Month: July 2025

First, what happened in Ottawa? A solicitor for the City of Ottawa vandalized Canada’s National Holocaust Monument (https://shorturl.at/CeOmw) in June, 2025. His act of vandalism was supposedly in reference to Gaza because it included the words “FEED ME”, which were red painted, alongside huge paint splashes.

To begin with and to be clear, it is highly disturbing that a lawyer would resort to such unacceptable act of vandalism to a place of remembrance in Canada. The latter is highly significant, not just for the Jewish Canadian community, but for each one of us directly or indirectly for humanitarian reasons.

Regardless of the motivation, why would a lawyer resort to vandalism? Is is worth it to be “accused of mischief to a war memorial, mischief exceeding $5,000 and harassment by threatening conduct” (https://shorturl.at/WzpUU)? And, in the grand scheme of things, how does this act serve the cause of the Gazans or ease their suffering?

Thankfully, our country has very old human rights organizations like B’nai Brith Canada with “roots stretching back to 1875“. Indeed, the latter is “Canadian Jewry’s most senior charitable service organization and is the national independent voice speaking out on behalf of grassroots Jewish Canadians” (https://shorturl.at/cHriZ). Bambi likes its stated values of “non-religious organization governed by the traditional Jewish precepts of: Justice, Compassion, Benevolence” (https://shorturl.at/cHriZ).

Given the above, it is the least for B’nai Brith Canada to decry this unacceptable act of vandalism. Bravo and thanks for doing so. However, why is it also urging “lawmakers to mandate antisemitism training for civil servants at all levels” (https://shorturl.at/0rZOG)?

Mandatory antisemitism training, or any other training like the ones on diversity, equity, and inclusion, can contribute to create an increasingly authoritarian bureaucracy. Indeed, human beings, including government employees, tend to reluctantly attend mandatory sessions, especially when the sessions go into a space of infantilization or of guilt, as well argued by Dr. Joseph Facal in the Journal de Montréal two years ago (https://shorturl.at/3v00x).

As an alternative, wouldn’t it be more productive to hold optional roundtable discussions where participants can exchange ideas on the rising antisemitsm? And how about related topics like the promotion of a culture of peace? People usually like it when they feel engaged in a solution-finding process. They will be more empowered and perhaps more likely to embrace, instead of resist, change.

In addition to the above, those responsible for the hiring process must be strategic, and wise, when it comes to selecting, or later managing, public servants who may be too blinded by their own sense of righteousness. Nurturing a continuous sense of professionalism in the workplace may be a good place to focus on to try to counter any excesses of righteousness. Who knows? At least in the workplace, maybe this can contribute to prevent “antisemitism, racism, or any other hatred in all its forms“, to use the words in the mission of B’nai Brith Canada ( (https://shorturl.at/cHriZ).

Yes, it is this time of the year again.

Happy US Independence Day dear relatives, friends, and readers.

May you all be safe and have lots of fun.

This post is a brief musical tribute to Ms. Renée Claude (born Bélanger). Ms. Claude was a highly talented French-Canadian singer, pianist, and actress (https://shorturl.at/qwFUQ). Born in Montreal on the third of July, 1939, she died in 2020 at the age of 80.

The first piece, “Tu trouveras la paix dans ton coeur” [You Will Find Peace in Your Heart], is a classical song when grieving a loved one. The second piece, Mr. Léo Ferré’s “Avec le temps” [With Time] is one of the most beautifully sad French love songs.

Merci chère Madame Rénée Claude. Yes, thank you and may your memory be eternal.

In a few hours, it will be July 2nd. This is the National Anisette Day (https://shorturl.at/Ec0hs), which honours “liqueur derived from aniseed.

Aniseed originates “from the anis herb” that gives it “its licorice or fennel flavour“. But what is Arak? It is a traditional STRONG anise-based spirit, or liquor, commonly drunk in Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries. Of note, one must dilute it with water and ice before drinking it. It traditionally goes hand in hand with the delicious Lebanese food.

When she was about three years old, Bambi used to enjoy telling her mom that she had tooth pain just to get a drop of “Arak“, on a piece of cotton, to put on the so-called painful area. It is incredible how much we can remain true to ourselves, while changing, after fifty years of aging. Indeed, at her age now, Bambi adores the taste of fennel in food, especially when cooked by her spouse :). Yet, she is not much into Arak or alcohol drinking anymore. For instance, she recently spent about a month in Beirut. She did not have a drop of Arak or any other alcoholic drink.

Similarly, a few years ago, she travelled for work to Scotland and from there visited Beirut to see her family. Her brother-in-law asked her if she enjoyed drinking whisky while in Edinburgh. When she said she did not taste the latter, he was quite amused. For him, it was like going to Rome and omitting to visit the Vatican. Anyhow, she still enjoys spending time with family members or friends while they drink Arak and have a good time. She can even laugh, and feel drunk, by proxy :).

Talking about fun moments, as per its title and as a reminder, this post is mainly meant to share Zahle’s Arak song, which Bambi likes a lot; stay tuned please!

In the short video found on YouTube, the men singing the Arak song are a group of Lebanese-American tourists visiting their home city, Zahle. They seem to have much fun singing together its Arak song :), which lyrics are about the following: the significance of Zahle to them, how much they enjoy Arak, how they forget their worries and how the 2 dollars in their pocket start being perceived as $2 million dollars when they drink, etc.

Before sharing the short, joyful song, please let’s take the time to appreciate the beauty of Zahle, as captured on the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)’s website (https://shorturl.at/B2IQf). Of note, since 2013, Zahle is a UNESCO-protected city in the category of “creative gastronomy”.

From the same UNESCO website, Zahle is described as follows: “Zahlé, with a population of approximately 150,000 inhabitants is celebrated in Lebanon and throughout the region for its pleasant climate and traditional cuisine. The capital and largest city of the Beqaa Governorate in Lebanon, Zahlé is proud of its celebrated gastronomy as well as of the fifty poets and writers born in the city over the past century. Known as the “Bride of the Beqaa”, and the “Neighbor of the Gorge”, due to its geographical location and natural beauty, Zahlé is also known as the “City of Wine and Poetry”. Zahlé´s culture has long revolved around its grapes, wine and arak, the distilled anise-flavored drink that has traditionally been served in cafés at any time of the day. Zahlé´s most important cultural event is the Festival of the Vine, traditionally held each September, during which concerts, plays, poetry readings and artistic exhibitions are organized daily over the course of several weeks” (https://shorturl.at/B2IQf).

Following Zahle’s picture, if you wish, you can enjoy an 8-minute-long YouTube English video about Château Ksara, a winery located near Zahle.

As you have guessed, this post ends with the Arak song. Long live vacation time and group singing. Long live Lebanon’s Zahle and its Arak :)!