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North Star with Ellin Bessner

The CJN Podcasts
Israel
Anti-Semitism
Canada
Jewish Community
Auschwitz
Antisemitism
Holocaust
Toronto
Hamas
Iran
Canadian Jewish News
Montreal
Hate Crimes
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Zionism
Bill C-9
Israel-Hamas Conflict
Vancouver
Passover
Ira Gluskin and Maxine Grunofsky Gluskin Charitable Foundation

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes852Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsPolitics

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Artwork for North Star

Latest Episodes

On Aug. 7, Todd Shapiro was just finishing dinner in Summerland, B.C., when a wildfire outside the town “exploded” and prompted an immediate provincial emergency evacuation order. The former Montrealer, who had just moved to the Okanagan area last su... more

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On Aug. 5, a new national study of antisemitism on Canadian university campuses revealed a startling reality: 95.7 per cent of Jewish students surveyed said they had experienced or witnessed antisemitism in the past year.

The report received wide c... more

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In May, Jewish residents in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island were invited to celebrate the festival of Lag BaOmer around a bonfire. On Aug. 6, a kayak paddling excursion on Burnaby’s Deer Lake attracted 30 members of that city’s Jewish community.... more

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When Canadian First World War soldier Pvt. Albert Detmold was killed by German shelling on Aug. 15, 1917, while digging communication trenches on the front lines in northern France, he could never have imagined that more than a century later, both a ... more

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Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Sandra Rose
Descendant of Moncton's founding families, helped organize the reunion
Moncton Jewish community
Episode: Moncton's Tiferes Israel Synagogue celebrates 100 years with reunion, plans for second century
Audrey Lampert
Descendant of Moncton's Addis family, community leader
Moncton Jewish community
Episode: Moncton's Tiferes Israel Synagogue celebrates 100 years with reunion, plans for second century
Anne Jochelman
Member of Moncton Jewish community involved in hospitality and planning
Moncton Jewish community
Episode: Moncton's Tiferes Israel Synagogue celebrates 100 years with reunion, plans for second century
Shloime Zionce
Ami Magazine's White House correspondent, globe-trotting journalist
Ami Magazine
Episode: From Toronto to Texas: Why Shloime Zionce is driving his Cybertruck cross-continent on a mitzvah mission
Stacey Leavitt-Wright
CEO of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton
Jewish Federation of Edmonton
Episode: Building Jewish Canada out West: Vancouver's JWest reaches milestone, Edmonton's new JCC well underway
Alex Cristall
Chair of the JWest Foundation's capital campaign
JWest Foundation
Episode: Building Jewish Canada out West: Vancouver's JWest reaches milestone, Edmonton's new JCC well underway
Kevin Menachem Silver
Director of Shomrim Toronto
Shomrim Toronto
Episode: The search for Esti: Inside Shomrim Toronto's biggest mission ever
Avi Grinberg
Founder of Shomrim Toronto
Shomrim Toronto
Episode: The search for Esti: Inside Shomrim Toronto's biggest mission ever
Debbie Wasserman
President of the International Council of Jewish Women (ICJW); former longtime volunteer with National Council of Jewish Women of Canada
International Council of Jewish Women (ICJW)
Episode: Meet the Canadian now leading one of the world's oldest Jewish women's organizations

Host

Ellin Bessner
Host of The North Star podcast; veteran broadcaster, journalist, and writer.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 82 ratings
  • Excellent Host, Timely Topics

    A must-listen for anyone interested in keeping up with Jewish news in Canada. Elin Bessner is an excellent host.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LarbyDarby
    Canada4 months ago
  • Excellent Host, Timely Topics

    A must-listen for anyone interested in keeping up with Jewish news in Canada. Elin Bessner is a good host.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maman Canadienne
    Canada2 years ago
  • Must-listen for Canadian Jews

    This is the only breaking-news daily podcast for Canadian Jews. If you care about issues that matter to the community, this is an important podcast to hear.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MBF432
    Canada2 years ago
  • Insightful and concise

    I like the show because I learn a lot about Canadian Jewry in a brief daily form. Ellin is thoughtful but measured with her guests making the show about them and not her, the way others often do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mscott76
    United States3 years ago
  • The best!

    Amazing podcast with important information delivered in a clear and factual way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LisaLev1981
    Canada3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience appreciates clear reporting and diverse guest voices.
Covers timely Canadian Jewish issues with depth and balance.
Host is thoughtful and keeps focus on guests and topics, not self-promotion.
Shows credibility and concise questions from the host.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#52
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#83
Israel/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#207
Ukraine/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From Toronto to Texas: Why Shloime Zionce is driving his Cybertruck cross-continent on a mitzvah mission
Q: What role did you have in the design of the Cybertruck wrap and its messaging?
He describes shaping the wrap with a friend to embody black-and-yellow visuals and Jewish imagery, emphasizing that the design is core to attracting attention and delivering the mission.
From Toronto to Texas: Why Shloime Zionce is driving his Cybertruck cross-continent on a mitzvah mission
Q: So to be honest, this project was something I thought about doing in the United States. Why Toronto first?
The guest explains that after considering the U.S. run, he visited family in Toronto and used that pause to lift off Canada's launch with a local event, intending to gain eyeballs and connect with the Jewish community before expanding.
Moncton's Tiferes Israel Synagogue celebrates 100 years with reunion, plans for second century
Q: What does the synagogue need?
The community needs ongoing fundraising for maintenance, security upgrades after vandalism, and infrastructure improvements like the lift for the social hall, along with planned events to sustain engagement and generations of Moncton Jews.
The search for Esti: Inside Shomrim Toronto's biggest mission ever
Q: How did Shomrim Toronto coordinate with police during Esti's disappearance?
They maintained constant communication, acted as a liaison, organized volunteers, shared information with law enforcement, and ensured resources and leads were directed efficiently, which helped expand the search and integrate civilian efforts with official investigations.
Meet the Canadian now leading one of the world's oldest Jewish women's organizations
Q: Lastly, how do you differentiate between International Council of Jewish Women, Hadassah, Canadian Women Against Anti-Semites? What's different about National Council of Jewish Women that the others don't do?
We are not a fundraising organization; we focus on advocacy, education, and community service across many areas, with a global reach and a sisterhood approach that engages people in various programs rather than concentrating on a single cause.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About North Star

What is North Star about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program centers on timely Canadian Jewish news, featuring conversations with community leaders, educators, journalists, and activists who shape Jewish life in Canada. Across episodes, guests explore anti-Semitism, Jewish education, memory and ritual, culture, and public policy, often tying local events to broader national and international contexts. A standout aspect is the willingness to host a wide range of voices—from synagogue leadership and school administrators to artists and grassroots organizers—fostering pluralism, resilience, and informed civic dialogue.

Noteworthy is the heavy emphasis on current events and community safety, coupled with deep dives into policy debates and cultural initiatives. The format blends reportage wit... more

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Which podcasts are similar to North Star?

These podcasts share a similar audience with North Star:

1. For Heaven's Sake
2. The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
3. Ask Haviv Anything
4. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
5. What Matters Now

How many episodes of North Star are there?

North Star launched 5 years ago and published 852 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on North Star?

Recent guests on North Star include:

1. Sandra Rose
2. Audrey Lampert
3. Anne Jochelman
4. Shloime Zionce
5. Stacey Leavitt-Wright
6. Alex Cristall
7. Kevin Menachem Silver
8. Avi Grinberg

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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