Liberals, NDP target finance minister in CIJA debate
TORONTO — A debate featuring representatives of the three major parties got a little feisty on Wednesday as the New Democratic Party and Liberal candidates took turns targeting Conservative Finance Minister Joe Oliver on issues of economic performance, anti-terrorism legislation and support for Israel.
But Oliver gave as good as he got, questioning the Liberals’ past record of voting against Israel at the United Nations and pointing out the NDP had some “problematic” members running in the election.
Q&A Rabbi Marvin Hier: Iran will create havoc in Mideast
Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, was in Toronto earlier this month to meet with donors and supporters of the Toronto-based Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies.
During his visit, Rabbi Hier, named the “Most Influential Rabbi in America” in a 2008 Newsweek article, spoke to The CJN about his organization’s stance on the recent deal between the United States and Iran regarding the latter’s nuclear program.
The top five flaws of the Iran deal
The controversy surrounding the recently negotiated Iran deal is escalating as details of the agreement are disclosed. What follows are five of the most significant flaws of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Will we see an Israeli-Cuban rapprochement?
Ever since Cuba’s Fidel Castro decided to unilaterally sever relations with Israel in 1973 – just days after the end of the Yom Kippur War – the two countries have, for the most part, remained cool to each other.
Nuclear deal lets Iran delay and impede inspection
In their effort to shore up support for their Iran nuclear deal, U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry argue that you either support the agreement or you favour war. In refusing to acknowledge a third way – a better agreement – they’ve set up numerous straw men, reducing their opponents to warmongers.
The media – in particular the American media, which have a special interest in covering this controversy – have largely failed to sort out fact from allegation.
My trip to South Africa
I recently went to South Africa. My son invited me to join his doctoral course, which explored the after-apartheid practices of colleges and universities there. The trip itself was amazing, leaving me with three insights or challenges.
Week of July 30, 2015
More cantors needed
I have just returned from the European Cantors Association convention this year in Leeds, England, where I was one of several lecturers on the subject of cantors. I was impressed with the traditionalism of a city with a mere 8,000 Jews, a small fraction of whom are Orthodox. Yet they are able to maintain three large Orthodox synagogues with cantors, one with over 1,000 seats, albeit with small memberships.
Nuclear agreement is based on an Iranian lie
New York — Today is the last day of my long tenure as national director of the Anti-Defamation League. It has been a highly satisfactory and meaningful 28 years as director and 50 years as a professional at this prestigious organization.
So why am I choosing to write an article on my last day? It is the same imperative that has motivated me all these years: If I see something troubling to the Jewish people, I cannot be still.
Foreign policy musings before the fall election
As the federal election approaches, party leaders have begun to articulate their visions for how Canada would best be served in both the domestic and the international arenas. It behooves all Canadians to reflect on the political issues that matter to us. What does your ideal Canada look like? Below is a sampling of broad foreign policy principles that would win my vote.
My Canada would demonstrate a genuine concern for human rights, in particular, the most basic human right to life, liberty and security of the person.
Ambassador speaks out against Iran nuclear deal
In the aftermath of this week’s agreement between Iran and the P5+1 countries, we must ask one simple, yet important question: Is the world a safer or more dangerous place?
For Israelis, who unlike those in North America do not have the luxury of being a 14-hour flight away from Iran, the answer is crystal clear. Even though we are a population known for our predilection to disagree with one another, there is a reason why Israelis of all political stripes stand united in their opposition to the agreement.
