6 From Yoni’s Desk
THE CANADIAN JEWISH NEWS
A bitter first: saying goodbye
T here have been a lot of firsts in my
life over the past seven years. Tops
among them are undoubtedly the births
of my two children. But a close second
was the call I got one evening a little over
six years ago. “Are you interested in being
the editor of The Canadian Jewish News?”
the speaker inquired out of the blue.
“Yes,” I responded incredulously.
Pretty much everything since that
moment has, at least professionally
speaking, been a first for me – first time
as an editor-in-chief, first time as a
regular columnist, first time running a
newsroom, redesigning a publication
and a website, first time getting creamed
on social media for something I wrote or
said (though interestingly enough, not
the first time being heckled in shul), my
first grey hairs. The list goes on. And now
we’ve arrived at another: my first last
“From Yoni’s Desk.”
I have a lot to be thankful for, and
plenty of people to thank. First, to
Elizabeth Wolfe and The CJN’s board of
directors, who took a big risk when they
hired me to reimagine a Canadian Jewish
Everything has its season. It is time
Elizabeth Wolfe
E verywhere we have seen the devas-
tating impact of COVID-19. It has
attacked every aspect of life as we know
it, and we are all struggling to cope
with the upheaval. We had hoped that
The CJN could play some small role to
inform, console and distract our readers
as we all isolate at home, worried about
our families, our friends, our medical
caregivers, all those risking their lives to
provide essential services, our business-
es and livelihood, our community, our
country, our world.
It is with great regret that we have
realized that we will be unable to do so.
Unfortunately, we too have become a
victim of COVID-19. Already struggling,
we are not able to sustain the enterprise
in an environment of almost complete
economic shut down. It is with deep
sadness that we announce the closure
of our beloved CJN, both in print and
online.
In the spring and summer of 2013 we
saved The CJN from its announced de-
mise. At that time, I consulted with
a number of community leaders,
institution. They were there to nurture
and help me when I needed it, and
otherwise left me to my own devices. As
an editor, you couldn’t ask for anything
better than that.
When I started this job, I was con-
cerned that the staff, some of whom had
been with the paper for decades, and all
of whom had just been through its near-
death, wouldn’t buy a 33-year-old with
zero management experience running
their baby. But they welcomed me with
open arms. It’s been a privilege to share
in your work, in your family.
Maybe it would be a bit easier saying
goodbye to so many great colleagues if
we could at least be together in the office,
reminiscing about the good times, kib-
itzing as we toast one final edition off to
the presses. Instead, we’re winding things
up on Facebook Messenger and Zoom.
It’s not sufficient to express the emotions
of the moment, but that’s all we’ve got
for now. Perhaps it’ll make it all the more
special when we are finally able to get
together again in person. I’m looking for-
ward to that (and will bring the scotch).
Despite the
challenges facing
print journalism
everywhere, we
managed to survive
including my mother, Rose Wolfe, a
longtime board member of The CJN and
community leader. Her response at the
time surprised me. She said: “It had a
good run. Everything has its season. It
is time.”
That response did not sit well with me,
as I was not satisfied that we had done
everything possible to save The CJN, es-
pecially given our family’s 40 year asso-
ciation with the paper. I was not willing
to give up without another try. With the
support of the board of directors, we
re-organized, restructured and created a
new version of the paper and website to
serve the Canadian Jewish community.
One of the things people tend to con-
fuse about journalists is our perceived
power. The truth is: we have little, if any.
That force actually lies with readers. So,
to the tens of thousands of Canadians
who have subscribed to The CJN for
decades, todah rabah on behalf of the
hundreds of people who have worked
here over the years. Without you, our
work wouldn’t have mattered.
As a thank you for keeping us on our
toes all these years, we will be sending
print subscribers a parting gift this spring
(assuming the world doesn’t end first) –
our inaugural book, Northern Lights, an
illustrated history of Canadian Jewry. I
hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as
Against all odds, our friends, advertisers
and readers recognized how important
it was to maintain The CJN as a platform
to inform and engage Canadian Jewry.
The outcry at the time encouraged
our efforts. It did not, however, translate
into widespread support for The CJN,
although our dedicated subscribers,
advertisers and friends kept us afloat.
Despite the challenges facing print
journalism everywhere, we managed to
survive, printing 100 editions (50 each in
Toronto and Montreal) annually as well
as supplements and periodic magazines,
and providing digital access through our
website.
We have not been immune to the
decline of the industry, although our
decline has been slower than most. Our
bottom line showed small profits early
on, to start to rebuild our lost reserves,
became barely break-even shortly there-
after, and then recently succumbed to
increasing losses. The economic devas-
tation striking our community has also
affected The CJN. The CJN suffered from
a pre-existing condition and has been
felled by COVID-19.
Our board of directors and manage-
T
APRIL 9, 2020
we enjoyed putting it together.
I am gratified that, at the time of
its closure, more people are reading,
engaging and interacting with The CJN
than ever before. Our online presence
has grown leaps and bounds in recent
years, we just launched a handful of new
podcasts and our CJN Today newsletter
has been attracting a steady audience.
The interest is definitely there.
Canadian Jews need a national publi-
cation to call our own, whether that’s The
CJN or something else. I trust that when
the dust clears, we will have one. And if I
have a part to play in it, I look forward to
speaking with you again.
Until then, lehitraot. n — YONI
ment agree that, while we are commit-
ted to our community and our readers,
our first obligation is to our staff, many
of whom have been with The CJN
throughout their careers. On behalf
of all our readers, I want to extend an
enormous thank you to all of The CJN
staff who have provided Canadian Jewry
with a much needed connection to
community.
I have no doubt that there will be
another outcry from the community,
particularly from those readers who rely
on the print edition as their source of
information, and perhaps, their connec-
tion to the Canadian Jewish commun-
ity. It is my hope that members of our
community will recognize the need for
a national platform and that a new CJN
will emerge.
Please know that we have done
everything in our power to continue
The CJN for as long as possible. It is with
tears in my eyes that I conclude: It had a
good run. Everything has its season.
It is time. n
Elizabeth Wolfe is the president of The
Canadian Jewish News.