Opinion
Some observations about Jewish organizations within our community
By BERNIE BELLAN Quite often I’m asked by individuals who the audience for our paper is? I try to be as honest as possible in describing the audience for our print newspaper as predominantly older, which is generally the case for all print media. When it comes to our website, however, as much as there are analytics available, it’s much more difficult to know who exactly is looking at our website (which receives an average of 10,000 hits a month). What I have found quite interesting, however, is learning that the majority of individuals who look at our website are doing so on a mobile device, such as an iPhone or iPad.
Since I myself prefer to read other publications on an iPad rather than a desktop computer – and I’m also a senior, I don’t know to what extent I can extrapolate from that the degree to which other seniors also prefer reading news sites on an iPad to reading them on a desktop computer. But, I’m sure that just as print media such as this newspaper will eventually go the way of the dodo bird, so too will reading on a desktop computer.
Speaking of seniors though, there are two articles on our website now that take a look at two issues that have quite a bit to do with the senior component of our Jewish population – although, since so many ostensibly “Jewish” organizations now cater to a clientele that is heavily non-Jewish, perhaps it would be a mistake to say that those issues are “Jewish” issues.
The first story to which I’m referring is the shift in allocations by the Budget and Allocations Committee of the Jewish Federation from some organizations that had consistently received either the same allocations as previous years or, as was often the case, received increases in those allocations.
In my story about Jewish Federation allocations, I note that two organizations: the Gwen Secter Centre and Jewish Child and Family Service, are going to be receiving increases in their allocations, while Gray Academy is going to be receiving a reduced allocation – for the first time in seven years.
When I asked Faye Rosenberg Cohen, Chief Planning and Allocations Officer for the Jewish Federation, whether there was a particular reason for the fairly noticeable shift in allocations to those three agencies, Faye did not respond with a direct explanation. As you can see if you read her full response in the article, she gives what I would describe as a standard bureaucratic answer, saying in part, “We try to approach each year with fresh eyes, not with a focus on last year.”
Hmm. Is there more to this than what Faye says in her answer? Further, there is nothing in the actual report of the Budget and Allocations Committee that would offer any sort of an explanation for the shift in funding. Interestingly, while almost every one of the beneficiary agencies of the Federation requested more money than they were given by the committee (except for Camp Massad, which received exactly what it was asking for), Gray Academy will be receiving $96,000 less than what it had requested – and $26,000 less than what it received last year. I’d sure like to know the reasons for that, although judging by Faye’s vague response, I don’t think I’m going to find out.
I mentioned that there is another story which also pertains specifically to seniors, and that’s our story about the WRHA’s report about an unannounced visit by a five-person inspection team to the Simkin Centre. As I note in the headline for that story, the Simkin Centre received generally glowing reviews from the inspection team, although one might question the methodology involved in producing its report. How were the ten residents who were asked to offer opinions about the centre selected, for instance?
Still, given what a bad rap so many personal care homes have been receiving ever since Covid first emerged, the report’s findings can certainly be considered quite positive news for the Simkin Centre. Again though – and perhaps readers will become tired of me harping on the issue of food at the Simkin Centre, the one question asked of residents that drew the most negative comments had to do with the food there. At this point though, given the escalating costs of food everywhere, combined with the piddling increase in food budgets that were granted to personal care homes by the provincial government in 2021, it comes as no surprise that the quality and “diversity” of the food at the Simkin Centre is being called into question by some of the people who live there.
The inspection report filed by the WRHA about the Simkin Centre raises another interesting point, however, and it’s one about which I’ve been writing for some time. As so many of the Jewish organizations within our community are catering to constituencies that have a heavy non-Jewish component, to what extent can we rightfully say that the identities of many organizations are only nominally “Jewish?”
The Rady JCC, for instance, has become focused on the athletic and recreational component of its service. There is nothing particularly “Jewish” about almost all of the programs it offers. A large part of the cultural programming that it used to offer has either disappeared (in no small part due to a loss of interest by seniors in attending in-person events), or else it’s shifted over to the Gwen Secter Centre, which has been doing a great job in providing outdoor entertainment during the summer months and cultural programming the rest of the year.
At the same time I wonder about another section from the Budget and Allocations Committee report, when it refers to all the challenges that have been facing Jewish Child and Family Service in recent times, noting that “They currently serve about 5000 people each year. Federation funds work not supported by other sources include the rapidly growing caseload of seniors, addiction recovery supports, mental health services and a new and growing crisis in teen mental health.”
I’ve asked Al Benarroch about that 5,000 figure before. Heck, I doubt that there are more than 12,000 Jews in all of Winnipeg (and even that is probably on the high side, but we’ll have to wait until November for StatsCan to finally release information about ethnic groups in Canada.) Al has explained though that JCFS serves a very wide constituency, including many non-Jewish clients.
The point that I’m trying to make – and have been trying to make for some years now, is that the lines between operating as a “Jewish” organization and something other than that are becoming increasingly blurred.
By the same token, in an article that appear in this week’s print issue about that ugly incident at the Kotel where haredi youths disrupted a bar mitzvah and went so far as to rip up Jewish prayer books – if you can believe it, Deborah Lipstadt, the State Department’s antisemitism monitor, labeled what happened as “antisemitic.” Again, the very meaning of the term “Jewish” is now becoming increasingly unclear. When supposedly devout Jews can attack other Jews, call them “Nazis” and “Christians”, and rip up their prayer books, can we really say that we belong to the same group?
Thus, I very much wonder whether the Rady JCC (which, by the way, stands for “Jewish Community Centre” in case you’ve forgotten), much like the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, which morphed into the less identifiably Jewish “WJT”, has become more brand-friendly by toning down the “Jewish” in its name?
Look, I’m not saying whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing when an organization’s Jewish identity is diluted to the point where non-Jews feel totally comfortable either in belonging to that organization or using its services, I’m just asking readers to recognize how much our society is evolving when that’s become the new norm. Nowadays, questions about one’s identity have far less to do with ethnic or religious affiliation, and much more to do with which groups you identify most strongly.
I think we’ve all witnessed the fissures that have torn Western societies apart in recent years – whether they have to do with vaccinations against Covid here in Canada or, as the debate is currently raging in the US shows: whether a woman has the right to determine control over her own body, or whether anyone has the right to own a gun. Is there a Jewish point of view on any of those issues? To a certain extent, there is on the issue of abortion, but as an article in a recent issue of this paper showed, even within the Orthodox Jewish community there is no firm consensus on that issue.
What we need to do is recognize that our Jewish community here has morphed into a much less recognizably “Jewish” community in the traditional sense of how we used to define “Jewish.” To pretend otherwise is to ignore the reality of the trends that have been sweeping all aspects of society, including our own Jewish community in Winnipeg.
Features
Did the Jewish Federation’s stepping in to force the firing of BB Camp co-executive director Jacob Brodovsky lead to the further alienating of many young Jews from the community?
(June 8, 2024) Introduction: We received the following email from a young Jewish Winnipegger re the BB Camp controversy, which we’ve reported on extensively on this website. We thought it important to post the email as a separate piece rather than as an add-on to an article in which we printed other emails from readers expressing their disappointment at what happened to Jacob Brodovsky, the former co-executive director of BB Camp:
Dear Mr. Bellan,
Thank you for once again cutting through the noise with your April 23rd column, “What the sordid BB Camp affair says about our community.” Your clarity and courage in calling out our rush to judgment and our narrowing definition of “Jewish identity” are deeply appreciated, especially by those of us who feel increasingly alienated in Winnipeg.
I also want to share a troubling observation about one of the loudest voices attacking Jacob Brodovsky: theJ.ca. Their articles—bylines like “Ron East” or “TheJ.ca Staff”—are, in fact, almost entirely generated by artificial intelligence. They contain no verifiable sourcing, frequently hallucinate details, and appear to be little more than a far-right newsletter running smear campaigns under the guise of “journalism.” The entire BB Camp series reads like an AI trained on extremist talking points, regurgitated daily to bully our community into silence.
As a young Jew in Winnipeg, I—and many of my peers—are horrified by the transformation we’re witnessing. What was once a warm, progressive community is now dominated by:
Bigots and Bullies: Parents threatening to pull their kids unless the camp bows to extremist demands.
Florida-style Republican Judaism: A narrow, intolerant ideology portrayed as the only “true” Jewishness.
Collapsing Leadership: Our Jewish Federation leaders, including Jeff Lieberman, have shown they lack the vision or backbone to navigate this crisis.
We stand at a dangerous inflection point. Our community is on the verge of a total and irreversible fascist takeover—an outcome no amount of regret or retrospective apologies can undo.
Please consider reading firsthand accounts from community members who have bravely spoken out:
I know this letter is anonymous and won’t be published, but I hope you see it as proof that many of us are desperate for ethical, forward-looking leadership. Thank you again for using your platform to remind us what Jewish community should mean: diversity of thought, compassion for all people, and the moral courage to call out extremism—no matter where it comes from.
This was NEVER a community of far-right Israelis. This is a shame beyond words.
With gratitude and urgency,
A Concerned Young Jew in Winnipeg
Post script: We had heard from many different sources (who all asked to remain anonymous) that the Jewish Federation’s decision to force the BB Camp board to fire Jacob Brodovsky came as a result of pressure from one or more big donors to the Combined Jewish Appeal. We sent an email to Jeff Lieberman, asking Jeff whether the Jewish Federation’s decision to force the resignation of Jacob Brodovsky as co-executive director of BB Camp came as a result of a donor (or donors) to the Combined Jewish Appeal threatening to withdraw their donation(s) this year unless Jacob were fired. I don’t think anyone would be surprised to learn that Jeff did not bother responding to my request for information.
The Jewish Federation used to advertise elections to its board in The Jewish Post & News for many years, but no longer does so (in the Jewish Post). Instead, it submits a slate of new appointees to its board to members of the current board to be rubber stamped. Is it any surprise that the donors who contribute the most money call the shots for the Federation (which is as its always been. The only difference is the Jewish Federation and the Winnipeg Jewish Community Council before it used to operate with a patina of democracy. Sadly, that is no longer the case.)
We would urge anyone on the Federation board who could give information about what led the board to force the resignation of Jacob Brodovsky to contact us. We would give full anonymity, as we have to the writer of the above letter.
-Bernie Bellan
Local News
Is It Alberta’s Turn to Regulate Online Gambling? Looking at the Possibilities
Online gambling and betting in Canada is booming, with each province allowed to regulate its own space. Ontario, Canada’s most populated province, turned two this year after leading the way in April 2022. In what should motivate Alberta and other provinces, Ontario is already reaping the rewards, generating $100 million annually in gambling revenue. Will the local administration in Alberta do what is needed?
Talks have been rife that Alberta is considering going the Ontario way by having an open-licensing system. In July 2023, the minister for Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction, Dale Nally, issued a mandate to make this province a hub of online sports betting and gambling.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently asked Nally to cooperate with indigenous partners and other stakeholders to develop an online gaming strategy. The main focus will be on revenue generation and responsible gambling. In light of this, Nally said Alberta’s primary focus is becoming a “leading hub for iGaming” with streamlined regulations and low corporate taxes. Such conditions should position Alberta to become a leading iGaming destination.
A few weeks ago, the minister attended the ICE international gaming conference held in London. Together with Ontario’s Attorney General, Doug Downey, and other stakeholders, Nally participated in a roundtable discussion regarding the status of iGaming in Canada. CDC Gaming Reports also revealed that the discussion highlighted the success of iGaming in Ontario and how Alberta can emulate this success story.
Looking into the Alberta Budget 2024, it’s evident that state monopoly could soon give way to Canadian casinos to thrive in the province. Alberta took the first baby steps towards a more liberal gambling sector after setting aside $1 million for gambling. This budget will support the looming review of the Gaming, Liquor, and Cannabis Act and supporting Regulation. The idea is to review the entire regulatory framework to find more funding ways for Alberta charities and community projects.
Major operators like BetMGM, PointsBet, and PokerStars have since hired lobbyists to ensure commercial operators become a reality in Alberta. Speaking to investors and industry analysts in March this year, PointsBet CEO Sam Swanell tipped Alberta and British Columbia to legalize online betting soon. He noted that this could provide the much-needed expansion of that TAM.
Alberta is yet to take full advantage of online gambling despite being the country’s fourth-largest province, with around 4.3 million people. Smaller markets in North America, such as West Virginia and Connecticut, are already benefiting from commercialized online gambling. The good news is that noises about legal online gambling are getting louder in Alberta. It’s just a matter of when the government will make the announcement.
What Next for Online Gambling and Betting in Alberta?
Including a $1 million gambling review budget is definitely a step in the right direction. However, there’s still much to do to end Alberta’s long-standing gambling status quo. But at least the budget opens the door for further discussions and reforms regarding iGaming in Alberta. That discussion has been underway, although the momentum has increased in the last year or so.
As it stands, PlayAlberta.ca is the only regulated online gaming platform in Alberta. It’s a government-run website operated by the AGLC (Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis). Besides casino games, this website provides sports betting and lottery-style gaming experiences. The legal sign-up age on PlayAlberta.ca is 18 years.
For Albertans who prefer more gambling freedom, the government doesn’t restrict anyone from joining offshore operators. Most gaming sites operating in Alberta are licensed in Curacao, the UK, and Malta. Compared to PlayAlberta.ca, these websites provide a more extensive variety of games, rewards, and general experience.
In conclusion, it’s just a matter of when Alberta will introduce an open-licensing market. This approach has proved to be a success elsewhere, especially in Ontario. A recent Ipsos report in Ontario revealed that only 13.6% of the residents prefer to gamble on offshore websites. Alberta could soon follow this path, although there’s much work to do to realize this dream.
Opinion
Hamas savages make no distinction between Israeli Jews, Arabs
By MYRON LOVE I remember many years ago attending a presentation by Simon Wiesenthal, the world’s leading Nazi hunter, during which he made the point that the focus of Holocaust education should not be on the number six million – the number of estimated Jews who were murdered – but rather on the 12 million martyrs – including other targeted groups such as the Roma, people who were gay, the mentally and physically handicapped and the many great many Slavic people who were also murdered. After the Jews, the Slavs were next on the list.
By focusing strictly on Germans killing Jews, he observed, it became too easy to make it out to be only Germans versus Jews – thereby making it easier for Holocaust deniers and absolving the other European peoples who were complicit in the killings.
Similarly, while we naturally mourn our Jewish brethren who were so horribly slaughtered on October 7, we need to also bear in mind that Hamas made no distinction in its murderous rampage between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs or between Israelis and foreign workers.
In a posting for The Gatestone Institute on November 30, Israeli-Arab journalist Khaled Abu Toameh noted that he Hamas terrorists who attacked Israel on October 7 did not slaughter Jews alone. The terrorists also murdered and kidnapped scores of Muslim citizens of Israel, including members of the Bedouin community. The terrorists’ murder spree made zero distinction between young and old, Muslim and Jew.
“Scores of Arab Israelis were wounded, murdered or taken prisoner,” he reported.
One such brave individual was 23-year-old Awad Darawshe, an Arab-Israeli paramedic who was on duty at the music festival near Kibbutz Re’im, which was among the first locations under attack. When the medical staff on site were ordered to flee, he insisted on remaining behind to treat the wounded.
Abu Toameh suggests that the paramedic thought that because he was Arab, he could reason with the killers. He was murdered nonetheless.
Another courageous Arab-Israeli that the writer noted, 50-year-old Abed al-Rahman Alnasasrah, was murdered by Hamas terrorists when he attempted to rescue people from the music festival. He was married and a father of six children.
Fatima Altallaqat, 35, from the Bedouin village near Ofakim, was murdered while working with her husband near the city of Ofakim in southern Israel. She was a mother of nine children, the eldest nine years old.
Abu Toameh quotes her husband as saying: “We’re a religious Muslim family and she wore the traditional headdress of a devout woman. It is inconceivable they [Hamas terrorists] could not see who was inside [the car]. They were five meters away from her as they passed.”
Forty bullets were fired into her.
Abu Toameh further cites the comments of Suleiman Zayadneh, brother and uncle, respectively, to four of the Arab-Israeli hostages, who describes himself “as proud to be a Palestinian and Muslim”.
‘The people who came to shoot and kill — they know nothing of religion,” the writer quoted Zayadneh as saying. “These [Hamas] people came and killed left and right.”
Abu Toameh went on to reference the words of Nuseir Yassin, a video blogger with 65 million followers. Two days after the massacre, he wrote: “I realized that… to a terrorist invading Israel, all citizens are targets. More than 40 of them [the murdered] are Arabs. Killed by other Arabs. And I do not want to live under a Palestinian government. Which means I only have one home, even if I’m not Jewish: Israel…. So from today forward, I view myself as… Israeli first. Palestinian second. Sometimes it takes a shock like this to see so clearly.”
Abu Toameh reported that “there have been many storie about reciprocal inter-communal generosity and heroism in the aftermath of this national tragedy, and they create hope for the future”.
He quoted a statement by the Darwashe Family:
“We are very proud of Awad’s actions… This is what we would expect from him and what we expect from everyone in our family — to be human, to stay human and to die human.”
Abu Toameh also quoted Ali Alziadna, four of whose family members were kidnapped, as saying that he was “touched by the outpouring of support” by other Israelis.
“People from all over the country have come to hug and support our family,” Alziadna said. “The entire nation is one family now.”
Abu Toameh pointed out that many Arab citizens of Israel serve as IDF officers and policemen, risking their lives for their fellow Israelis. Many are serving at the front lines, saving lives.
Undoubtedly, Abu Toameh suggested, one of the objectives of the Hamas massacre, in addition to slaughtering as many Israelis as possible, was to thwart normalization between Israel and Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia. Hamas may also have aimed to damage relations between Jews and Arabs inside Israel.
”The terror group was, without doubt, hoping that we would witness another cycle of violence between Jews and Arabs inside Israel, similar to that which erupted in May 2021,’ Abu Toameh posited. “Then, Hamas succeeded in inciting a large number of Arab citizens of Israel to take to the streets and attack their Jewish neighbors and Israeli police officers.
“This time, however, the Arab-Israelis have not heeded the calls by Hamas. One reason is that Arab-Israelis saw, with their own eyes, how Hamas terrorists make no distinction between Jews and Muslims.
“Hamas has repeatedly demonstrated that it cares nothing for the well-being of Arabs and Muslims. From their luxury homes and hotel rooms in the safety of Qatar and Turkey, Hamas leaders give the orders to attack Israel and then sit back and let the world weep over the destruction they wrought upon their own people.
“On October 7,” Abu Toameh concluded, “Hamas metaphorically shot itself in the foot by showing the world, with unfathomably ghoulish pride, by way of Go-Pro cameras and other self-documentation, that it has neither a religious nor a secular-humanist set of values. Perhaps the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip should look at the Arab citizens of Israel and note how they enjoy equal rights, democracy, freedom of speech and a free media. If Palestinians wish to live well, like the Arab-Israelis, this is the time for them to get rid of Hamas and all the terror leaders who, for seven decades, have brought them nothing but one disaster after another.”
It is too bad that so many gullible fools in our Western societies refuse to open their eyes to the truth.