Rabbi Debra Landsberg was still in the building when the shots were fired. This is a fairly progressive Reform shul, the sort of place that sponsors Syrian refugee families.

Exactly. The whole thing about multicultural liberal democracies is that people come from different places and groups, which may be fighting elsewhere, but everyone has basic civil rights as framework so we can live together peacefully. Lose that and you get fascism.

Did the other group have a number in their name?

In Canada, maybe a comparison would be people of Indian descent who came from Trinidad or Uganda. Their families left India prior to Indian independence, they have cultural connections but no influence over Modi so their views on him don’t matter.

Keep in mind that most Canadian Jews aren’t Israeli and came to Canada from places other than Israel. We have very little influence over politics and policies there. By contrast, extended family ties are more common so we care about what happens but can’t control things.

I assume you mean non-Jewish Russian Canadians? Because a substantial chunk of the Jews that came in the big wave 1880-1914 were from the Russian Empire, and a lot of Russian Jews arrived here after 1991. There were some farming communities out west, but most ended up in cities.

Very much the case. Extremely loud debates within Israel, and also loud, vigorous debates in diaspora homes and communities. These aren’t done as performance to appease a hostile audience. In fact, discussions are far less persuasive if they are perceived that way.

But that said, Joel’s question is a bit like asking if giving tzedakah is useless if it doesn’t eliminate poverty. Yes, it’s largely a government and larger economic issue. But that doesn’t mean we do nothing to help.

You don’t need to agree with their religious rules to acknowledge that there’s something to their marketing. Giving active reasons to get involved and making it meaningful beats moaning. 2/

I had a lightbulb moment in the 1990s at my school’s Jewish student federation. Our pitch sounded like “Welcome to the club! BTW, people want us dead, and also we’ll be talking about how our numbers are dropping.” I saw the appeal of groups like Chabad with a more positive focus. 1/

To be clear, he was great with her during his 12 week leave, and men can parent perfectly well. It’s just different when they are primary caregivers and suddenly realize how much they weren’t doing previously. (Also a reason to have paternity leave!)

My favorite is reactions from dads who actually become the primary caregiver. Around day 2 of hubby’s parental leave, I came home and found him asleep with baby playing beside him on the bed. He said “Sorry, you have no idea how exhausting it is to care for her all day”. Um, I had done it for 5 mos.

And I know that these folks have no clue what the other teachings are, or why I would disagree with them. If anything, some would readily agree that the community in Unorthodox on Netflix is horrible.

They are too stupid to offend me, I just get amazed at the cluelessness.

Also, I’m not sure why a non-Jew thinks they can tell me I need to follow the teachings of a Rebbe that I’ve never followed, for many reasons including profound disagreement with much of what the group teaches. I don’t follow Satmar in anything else, why would they define for me what’s correct?

Yes, and also antizionism isn't the same thing as specific reality-based criticism of actions, laws, policies or leaders of Israel. It is its own conspiracy theory, still hateful but with a slightly different focus than classic antisemitism.

I love that my son-in-law’s Moroccan family embraced us and we’ve gone to the Spanish Moroccan synagogue. But while I’ll celebrate Mimouna with others, it’s not my custom so I’m unlikely to host it. But I do like that I can get Passover for Sephardi foods now in Toronto and eat rice and hummus.

I think it’s best to put people first. Reach out to non-Ashkenazi Jews in the community, recognize them as full partners and not weird specimens, learn something about the communities. You don’t need to stop being who you are, just realize it is one of several valid traditions.

People naturally focus on their own interests and worldview.

That’s true for folks who disagree with their government or face oppression too. Focusing on your own issues is natural, but also its own form of bias to be aware of.

I get why Americans focus on that, but Iranians are going to focus on their experiences with their government and Americans shouldn’t be surprised about that. Even if it means thousands of people in my area cheering Trump at a rally.

If the regime falls, my clients, especially the women, can travel back home to see their families without fear. I currently have a client stuck in Iran, separated from her children, because her estranged husband won’t give her permission to leave. Their rage is real.

FWIW, we live/work in a heavily Iranian area and have been reaching out to our Iranian friends and colleagues. They are concerned about family but overall celebrating. Around 50,000 of them in Richmond Hill today thanking Israel. I’ve felt safest around this community.

They also ruin things for decent men (said as a family lawyer), who actually want to be involved fathers and decent partners.

It was sometimes used by a persecuted minority to refer to the majority. There was a phrase “shanda far di goyim”, refering to a Jew who causes embarrassment in front of gentiles. That’s not derogatory to non-Jews, but is a commentary on feeling vulnerable.

I’ve actually thought about this for years - but as someone who likely has inattentive ADHD, I’m more capable of daydreaming the plan than putting it into action. Basically thought of a To Do list with Duolingo-style beeps and encouragement and challenges.

Black Eyed Peas lead singer will.i.am says being in Israel is 'like mishpocha' - Jewish Telegraphic Agency "I always love coming here," the rapper said at a conference, where he also rejected the boycott Israel movement.

I found this: www.jta.org/2021/11/30/c... plus another article saying that he wrote the song in a quick burst of inspiration after Obama’s inauguration. So it’s meant to have the Jewish references and simple joyful structure, but it might not have been intended as Bar Mitzvah hit.

Good question! I needed U/S after questionable mammograms. Who decided that the awkward and painful tests were preferred?

In other news, Girl2 is doing a talk on how women were historically treated during menopaus, and part of the answer is “asylum”.

The Pomegranate | Substack spilling the juice on modern motherhood (Lucy Huber, Amy Colleen, Kristen Mulrooney, Lauren Ahmed, and Sarah Radz)

I know a parenting substack that is basically 5 women writing thoughtful essays on a shared platform and also having their own platforms. They boost each other on BlueSky, each has a unique style and POV but similar theme. substack.com/@thepom

LOL but also kinda right: antisemites are often ignorant of the existence of non-Ashkenazi Jews. The story is the Sassoon family is fascinating, but you have to know that Baghdadi Jews exist and went east to India and China.

To be clear Re Canad, HE is the unwanted foreigner and Indians in Brampton or elsewhere in Canada are generally citizens or permanent residents. The Tim Horton’s I go to daily is owned by an Indian family who work hard, why would I have a problem with my neighbours, friends and colleague?

HE, as a racist American, is the unwanted foreigner in Canada. He is talking about my neighbours and fellow citizens, people who were accepted into Canada and have worked hard, including operating franchises and working long hours and serving coffee at my drive-thru every morning.