Jan Grabowski, the Polish Canadian historian, grapples with an extremely sensitive topic in his latest book, Whitewash: Poland And The Jews (New Jewish Press/University of Toronto). A specialist in Polish-Jewish relations during World War II, he examines the degree to which the previous right-wing government in Poland attempted to control the narrative regarding the role […]
As one Western country after another recognizes the increasingly popular but polarizing idea of Palestinian statehood, Israel takes tangible and controversial steps to sabotage it. In the past few weeks, France, Britain, Canada, Australia and Belgium have joined close to 150 countries that already have recognized a Palestinian state within the framework of a two-state […]
Israel’s audacious strike in Qatar on September 9 is one more tangible sign that it has revamped its military doctrine since Hamas’ bloody rampage on October 7, 2023. Having been caught by surprise by Hamas’ onslaught, Israel has acted preemptively and decisively to weaken its enemies in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, Iran, Syria and Yemen. […]
Alex Kurzem was a very, very unusual Holocaust survivor. He survived as a mascot in a Latvian police unit that had been implicated in the mass murder of Jews. Dan Goldberg, an Australian journalist, tells his amazing story in The Jewish Nazi?, a documentary that will be available on major digital platforms from September 12 […]
The Order of Canada, a Canadian government award that “recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation,” is given to Canadian citizens who have “enriched the lives of others, made a difference to this country,” and inspired a sense of unity among Canadians. Five years ago, Mohamad Fakih, an immigrant from […]
Although Jews comprise about one percent of Canada’s population, they have been the victims of 70 percent of recorded hate crimes in the past few years. In 2023, Statistics Canada reported a whopping 71 percent increase in antisemitic incidents over 2022. Last year, a record number of 6,219 incidents were recorded, the highest since 1982. […]
Gentrification refreshes and livens up a neighborhood, but often displaces residents who cannot afford far higher rents. Jaffa, a southern extension of Tel Aviv, finds itself exactly in this position today, judging by Jaffa: A Guide To Gentrification, a film by Osnat Trabelsi, Karen Shayou and Lavi Vanounou. It is now available on the ChaiFlicks […]
The Houthis remain undaunted and unbowed, much to Israel’s ire and frustration. This pro-Iranian, ideologically-driven, and stubborn militia in Yemen continues to fire missiles and drones at Israel despite sixteen Israeli retaliatory air and drone strikes since last summer. These have targeted critical infrastructure such as ports, power stations, oil refineries, and northern Yemen’s only […]
The United Nations has finally woken up to the reality that the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is little more than a white elephant that should be retired to pasture. Acting on this realization, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously on August 28 to terminate UNIFIL’s peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon by […]
October 7, 2023, a day of infamy when hordes of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel in an unprecedented attack, was Marsha Lederman’s “last normal night.” Lederman is a child of Holocaust survivors from Poland who grew up haunted by nightmares of being hunted by Nazis. This “ludicrous, irrational fear came to life” as Hamas gunmen wreaked […]