Category Opinion

Positive Jewish leaders online

It’s hard not to doom scroll lately, but I’ve been heartened by watching Jewish leaders take centre stage via social media. These are bright spots in a difficult time. Here are a few to Google and follow. I’ve learned a…

Ukraine in the balance

At our press time, the people of Ukraine were waiting, as they have for weeks, to see what fate has in store for them. Vladimir Putin, the Russian despot, has been threatening to invade the country – again. Under Putin,…

We all have our limitations

This month, Jewish communities across North America take time to recognize and celebrate one of the world’s largest and often overlooked minorities: persons with disabilities. Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month (JDAIM) was launched by a Jewish educational consortium in…

New lessons in everything

All over social media, we’re reminded to “Learn something new each day!” Even before the internet, I remember similar aphorisms – and then “Heck, if you’re lucky, learn two!” Attached to these reminders was the message that each experience and,…

Grateful for ability to play

photo - Six members of the 35th Street Gang, with the author second from the left in the back row

Six members of the 35th Street Gang, with the author second from the left in the back row. (photo from Cassandra Freeman) Sheena and I don’t recall why we were trying to measure the house with a ball of string.…

When to call in, call out

photo - Image from the truckers' protest in Ottawa

Truckers and others ostensibly contesting government pandemic responses have laid siege to downtown Ottawa. In reality, the protesters seem to have a panoply of grievances, many of which manifest as antisemitic, racist, sexist and just plain obnoxious. Those noxious traits…

On safety, listen to your gut

Last week, I received an email, out of the blue, from a Canadian media research company. A part of its business model involves scraping writers and journalists’ internet data, putting it into a public database, and then “enabl[ing] PR professionals…

A blind view of terror

photo - Another violent attack on a North American synagogue, this one in Texas, has undermined the feelings of security among Jewish people everywhere

Another violent attack on a North American synagogue, this one in Texas, has undermined the feelings of security among Jewish people everywhere. It is important to see the incident in perspective. Thankfully, the rabbi and three other hostages survived the…

Sadly, not a new experience

Some of us are likely struggling to recover from the hostage-taking event at Congregation Beth Israel in Texas, along with pandemic stress. Perhaps most stressful is that we know a synagogue invasion could happen anywhere, during any service. Most of…