Traditionally, the Book of Jonah is read in the synagogue on the afternoon of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Why? The rabbis give a variety of reasons: Because the book reminds us of G-d’s infinite mercy, because the people of Ninveh are a paradigm of repentance, because the book serves as a reminder that the entire world, and all of its natural forces, are in G-d’s hands, and because as we...

The Jewish high holidays are a period to collectively repent for our wrongdoings over the last year, and imagine how we will enact our ethical values in the year to come. It is traditional in the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, known as the “Days of Awe,” to reflect on the past year, repent, and seek forgiveness. The traditional liturgy focuses on confessing our transgressions during the Days of Awe. Even if they...

Location: Remotely from anywhere in Canada.  Salary: $45,000 + commensurate with skills and experience; inclusive of 10% in lieu of benefits and pension; + $300/mo office allowance.  Closing Date: Tuesday, August 15, at noon ET.  Duration: One-year full-time contract with renewal a possibility. Who we are:  Independent Jewish Voices Canada (IJV) is a grassroots organization grounded in Jewish tradition that opposes all forms of racism and advocates for justice and peace for all in Israel-Palestine....

Registration is now open for "Anti-Racist Solidarity and the Fight for Justice in Palestine", IJV's 15th anniversary conference! We warmly invite you to join us in Toronto June 16-17 for what promises to be an exciting and memorable event. Purchase your tickets here Visit the conference webpage here The conference will take place Friday-Saturday followed by our 2023 IJV Annual General Meeting on Sunday, June 18. The AGM will be hybrid in-person and online with the option...

May 15th marks the 75 anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic). Nakba Day is observed in Palestine and around the world to commemorate the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians surrounding Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948. Significantly, 2023 will be the first time Nakba Day is officially observed by the United Nations. The Nakba is not a historical event, but an ongoing process of ethnic cleansing and colonization. The Zionist dream...

IJV’s Online Chavurah is having a Shavuot study session on Thursday, May 25 at 7 pm Eastern Time. You must register in advance to attend this event on Zoom Click here to register What do we celebrate on Shavuot? Shavuot in the Bible is exclusively an agricultural holiday. Nowhere in the Bible is Shavuot linked to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Why, then, do we celebrate the “giving of the Torah at...