Gad Saad, the Canadian professor and social media icon with well over a million followers online, grew up in Lebanon as one of a rapidly decreasing number of Jews in the 1970s and '80s. He routinely faced genuine, unabashed Jew hatred, hearing "Death to the Jews" chants in the streets—and witnessing his own school friends talk about killing Jews.

Fast-forward to this week, and Israel is preparing a probable ground invasion of southern Lebanon, shortly following their remarkable pager attack on Hezbollah members and assassination of longtime organization leader Hassan Nasrallah. As Lebanon makes headlines around the world, Saad sat down with Rivka Campbell, host of The CJN's podcast about Jews of colour, to share stories of the Lebanon he remembers before his family fled for a safer life in Canada. He explains why he always felt close to his Lebanese roots and how he hopes the country can return to a pluralistic, accepting state.

In 2024-2025, Saad is a visiting professor and global ambassador at Northwood University. He joins us from his home city of Montreal.

Credits

• Host: Rivka Campbell
• Producer: Michael Fraiman
• Music: Westside Gravy

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• Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt)
• Subscribe to Rivkush (Not sure how? Click here)

Adiel Cohen remembers Oct. 7 like it was yesterday. He was at his sister's house in Northern Israel when he woke up to hear his phone buzzing with rocket alerts and notifications. His first-ever panic attack washed over him as he realized he would quickly be called back into the army—which happened immediately after Shabbat. That night, Cohen filled a backpack with a few essentials and travelled south on the eerily quiet roads.

After his time fighting in the south, he returned to his studies at Tel Aviv University, but didn't stop fighting for his country. Instead of prepping rocket launchers near Gaza, he took to TikTok and Instagram to argue against anti-Zionists describing his home country as a land of colonizing Europeans. For Cohen, this line of attack is particularly egregious, as one of his biggest inspirations is his grandmother, who came to Israel from Yemen decades ago.

Cohen joins Rivkush, The CJN's podcast about Jews of colour, to talk about the history of Yemeni Jews, share his war stories and explain why watermelon is actually a very Israeli fruit.

Credits

• Host: Rivka Campbell
• Producer: Michael Fraiman
• Music: Westside Gravy

Support The CJN

• Subscribe to The CJN newsletter
• Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt)
• Subscribe to Rivkush (Not sure how? Click here)

When the University of Windsor recently conceded to the demands of its pro-Palestinian encampment protesters, officials signed an agreement that stated, among other anti-Israel sentiments, the post-secondary institution would affirm "its commitment towards principles of decolonization... in the context of the occupation of Palestine."

The narrative of Israel as a colonizing force is synonymous with the modern-day pro-Palestinian movement. But it's a narrative thrust upon Jews and Israelis by non-Jewish actors—a fact that Ysabella Hazan is keen to point out.

The young law school graduate, backed by 40,000 Instagram followers, is a rising star in the Jewish activist space, working out of Montreal to promote a movement and clothing line she calls "Decolonized Judean". It's not just about Israel: Hazan rejects numerous facets of Judaism that seem imposed by non-Jews, as well, such as the Christian concept of God.

Hazan, whose roots are Moroccan, recently joined Rivka Campbell for a live taping of The CJN podcast Rivkush, about noteworthy Jews of colour, at Beth Tikvah Synagogue in Toronto.

Credits

Rivkush is hosted by Rivka Campbell. Michael Fraiman is the editor and producer. Our theme music is by Westside Gravy. The show is a member of The CJN Podcast Network. Support the show by subscribing to this podcast or donating to The CJN.