship, hospitals and community centres—that have become targeted by hateful demonstrations in the last year. And while the report doesn't specifically mention the Jewish community, the package does include $2.5 million to install protective traffic bollards and other street furniture to deter violent car-ramming attacks, which sources say was a specific request to help the downtown Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre. Since Oct. 7, 2023, Toronto police have responded to nearly 2,000 demonstrations related to the Israel-Gaza war, with more than 160 people charged for more than 400 hate crimes. Many Jewish leaders have expressed frustration that the authorities and the City haven't done more to stop these protests, where participants routinely harass and intimidate Jewish residents, business owners and passersby in Jewish neighbourhoods and elsewhere. Back in May, city council was asked to approach the province to bring in this so-called bubble legislation, which would establish a no-go zone around vulnerable spaces, but 13 councillors, along with Mayor Olivia Chow, voted it down and instead, council adopted a motion to draw up an action framework, and that is what's coming back to council on Dec 17. So what's changed between May and today? On The CJN Daily, host Ellin Bessner is joined by councillors James Pasternak, who has been prodding city staff to move, and Josh Matlow, who voted against bubble legislation back in May—but will be on side this time, even though he still thinks the bylaw doesn't solve the bigger problem. What we talked about: Read more on the proposed anti-hate measures and renewed effort to bring in so-called bubble bylaws at Toronto city council this coming week, in The CJN. Learn more about the proposed safety measures by reading the city council documents yourself, on the toronto.ca website. Why the new bubble legislation bylaw enacted by the City of Vaughan failed its first big test outside the BAYT synagogue on Dec. 9, in The CJN. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

Targeted by official complaints to their professional bodies. Doxxed on social media. Harassed for their pro-Israel views. Getting negative reviews from antisemitic or anti-Israel medical students. Being asked where their horns are. Having to hide their Jewish identities. These are just some of the hundreds of stories shared by Canadian Jewish doctors and doctors-in-training as part of a new survey on antisemitism in this country’s health system since Oct. 7. The survey was conducted this fall by the new Jewish Medical Association of Ontario (JMAO). The findings were released two weeks ago during a media conference at the Ontario Legislature in Toronto. JMAO officials say they were expecting the results to be bad, but were stunned to discover antisemitism was even worse, as they read the feedback from nearly 500 Jewish doctors who sent in detailed examples of how they have been impacted personally and professionally. The incidents happen both in the corridors of the hospitals they work in, but mostly in the university medical schools where they teach. In fact, the authors of the study say, their colleagues are quitting the classroom altogether, or retiring early, and over 30 per cent report they are considering leaving Ontario altogether. On today’s episode of The CJN Daily, host Ellin Bessner delves into the study’s findings and hears the personal experiences from the quartet of doctors behind the new survey: JMAO president Dr. Lisa Salomon, chair Dr. Ayelet Kuper, and members Dr. Barry Pakes and Dr. Karen Devon. Related links Learn more about the Jewish Medical Association of Ontario’s study and official launch. Read the Canadian Jewish doctors’ submission to Parliament about antisemitism in the medical system. Read more on the Feb. 2024 pro-Palestinian protest outside Mount Sinai hospital in Toronto, in The CJN. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

When Canada’s first emergency summit on antisemitism was held virtually on July 21, 2021, none of the attendees could have imagined that, just a couple of years later, antisemitism would reach new heights in this country and around the world. Back then, in the aftermath of a brief conflict between Israel and Hamas, the emergency summit convened federal politicians and anti-racism officials to hear from Jewish leaders who testified about their daily realities. There was never a second emergency summit. Canadian Jewish leaders didn’t push for one, not wanting to simply hear repeated platitudes. But now, following recent riots in Montreal that saw anti-NATO and anti-Israel protesters smash windows, burn cars and throw Nazi salutes, lobbying efforts are at a fever pitch to make Summit 2.0 happen soon. However, as The CJN Daily‘s Ellin Bessner learned while attending a Jewish community town hall in Montreal this week, leaders are insisting that any such forum must be tightly focused on law enforcement, an arena where they urge Canadian agencies to staunch terrorism and crack down on hate crimes. On today’s episode, we hear from Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, the prime minister’s special advisor on the Jewish community and antisemitism; Deborah Lyons, Canada’s special envoy on combatting antisemitism and preserving Holocaust remembrance; and Richard Marceau, a vice president at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. Related links Read about the first emergency antisemitism summit in July 2021, in The CJN. Read more on the House of Commons Justice Committee’s new report on antisemitism, released Dec. 10, 2024, in The CJN. When Benjamin Netanyahu’s effigy was burned during the November Montreal riots, in The CJN. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

An estimated 360,000 Canadian holiday postage stamps depicting a rare, ornate Hanukkah menorah (hanukkiah lamp) rescued from the Holocaust, are among the latest casualties of the weeks-old strike by Canada Post workers. It was a two-year effort to showcase the silver-plated hanukkiah in the shape of a peacock. The post office worked with Montreal Rabbi Lisa Gruschow of Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom and volunteer curators at her shul’s small Jewish museum. They urged the agency to select an actual piece of Judaica to grace the 2024 annual holiday stamp, rather than stylized graphics used during the previous six years’ editions. The ceremonial candle holder was produced in the 1800s likely in Poland, made its way to Austria, and somehow survived the Nazis’ Kristallnacht destruction of synagogues and homes on Nov. 9, 1938. While traces of its owners have long been lost, we know the Allies later rescued the holiday centrepiece from Nazi storerooms after the Holocaust, and it made its way to Canada after the war, where it has been part of the collection at the shul's museum for about 70 years. As Jews prepare to mark the second Hanukkah after Oct. 7, with exploding antisemitism in Canada and around the world, the team behind this year’s official stamp hope their unusually-designed hanukkiah will serve as a message of light and resilience during these dark times. (And since these are permanent stamps, you can purchase them now at some post offices, and use them anytime during the year.) On today’s episode of The CJN Daily, host Ellin Bessner went to see the real deal itself and hear the back story, with Rabbi Lisa Gruschow, and museum volunteers Louis Charbonneau and Monika Simon. Related links Read more about the 2024 stamp. Why the small Quebec town called Disraeli loves canceling your Hanukkah mail, in The CJN. How Israel’s postal service got the stag logo, from Treasure Trove’s David Matlow, in The CJN. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

With the synagogue firebombing in Australia, Israeli soccer fans being beaten in Amsterdam, and antisemitic incidents now a daily occurrence impacting Canadian schools, houses of worship, the workplace, social media, and the streets, you might wonder why anyone who isn't already Jewish would want to join "the tribe". Yet from coast to coast, since Oct. 7, rabbis of all denominations are reporting this is exactly what they are seeing: a heightened interest from people wanting to convert. At Toronto's largest Reform synagogue, Holy Blossom Temple, the conversion cohort this fall is 60 students–double the intake of the previous class. Meanwhile, Reform rabbis in Mississauga and Oakville report having to cap admissions to their conversion courses, scrambling to find rabbis to offer one-on-one instruction, and there are waiting lists. While we don't have accurate numbers nationally, anecdotally some Conservative and Orthodox rabbis tell The CJN they are also seeing similar trends. On today's episode of The CJN Daily, host Ellin Bessner sits down with three new Jews to hear their journeys and how the antisemitism unleashed Oct. 7 is a battle they are joining with eyes wide open: David Gelles, 36, a Toronto lawyer with roots in the Holocaust; Julie Moreau, a therapist in Oakville who decided to convert just after Oct. 7; and Gracia Mboko, an African-born entrepreneur in Burlington who found Jewish signposts on the ground and in the air. Related links Why Alexandria Fanjoy Silver converted twice, on The CJN Daily. Read more from Emily Caruso Parnell about the conversion process she underwent from both Orthodox and Reform pathways, in The CJN archives. How Canada’s newest converts prepared for Rosh HaShana in Kelowna, B.C. on The CJN Daily from 2021. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)