January 31, 2025

Aaaaaand. . . it’s official. Yesterday I became a Canadian citizen. 

The Oath Ceremony was via Zoom, adding to the surreal nature of the occasion. There were moments that were anti-climactic, like waiting silently for 20 minutes with the other 146 candidates (they all stared patiently at the camera; I got work done – was that rude by Canadian standards?); and moments of absurdity, like Judge Blair having us repeat the Oath in French (Zoom’s poor sound quality and everyone’s actual inability to speak French led to gibberish that sounded like “bleu bleu bleu. . . “).

The Ceremony also offered moments that gave me pause, like when they showed us a beautiful film about the Indigenous People of this land. And I loved how many of the applicants – now citizens – had hung large Canadian flags behind them, visible on the Zoom screen. As a proud new Canadian, I’m a sucker for that Maple Leaf.

Now, a day later, I find that I’ve been considering the old Groucho Marx line, “I wouldn’t want to join a club that would have me for a member.”  Here’s why. There was no test involved. If there had been, I surely would have flunked. I really think my new country’s leaders need to re-think the application process for citizenship. There should be a required course to teach the applicant Canadian geography, history, a bit of politics. And do you know that a person doesn’t need to speak even one word of English as long as his/her spouse passes the English language test?  

So I feel a bit like an imposter as I really don’t know enough facts about this glorious country. I do know, though, that by March 31, 2025, over 5,000 people from Gaza will have been admitted as Temporary Residents here in Canada, with each adult receiving $3,000 and each child under 17 receiving $1,500. Canada recently announced an additional $50 million for Gaza and the West Bank, although the international.gc.ca website says “Canada will ensure that no money goes into the hands of Hamas.” Good luck with that.  

In contrast, the displaced Israelis who arrived here in this past year have been supported for the most part by the Jewish community.  The Jewish schools have taken in hundreds of Israeli students, the Jewish social media sites are flooded with requests and offers for work, housing, clothing, household items, cars, childcare, and more for Israeli newcomers. JIAS (Jewish Immigrant Aid Services) has an Emergency Fund which you should check out and support. Our people help our people.  That’s how it’s always been and that’s how it will always be.

As for me, thank you for having me in your country. Thank you for being who you are so as to make me want to be here. And now. I can’t wait to vote for the next Prime Minister.

Am Yisrael Chai!