The Middle East Is Changing. Is the West?

This week on The Schmooze, Don and Jared sit down with Rachel Brynien and Fatema Alharbi from Sharaka, an organization dedicated to building relationships between Israel and the Arab world through the vision of the Abraham Accords.

This conversation challenges many of the assumptions dominating Western discourse about Israel, the Middle East, and coexistence.

Together, we discuss:
• What the Abraham Accords have actually changed
• Arab and Israeli cooperation in the region
• The rise of antisemitism in the West
• October 7 and its aftermath
• Why many voices in the Middle East are more hopeful than voices in North America and Europe
• The growing disconnect between activism online and realities on the ground

One of the most powerful moments of the episode comes when Fatma shares her perspective as a Bahraini voice witnessing the rise of hatred and extremism in Western society.

This is a conversation about peace, dialogue, courage, and the future of the region.

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#TheSchmooze #Sharaka #AbrahamAccords #Israel #MiddleEast #Podcast

Something in Canada feels different.

It is not always easy to name, but more and more people are feeling it. A sense that something foundational has shifted. That the country they recognize is no longer quite the same.

In this episode of The Schmooze, we sit down with Michael Westcott, founder of Allies for a Strong Canada, to explore what is driving that feeling and what can be done about it.

This is not simply a conversation about antisemitism, though that is where many people first began to notice the change. It is a deeper discussion about civic engagement, silence, and the growing gap between what Canadians believe and what is being reflected in public life.

Michael shares how a grassroots movement of over 30,000 Canadians has formed around a simple idea. That ordinary people, when given the tools and the confidence to act, can have far more influence than they realize.

We talk about:

• Why social media is not a substitute for real engagement
• How civic responsibility has quietly eroded over time
• What it actually means to participate in a democracy
• And why silence creates space for the loudest voices to define the moment

This conversation is not about partisanship. It is about whether Canadians still believe in the values that built the country, and whether they are willing to defend them.

If you have felt that something is off, but have not been able to fully articulate it, this episode will resonate.

What if the problem isn’t hate… but distance?

In this episode of The Schmooze, Don sits down with Michelle Mather and Kim Kitai of Bridges YYC — an initiative bringing people together in a way that actually works.

Not through debate.
Not through headlines.

Through Shabbat dinner.

From the wake-up call of October 7th to a simple but powerful realization:

Most people don’t hate what they know… they just don’t know at all.

This conversation explores:

• Why most people don’t hate Jews, they simply don’t know them
• The moment everything changed after October 7th
• The difference between being an “ally” and being a real friend
• Why shared experiences matter more than information
• How one dinner can completely change perspective

Because when people sit at the same table…
something shifts.

What does it mean to choose something you don’t have to choose?

Noy Leyb grew up in Calgary.

Like many Canadian kids, his path could have led anywhere.

Instead, he made a decision that would define his life, he chose to leave it all behind and serve as a lone soldier in the IDF.

In this Yom HaZikaron episode, we go beyond headlines and politics and into something far more personal:

• What it really takes to join the IDF from abroad• The mental and physical reality of becoming a soldier• The difference between supporting Israel and living it• The bond of brotherhood that never leaves you• And how October 7 changed everything

This is a conversation about identity, sacrifice, and responsibility.

And for Noy, it’s not just a story from the past.

He’s still fighting.

🎧 Listen now.

What makes someone step into a fight that isn’t theirs?

In this episode of The Schmooze, we sit down with Jean-Luc Mudingayi, Alberta Campus Advisor & Advocacy Associate for Allied Voices for Israel, to explore what real allyship actually looks like.

Jean-Luc didn’t grow up in the Jewish community. He didn’t have to enter this space. But through his experiences on campus, his background, and his values, he chose to step in, and hasn’t looked back.

We talk about:

• What it means to be an ally when it’s not easy• The reality on campus before and after October 7• Why some voices are dismissed — and why others carry differently• The role of leadership, identity, and courage in today’s climate

This is a conversation about choice, conviction, and showing up.

🎙️ The Schmooze — Calgary’s Jewish Community Podcast
Hosted by Don & Jared

Rabbi Ilana Krygier Lapides, also known as the Rocky Mountain Rabbi, joins The Schmooze for a powerful and deeply personal conversation.

Born and raised in Calgary as the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Rabbi Ilana’s life has been shaped by memory, resilience, and a commitment to Jewish community. From her early leadership in BBYO to over a decade as a Holocaust educator, her journey has touched nearly every corner of Jewish Calgary.

But this episode goes deeper.

We explore:
• The legacy of Holocaust survival and its impact across generations• The emotional toll of Holocaust education• Her decision to step into the rabbinate• The role of joy, identity, and spirituality in modern Jewish life• And how the story of Passover resonates in today’s world

At a time when Jewish identity feels both challenged and renewed, this conversation asks an essential question:

How do we carry the past… while still choosing life, meaning, and joy?

What happens when ideology enters policing—and a community is forced to respond?

In this episode of The Schmooze, Don and Jared sit down with
Stacey Leavitt-Wright, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Edmonton

Over the past few weeks, Edmonton has found itself at the center of a growing national conversation.

A routine visit to Israel by the city’s police chief sparked a political firestorm.
But as the situation unfolded, it became clear this was about far more than a trip.

This conversation explores:

• How Israel became the focal point of a local controversy
• The role of political leadership and public pressure
• What rising antisemitism looks like in real time
• The responsibility—and cost—of speaking for a community

At one point, Stacey puts it plainly:

“Israel was on trial.”

And yet, out of that moment came something unexpected:community strength, unlikely alliances, and a broader awakening.

This is a conversation about leadership, courage, and the kind of country Canada is becoming.

In this follow-up episode, we reconnect with Kaveh after our initial conversation in late January, when Iran was in the midst of widespread protests that received little global attention.

Since then, the situation has evolved significantly.

We explore what is happening inside Iran today, the strategic dynamics shaping the conflict, and the broader implications for the region and beyond.

The conversation also touches on the role of global powers, the challenges facing the Iranian people, and the potential risks that could extend far beyond the Middle East.

This is a timely and in-depth discussion that aims to bring clarity to a complex and rapidly changing situation.

In this timely episode of The Schmooze, Don and Jared sit down with Edmonton City Councillor Mike Elliott to discuss the controversy surrounding Edmonton Police Chief Warren Driechel’s recent trip to Israel and the political fallout that followed.

Councillor Elliott brings a rare combination of civic leadership, policing experience, and moral clarity to the conversation. A former RCAF pilot, police officer, staff sergeant, and police association leader, he offers a grounded perspective on why professional policing exchanges matter, why municipal leaders should focus on local governance, and why double standards in public discourse are so corrosive.

The conversation explores political pressure, civic responsibility, antisemitism in Canada, public safety, leadership, and the growing tension between moral courage and political expediency.

This is one of our most urgent and important episodes to date.

Take action and show your support for Chief Dreichel here: 26-03-12 Edmonton Chief Driechel - CIJA Action Hub

Don is back in Calgary, and this episode of The Schmooze picks up right where the last conversation left off, with snow outside, a lot on our minds, and plenty to talk through.

Jared and Don discuss the emotional whiplash of returning home from Israel, the ongoing realities facing Israelis and the Jewish diaspora, and the larger context surrounding the conflict with Iran and its proxies. They also examine the role of media, political leadership in Canada, public discourse, and the challenges facing Jewish communities across the country.

The conversation also turns inward, focusing on Calgary, community leadership, and the importance of staying unified even when there are disagreements. One of the core themes of this episode is that strong communities are built not by tearing each other down, but by staying in dialogue, asking hard questions, and working toward common purpose.

This is a timely, candid, and deeply personal conversation about resilience, clarity, and the work still ahead.