The Canadian Jewish News (The CJN) is a non-profit, national, English-language digital-first media organization that serves Canada's Jewish community. Founded in 1960, it is Canada's leading independent Jewish media outlet.
Overview
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | Digital-first with quarterly print magazine (Scribe Quarterly); formerly a weekly tabloid |
| Owner | Non-profit organization |
| Founders | M. J. Nurenberger and Dorothy Nurenberger |
| CEO/Publisher | Michael Weisdorf |
| President | Bryan Borzykowski |
| Founded | 1960 (reorganized 1971) |
| Language | English and French |
| Circulation | 60,000 (as of March 2026) |
| Readership | 150,000 per month |
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Website | www.thecjn.ca |
History
Founding and Early Years (1960–1971)
The Canadian Jewish News was founded by M. J. Nurenberger, a friend of Menachem Begin and supporter of his Herut party, and his wife Dorothy Nurenberger, a concert pianist. The first issue was published on Friday, January 1, 1960, making it the first exclusively English-language Jewish newspaper published in Ontario.
In its early years, The CJN was considered a "provocative" paper that supported the right in Israeli politics and was critical of the liberal leadership of the Canadian Jewish community, as well as community institutions such as B'nai Brith and the United Jewish Appeal. According to Nurenberger's daughter, Atara Beck, "He believed that a newspaper should be a thorn in the side of the establishment."
Reorganization (1971)
In 1971, following the death of his wife, Nurenberger sold the newspaper for $30,000 to a group of community leaders that included Shoppers Drug Mart founder Murray Koffler, real estate developer Albert Latner, and philanthropist Ray Wolfe. Though independent, the newspaper has since been owned by a group of Jewish leaders allied with what was then the Canadian Jewish Congress. Nurenberger later regretted the sale and started the more right-wing Jewish Times in 1974, which continued publication into the early 1990s.
In 1979, The CJN adopted editorial guidelines that prevented articles from criticizing the state of Israel's security policies.
First Closure and Resumption (2013)
On April 22, 2013, the newspaper issued termination notices to its 50 staff members and announced it would cease printing with its June 20 edition due to financial constraints. However, on June 14, 2013, the board announced it would resume publication in August 2013 after moving to smaller offices and restructuring its business model. The newspaper was reorganized under new leadership beginning in January 2014, with Elizabeth Wolfe (daughter of Ray Wolfe) becoming president and Yoni Goldstein becoming editor.
Second Closure (2020)
The paper announced it would cease publication with its April 9, 2020 issue, with a final circulation estimated at 32,000. It had suffered from financial shortfalls for years, which were exacerbated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Elizabeth Wolfe stated, "The CJN suffered from a pre-existing condition and has been felled by COVID-19."
Digital Revival (2021–Present)
In December 2020, the organization announced its return as a digital-first media company with a new president, Bryan Borzykowski. In May 2021, The CJN resumed publication at a new website (thecjn.ca), operating without a physical weekly newspaper. It launched a quarterly print magazine, Scribe Quarterly, and an audio podcast network. At the end of 2023, editor-in-chief Yoni Goldstein stepped down and was replaced by CEO Michael Weisdorf.
Podcast Network
The CJN operates a podcast network that includes several series:
- North Star – A daily news podcast hosted by Ellin Bessner (formerly The CJN Daily)
- Not in Heaven – A weekly podcast about Judaism in the 2020s, hosted by Avi Finegold, Yedida Eisenstat, and Matthew Leibl
- The Jewish Angle – Hosted by opinion editor Phoebe Maltz Bovy
- Menschwarmers – A Jewish sports podcast hosted by Gabe Pulver and Jamie Hirsh
- In Good Faith – A limited series bringing together Jews and Muslims for dialogue
- Geltwise – Personal finance from a Jewish perspective
- Justice: A Holocaust Zombie Story – An original audio drama fiction series
Notable Contributors
Notable contributors have included Jacob Elbaz, J. B. Salsberg (a featured columnist until his death in 1998), and Rabbi Gunther Plaut (who contributed a weekly column for many years). In its final print years, Bernie Farber and Barbara Kay were weekly columnists.
Awards
The CJN has won multiple Simon Rockower Awards for Excellence in Jewish Journalism, presented by the American Jewish Press Association. In 2026, the organization won six Rockower Awards, including five first-place finishes across categories for digital news and Scribe Quarterly magazine.
