Voters should not have to think about foreign policy when deciding whom to elect as mayor, councilor, school trustee or MLA. Civic and provincial elections should not be venues for conducting foreign affairs. These orders of government have no responsibility…
British Columbians head to the polls twice this month, choosing local governments, school boards and some other offices on Oct. 17 and a provincial government on Oct. 24. The Jewish Independent was already immersed in preparing municipal election coverage when…
Lawyers often describe how test cases work to define the boundaries in our laws. Politicians who create laws often go “back to the drawing board” when a piece of legislation is poorly written. Loopholes can still exist, so some people…
So, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu recently made his 15th address at the United Nations General Assembly. I get excited with every speech, preparing some lightly buttered popcorn and comfortably settling in front of the TV for some high-stakes geopolitical…
As Jewish communities complete the cycle of the High Holy Days, we emerge from a period devoted to an accounting of the soul: reflection on the year that has passed, acknowledgment of failures, repentance, reconciliation and, ultimately, the possibility of…
As I write this, social media bombards me with 9/11 imagery as we mourn and memorialize what happened 25 years ago. Jews also have the High Holidays and then Oct. 7 to commemorate and mourn through Yizkor and memorials. The…
Rosh Hashanah is an exercise in audacity. We enter a new year conscious of everything that remains unresolved. We take stock, confront what we have done and failed to do. The very idea of a new year carries an implicit…
I took my twin teenagers to the pediatrician’s office for a checkup on a Friday morning. When they were born, we three had complicated health issues. We were “frequent flyers” when it came to medical appointments. Things have improved but…
The Hebrew Bible tells a story about the prophet Jeremiah that holds relevant lessons for our daily lives. When the city of Jerusalem was besieged by enemies intent on its destruction, Jeremiah bought some land in the area from his…
As students prepare to the return to classes in the coming days, there appears to be a growing public awareness that Canadian campuses are unwelcoming places for Jewish and pro-Israel students. This is hardly breaking news. Anyone who is a…
