Canadian support for Israel, Jewish Agency programming, a listener’s question, the 1972 Sabena hijacking and the month of Elul are today’s topics.
First, VOI’s Dov Lipman hears from former Canadian Justice Minister and current MP Irwin Cotler, who makes a bold statement that, “Canadian support for Israel will continue regardless of the Canadian election results.” Cotler notes the countries’ shared values of democracy and human rights, and makes it clear that whether Canadians vote Conservative or Liberal in the upcoming October elections, that alliance will remain strong. He also talks about Canada’s fight against ISIS and his opinion on the decriminalization of marijuana.
Then, Dov speaks with Gideon Venner of the Jewish Agency’s Partnership2Gether, who discusses developing programming that molds the next generation of Jewish leaders, such as the Diller Teen Fellows. Venner talks about breaking down barriers separating different demographics.
Next, Dov answers a listener’s question regarding the hosts’s support for the Supreme Court decision to limit incarceration of illegal refugees. Dov discusses how refugees who remain in Israel ought to be treated, before talking about the need to rehabilitate southern Tel Aviv.
Then, Dov is joined by Linda Lipschitz — daughter of Captain Reginald Levy, the pilot of the Sabena Airlines flight hijacked in 1972 — who talks about what it was like to be the daughter of her father, both before and after the terror attack. She describes how her father took on his part in saving the lives of his passengers — and never viewed himself as a hero.
Finally, Dov speaks about the Jewish month of Elul, which begins today. He explains that it is a month of spiritual reflection and refocusing of priorities, a month during which Jews mentally and physically prepare for the High Holidays. He links this concept to his experience of dropping his son off at rabbinic seminary, an institution at which the young men also serve in the IDF. listen now