Jewish artists in Canada turned inward in 2024—to bring bolder identities into 2025
A creative community grapples with the continuing undercurrent of threats and protests.
The cancelling of culture: What happens when arts and politics collide in Canada during the Israel-Hamas war
A comedy club in Toronto was a target in the fourth month of venues being protested.
Doorstep Postings: Touching grass, or touching the grassroots? Don’t ask the keffiyeh-wearing NHL anthem singer to understand Canada
This is a special edition of Doorstep Postings, the periodic political commentary column written by Josh Lieblein for The CJN. There’s no formal name for it, so, for the purposes of this column, I will call it the astroturf vs. grassroots problem. But rest assured: it is the most difficult problem in Canadian politics, and has […]
Obituary: Yehouda Chaki, 84, expressed both joy and pain in his vibrant paintings
The creative force was so strong in Montreal artist Yehouda Chaki that he did not allow a degenerative illness to stop him from painting the brilliantly coloured, large-scale scenes inspired by nature that were his signature. Even in recent years, as Parkinson’s robbed him of his ability to walk and even talk, Chaki was determined […]
A few Jewish artists from Nova Scotia are on the Halifax library walls in summer 2022
A new exhibition featuring Jewish artists from Nova Scotia is now showing at the Halifax Central Library. The art show, which opened July 31 and runs until Sept. 4, is composed of 12 pieces, each from a different artist. The Atlantic Jewish Council (AJC) suggested the idea to the library, and offered to organize the […]
Deep ties between China and the Jews are on display at a Toronto art exhibition called Tribute to Friendship
An art exhibit that honours the long and rich—but not well-known—history between China and the Jews opens May 25 in Toronto. Ian Leventhal, a Toronto artist who helped organize the exhibition Tribute to Friendship, said it marks the millennium anniversary of Jewish life in China. One thousand years ago, a Jewish community was founded in […]
Edmonton unveils a mosaic that shines a light on antisemitism
A mosaic that illustrates how the community feels about antisemitism was unveiled by the Jewish Federation of Edmonton at a Jan. 12 virtual event, featuring Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and artist Lewis Lavoie. Shine a Light on Antisemitism features a large hanukkiah over top of 613 small tiles of art, representing the number of laws in […]
Artist Charlotte Salomon comes to life in this new Canadian animated film
Keira Knightley stars in ‘Charlotte’, debuting at TIFF 2021.
A new kind of Haggadah
Ruty Korotaev uncovers the origins behind the New Hoffert Haggadah, which was illustrated by fine artist and clinical psychologist, Esther Gelcer.
A humanistic, yet traditional, haggadah
Barbara Silverstein speaks with Paul and Brenda Hoffert, who have created a new family haggadah that is humanistic, but still retains the traditional Hebrew songs and prayers.
