The Calgary Stampede, winding down this week, is about more than Stetson hats and corn dogs. The annual festival creates an opportunity for Albertans of all backgrounds to come together over bull-riding rodeos, country music shows and pancake breakfasts. And this is certainly true for Jewish Albertans, whose community can trace it roots deep into the origins of the Wild Rose Country. On this week's episode of Bonjour Chai, David Sklar takes a deep dive into his adopted home's Jewish universe. He's assembled an expert panel on the past, present and future of Southern Albertan Judaism, featuring Judy Shapiro, a retired journalist and Jewish community professional; Harry Sanders, a director at the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta; and Danielle Braitman, director of engagement programming at the Calgary Jewish Federation. Then, David visits Irena Karshenbaum of the "Little Synagogue on the Prairie", a 100-year-old shul recently relocated to Calgary's Heritage Park, and we'll hear clips from a Sunday morning kosher Stampede pancake breakfast, held by the Calgary JCC and House of Jacob Mikveh Israel. What we talked about  Learn more about the Little Synagogue on the Prairie Visit the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta Find local events and programs hosted by the Calgary Jewish Federation Listen to the full song "Hello Calgary"  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

The Calgary Stampede, winding down this week, is about more than Stetson hats and corn dogs. The annual festival creates an opportunity for Albertans of all backgrounds to come together over bull-riding rodeos, country music shows and pancake breakfasts. And this is certainly true for Jewish Albertans, whose community can trace it roots deep into the origins of the Wild Rose Country. On this week's episode of Bonjour Chai, David Sklar takes a deep dive into his adopted home's Jewish universe. He's assembled an expert panel on the past, present and future of Southern Albertan Judaism, featuring Judy Shapiro, a retired journalist and Jewish community professional; Harry Sanders, a director at the Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta; and Danielle Braitman, director of engagement programming at the Calgary Jewish Federation. Then, David visits Irena Karshenbaum of the "Little Synagogue on the Prairie", a 100-year-old shul recently relocated to Calgary's Heritage Park, and we'll hear clips from a Sunday morning kosher Stampede pancake breakfast, held by the Calgary JCC and House of Jacob Mikveh Israel. What we talked about <ul> <li>Learn more about the <a href="https://thecjn.ca/perspectives/little-shul-on-the-prairie/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Little Synagogue on the Prairie</a></li> <li>Visit the <a href="https://jhssa.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jewish Historical Society of Southern Alberta</a></li> <li>Find local events and programs hosted by the <a href="https://www.jewishcalgary.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Calgary Jewish Federation</a></li> <li>Listen to the full song "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA5VnKimBRs" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hello Calgary</a>"</li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Putting the 'Oy' in Cowboy

It's a trend extending beyond Jewry, beyond Canada, but persists in our nation nonetheless: younger people are donating less than their parents' generation, and when they do get involved in philanthropy, they're doing it differently. Several Jewish organizations have taken up the mantle to try and engage younger donors, and this week, an episode of The CJN Daily spotlit the recent Canadian expansion of the Jewish Future Pledge, which aims to get Jews to promise a certain percentage of charitable donations in their wills to Jewish causes. To better understand the realities of giving Jewishly, we're joined by two organizers in the space: Mark Silberman is the chair of the Jewish Future Pledge in Atlanta, and Danielle Segal is the program director for Honeycomb, a resource for Jewish youth philanthropy.  Plus, recurring guest David Koffman speaks about the life and impact of the late Irving Abella, who passed away this week, and our weekly nachas segment gives a shout-out the Jewish connections to the new Minions movie.  What we talked about  Listen to The CJN Daily episode about the Jewish Future Pledge's expansion in Canada  Learn about Honeycomb at jfunders.org/honeycomb  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

It's a trend extending beyond Jewry, beyond Canada, but persists in our nation nonetheless: younger people are donating less than their parents' generation, and when they do get involved in philanthropy, they're doing it differently. Several Jewish organizations have taken up the mantle to try and engage younger donors, and this week, an episode of The CJN Daily spotlit the recent Canadian expansion of the Jewish Future Pledge, which aims to get Jews to promise a certain percentage of charitable donations in their wills to Jewish causes. To better understand the realities of giving Jewishly, we're joined by two organizers in the space: Mark Silberman is the chair of the Jewish Future Pledge in Atlanta, and Danielle Segal is the program director for Honeycomb, a resource for Jewish youth philanthropy. Plus, recurring guest David Koffman speaks about the life and impact of the late Irving Abella, who passed away this week, and our weekly nachas segment gives a shout-out the Jewish connections to the new Minions movie. What we talked about <ul> <li>Listen to The CJN Daily episode about the <a href="https://thecjn.ca/podcasts/a-new-philanthropic-initiative-asks-wealthy-canadians-to-donate-half-their-posthumous-charitable-givings-to-jewish-causes-but-the-uptake-is-slow/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jewish Future Pledge's expansion in Canada</a> </li> <li>Learn about Honeycomb at <a href="https://www.jfunders.org/honeycomb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">jfunders.org/honeycomb</a></li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

None is Not Enough

To celebrate Canada Day, we have a special audio feast of Canadiana lined up.  First up, we chat with a recent immigrant from Israel to Montreal, Shauli, who moved here with his partner and their toddler in November to find work and a better life as a gay couple; then we're joined by Yoni Goldstein, editor and publisher of The CJN, to discuss the state of Canadian Jewry and how one of the biggest Canadian Jewish stories—the death of Julia Koschitzky—reveals a lot about who we are as a community.  Lastly, we've got a jumbo-sized nachas segment of our favourite books, songs and movies from the last few years in Canadian Jewish life. Happy Canada Day! Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

To celebrate Canada Day, we have a special audio feast of Canadiana lined up. First up, we chat with a recent immigrant from Israel to Montreal, Shauli, who moved here with his partner and their toddler in November to find work and a better life as a gay couple; then we're joined by Yoni Goldstein, editor and publisher of The CJN, to discuss the state of Canadian Jewry and how one of the biggest Canadian Jewish stories—the death of Julia Koschitzky—reveals a lot about who we are as a community. Lastly, we've got a jumbo-sized nachas segment of our favourite books, songs and movies from the last few years in Canadian Jewish life. Happy Canada Day! Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

As Canadian as Possible, Under the Circumstances

Last week's episode about the state and ethics of kosher food drummed up a lot of responses from our listeners—so many, in fact, we decided to run a spiritual sequel of sorts this week.  Montreal's Vaad Ha'ir, the organization responsible for MK kosher supervision, launched a new initiative justifying the high cost of kosher meat in the city. But Avi wasn't impressed by what he saw as propaganda, as he noticed inconsistencies and assumptions in their argument's details. To better understand the whole story, he decided to bring in Steven Lapidus, a professor at Concordia University and expert in Montreal's kosher scene.  Plus, in response to a reader's question about Jewish hot spots to visit in Montreal, we're launching a summer travel series. This week, all three hosts share their insider tips as to the best places to eat and explore in the city.  What we talked about  Read the Vaad Ha'ir's kosher explainer at priceofkoshermeatmtl.com  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

Last week's episode about the state and ethics of kosher food drummed up a lot of responses from our listeners—so many, in fact, we decided to run a spiritual sequel of sorts this week. Montreal's Vaad Ha'ir, the organization responsible for MK kosher supervision, launched a new initiative justifying the high cost of kosher meat in the city. But Avi wasn't impressed by what he saw as propaganda, as he noticed inconsistencies and assumptions in their argument's details. To better understand the whole story, he decided to bring in Steven Lapidus, a professor at Concordia University and expert in Montreal's kosher scene. Plus, in response to a reader's question about Jewish hot spots to visit in Montreal, we're launching a summer travel series. This week, all three hosts share their insider tips as to the best places to eat and explore in the city. What we talked about <ul> <li>Read the Vaad Ha'ir's kosher explainer at <a href="https://100yearstogether.com/price-of-meat.html#book/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">priceofkoshermeatmtl.com</a></li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

The Kosher Empire Strikes Back

Kosher has been in the news a lot lately. A restaurant in Hamilton came under strutiny because the rabbi that certified its kosher status wasn't Orthodox; in Toronto, the popular Slice N Bites restaurant was asked to stop seating customers on Saturday nights because too many teens were using it as a hangout spot; and in the U.S., a restaurant had its certification pulled after its owner, Shalom Yehudiel, was charged with sexually abusing a minor.  With these stories fresh in our minds, we're dedicating the whole episode to kosher conundrums: the politics, ethics and decision-making that goes into keeping, certifying and even justifying the current state of kosher. Our three hosts come from very different stances on these issues, and invite Richard Rabkin, the managing director of the Kashruth Council of Canada (COR), to help navigate the waters.  Plus, chef and entrepreneur Zane Caplansky pops in to explain his own frustrating kosher odyssey, while our weekly Word of Wisdom comes from Rabbah Aliza Libman Baronofsky and Rabbah Amy Newman, who both graduated from Yeshivat Maharat this week.  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

Kosher has been in the news a lot lately. A restaurant in Hamilton came under strutiny because the rabbi that certified its kosher status wasn't Orthodox; in Toronto, the popular Slice N Bites restaurant was asked to stop seating customers on Saturday nights because too many teens were using it as a hangout spot; and in the U.S., a restaurant had its certification pulled after its owner, Shalom Yehudiel, was charged with sexually abusing a minor. With these stories fresh in our minds, we're dedicating the whole episode to kosher conundrums: the politics, ethics and decision-making that goes into keeping, certifying and even justifying the current state of kosher. Our three hosts come from very different stances on these issues, and invite Richard Rabkin, the managing director of the Kashruth Council of Canada (COR), to help navigate the waters. Plus, chef and entrepreneur Zane Caplansky pops in to explain his own frustrating kosher odyssey, while our weekly Word of Wisdom comes from Rabbah Aliza Libman Baronofsky and Rabbah Amy Newman, who both graduated from Yeshivat Maharat this week. Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

You Are What You Eat

Over recent years, the Jewish community has grown from merely being aware of queer Jews to standing where we are today: leaders and activists in almost every denomination are working to actively include queer Jews in Jewish law and practice. Queer and nonbinary Jews no longer settle for pointing out their existence and right to be included; they're crafting narratives that explain how deeply and intricarely their queerness and Judaism are intertwined.  To dissect these issues and share their personal stories, we're joined by two inaugural members of the Queer Jewish Incubator, a new project run by the Miles Nadal JCC in downtown Toronto. Sadie Epstein-Fine is working on a play about one of Tevye's daughters being queer, and Toby King is gathering and archiving information about queer-Jewish wedding ceremonies to examine the various ways in which those couples celebrate their love. After that, you'll hear an excerpt from The CJN's podcast Rivkush, in which host Rivka Campbell interviews Michael Twitty, the award-winning cookbook author, chef and voice for social justice, who describes life at the intersection of being Black, Jewish and gay.   What we talked about  Learn about the Miles Nadal JCC's Queer Jewish Incubator Visit Sadie Epstein-Fine's website at sadieepsteinfine.com Contribute to Queering the Jewish Wedding Listen to the full interview with Michael Twitty on _Rivkush_  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

Over recent years, the Jewish community has grown from merely being aware of queer Jews to standing where we are today: leaders and activists in almost every denomination are working to actively include queer Jews in Jewish law and practice. Queer and nonbinary Jews no longer settle for pointing out their existence and right to be included; they're crafting narratives that explain how deeply and intricarely their queerness and Judaism are intertwined. To dissect these issues and share their personal stories, we're joined by two inaugural members of the Queer Jewish Incubator, a new project run by the Miles Nadal JCC in downtown Toronto. Sadie Epstein-Fine is working on a play about one of Tevye's daughters being queer, and Toby King is gathering and archiving information about queer-Jewish wedding ceremonies to examine the various ways in which those couples celebrate their love. After that, you'll hear an excerpt from The CJN's podcast Rivkush, in which host Rivka Campbell interviews Michael Twitty, the award-winning cookbook author, chef and voice for social justice, who describes life at the intersection of being Black, Jewish and gay. What we talked about <ul> <li>Learn about the Miles Nadal JCC's <a href="https://www.mnjcc.org/qji" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Queer Jewish Incubator</a></li> <li>Visit Sadie Epstein-Fine's website at <a href="https://www.sadieepsteinfine.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sadieepsteinfine.com</a></li> <li>Contribute to <a href="https://queering-the-jewish-wedding.carrd.co/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Queering the Jewish Wedding</a></li> <li>Listen to the <a href="https://thecjn.ca/podcasts/michael-twitty-on-race-religion-politics-and-survival-in-america/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">full interview with Michael Twitty on _Rivkush</a>_</li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Born This Way

Sally Priesand

It was almost 50 years ago today, on June 3, 1972, that Sally Priesand broke ground as the first-ever female rabbi ordained in North America. But still, even half a century later, rabbis who happen to be women face different expectations, treatment and discrimination than their male counterparts.  To talk about what's changed, what hasn't and what life is like as a female rabbi, we've assembled a panel for a special hour-long discussion the subject. What's changed in the last 50 years? What hasn't? How do congregations of different denominations react? What work still needs to be done? To examine these issues, we have three experts from across the country: Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, Canada's first and longest-serving female Rabbi in Canada, who was ordained in 1983; Rabba Rachel Kohl Finegold, the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve as synagogue clergy in Canada; and Rabbi Ilana Krygier Lapides, an independent, non-denominational rabbi in Calgary.  What we talked about  Rabbi Goldstein is the founding rabbi of City Shul in Toronto Rabba Kohl Finegold is a clergy member at Congregation Shaar Hashomayim in Montreal Learn about Rabbi Krygier Lapides's services at rockymountainrabbi.com  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

It was almost 50 years ago today, on June 3, 1972, that Sally Priesand broke ground as the first-ever female rabbi ordained in North America. But still, even half a century later, rabbis who happen to be women face different expectations, treatment and discrimination than their male counterparts. To talk about what's changed, what hasn't and what life is like as a female rabbi, we've assembled a panel for a special hour-long discussion the subject. What's changed in the last 50 years? What hasn't? How do congregations of different denominations react? What work still needs to be done? To examine these issues, we have three experts from across the country: Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, Canada's first and longest-serving female Rabbi in Canada, who was ordained in 1983; Rabba Rachel Kohl Finegold, the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve as synagogue clergy in Canada; and Rabbi Ilana Krygier Lapides, an independent, non-denominational rabbi in Calgary. What we talked about <ul> <li>Rabbi Goldstein is the founding rabbi of <a href="https://www.cityshul.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">City Shul</a> in Toronto</li> <li>Rabba Kohl Finegold is a clergy member at <a href="https://www.shaarhashomayim.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Congregation Shaar Hashomayim</a> in Montreal</li> <li>Learn about Rabbi Krygier Lapides's services at <a href="https://www.rockymountainrabbi.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rockymountainrabbi.com</a></li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Sally Priesand's Semicentennial

It's a little-known fact that the first Jews in Canada were actually Sephardim, founders of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in Montreal in 1768. Over subsequent years, Ashkenazi Jews would follow from Europe, becoming the dominant Jewish culture; it wasn't until the mid-20th century that Middle Eastern Jews arrived to add their own contributions to the Canadian Jewish mosaic.  The often quiet history of Sephardic contributions to Jewish culture—not just in Canada, but in Israel, the United States and elsewhere as well—is the focus of a new book and digital-preservation project called Sephardi Voices, spearheaded by Henry Green, a professor of Judaic and religious studies at the University of Miami and the founding director of the Jewish Museum of Florida. In partnership with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, we invited Green to share stories and insight into the Sephardi world in Canada and beyond for the first-ever live virtual taping of Bonjour Chai.  Plus, we get to know Mohammed Hashim, the executive director of the CRRF, who outlines his organization's work, paths toward a more comfortable dialogue between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine Canadians, and what his favourite kosher restaurant is. Later, David and Ilana actor-splain why Jewish representation matters in film and television, and what it was like working on Jewish theatre shows this year.  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

It's a little-known fact that the first Jews in Canada were actually Sephardim, founders of the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in Montreal in 1768. Over subsequent years, Ashkenazi Jews would follow from Europe, becoming the dominant Jewish culture; it wasn't until the mid-20th century that Middle Eastern Jews arrived to add their own contributions to the Canadian Jewish mosaic. The often quiet history of Sephardic contributions to Jewish culture—not just in Canada, but in Israel, the United States and elsewhere as well—is the focus of a new book and digital-preservation project called <a href="https://sephardivoices.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sephardi Voices</a>, spearheaded by Henry Green, a professor of Judaic and religious studies at the University of Miami and the founding director of the Jewish Museum of Florida. In partnership with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, we invited Green to share stories and insight into the Sephardi world in Canada and beyond for the first-ever live virtual taping of Bonjour Chai. Plus, we get to know Mohammed Hashim, the executive director of the CRRF, who outlines his organization's work, paths toward a more comfortable dialogue between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine Canadians, and what his favourite kosher restaurant is. Later, David and Ilana actor-splain why Jewish representation matters in film and television, and what it was like working on Jewish theatre shows this year. Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Chai Means Live

Festival season is upon us, which means Canadian Jews are marking their calendars with the myriad dates slotted for cultural celebrations across the country. But who are these events made for, and who actually shows up? Are Jewish festivals designed only for those with the means to buy tickets, or is there a greater mandate to foster community through innovation and outreach to younger audiences? We pitch the question to Helen Zukerman, artistic director of the Toronto Jewsh Film Festival, which Avi believes is too narrow in its scope (though Ilana and David disagree); after that, the heads of KlezKanada and Ashkenaz Festival, Sebastian Schulman and Eric Stein, join to discuss their efforts in crafting Jewish festivals that are fundamentally diverse, unique and engaging. Plus, we'll hear from Shlomo Steinmetz on the yahrzeit of his son Dovi, who died at the Mount Meron tragedy in Israel last year. What we talked about  Register for free for Bonjour Chai's virtual live taping on Wed. May 25 Buy tickets for the TJFF at tjff.com/tjff2022 Read The CJN's preview of this year's TJFF Learn about KlezKanada at klezkanada.org and Ashkenaz at ashkenaz.ca Learn about the Ani Maamin Initiative  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

Festival season is upon us, which means Canadian Jews are marking their calendars with the myriad dates slotted for cultural celebrations across the country. But who are these events made for, and who actually shows up? Are Jewish festivals designed only for those with the means to buy tickets, or is there a greater mandate to foster community through innovation and outreach to younger audiences? We pitch the question to Helen Zukerman, artistic director of the Toronto Jewsh Film Festival, which Avi believes is too narrow in its scope (though Ilana and David disagree); after that, the heads of KlezKanada and Ashkenaz Festival, Sebastian Schulman and Eric Stein, join to discuss their efforts in crafting Jewish festivals that are fundamentally diverse, unique and engaging. Plus, we'll hear from Shlomo Steinmetz on the yahrzeit of his son Dovi, who died at the Mount Meron tragedy in Israel last year. What we talked about <ul> <li>Register for free for Bonjour Chai's <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bonjour-chai-live-podcast-recording-in-partnership-with-the-crrf-tickets-334750847797" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">virtual live taping on Wed. May 25</a></li> <li>Buy tickets for the TJFF at <a href="https://tjff.com/tjff2022/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tjff.com/tjff2022</a></li> <li>Read The CJN's <a href="https://thecjn.ca/events/tjff-2022/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">preview of this year's TJFF</a></li> <li>Learn about KlezKanada at <a href="https://klezkanada.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">klezkanada.org</a> and Ashkenaz at <a href="https://www.ashkenaz.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ashkenaz.ca</a></li> <li>Learn about the <a href="https://animaamin.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ani Maamin Initiative</a></li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

The Kulturkampf Edition

With the United States embroiled in the fight over abortion rights, many Canadians have turned to reflect on our own nation's history with the once-controversial practice. A key figure in Canada's pro-choice movement was Henry Morgentaler, a Holocaust survivor and doctor who offered safe abortions for women who didn't qualify for one within Canada's once-restrictive system. Morgentaler endured jail time and blatant antisemitism for his convictions, but won out in the end, as abortions became effectively decriminalized following a landmark 1988 Supreme Court decision.  Today, advocates in Montreal are pushing to name a park after the late doctor, who has no monument commemorating his contribution to Canada. To discuss his legacy, and how antisemitism seeped into the debate, his daughter, Goldie Morgentaler, joins to share stories of her father's fight for reproductive freedom.  And zooming out for a religious look at the issue, Avi sits down with Rabbi Daniel Korobkin from the Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto Congregation to discuss how abortion is handled in halakhah.  What we talked about  Read about the proposed park in Montreal that could be renamed to honour Henry Morgentaler Hear Goldie Morgentaler on The CJN podcast Yehupetzville, discussing Jewish life in Lethbridge, Alta.  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

With the United States embroiled in the fight over abortion rights, many Canadians have turned to reflect on our own nation's history with the once-controversial practice. A key figure in Canada's pro-choice movement was Henry Morgentaler, a Holocaust survivor and doctor who offered safe abortions for women who didn't qualify for one within Canada's once-restrictive system. Morgentaler endured jail time and blatant antisemitism for his convictions, but won out in the end, as abortions became effectively decriminalized following a landmark 1988 Supreme Court decision. Today, advocates in Montreal are pushing to name a park after the late doctor, who has no monument commemorating his contribution to Canada. To discuss his legacy, and how antisemitism seeped into the debate, his daughter, Goldie Morgentaler, joins to share stories of her father's fight for reproductive freedom. And zooming out for a religious look at the issue, Avi sits down with Rabbi Daniel Korobkin from the Beth Avraham Yosef of Toronto Congregation to discuss how abortion is handled in halakhah. What we talked about <ul> <li>Read about the <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/hanes-montreal-park-to-honour-morgentaler-would-be-reminder-for-us-all" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">proposed park in Montreal</a> that could be renamed to honour Henry Morgentaler</li> <li>Hear Goldie Morgentaler on The CJN podcast Yehupetzville, discussing <a href="https://thecjn.ca/podcasts/goldie-morgentaler-keeping-yiddishkeit-alive-in-lethbridge/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jewish life in Lethbridge, Alta.</a></li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Plan B from Olam ha-Ba

Canadian Jews, listen up: this podcast's for you. Join hosts Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar as they break down the goings-on across our community. Geographically and politically diverse, this show will dive into current affairs, spiritual advice, and the latest news with in-depth analysis and special guests.

York University has been in the Jewish news a fair bit recently, after their student union bungled an educational session on antisemitism and the school's name was labelled one of the least safe campuses for Jews in Canada. But there is always another side to these stories—one which often involves students protesting for Palestinians' rights. University administrators are often caught between these two camps, trying to mediate the on-campus iteration of a centuries-old geopolitical struggle. It's a line often walked by Rhonda Lenton, the president of York University. On today's episode, she joins for a lengthy and wide-ranging discussion on how her administration strikes that balance, what she's gleaned from her own studies into Canadian Jewry as a sociologist, and how York's Jewish identity has changed over the decades.   Plus, Avi and Ilana debate how Mother's Day seeped into the Jewish holiday calendar, and we wish Ilana and the State of Israel a very happy birthday. One is 74; the other, 29—guess which is which?   Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

York University has been in the Jewish news a fair bit recently, after their student union <a href="https://thecjn.ca/news/york-student-union-selects-pro-bds-group-to-speak-about-antisemitism/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">bungled an educational session on antisemitism</a> and the school's name was labelled one of the <a href="https://thecjn.ca/podcasts/which-canadian-campuses-are-safest-for-jews-any-one-outside-toronto/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">least safe campuses for Jews in Canada</a>. But there is always another side to these stories—one which often involves students protesting for Palestinians' rights. University administrators are often caught between these two camps, trying to mediate the on-campus iteration of a centuries-old geopolitical struggle. It's a line often walked by Rhonda Lenton, the president of York University. On today's episode, she joins for a lengthy and wide-ranging discussion on how her administration strikes that balance, what she's gleaned from her own studies into Canadian Jewry as a sociologist, and how York's Jewish identity has changed over the decades. Plus, Avi and Ilana debate how Mother's Day seeped into the Jewish holiday calendar, and we wish Ilana and the State of Israel a very happy birthday. One is 74; the other, 29—guess which is which? Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Ilana is Significantly Younger than Israel

Jews are no strangers to the apocalypse. Having survived centuries of persecution and the biggest genocide in human history, generational trauma and fears of fatality come pretty naturally to us.  Jay Baruchel is no exception. He's transformed those anxieties into a brand-new TV show, debuting Apr. 30 on Crave, called We're All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel), in which he explores the myriad ways in which humanity can end, from nuclear disasters to alien invasions. For Yom ha-Shoah, Baruchel joins the program to chat about how his Jewish heritage helped inspire the show and take a stab at the ultimate post-apocalyptic question: what happens to us after we die?  Plus, David lays out the latest development in the truly never-ending Israeli/Palestinian wine saga, Avi plays highlights from the JNF's recent Tech Shuk in Montreal, and Rabbi Joshua Corber discusses modern takeaways from Yom ha-Shoah.  What we talked about  Watch the trailer for _We're All Gonna Die_ Get tickets to Mazel Tov here and use the promo code CHAIPROMO to get a $10 discount  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

Jews are no strangers to the apocalypse. Having survived centuries of persecution and the biggest genocide in human history, generational trauma and fears of fatality come pretty naturally to us. Jay Baruchel is no exception. He's transformed those anxieties into a brand-new TV show, debuting Apr. 30 on Crave, called We're All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel), in which he explores the myriad ways in which humanity can end, from nuclear disasters to alien invasions. For Yom ha-Shoah, Baruchel joins the program to chat about how his Jewish heritage helped inspire the show and take a stab at the ultimate post-apocalyptic question: what happens to us after we die? Plus, David lays out the latest development in the truly never-ending Israeli/Palestinian wine saga, Avi plays highlights from the JNF's recent Tech Shuk in Montreal, and Rabbi Joshua Corber discusses modern takeaways from Yom ha-Shoah. What we talked about <ul> <li>Watch the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnjrczrM6Tw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">trailer for _We're All Gonna Die</a>_</li> <li>Get <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mazel-tov-tickets-171513550647" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tickets to Mazel Tov here</a> and use the promo code CHAIPROMO to get a $10 discount</li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Six Million are Still With Us

After Mayim Bialik lost her father, she began a year of mourning, culminating in thoughts and feelings that she'd end up culminating into her first screenplay. The actress, best known for the The Big Bang Theory and now hosting Jeopardy!, is now making her debut as a writer and director with As They Made Us, a drama about a dying father, played by Dustin Hoffman. Ilana sat down with Bialik to talk about her real-life inspiration, transitioning from performer to director, and how she incorporated subtly accurate pieces of Jewish representation that didn't feel blunt or crass. Plus, we're re-running an interview from last Passover with Orel Gozlan, the hazzan at Congregation Or Shalom in Montreal and an Instagram comic, about the Sephardic celebration Mimouna. What we talked about  Watch the trailer for As They Made Us Find Orel on Instagram @orelgozlan  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

After Mayim Bialik lost her father, she began a year of mourning, culminating in thoughts and feelings that she'd end up culminating into her first screenplay. The actress, best known for the The Big Bang Theory and now hosting Jeopardy!, is now making her debut as a writer and director with As They Made Us, a drama about a dying father, played by Dustin Hoffman. Ilana sat down with Bialik to talk about her real-life inspiration, transitioning from performer to director, and how she incorporated subtly accurate pieces of Jewish representation that didn't feel blunt or crass. Plus, we're re-running an interview from last Passover with Orel Gozlan, the hazzan at Congregation Or Shalom in Montreal and an Instagram comic, about the Sephardic celebration Mimouna. What we talked about <ul> <li>Watch the trailer for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU-b6NoDkiU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">As They Made Us</a></li> <li>Find Orel on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/orelgozlan/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@orelgozlan</a></li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Mayim and Yayin

It's the first annual Bonjour Chai Passover extravaganza! In this super-special edition, we bring you stories from 20 prominent Canadians about what Passover means to them. Pull up a chair, break off some matzah and join us at the virtual seder table alongside Evan Solomon, Zach Hyman, Bob Rae, Ya'ara Saks, Melissa Lantsman, Nathan Englander, Lisa Rubin and a whole slew of rabbis, CJN podcasters and community leaders, swapping stories and reflecting on the meaning of freedom in these unique times.  Our guest list, in order of appearance:  Ben Langer, family doctor, Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority Melissa Lantsman, Member of Parliament Anthony Housefather, Member of Parliament Ya'ara Saks, Member of Parliament Bob Rae, Canadian ambassador to the United Nations Irwin Cotler, Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism Rabbi Robyn Fryer-Bodzin, rabbi at Beth Tzedec Congregation Ralph Benmergui, host of Yehupetzville Rivka Campbell, host of Rivkush Ellin Bessner, host of The CJN Daily Gabe Pulver and James Hirsh, hosts of Menschwarmers Nathan Englander, author and storyteller Lisa Rubin, artistic and executive director of the Segal Centre for Performing Arts Zach Hyman, left wing for the Edmonton Oilers Ezra Shanken, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver Evan Solomon, host of CTV's Power Play and Question Period Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl, rabbi emeritus at Beth Tzedec Congregation Rabbi Bluth, chief creative officer of Living Jewishly David Koffman, J. Richard Shiff Chair for the Study of Canadian Jewry at York University Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance of British Columbia  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

It's the first annual Bonjour Chai Passover extravaganza! In this super-special edition, we bring you stories from 20 prominent Canadians about what Passover means to them. Pull up a chair, break off some matzah and join us at the virtual seder table alongside Evan Solomon, Zach Hyman, Bob Rae, Ya'ara Saks, Melissa Lantsman, Nathan Englander, Lisa Rubin and a whole slew of rabbis, CJN podcasters and community leaders, swapping stories and reflecting on the meaning of freedom in these unique times. Our guest list, in order of appearance: <ul> <li>Ben Langer, family doctor, Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority</li> <li>Melissa Lantsman, Member of Parliament</li> <li>Anthony Housefather, Member of Parliament</li> <li>Ya'ara Saks, Member of Parliament</li> <li>Bob Rae, Canadian ambassador to the United Nations</li> <li>Irwin Cotler, Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism</li> <li>Rabbi Robyn Fryer-Bodzin, rabbi at Beth Tzedec Congregation</li> <li>Ralph Benmergui, host of Yehupetzville</li> <li>Rivka Campbell, host of Rivkush</li> <li>Ellin Bessner, host of The CJN Daily</li> <li>Gabe Pulver and James Hirsh, hosts of Menschwarmers</li> <li>Nathan Englander, author and storyteller</li> <li>Lisa Rubin, artistic and executive director of the Segal Centre for Performing Arts</li> <li>Zach Hyman, left wing for the Edmonton Oilers</li> <li>Ezra Shanken, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver</li> <li>Evan Solomon, host of CTV's Power Play and Question Period</li> <li>Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl, rabbi emeritus at Beth Tzedec Congregation</li> <li>Rabbi Bluth, chief creative officer of Living Jewishly</li> <li>David Koffman, J. Richard Shiff Chair for the Study of Canadian Jewry at York University</li> <li>Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance of British Columbia</li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

The First Annual Great Canadian Seder

Shocking images from Ukraine emerged this week, depicting war crimes and massacres happening in Bucha, a town outside Kyiv. Suddenly, onlookers are using the word "genocide" to describe what has, until recently, most often called a war. But is it a genocide? Do these crimes against humanity qualify, or do we risk watering down the term if we apply it too quickly or too often? Jews, in particular, have a stake in any global conversation on the subject, as comparisons to the Holocaust will inevitably come up. To unpack these complex issues, we're joined by two guests: Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, and Frank Chalk, the director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies at Concordia University. What we talked about  Get tickets to Mazel Tov here and use the promo code CHAIPROMO to get a $10 discount Read "Ancient Hebrew curse tablet found by Katy archaeologist could be proof of older Bible timeline" at the Houston Chronicle  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

Shocking images from Ukraine emerged this week, depicting war crimes and massacres happening in Bucha, a town outside Kyiv. Suddenly, onlookers are using the word "genocide" to describe what has, until recently, most often called a war. But is it a genocide? Do these crimes against humanity qualify, or do we risk watering down the term if we apply it too quickly or too often? Jews, in particular, have a stake in any global conversation on the subject, as comparisons to the Holocaust will inevitably come up. To unpack these complex issues, we're joined by two guests: Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations, and Frank Chalk, the director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies at Concordia University. What we talked about <ul> <li>Get <a href="https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/mazel-tov-tickets-171513550647" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">tickets to Mazel Tov here</a> and use the promo code CHAIPROMO to get a $10 discount</li> <li>Read "Ancient Hebrew curse tablet found by Katy archaeologist could be proof of older Bible timeline" at the <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/katy/article/Ancient-curse-tablet-found-by-Katy-archaeologist-17026823.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Houston Chronicle</a></li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

There's Nothing Funny About War Crimes

For over a decade, Jews have been the number-one most-targeted religious group in federal and municipal hate crime reports. Just a few weeks ago, StatsCan released the latest edition of its annual paper, proving the trend correct yet again.  But headlines don't tell the whole story. Is Jewish prominence on these lists the result of zealous Jewish communities over-reporting minor incidents? Or is it more indicative of other groups' hesitance to even bother calling the police in the first place? To navigate these waters, we're joined by Mark Mendelson, a former homicide detective with the Toronto police, current private investigator and crime expert for Bell Media.  Plus, David catches up with actor Jake Epstein about his latest theatre show, Boy Falls From the Sky, as well as a career that's taken him from Degrassi to Broadway to Jewish Hallmark hero.  What we talked about  Read about the latest StatsCan report on thecjn.ca Find tickets for Boy Falls From the Sky at mirvish.com  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

For over a decade, Jews have been the number-one most-targeted religious group in federal and municipal hate crime reports. Just a few weeks ago, StatsCan released the latest edition of its annual paper, <a href="https://thecjn.ca/news/jewish-community-continues-to-be-the-most-targeted-religious-group-for-hate-crimes-statistics-canada-reports/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">proving the trend correct yet again</a>. But headlines don't tell the whole story. Is Jewish prominence on these lists the result of zealous Jewish communities over-reporting minor incidents? Or is it more indicative of other groups' hesitance to even bother calling the police in the first place? To navigate these waters, we're joined by Mark Mendelson, a former homicide detective with the Toronto police, current private investigator and crime expert for Bell Media. Plus, David catches up with actor Jake Epstein about his latest theatre show, Boy Falls From the Sky, as well as a career that's taken him from Degrassi to Broadway to Jewish Hallmark hero. What we talked about <ul> <li>Read about the latest StatsCan report on <a href="https://thecjn.ca/news/jewish-community-continues-to-be-the-most-targeted-religious-group-for-hate-crimes-statistics-canada-reports/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thecjn.ca</a></li> <li>Find tickets for Boy Falls From the Sky at <a href="https://www.mirvish.com/shows/boy-falls-from-the-sky" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">mirvish.com</a></li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

It's been a month since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, forcing 10 million Ukrainians to leave their homes, including nearly four million refugees. Many have fled to neighbouring Poland, which is where a number of Canadian Jewish community and non-profit leaders have flown to personally engage with and witness the tragedy unfold. Back on Canadian soil, numerous charities and NGOs, including Jewish ones such as B'nai Brith, continue to hold donation drives where they accept old clothing, blankets, shampoo, personal hygiene products, flashlights and more. These are understandable reactions to a global crisis. But they may not be helping as much as people think. It's become evident that refugees in Poland have ready access to many items being donated, and flying boxes of old clothing from Canada to Europe may not be the best use of anyone's time, money or resources. Goods can be purchased in Europe and transported much more efficiently, affordably and with less of a carbon footprint. Meanwhile, the abundance of rabbis and community leaders travelling to the border has been criticized as mere "disaster tourism." To dig into these issues, we're joined by Kate Bahen, the managing director of Charity intelligence Canada, a watchdog organization that provides transparency and resources for Canadians looking for the smartest ways to donate their dollars. Plus, our resident rabbi explains to David what it means that he's a kohen in the modern world, we catch up on updates from past episodes, and the hosts discuss an age-old question: is daylight saving time good for the Jews? What we talked about  Listen to Linda Frum and Adam Minsky discuss flying to the Ukrainian border on The CJN Daily Read an essay by three Canadian rabbis who travelled to the border at The CJN Read "Jewish leaders are flocking to Ukraine’s border. Some question the trips" at The Forward Listen to the All Things Considered episode about clothing donations at NPR View the Kickstarter for I Can't Believe It's Not Chametz!  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

It's been a month since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, forcing 10 million Ukrainians to leave their homes, including nearly four million refugees. Many have fled to neighbouring Poland, which is where a number of Canadian Jewish community and non-profit leaders have flown to personally engage with and witness the tragedy unfold. Back on Canadian soil, numerous charities and NGOs, including Jewish ones such as B'nai Brith, continue to hold donation drives where they accept old clothing, blankets, shampoo, personal hygiene products, flashlights and more. These are understandable reactions to a global crisis. But they may not be helping as much as people think. It's become evident that refugees in Poland have ready access to many items being donated, and flying boxes of old clothing from Canada to Europe may not be the best use of anyone's time, money or resources. Goods can be purchased in Europe and transported much more efficiently, affordably and with less of a carbon footprint. Meanwhile, the abundance of rabbis and community leaders travelling to the border has been criticized as mere "disaster tourism." To dig into these issues, we're joined by Kate Bahen, the managing director of Charity intelligence Canada, a watchdog organization that provides transparency and resources for Canadians looking for the smartest ways to donate their dollars. Plus, our resident rabbi explains to David what it means that he's a kohen in the modern world, we catch up on updates from past episodes, and the hosts discuss an age-old question: is daylight saving time good for the Jews? What we talked about <ul> <li>Listen to Linda Frum and Adam Minsky discuss flying to the Ukrainian border on <a href="https://thecjn.ca/podcasts/linda-frum-and-adam-minsky-flew-to-the-ukraine-border-to-see-where-millions-of-dollars-in-donations-are-going/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Daily</a></li> <li>Read an essay by three Canadian rabbis who travelled to the border at <a href="https://thecjn.ca/perspectives/three-montreal-rabbis/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN</a></li> <li>Read "Jewish leaders are flocking to Ukraine’s border. Some question the trips" at <a href="https://forward.com/news/484229/jewish-leaders-rabbis-ukraine-borders-trips-delegation-federations-mission/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Forward</a></li> <li>Listen to the All Things Considered episode about clothing donations at <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/03/22/1088005415/donated-clothes-help-in-ukraine-but-heres-one-thing-aid-experts-like-better" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NPR</a></li> <li>View the Kickstarter for <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pesach/i-cant-believe-its-not-chametz" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I Can't Believe It's Not Chametz!</a></li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Blankets and Bedding

It's not making headlines nationally, but Quebec is ushering in Bill 96, legislation that will further cement French as the province's dominant language. While Canadians may be familiar with various provincial government attempts to ensure French remains the primary language, Bill 96 goes a step further: it will require all new immigrants to send their children to French-language schools after a three-year, non-renewable grace period. Why does this matter for Jews? Because Canada has a rabbi shortage. There is no Canadian rabbinical school outside the ultra-Orthodox movement, which means many shuls end up hiring Americans who move here with their families. While some American rabbis may be excited to force their children to become fully bilingual French, it's a big ask—and a significant hurdle for the two synagogues in Montreal currently looking for new rabbis. Our own resident rabbi in Montreal breaks down what this all means, and chats with a representative of one rabbinical search committee about the ramifications. Plus, Ilana chats with her long-time friend, who is one biological daughter of the infamous Norman Barwin, a disgraced doctor who illicitly used his own sperm to inseminate more than a hundred of his fertility patients. And also: Happy Purim! What we talked about  Read about Bill 96 at assnat.qc.ca Read about the $13-million settlement against Norman Barwin on CBC News  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

It's not making headlines nationally, but Quebec is ushering in Bill 96, legislation that will further cement French as the province's dominant language. While Canadians may be familiar with various provincial government attempts to ensure French remains the primary language, Bill 96 goes a step further: it will require all new immigrants to send their children to French-language schools after a three-year, non-renewable grace period. Why does this matter for Jews? Because Canada has a rabbi shortage. There is no Canadian rabbinical school outside the ultra-Orthodox movement, which means many shuls end up hiring Americans who move here with their families. While some American rabbis may be excited to force their children to become fully bilingual French, it's a big ask—and a significant hurdle for the two synagogues in Montreal currently looking for new rabbis. Our own resident rabbi in Montreal breaks down what this all means, and chats with a representative of one rabbinical search committee about the ramifications. Plus, Ilana chats with her long-time friend, who is one biological daughter of the infamous Norman Barwin, a disgraced doctor who illicitly used his own sperm to inseminate more than a hundred of his fertility patients. And also: Happy Purim! What we talked about <ul> <li>Read about Bill 96 at <a href="http://assnat.qc.ca/en/travaux-parlementaires/projets-loi/projet-loi-96-42-1.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">assnat.qc.ca</a></li> <li>Read about the $13-million settlement against Norman Barwin on <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/disgraced-fertility-doctor-norman-barwin-1.6232776" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CBC News</a></li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Modern-Day Haman

In the days ahead of Purim, we wanted to take a step back from all the serious news and focus on some lighter fare. To honour King Achashverosh, who ruled from Hodu to Kush, we convene a roundtable of expert Canadian Jews in the cannabis industry to dive into the weeds of what marijuana usage looks like in the Jewish community. Cannapreneur Abi Roach and the men behind the startup Oy Vapes join.  Plus, we're bringing you laughs from some of Canada's funniest young Jewish comics. Comedian Laura Leibow is here to announce her new jewish comedy podcast on The CJN Podcast Network, Shticks and Giggles, and you'll hear bits from her fellow downtown-Toronto funnymen Nick Nemeroff and Dan Rosen.   What we talked about  Learn about Avi's Passover bootcamp on Facebook Follow Laura Leibow on Instagram (@lauraleibow), Nick Nemeroff on Twitter (@nicknemeroff) and Dan Rosen on Instagram (@dantheguyrosen) Be the first to hear Shticks and Giggles by signing up to The CJN's newsletter at thecjn.ca/newsletters   Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please watch this video.

In the days ahead of Purim, we wanted to take a step back from all the serious news and focus on some lighter fare. To honour King Achashverosh, who ruled from Hodu to Kush, we convene a roundtable of expert Canadian Jews in the cannabis industry to dive into the weeds of what marijuana usage looks like in the Jewish community. Cannapreneur Abi Roach and the men behind the startup Oy Vapes join. Plus, we're bringing you laughs from some of Canada's funniest young Jewish comics. Comedian Laura Leibow is here to announce her new jewish comedy podcast on The CJN Podcast Network, Shticks and Giggles, and you'll hear bits from her fellow downtown-Toronto funnymen Nick Nemeroff and Dan Rosen. What we talked about <ul> <li>Learn about Avi's Passover bootcamp <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1445873692482496" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on Facebook</a></li> <li>Follow Laura Leibow on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/lauraleibow/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@lauraleibow</a>), Nick Nemeroff on Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/nicknemeroff" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@nicknemeroff</a>) and Dan Rosen on Instagram (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dantheguyrosen/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@dantheguyrosen</a>)</li> <li>Be the first to hear Shticks and Giggles by signing up to The CJN's newsletter at <a href="https://thecjn.ca/newsletters/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thecjn.ca/newsletters</a> </li> </ul> Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/podcasts/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The CJN Podcast Network</a>. To learn how to support the show by subscribing to this podcast, please <a href="https://thecjn.ca/arts/podcast-subscription-instructions/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">watch this video</a>.

Bonjour High

It's the one-year anniversary of Bonjour Chai, and to celebrate, we're taking a look ahead at what the future of Judaism looks like. As more Jews engage with their culture outside of Federations and traditional synagogues, what are the "new establishments" coming up? How do they take shape? Who's behind them, and are they indeed the future of Jewish life? We think of Bonjour Chai as one of those new establishments, but there are more popping up across Canada. To analyze the issue, we're joined by Rabbi Yossi Sapirman, who left his bricks-and-mortar pulpit to start Living Jewishly, an organization that aims to connect with Jews of all ages through experience-based, rule-breaking routes; and Orly Zebak, a designer and artist who co-founded Niv Magazine, an independent Jewish online arts zine, at the outset of the pandemic.  Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. Find more great Jewish podcasts at thecjn.ca.

It's the one-year anniversary of Bonjour Chai, and to celebrate, we're taking a look ahead at what the future of Judaism looks like. As more Jews engage with their culture outside of Federations and traditional synagogues, what are the "new establishments" coming up? How do they take shape? Who's behind them, and are they indeed the future of Jewish life? We think of Bonjour Chai as one of those new establishments, but there are more popping up across Canada. To analyze the issue, we're joined by Rabbi Yossi Sapirman, who left his bricks-and-mortar pulpit to start <a href="https://livingjewishly.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Living Jewishly</a>, an organization that aims to connect with Jews of all ages through experience-based, rule-breaking routes; and Orly Zebak, a designer and artist who co-founded <a href="https://nivmag.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Niv Magazine</a>, an independent Jewish online arts zine, at the outset of the pandemic. Credits Bonjour Chai is hosted by Avi Finegold, Ilana Zackon and David Sklar. Michael Fraiman is the producer. Andre Goulet is the technical producer. Our theme music is by Socalled. The show is a co-production from The Jewish Learning Lab and The CJN, and is distributed by The CJN Podcast Network. Find more great Jewish podcasts at <a href="https://www.thecjn.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thecjn.ca</a>.

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Bonjour Chai

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