The House, which offered programming for Toronto’s young Jewish adults, closes after 18 years
Eighteen years ago, Rabbi Rafi Lipner founded an organization called The House for young Jewish adults in Toronto. But on April 13, just before the start of Passover, he sent out an email announcing The House would be closing its doors. Rabbi Lipner launched the effort in September 2004, providing a space for Jews of […]
Al-Quds Day Rally in Toronto less vitriolic than in past years—but still not ‘benign’, Jewish groups say
This year’s Al-Quds Day rally in Toronto, held on April 30 outside the city’s University Avenue courthouse, was not as hateful or antisemitic as many concerned organizations and advocates feared it would be, based on past iterations of the event. The day before the event, Toronto police chief James Ramer held a press conference to […]
Toronto police chief says hate crimes unit will be at the annual Al-Quds rally; tells protesters to keep the event lawful and peaceful
The Al-Quds Day rally is set to return to the streets of downtown Toronto on Saturday, April 30, after two years of taking place online. A day earlier, police chief James Ramer told a press conference that his force is taking extra steps to ensure the event remains lawful and peaceful—and they will investigate and […]
Snowstorms in Winnipeg—not to mention COVID everywhere else—threaten to disrupt Canadians’ seder plans for the third year in a row
Happy Pandemic Passover from The CJN!
The Greater Toronto Hockey League is looking into alleged antisemitic remarks made by a parent of a player on the Don Mills Mustangs
The Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) has opened an investigation into an allegation of antisemitism after an incident at a game on March 6. At that game, a parent of a player on the Avenue Road Ducks Under 13 A team allegedly heard a parent of a player on the Don Mills Mustangs team use […]
Obituary: Rabbi Benjamin Friedberg helped calm waters at Toronto’s Beth Tzedec Congregation
Rabbi Benjamin Friedberg, who served as spiritual leader of Toronto’s Beth Tzedec Congregation for 18 years, died on March 30 at the age of 94. Rabbi Friedberg came to Beth Tzedec in 1956, the synagogue’s first year, as assistant rabbi. He went on to serve pulpits at Or Shalom Congregation in London, Ont., the former […]
Toronto Chabad community plans a parade of ‘mitzvah tanks’ to celebrate Passover and remember a yeshiva student
A Toronto yeshiva student who died last month in a car accident is being commemorated on April 3 by the city’s Chabad community during a lively parade of “mitzvah tanks.” The fleet of 15 decorated RVs will drive up Bathurst Street beginning at 11 a.m. to hand out matzah and pamphlets about the coming holiday […]
A new credit union for Toronto’s Jewish community is planning to help first-time homebuyers secure a mortgage
The first credit union approved by provincial regulators in over a decade is the first one to focus on the Jewish community—especially its growing need for accessible mortgages. Lighthouse Credit Union will provide many of the same services as a traditional bank, but its priority will be to help first-time buyers in Toronto’s competitive and […]
A mischief charge for a rabbi that followed a paint-dumping protest at the Israeli consulate has been dropped
A criminal charge against a Hamilton, Ont. rabbi who allegedly dumped red paint on the steps of the building housing Israel’s Toronto consulate has been withdrawn. On Jan. 19, the Crown dropped a charge of one count of mischief under $5,000 against Rabbi David Mivasair for pouring paint on the steps of 2 Bloor St. […]
Speakers at Mel Lastman’s funeral remember his love of family, politics, and being Jewish
Boisterous, a loving family man, and a man of the people with the common touch. Those were the overarching themes of the eulogies given by the sons and grandchildren of Mel Lastman, at his Dec. 13 funeral, at Toronto’s Benjamin’s Park Memorial Chapel. The former mayor of North York, and later, mayor of the City […]
