Canadian Institute for Jewish Research

The Canadian Institute for Jewish Research (CIJR) is an independent and internationally-respected academic think-tank based in Montreal and Toronto. It is unique in bringing the results of its research activities–focused mainly on Israel-, Middle East-, and Jewish-community-related issues–directly and quickly to the public, Jewish and non-Jewish, to students, and to the media and government.

The purpose of the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research ’s respected volunteer academic Fellows and trained lay people is three-fold: to strengthen public and student understanding of Jewish Israel as a unique democratic society in its difficult Middle Eastern context; to throw light on antisemitism and key Jewish-world issues generally; and to play a pivotal role in ensuring Jewish continuity by working with students, on- and off-campus.

CIJR communicates directly to the public through a series of outstanding publications. The Daily Isranet Briefing is an emailed journal distributed internationally, focused on presenting the best analytical articles and data on key Israel- and Jewish-world-relate issues. Twice a month the Friday Briefing features focused discussions of “Great Jewish Minds”, figures whose historical, literary and cultural work throws light on continuing issues of Jewish and general relevance (e.g., Emil Fackenheim, Cynthia Ozick, Sigmund Freud, Elie Wiesel, Saul Bellow, Ernst Cassirer, Yossele Rosenblatt, Robert Wistrich, Gustav Mahler, Leo Strauss).

The quarterly print journal, ISRAFAX, groups both focused and thematic articles, as well as reviews of key recent books, on Israel and Middle East, as well as Jewish world, issues. A weekly French Communiqué Isranet speaks to the francophone world on Israel and Jewish issues, while our students publish the excellent Dateline: Middle East journal, unique in North America and published continuously for the last thirty-two years.

Additionally, CIJR maintains a massive Israel & Middle East DataBank (accessible on-line), a continuously updated file of outstanding op ed articles and key studies and data dealing with Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world. There is also an active Facebook page, and IsraBlog and CIJR Review of Books sections on our extensive Website (cijr@isranet.org).