October 7, Spiritual Reckoning, and the Path Forward, with Marsha Lederman

In this episode, *Globe and Mail* journalist Marsha Lederman joins guest host Joshua Tapper to discuss her book, *October 7th: Searching for the Humanitarian Middle*, on the one-year anniversary of its publication in autumn 2025. They explore the impulses—both personal and professional—that compelled Marsha to first write the newspaper columns she archives in the volume, as well as the provocative challenge the book's subtitle poses to Jews and non-Jews alike. Together, they unpack the many, complex afterlives of a book that not only captures the political and cultural mood in Canada after October 7 and the ensuing war in Gaza, but also offers a framework, for Jewish and non-Jewish Canadians, to confront and wrestle with the moment's enormous psychological and emotional reverberations.   Visit Marsha's website to learn more about October 7th: Searching for the Humanitarian Middle. Her columns are collected on her *Globe and Mail* staff page.   This episode was produced and edited by Theadora Draper. Original music is by J. K. Bradley. Our executive producers are Joshua Tapper and David Koffman.   Please visit the website of the Association for Canadian Jewish Studies to learn more about its work, how it supports the research and study of Canadian Jewish life, and how you can contribute. The ACJS is based at the Israel and Golda Koschitzky Centre for Jewish Studies at York University, in Toronto, ON.   For updates about the ACJS, sign up for its monthly newsletter. If you have comments or thoughts about our podcast, please email us at [podcast@canadianjewishstudies.ca](mailto:podcast@canadianjewishstudies.ca).