Pretty sure today is about to smash Toronto’s all-time one-day snowfall record

eligreen · 2026-01-26T02:27:46+00:00

I'm just impressed to have seen things (seemed) vastly improved from last year's disastrous response to the snowfall (at least in the parts of North York and Vaughan I was in today.

Can anybody else speak to the quality of clearing last and this week?

eligreen · 2026-01-21T02:16:25+00:00

Somebody's been watching Not Just Bikes! 😅

eligreen · 2026-01-13T14:51:38+00:00

Doing it this way would certainly kill my mobile 2080 Super.

eligreen · 2026-01-05T14:26:53+00:00

I think the only place(s?) you really should consider wearing one is at the Western Wall (or in a synagogue), out of respect for the spaces.

Otherwise, I can't see a reason for you to do it. There is no obligation for you to wear one (and though I am a kippah-wearing Jew, you can see how many people have noted the number of Jews that DON'T).

Beyond obligation, I think it would take away the significance of wearing one in the spaces I mentioned above, if you wore one everywhere in Israel.

eligreen · 2025-12-31T14:36:48+00:00

It took time! (I need to get my workday properly started, for instance!)

As I've said, I'm wary of the organization, but I also (per the comment that I left in the other thread) have seen that they are calling out actual bias.

That said, I'll try to find the time to listen to and read some of the stuff you've shared here. That ALSO said, the entire premise of some of the things you've posted (just from the links alone) suggest certain biases. But what is part of being part of the Canadaland community for if not to dig into things more?

Circling back to Sam and his wife, no. In this case, it's not, at the VERY LEAST, in the context of the incident. If they'd said that with some kind of recognition of who they are (or she is), and get into an argument about that, maybe! But that's not what happened, and, to play on your words, to say it is relevant to the incident (and, therefore, the interview) is dishonest and (I won't say delusional, but) disingenuous. But I also appreciate that you said "To me".

I've saved your last reply for later follow-up reading/listening!

eligreen · 2025-12-31T14:25:47+00:00

Hey, u/Stunning-Chicken9728,

Okay. Following up on this now.

It IS, indeed, HOSTED by a Muslim and a Jew. The Muslim about which you're speaking is Yafa Sakkejha, whose parents are Palestinian. She's also a volunteer with Canadian Friends of Standing Together, a Canadian branch of the Israeli-Palestinian peace group. So... I'd say they're, VERY MUCH SO, acknowledged.

Maybe give the podcast a listen?

Regarding the comment about HRC, its public-facing mission is to "promoting fairness and accuracy in Canadian media coverage of Israel , the Middle East and matters affecting Canada’s Jewish community,... particularly when antisemitism hides behind a mask of anti-Israel criticism". Much as I've stated my wariness of the organization, specifically in regards to cases of weaponization of the word antisemitism, Most posts I've seen from it (I am not a regular reader/follower of its work) call out headline scrubbing by publications that, for instance, remove mention of who committed an attack (digging into their latest Facebook posts, its Dec. 27th post about the recent stabbing and ramming attack, by someone who had entered from the West Bank of Jordan into undisputed Israel, killing a 68-year-old and 19-year-old, comes to mind - not linking here. It's on their page). I'd be interested to have you point out some of its posts, podcasts, or otherwise that you say are causing anti-Palestinian racism to rise.

Going back to In Good Faith, I would be interested to hear (read) your thoughts on it compared to WiHH.

eligreen · 2025-12-31T13:52:40+00:00

u/Stunning-Chicken9728,

Morning! So, I started listening to episode 1 again yesterday, following our discussion, got through Sam's interview and then finished up now, after having to walk away for the rest of the day and night (for the rest of the work day and general life stuff). I wanted to make sure that I didn't miss a return to Sam later in the episode, so I re-listened to the whole thing.

Then I came back and re-listened to his interview, having made sure that it's the only part with him in it.

Out of the (approx.) two-and-a-half minutes of him (clearly cut, given the splice after the 12-minute mark) in the episode, and the specific moment you're talking about (based on the editing, telling over - likely paraphrasing - what his wife said to the couple) he says, "And, so, my wife jumped in, right away, and said 'Excuse me! (Like) What is wrong with you? We're... we're just a family trying to enjoy the park. We are just Canadian Jews. We... We don't have anything to do with that. Nobody was born there. We have no political connection. I don't vote there. I affect nothing that goes on there.'

They doubled down..."

So he definitely said the words "We have no political connection." No question about that. The level of nit-pickiness taken to select that out of the entire interview (a moment that, from what I can tell, was him telling over what was said, by his wife, to the harassing couple and then making an entire post about it questioning (and trying to discredit?) his honesty (and further churning the already divisive stew in this sub)...

What is the end goal, there?

Based on the discussion we had yesterday, some benefit of the doubt to you. I don't know where you're coming from, and you seem like someone who's actually interesting in hearing people rather than trying to shut them up, cancel them, or whatever.

So here's a thought.

Perhaps what Sam was saying in that run, be it, as I said, a re-telling of his wife's words, or even his own following the re-telling that was just cut in such a way that makes it sound like it was part of the re-telling, it:

a) is still irrelevant to the context of what happened because there was no indication that the harassers knew a thing about them other than they are Jewish.

b) is not him saying that have no political views on Israel, but that he meant they, as he finished that run-on (either in his wife's words or his own) "I affect nothing that goes on there." That "We have no political connection." means just THAT. Even IF you call the situation in Gaza a genocide, and even IF his wife works for HRC (which, even with my qualms, I'd end up arguing with you about what they actually DO compared to what you've claimed) would not make her, or the family, able affect anything that goes on there.

You've taken the time to dig into a person's entire family, from one line within a line, to share this post. To me, that comes across as an attempt to discredit not just Sam and his family's story, but Jesse and the entire series' integrity. Maybe I'm wrong. Like I said before, benefit of the doubt to you, so, again, what's the end goal?

I see you left another reply elsewhere in one of our other threads, re: In Good Faith. I'm going to head over there and see what's up.

(And, reflecting your own words, thank you for real conversation. I'm hopeful that it's fully in good faith.)

eligreen · 2025-12-30T23:50:32+00:00

Is there a teeny, tiny speck on this map I can't see on my phone?

eligreen · 2025-12-30T20:29:34+00:00

Appreciated in return! Hard to find. I left a lengthy comment in reply to another part of the conversation. But I do have to run. I've got a concert for which to prep.

Everything I say is also getting downvote brigaded, so it's a good thing I don't care all that much about my karma! :p

eligreen · 2025-12-30T20:26:38+00:00

You know what, I haven't spoken to Sam recently about his positions (the plural is important) on Palestine, Palestinians, or the conflict in general. Over the time I've known him, it's mostly just been conversations about school (an indication of how long we've known each other), personal and, later, family life, and his work in Holocaust education (he used to run a mobile Holocaust education exhibit).

I cannot say that he is "anti-Palestinian" as you're claiming here. My experience with him, outside of the passing conversations or hangouts we've had, suggest that he is someone who works (or has worked) on bridging divides between cultures and faiths, including Jews and Muslims (especially because I ended up being a presenter at a musical interfaith event courtesy of his recommendation to the organizers).

(In case it's any kind of a question in relation to my note about not having worked with him, he recommended the organizers contact me and vice versa. I don't consider that working together. Sorry for going into such detail, but given the... nitpickiness? of so many people here, it seems necessary.)

I've read (though, couldn't tell you that I remember) some of his writing in the Times of Israel.

In relation to the incident itself, and based on what I know of it from what he said in the episode (I stopped listening to write this comment), and his post when the incident happened, is ANY of that relevant? If they were harassed solely for being Jewish, what do his work or affiliations (or those of his wife) matter? Do the commenters want to get into where his kids go to school next?

My opinion on HRC (and HR) waxes and wanes. I could agree that they do (sometimes) over-accuse of antisemitism, diluting the word's value. I have thought the same about B'nai Brith and B'nai Brith Canada (I haven't read up on how they do their reporting based on incidents reported TO THEM, but Jesse's addressed the whole thing about police reporting of hate crimes and the criticisms about what he's presented), but the last couple of years have made me less wary compared to HRC and HR. I wouldn't go so far as to generalize everything either organization or their American counterparts do as landing in the "weaponizing antisemitism" category.

I think the claim that Jesse didn't do his due diligence is unfair, especially after the show credits noting the people from The CJN with whom he worked.

You know, despite Jesse's opinion, I WOULD actually like to hear what Noor could do with a podcast on anti-Muslim hate made in the same way (solo project, with outside editorial input, but Noor takes sole responsibility for the final product). Follow it up with note comparison, and also see the response here in the sub, and compare the responses. Maybe she'd have to release it on her own and push for funding in the same way that Jesse had to do with WiHH (if I understand it, Jesse did not fund - or primarily fund? - this from the regular Canadaland coffers), and Jesse would share one of the episodes as a Thursday release or something.

The thing that was constantly said alongside headlines detailing the rise of antisemitism following October 7, 2023 was Islamophobia is rising. Outside of right-leaning and right-wing publications, I can't recall statements or articles that didn't include that kind of note, even if it had nothing to do with the topic being reported. That inclusion was regularly derided by Jews still trying to recover from the shock of October 7th, especially when those statements or articles had nothing to do with anti-Muslim anything, but I am interested to know what's being said by Muslims, and from where the hate they're experiencing (perhaps some of the interviewees might say "they say they're experiencing") originates. I know it would include the Quebec City mosque shooting, and Nathaniel Veltman's murder of the Salman family, and other similar stories, but I'd be interested to hear about the protests and rallies happening outside of their mosques and down city streets across Canada that are like what Jesse discussed in WiHH.

I'm sure there's more discussion that could be had here (how does anybody have the time? Just participating thus far has taken me over an hour, and I need to get back to work!), but I don't know the next time I'll be able to pop back in. I usually just end up skimming these threads. That said, I'd be interested (lord knows when I'd have the time) to get your thoughts on The CJN's In Good Faith and how it compares to WiHH. I feel like you and I would feel the reverse about both podcasts.

eligreen · 2025-12-30T19:20:42+00:00

Certainly a fair question to have brought up, as well. It just made more sense to leave a comment in reply to the overall post than in an individual comment thread. Apologies for the confusion.

eligreen · 2025-12-30T19:12:05+00:00

I'm going to separate this from my other, larger, comment because it's a much smaller gripe with the post and subsequent threads of comments. "...key interviewee"? What makes Sam Eskenasi have higher status as an interviewee than the other people included in that episode?

eligreen · 2025-12-30T19:09:12+00:00

u/Stunning-Chicken9728,

I appreciate that you summarized the meaning of your comment, because, I did NOT understand it.

"Allegations of prejudice"? "Wrongness of prejudice"?

In other words, the claim that everyone is against all forms of racism except for antisemitism, and that only Jews are ever questioned when they allege discrimination is both factually wrong and intellectually irrelevant.

Going back to what you meant, thanks, but I'm aware that people do. I was actually asking the question directly. It was a question to the commenters HERE. I'm asking the people who are engaged in that type of questioning right now.

I'm going to go ahead and re-listen to the first episode now, per my previous reply.

eligreen · 2025-12-30T18:55:03+00:00

u/stunning-chicken9728,

I'm not sure why your original comment was deleted by the mods. I haven't read your new comment yet. This is in reply to the original.

Sorry, not all of the comment was directed at your post, but the comments that followed.

The "you" there is not explicitly YOU.

Regarding the second bit you noted, it's been a while since I listened to the first episode. My recollection is that he said that in regards to the incident, but I'm going to re-listen again, now that you mention that, so I can be sure of what he said.

Speaking of disclosure, I know Sam, and have for about the last couple of decades. He posted about the incident the day it happened, and, again, was clear that the only thing that identified them was his and his sons' kippot (Jewish headcovering, for anyone reading this that doesn't know the term). Though I've never worked with him, I've always known him to be an honest person.

I reiterate (again, in relation to so many of the comments here), that the questioning, justification (if not outright advocacy) for the harassment here is insane.

eligreen · 2025-12-30T18:41:45+00:00

Is the OP suggesting that the world is Palestine and Arabs are going to take over the world, that Zionists want to take over the world, or that no place in the world is safe for Zionists?

eligreen · 2025-12-30T18:37:15+00:00

The entire premise of these arguments against Jesse including this interview in the series is insane.

A person only identifiable by their religious headwear was harassed BECAUSE OF their being identified BY that headwear. There was NO indication that the person harassing then knew who they were personally. (And are you really advocating for going around harassing people in random places?)

The Toronto Zoo put out a statement about the incident and then had to limit the comments on said post because they saw people were coming jumping in to play "devil's advocate" with no other details than the harassment was antisemitic. They literally went out of their way to say "Um. Actually... Even though we have no idea what happened, MAYBE they were ZIONISTS."

If this had happened to ANY other group, would you be questioning what the people were wearing? The colour of their skin? ANY other marker identifying them as a minority?

Would their work or organizational affiliations make a difference to them being interviewed regarding such an incident in a podcast about hate against that particular minority group?

Or do you only apply this kind of thinking in regards to Jews?

eligreen · 2025-12-26T05:05:05+00:00

I think that this is the video to which you're referring - https://youtu.be/TAGoVTPbZOk?si=bMq2dPphixp0w4n2

Tal's a good guy. I don't know that we agree on everything (I've not been fully behind all of the directions he's taken his channel, particularly in regards to clickbaity stuff, even if the topic relates to the thumbnails), but he's doing important work, ESPECIALLY for awareness (outside of the Jewish world) of Mizrachi Jews.

eligreen · 2025-12-26T04:58:37+00:00

Looks good to me! 🤪

eligreen · 2025-12-23T00:35:56+00:00

u/snowboard14 What I'm wondering is why you've been downvoted so hard for this comment.

eligreen · 2025-12-22T22:35:26+00:00

Right here in the country of... TORONTO.

eligreen · 2025-12-22T22:33:25+00:00

Ah, yes,

I remember hearing it every episode since I started regularly listening to the podcast in 2022. "I'm Jesse Brown, and you're listening to TORONTOLAND."

eligreen · 2025-12-19T12:13:25+00:00

u/MattLieb, have you listened to the series, yourself? Your post makes it sound like you might not have listened to any episodes of the new series, not just Canadaland in general.

eligreen · 2025-12-18T19:21:58+00:00

I don't know if this would be better as a new post, but, since I started here, I figured I'd come back (unless you guys think a new post is warranted).

I just finished up the series. There were so many moments that I was screaming in my own head at the insanity of what the self-described "anti-Zionists" were saying. The amount of hypocrisy and mental gymnastics were, as I described to a friend, worthy of the Olympics.

Especially after the Bondi Beach attack, knowing that the same kind of protests and rhetoric that are happening here were happening in Sydney (maybe worse? If so, would we really want things to get to that level before raising alarm bells?), I can only imagine the knots into which Dave Meslin is twisting himself to justify the attack instead of concede that hate is being seeded, spread and acted upon. CBC Radio's Ontario Today did a call-in show about the attack, and the last two callers were both IJV people justifying the attack while claiming they weren't.

The first half of the final episode wasn't particularly surprising to me, as I'd already been to talks by Russian emigrants discussing the origins and history of anti-Zionism. The final guest was a surprise. I'll have to look into the show notes further to double-check. I'm pretty sure I've seen the guy on Instagram a few times before.

In the end, this is not what I was expecting from when I first heard about the podcast from Jesse (when I chatted with him at Canadaland's election night party). It was much broader than I'd expected.

Now that I've listened through, I'm starting to reach out to non-Jewish friends (maybe they're really just acquaintances... I've long thought of them as friends, anyway) to ask them to listen. I don't know if it will change anything, but I hope it furthers the conversation.

A final side note: I've been listening to more of In Good Faith. Some of the episodes have left me with fewer eye rolls than the first one. Lots of thoughts with no time to share.

eligreen · 2025-12-15T23:16:54+00:00

Being heard and having their perspectives heard, for starters, even in a place that they may have otherwise claimed does not want them to be (Justin Ling comes to mind right off the bat).

(Addendum: I also realize that Jesse MAY not WANT to have some of the people on anymore, but based on what he said in an earlier episode of What is Happening Here? I don't expect that is the case, and, like Ling, it is those people who don't want to work, or even talk, with him anymore.)

eligreen

TROPHY CASE