Quebec Confidential As membership dwindled and the average age of congregants dropped to about 75, the writing was on the wall for the Orthodox Young Israel of Chomedey Congregation in Laval, Quebec’s second largest city just across the bridge from Montreal. “We had talked about selling the building for years,” said Chairman George Finkelstein, a […]
Young Israel of Chomedey Adjusts to Life in A New Home Read More »
In some 48 hours, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. His administration has already signalled a dramatic shift from policies introduced under soon-to-be former President Barack Obama, spanning issues such as healthcare, Iran, international trade, the United Nations, and perhaps most vocally, Israel. Of course, politicians aligned
Kerry is Dead Wrong When it Comes to Settlements Read More »
Though my ancestry makes me Jewish and I have family members who are observant, I myself have never been a practicing member of the Jewish community. I write for B’nai Brith Canada as it helps me learn about my family’s roots and because I’m fundamentally opposed to any kind of hatred, so I’m proud to
A Swastika in the Snow: What I Got for Defending the Jewish Community Read More »
Congregation Adath Israel – based out of the Montreal island suburb of Hampstead – is standing by its spiritual leader, Rabbi Michael Whitman, after a barrage of social media attacks were directed against him by the synagogue’s former cantor, Shmuel Levin. On Jan. 1, 2017, Cantor Levin released a YouTube video in which he made
Former Cantor Accused of Extortion by Montreal Synagogue Read More »
Canadian Jews, as do all minority ethnic groups, possess the right to work together as an identifiable group to build and advance a community. In an advanced multicultural democracy like Canada, one would imagine that such a right would never come under attack. Yet, this is exactly the purpose of Montreal “activist” Yves Engler’s op-ed,
In Defence of Jewish and Israeli Studies in Canada Read More »
Two weeks ago, I wrote about now former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s 11th-hour admission that the UN has spent a decade passing “a disproportionate number of resolutions, reports, and committees against Israel.” Mere days later, the UN Security Council approved what has been described as the most severe resolution it has yet to pass against Israel.
Here’s Hoping the New UN Secretary-General is More Diplomatic Read More »
It is truly astounding that the issue of “settlements” – a politically loaded term used for Israeli residential planning and development in ancestral Judea and Samaria – has dominated the discussion on Israel and the Palestinian Territories. With the recent United Nations condemnation of said settlements, and Obama’s refusal to veto such a childish resolution,
“Settlements” Are Not The Problem Read More »
Conventional wisdom holds that the first step to resolving a conflict is admitting that there is a problem. Last week, in his final address to the UN Security Council, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon did just that when he conceded that, “Decades of political maneuvering have created a disproportionate number of resolutions, reports and committees against
Finally Admitting the UN’s Anti-Israel Bias Read More »
Quebec Confidential Founded in 1977, Chez Doris is a day shelter for vulnerable women living in Montreal, offering a safe environment for up to 100 women every day. The shelter is open seven days a week and provides women with various essentials such as breakfast and lunch, access to showers, hygienic products, emergency food bags, respite beds, custodial
B’nai Brith Canada Gives the Ladies of Chez Doris a Boost Read More »
Editor’s Note: On Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, the Toronto Star published an editorial written by Dr. Yousef Jabareen, a Palestinian member of the Israeli Knesset, with the headline “What Israel Can Learn From Canada.” The following is a response to Dr. Jabareen from Ryan Bellerose, B’nai Brith Canada’s Advocacy Coordinator of Western Canada. Dear Dr. Jabareen, I recently read
On Canada, Israel and Indigenous Peoples – An Open Letter to Dr. Yousef Jabareen Read More »