The CJN Daily with Ellin Bessner

The CJN Podcast Network
  • 5.0 (4)
  • DAILY NEWS
  • UPDATED DAILY
The CJN Daily with Ellin Bessner

Newsmaker conversations from The Canadian Jewish News, hosted by Ellin Bessner, a veteran broadcaster, writer and journalist.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    How Israel is preparing to get the hostages back beginning Sunday

    The Israeli government has begun preparations to ratify a deal that would begin releasing some of the remaining 98 hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7. In exchange, they plan to enact a ceasefire with Hamas and free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Already, lists are circulating around the media of which hostages will be released first—women, children and seniors are taking priority—while Israeli hospitals and trauma centres are preparing to receive them, after they spent 467 days in captivity in Gaza. But, unlike the last brief ceasefire and hostage deal in Nov. 2023, this one likely won’t have news media on the scene—and the handover from Hamas to Israel will be done differently, too. The process is expected to begin Sunday, Jan. 19. The reaction within Israel has been mixed. According to Vivian Bercovici, Canada’s former ambassador to Israel, the deal is causing “agony and anguish” among some hardliners who slam the deal as a capitulation to Hamas, especially given that Hamas has not been “destroyed”, as the government promised, after 15 months of war. Others acknowledge that this the only way to bring the remaining hostages home quickly, whether they’re dead or alive. On today’s episode of The CJN Daily, Vivian Bercovici joins Ellin Bessner to provide an on-the-ground report from the Holy Land. She explains why the deal allows Israel to stay true to its founding promise that it will leave no one behind—despite the cost. What we talked about: Read more about Iris Weinstein Haggai’s campaign to have the body of her Canadian-raised mother, Judih Weinstein Haggai, returned from Gaza, in The CJN. Hear the families of Canadian hostages (or victims) of Oct. 7come to Ottawa to lobby Canadian lawmakers to secure their release from Hamas, on The CJN Daily. Toronto resident Mayan Shavit opens up about the murder of her cousin Carmel Gat in Sept. 2024, a hostage held by Hamas in captivity in Gaza, on The CJN Daily. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

    31 min

  2. 3 DAYS AGO

    Pending hostage release deal will be 'excruciating and painful' for everyone, says Israeli Ambassador to Canada

    Israel’s Ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, is actively monitoring the hourly reports coming out of the Middle East and Washington about negotiations for a deal that would usher in a new ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, paving the way for a gradual release of dozens of Israeli hostages (in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli custody). According to U.S. and Israeli news sources, Hamas prepared a list of about 33 hostages they are prepared to release. They would start with civilians before handing over female soldiers and others. Moed fervently hopes that the Bibas children, Kfir and Ariel, and their parents will be among the first to be freed after a captivity that’s lasted 465 days. But while the negotiations are still happening, Moed calls the process “excruciating” and “painful” for the hostages families, as the release may be joyful—but also possibly heartbreaking. In this special evening edition of The CJN Daily, Moed joins to discuss the possible outcomes of this rapidly evolving story—as well as separate issues that have kept him busy while waiting. His office has been closely monitoring the case of Hassan Diab, a professor in Ottawa who was convicted of terrorism for bombing a synagogue in Paris that resulted in the deaths of four people (including the mother of Moed’s personal friend); and the controversial Islamist conference organized by Hizb ut-Tahrir Canada, slated for this weekend until its recent cancellation. What we talked about: Read more about the Israeli Ambassador’s views on Canada’s blocking arms sales to Israel, funding UNRWA, and his trip to Israel in March 2024 with Melanie Joey and Ya’ara Saks, in The CJN. Iddo Moed’s first interview with The CJN Daily on Oct. 8, 2023 just hours after the deadly Hamas attack and just a few days since arriving to take the diplomatic post Judih Weinstein Haggai confirmed dead, in The CJN. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

    28 min

  3. 5 DAYS AGO

    We walked through the Royal Ontario Museum’s new Auschwitz exhibit. Hear what’s inside

    'Auschwitz: Not Long Ago. Not Far Away' opened Jan. 10 in Toronto at the Royal Ontario Museum, marking the only Canadian stop for the eight-year-old travelling show. The exhibit originally launched in Spain in 2017, and the Toronto version is a smaller edition due to space restrictions: showcasing some 500 artifacts and photos from the actual site of Auschwitz, the modern world’s most notorious genocide factory. But while the Canadian debut may seem belated, the timing is perfect: it arrives just a couple of weeks ahead of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on Jan. 27. It’s also a significant time for the Canadian Jewish community, which is facing an unprecedented spike in antisemitism, including Holocaust denial and distortion, wherein Israelis are being called modern Nazis for their military response in Gaza after Oct. 7. Were these issues on the minds of the curators? How has the exhibit adapted to update post-Oct. 7? The CJN Daily‘s host, Ellin Bessner, went to see for herself. On a private media tour on the day before the exhibit opened to the public, Bessner walked through the museum wondering about the relevance of showcasing the eerie similarities between this past year and the months leading up to the Holocaust. As she discovered, the organizers aren't moralizing or preaching, but rather letting their rigorously researched historical evidence and facts speak for themselves. On the episode, you'll hear from Toronto Holocaust historian professor Robert Jan van Pelt, whose mother survived Auschwitz; and from British curator Paul Salmons, plus Luis Ferreiro, director of the private Spanish company MUSEALIA, which owns the touring exhibit. Joshua Basseches, the CEO of the ROM, also joins. What we talked about: Learn more about the ROM exhibit Auschwitz: Not So Long Ago. Not So Far Away and how to buy tickets. School groups get free admission. Learn more about the exhibit’s chief Auschwitz historian, Toronto professor Robert Jan van Pelt, in The CJN archives Read about the ROM’s exhibit 2017 called “The Evidence Room” which professor van Pelt also curated, in The CJN archives. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

    39 min

  4. JAN 9

    Honourable Menschen remembers an enthusiastic eater, a nonagenarian DJ, the Wayne Gretzky of vasectomies, a disability rights fundraiser, and The CJN’s ex-president

    This week on The CJN Daily, we brought you an interview with human rights advocate Judy Feld Carr about her decades of work to rescue Syrian Jews. But her husband, Donald Carr, didn’t know the full extent of it—it was only weeks before he died, in November 2024, that she felt safe enough to disclose to him the full extent of her clandestine Syrian missions over the past fifty years. Donald Carr, 96, a prominent lawyer and community leader, was also one of The CJN’s most ardent supporters, acting as a longtime board member. That’s why, on this first Honourable Menschen episode of 2025, obituary columnist Heather Ringel joins host Ellin Bessner to share anecdotes about the life of Carr—and four other prominent Canadian leaders we recently lost. You’ll hear about Dr. Ronald Weiss, 68, of Ottawa, who was nicknamed “the Wayne Gretzky of vasectomies”, having performed a record-breaking 58,789 of them; Michael (Muki) Baum, 64, a Toronto artist who fundraised hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of treatment centres for people like him with multiple disabilities; celebrity chef Marty Galin, 74, who created the world’s largest salad; and radio host Ethel Taylor, 99, who started her on-air career at the age of 92. What we talked about: Read Heather Ringel’s tributes to our Honourable Menschen and Women in The CJN: Muki Baum, Dr. Ron Weiss, Donald Carr. Learn more about Marty Galin’s life, on Steeles Memorial Chapel. Ethel Taylor’s story is on The Bay 88.7 FM website. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

    30 min

  5. JAN 7

    How Jewish issues affected Justin Trudeau’s loss of support—and ultimate resignation

    For several months now, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather has been calling for his boss to resign. The Montreal-area politician first broke publicly with his party in March 2024, over its positions on the Israel-Hamas war—yet he ultimately decided to remain in the Liberal caucus. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau later appointed Housefather as special advisor on the Jewish community and antisemitism, but that promotion didn’t stop Housefather from calling for Trudeau to step down in recent weeks. On Jan. 6, 2025, Housefather finally got his wish. Trudeau announced he would resign as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada after the party votes on a new leader. To give themselves some time, the prime minister prorogued parliament until March 24. The significant decision comes on the heels of tenuous conflicts that the Prime Minister’s Office faced, both within and beyond his own party—including conflicts over Jewish issues. His centrist approach to the Middle East conflict invited criticism on his foreign affairs file from right- and left-leaning supporters, while Canadian Jewish voters faced unprecedented spikes in antisemitism across the country, with some laying blame, rightly or wrongly, at the foot of the federal government. For his part, Housefather thinks Canadian Jews should stick with the Liberals under a new leader, and plans to advocate for Jewish issues with the forthcoming candidates. (He’s already praising Christy Clark, the former B.C. premier, and Chrystia Freeland, the ex-finance minister). Housefather joins The CJN Daily to discuss Trudeau’s historic resignation and lays out what to expect. Then, we speak with Jeremy Levi, the mayor of the Town of Hampstead, Quebec, for his take on the moment and why Trudeau’s decision doesn’t move the needle for Conservative supporters such as himself. Related links Read what Justin Trudeau told The CJN in 2015 about his and his party’s positions on Jewish and Israel issues before he was first elected as Prime Minister with a majority. Review why Liberal MP Anthony Housefather almost left the Liberal government over its anti-Israel positions, on The CJN Daily, from March 2024. Learn more about Hampstead Mayor Jeremy Levi, a Conservative supporter who has become a vocal critic of the Liberals, especially Housefather, in this recent The CJN profile. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

    33 min

  6. JAN 6

    Judy Feld Carr, secret rescuer of Syria’s last Jews, hails the end of Assad’s regime

    This week marks one month since Islamist rebels overthrew the brutal Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and took control of the country, forcing the former president to flee for his life to Russia on Dec. 8.  Jews around the world, including in Canada, might breathe a sigh of relief at some of the new regime’s stated attitudes toward Jews and Israel. Their leader has made promising comments about not wanting to continue its war with Israel, and the ruling party has also pledged to allow people of all religions to worship freely in the war-torn country, Jews included. There’s just one problem: there are barely any left. That’s according to retired human rights advocate Judy Feld Carr. The Canadian activist has spent decades masterminding the secret exodus of Syria’s remaining Jewish population; by 2001, she had successfully smuggled out more than 3,300 Syrian Jews, including many who had been imprisoned, tortured and falsely accused of being Israeli spies. Unsurprisingly, Feld Carr has been monitoring the recent developments in Damascus, including reports about the condition of the local Jewish community’s historic buildings and the whearabouts of millions of dollars worth of looted Jewish artifacts. She joins The CJN Daily to shed light on what what life was like for Syrian Jews under the Assad regime, and why there are still some parts of her clandestine mission that can never be made public. Related links Read more from Judy Feld Carr about her rescue mission for the Jews of Syria, in The CJN archives from 2017. Why growing up Jewish in Sudbury, Ont. helped Judy Feld Carr deal with bullies, in The CJN magazine from 2022.  Watch the documentary "Miss Judy" on YouTube. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

    29 min

  7. 12/30/2024

    Reporters Notebook: What were the top stories for Canadian Jews in 2024?

    Over the past 12 months, The CJN team has produced more than 700 podcast episodes, news stories, opinion pieces and foreign dispatches. The overwhelming theme has been the reverberation of Oct. 7: firebombed synagogues, gunshots at schools, anti-Zionist campus encampments, cancelled Jewish artists, a crackdown on Jewish charities—and more. But we always make sure our coverage balances heartache and hope. Throughout the year, we've also reported on the powerful resurgence of Jewish pride and engagement in Canada's spiritual and communal life—increased numbers of Jewish conversions, secular artists embracing their Jewish identities, solidarity across political lines—which gives us a cause for optimism, even while tense conversations about the Israel-Hamas war continue dividing families, colleagues and civil society at large. On today's episode of The CJN Daily, host Ellin Bessner assembles a team of CJN reporters from across the country to weigh in on the most talked-about stories of the past year and predict what we might expect in 2025. You'll hear from news editor Lila Sarick; Quebec correspondent Joel Ceausu; Western Canada correspondent Sam Margolis in Victoria, B.C.; staff reporter Jonathan Rothman, who covers Toronto city hall and culture pieces; Local Journalism Initiative reporter Mitch Consky, whose beat is campus life and education; and the producer of this very podcast, Zachary Kauffman. What we talked about: Read more about Indigo Books winning legal action to block the BDS movement’s effort to boycott the retailer, in The CJN. Hear the interviews with Anthony Housefather about his decision to stay in the Liberal Party, and also our interview with Ya’ara Saks on her choice to meet with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas, both on The CJN Daily. Read more about Selina Robinson’s new tell-all book, in The CJN. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

    28 min

  8. 12/25/2024

    This Hanukkah, a new children’s book shares the true story of a young boy who kept the light on in his shtetl

    Just in time for Hanukkah, comes a century-old-tale of a young Jewish boy’s courage to take on an adult’s responsibilities as chief light keeper in his Russian shtetl. It’s the true story of Ottawa’s Samuel Saslove, who stepped up to keep his community's brand new electric street lights working, at the tender age of ten. Saslove arrived in Canada in the 1920s and while he didn’t divulge much about his experiences growing up in “the old country”, his daughter, Sheila Baslaw, preserved those memories for decades. Now, at 92, Baslaw has found a whole new audience for her father’s inspiring tale of bravery and resilience. Her debut children’s book “The Light Keeper”, co-written with Karen Levine of “Hana’s Suitcase” fame, has just been published by Second Story Press and is already a Heather’s Pick at Indigo. While Baslaw’s father did have to overcome antisemitism–and the persecution of Jews in Czarist Russia that sparked mass emigration to this country in the 1900s–her book’s message deliberately highlights the universal challenges many of her young readers could face. On today’s episode of The CJN Daily, Sheila Baslaw joins along with her co-author to explain why it’s never too late to learn a new skill. What we talked about: Learn more and buy 'The Light Keeper' book at Second Story Press. Read more about Hana’s Suitcase, the true story of the Brady family, on The CJN Daily. Hear more stories about the author’s family in her oral history with the Ottawa Jewish Archives from 2001. Credits Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner) Production team: Zachary Kauffman (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Dov Beck-Levine Support our show Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to The CJN Daily (Not sure how? Click here)

    23 min
See All (632)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Newsmaker conversations from The Canadian Jewish News, hosted by Ellin Bessner, a veteran broadcaster, writer and journalist.

Information

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada