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Doorstep Postings: The premier who got elected ‘For the People’ has morphed into ‘Dougie for You’

This is the 2025 Ontario provincial election preview edition of Doorstep Postings, the periodic political commentary column written by Josh Lieblein for The CJN.

If you’re tired of Canadian elections that have Seinfeld‘s show-about-nothing quality, this writ period is definitely for you. In fact, expectations for the month leading up to the Feb. 27 provincial election in Ontario has the distinct air of an episode of Nathan for You, masterminded by Vancouver’s virtuoso of the socially awkward deadpan, Nathan Fielder.

Fielder expands a bit he developed on the CBC as an incompetent millennial business consultant who offers terrible ideas to floundering businesses which fail spectacularly. The genius of the show is that it makes a clear distinction between Nathan Fielder, actor, and the “Nathan” who comes up with the doomed business ideas. We see “Nathan” realize that his actions are causing more harm than good, but any attempts he makes to atone for his mistakes mostly just lead to things getting worse. He did, however, start a legitimately successful jacket business focused on Holocaust awareness where you traded in jackets made by another company that for some reason paid tribute to a genocide denier.

The Fielderesque plan put forth by Doug Ford’s consultants is a rebrand of our bumbling Preem as Captain Canada, the fighting-est First Minister in the Dominion. Looking like a small-town-Ontario granddad in his too-small ‘Canada Is Not For Sale’ baseball cap, the Dougster plans to storm Washington, D.C., under cover of a much more interesting and consequential federal Liberal leadership race to plead Ontario’s case before bemused U.S. lawmakers. Where he goes, the Queen’s Park Press Gallery will not be able to follow—or so Doug hopes.

A few headwinds threaten to snow Ford’s plan under, though First of all, this election will be held in the depths of winter, something that hasn’t happened in 40 years. It’s also an early election, which is something Ontario campaign strategists have been warning against ever since David Peterson tried it back in 1990, and paved the way for Bob Rae. (If you’re starting to get the impression that Ontario is in the state it’s in because our top political minds are still superstitious over things that they lived through decades ago, you’d be right.) When asked if it’s time for a change in government, voters agree with that sentiment by a margin of 3 to 1.

Worse than any of these credulous portents of doom for Ford’s fortunes is the fact that most voters are genuinely sick of the guy in the same way that most bystanders on Nathan for You understand that Nathan doesn’t know what he’s doing and the ideas he presents are deeply stupid. Jewish voters haven’t forgotten that Ford’s government has been mostly talk and no action on security at community buildings and protests crossing the line. You’ve also got issues that matter to you (but not to the government) no matter which community you align with: housing, healthcare, transit, scandals. 

The trouble is that nobody is interested in really challenging Doug and his questionable assertions that he’s listening to Ontarians, much like the businesses that are questionably being “helped” by Nathan. Unions are trying to outdo one another putting together lame attack ads that the cast of This Hour Has 22 Minutes would probably scoff at as being too cheesy and poorly acted. The NDP saw how badly the Liberals got creamed by the voters for obsessively talking about highways during the last election and decided to lead off by talking about nationalizing the 407. The Liberals are standing up for substandard Canadian internet by demanding that Doug cancel a deal with Elon Musk’s Starlink in light of his recent Nazi-adjacent salute at Trump’s inauguration. 

Nathan Fielder made the wise decision to end Nathan for You in 2017, after four seasons. But even though we’ve been watching the Ford family circus for decades in Toronto, and the joke has long ceased to be funny, nobody seems to know how to get this show off the air. Ford’s nephew Michael announced that his health wouldn’t allow him to continue with the charade. It was also revealed that proudly anti-Israel MPP Sarah Jama had been lobbying to be let back into the NDP fold after that party’s decision to boot her for comments made in the aftermath of Oct. 7. Why she thought that the party would trust her at this juncture is a question we’ll never get a real answer to. 

As for the Liberals, the most notable Ford-buster they’ve got is Jason Cherniak, the candidate in Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill who’s best known amongst partisans of a certain vintage as the webmaster of Liblogs—a counterpoint to Blogging Tories, who influenced the ascent of the modern Conservative Party of Canada while not having to change out of their pyjamas. Back in the days of Web 1.0, Cherniak managed to convince Official Ottawa to take him seriously as a key online organizer for onetime federal party leader Stephane “Very Seriously, A Carbon Tax” Dion based on a talent for stringing together a few lines of partisan gloss with a low-effort YouTube video or two. (They’d never fall for something like that today!) He’s Nathan Fielder if Nathan had decided to put his energy into shaming B’nai Brith for being too partisan in support of Stephen Harper. 

Ford may believe that he is actually standing up to Trump and fighting, however imperfectly, on behalf of the province he governs. His performance, as wooden as it may be, is a lot more convincing than that of his opponents, who manage to seem even more checked out than he is and repeat the same points about his corporate buddies as last time while not being able to settle on whether he’s a murderclown or just in over his head. There is an honest and heartfelt critique to be made of the man, one that might even make him think twice about the ruse he is perpetuating, but so long as the rest of us are obsessed with norms and their lack if observance, Ford can continue to flout them as he sees fit—all while claiming that, like Nathan Fielder, he is the one and only leader for You.

Josh Lieblein can be reached at joshualieblein@gmail.com for your response to Doorstep Postings.

The post Doorstep Postings: The premier who got elected ‘For the People’ has morphed into ‘Dougie for You’ appeared first on The Canadian Jewish News.

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Self-Defense: A Pillar of Our New Jewish Life

Elion Even-Esh, who served in an elite unit in the Israeli Defense Forces where he learned Krav Maga (an IDF-developed style of self-defense) and later served as a captain in the US Marine Corps, has made it his mission to “instill strength and confidence” in the Torah-observant communities of the United States. Photo: Courtesy.

The fact that the Jewish people are a minority brings with it unique and inherent risks. That minority status exposes us to dangers that others can afford to overlook.

The question is not whether Jewish communities need to protect themselves — the question is how.

October 8, 2023 — and every day since — has reminded many Jewish people around the world that these threats are very much a part of our modern reality. It’s not to say that violence against Jewish people is ubiquitous, but rather, it is a serious and ongoing threat that must be considered and dealt with.

Solutions applied to the 1990s do not necessarily apply today. Leaders of communities have a responsibility to prepare their constituencies for all eventualities. This includes the need to defend themselves collectively — but also individually — from physical harm. This is a very hard realization to internalize, but nonetheless, people who ignore this do so at their own peril.

A confident and healthy Jewish community — one that knows how to defend itself — is a community far less likely to be bullied.

Jewish institutions must integrate this mindset into daily life. Schools, synagogues, camps, and community centers should treat self-defense as part of Jewish education, no less important than Hebrew, history, or math.

Training in self-defense should be as normalized as attending a Shabbat service. It should be woven into the fabric of our institutions so that young Jews grow up with both a strong Jewish identity and the confidence to defend it. School principals, religious leaders, and youth group leaders are the ones with the responsibility to lead this charge.

There are four pillars of protection that every Jewish community should embrace.

First is advocacy — engaging elected officials, decision-makers, and civic leaders to ensure Jewish concerns are heard and addressed.

Second is influence — which comes through culture, media, and interpersonal relationships that shape public opinion.

Third is security — which is provided by law enforcement, private protection, and community-based security networks.

But there is a fourth pillar that is too often neglected: personal self-defense.

If and when the first three pillars fail, the fourth pillar — the pillar of self-reliance — should be strong.

Jewish people are not necessarily known for being “tough guys,” but maybe it’s time for that stereotype to change. The best way to deal with a bully is to confront them and let them know that there’s a consequence to their action.

Realism demands we confront the fact that not all threats can be reasoned with. Individuals and groups who harbor open hostility toward Jewish people will act on it when they believe they can do so with impunity. The only effective deterrent is strength — physical, communal, and psychological.

Options include firearm ownership where permitted by law, but it must also include physical preparedness — training in Krav Maga, boxing, judo, karate, or other disciplines that instill both skill and confidence.

Videos surface almost daily of Jews being harassed, attacked, or intimidated on the streets of major cities. This is not a call for radicalism or violence — but a call for level-headed realism.

New realities call for a new game plan. People learn self-defense so that they never have to use it. Moving forward, young people should walk with confidence through their lives. The great Hasidic Rabbi Nachman of Breslov once said, “The whole world is a narrow bridge and the most important thing is to not be afraid, it’s to not be afraid at all.”

Through defense education, this teaching will move from being just an inspirational saying to becoming a lived reality.

Daniel Rosen is  the Co-founder of a Non-profit Technology company called Emissary4all which is an app to organize people on social media by ideology not geography. He is the Co-host of the podcast  “Recalibration.” You can reach him at drosen@emissary4all.org

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The Anti-Israel Contradiction Machine: Where Every Lie Cancels the Last

Palestinian Hamas terrorists stand guard on the day of the handover of hostages held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack, as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Feb. 22, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

It’s remarkable. The same activists who shout themselves hoarse at Western protests, who flood social media with memes and reels, somehow manage to hold two (or three, or ten) contradictory claims in their heads at once without blinking.

Like Soviet propagandists or Goebbels’ Ministry of Public Enlightenment, they rely on volume, not consistency. Because in propaganda, coherence is optional — but outrage is mandatory.

As Joseph Goebbels infamously put it: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” That is the strategy: not persuasion through reasoning, but relentless repetition.

Here’s a sampling from the Hamas-friendly, Israel-hating narrative machine:

Contradiction #1: Gaza — Prison or Paradise?

Before October 2023, Gaza was an “open-air prison” or even a “concentration camp.” But also, before October 7, it had many wonderful features — including being a “beautiful Mediterranean beachside paradise” — that Israel supposedly destroyed. Which is it? Concentration camp or paradise? Apparently both, depending on which slur works best.

Contradiction #2: Statehood or Extermination?

“Israel is a racist ethno-state.” But the same activists chant: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” — and in Arabic, “Palestine will be Arab.” Destroying Israel and denying Jews the right to live on the land, in order to establish a 23rd Arab ethno-state is fine; but Jewish sovereignty in any form is racism.

Contradiction #3: Hostages? What Hostages?

“There were no hostages taken on Oct. 7.” Yet also: “Look how well Hamas treats the hostages!” So which is it — none taken, or proof of Hamas’ supposed hospitality?

Contradiction #4: Peace or Perpetual War?

“Ceasefire now!” they scream. But even in the same demonstrations: “Long live the Intifada!” and “Israel will soon be destroyed.” So, do they want peace — or endless war until Israel no longer exists?

Contradiction #5: Starvation Theater

“Israel is starving Palestinians.” Yet also: “Look how humiliating it is to make Palestinians line up for food.” And all the while, Gazan TikToks in the past few months have shown crowded restaurants, buzzing bakeries, and delicious dessert spreads. 

Contradiction #6: The Civilian Shield Shuffle

“Hamas doesn’t target civilians.” Yet also: “There are no Israeli civilians — every Israeli is a settler and fair game.” Translation: all Jews, from babies to Holocaust survivors, are targets — but don’t you dare notice.

Contradiction #7: Holocaust Gaslighting

“Your Holocaust victim card expired long ago.” Then: “The Holocaust never happened.” Then: “Hitler was right.” And somehow also: “What’s happening in Gaza is worse than the Holocaust (that didn’t happen).”

Contradiction #8: October 7 — Didn’t Happen, But Totally Justified

“The October 7 massacres didn’t happen.” Or: “Israel killed its own citizens.” Yet Hamas literally filmed its murders. And when confronted: “All resistance is justified by any means.” Some even add: “Yes, but those women deserved it — they were dancing near Gaza.” Denial and justification in one grotesque package.

Contradiction #9: Weak, Strong, or Both?

“Hamas are just freedom fighters with rifles.” Yet also: “Hamas is winning the war and will wipe Israel off the map.” Powerless victims and unstoppable conquerors — simultaneously.

Contradiction #10: Hospitals or Tunnels?

“Hamas builds schools and hospitals.” Yet also: “Hamas dug 700 km of tunnels” defended as vital for defeating Israel. If they can dig almost twice the New York City subway underground, why not more trauma wards? Because tunnels are for terrorists, rockets, and hostages; hospitals are militarized props for propaganda — not places to make sure civilians get help above all else. 

Contradiction #11: Genocide Math

For over 15 years, activists claimed Israel was committing genocide. Yet Gaza’s population nearly doubled during that time, and since 1967 has grown six-fold — from 400,000 to over 2.2 million. Now, post-October 7, they cry “genocide” again. Civilian deaths are tragic, but they stem from a war Hamas started, while hiding under and next to ordinary Gazans.

Yesterday’s lie ignored population growth; today’s ignores Hamas’ responsibility and the relatively low civilians to combatant casualty ratio in this war. Both are hollow slogans, not facts. There is also data strongly suggesting that the Gazan population has not decreased overall during the war. That doesn’t happen in actual genocides.

Contradiction #12: Ancient or Modern?

“Palestinians are Canaanite.” Or: “Palestinians are an ancient people.” Yet no Arab person self-identified as Palestinian before the 19th century. Palestinian culture, language, and religion are Arab, not Canaanite. Jews, by contrast, have 3,000 years of ancient coins, inscriptions, and prayers tying them to the land. And Jews have never left the land for thousands of years. Even Hamas admits this fight isn’t about Arabs being Canaanites — it says openly its goal is a global Islamic caliphate.

What These Contradictions Really Show

This dizzying list isn’t a bug — it’s the strategy. Like every totalitarian movement, Hamas and its defenders know the trick: don’t persuade, overwhelm. Flood the zone with lies faster than they can be debunked. As Goebbels taught, repeat them until they feel true.

And once you see it, the whole anti-Israel narrative collapses. It’s not a movement for peace or justice, but a noise machine of lies and contradictions. It’s not about protecting Palestinians, but about demonizing and erasing Jews — and not about truth, but about rage.

Micha Danzig is a current attorney, former IDF soldier & NYPD police officer. He currently writes for numerous publications on matters related to Israel, antisemitism & Jewish identity & is the immediate past President of StandWithUs in San Diego and a national board member of Herut.

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6 Israelis Murdered, 2 Weeks After Palestinian Authority Judge Calls to ‘Kill Them One by One’

People inspect a bus with bullet holes at the scene where a shooting terrorist attack took place at the outskirts of Jerusalem, Sept. 8, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Two weeks ago, a Palestinian Authority (PA) official called for the genocide of Jews for the seventh time in a year, as documented by Palestinian Media Watch.

On Monday morning, that call was acted upon, as two Palestinian terrorists opened fire at civilians in Jerusalem, killing six Israelis and wounding 12.

“Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality,” according to American author Earl Nightingale, who said this about keeping an optimistic outlook on life and practicing repetition of positive thinking.

The Palestinian Authority uses repetition to incite the murder of Jews.

When PA preachers in mosques repeat the call to “kill Jews one by one, and do not leave even one,” they play into the subconscious mind of their congregation and nurture a justification for murdering Jews and Israelis.

The sermons — all broadcast on official PA TV — create a dangerous reality in which Palestinians see religious value in killing Jews “one by one”:

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PA Shari’ah judge Abdallah Harb: “O Allah, strengthen our stance and grant us victory over the infidels … and destroy our enemies. O Allah… strike your enemies, the enemies of the religion, and they cannot overcome You, O Allah. Allah, count them one by one, kill them one by one, and do not leave even one, O Master of the Universe.”

[Official PA TV, Aug. 22, 2025]

Official PA TV has broadcast this call for genocide of Jews by mosque preachers — who receive instructions from the PA Ministry of Religion on what to speak about in their sermons — at least seven times in the past year.

In June, two months prior to this last call, a PA Shariah judge prayed: “O Allah strike the thieving Jews, Allah count them one by one, kill them one by one, and do not leave even one.” [PA TV, June 13, 2025]

Click to play

The “one-by-one” motif in these calls is particularly insidious, as it turns the murder of Jews into an easily achievable objective.

Rather than encouraging Palestinians to commit mass attacks that face logistical difficulties, killing Jews “one-by-one” presents a practical strategy for anyone and everyone.

And on Monday, Palestinian terrorists answered the PA’s call.

The author is a contributor to Palestinian Media Watch, where a version of this story first appeared.

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