Local News
B’nai Brith launches new Canada-wide legal networkto fight antisemitism, human rights abuses
By MYRON LOVE On Monday, February 22, B’nai Brith Canada introduced its new legal network – the Matas Law Society – to the world with a virtual program – a “fireside chat” – featuring B’nai Birth CEO Michael Mostyn and the eponymous David Matas himself – B’nai Brith Canada’s long time senior legal counsel and one of the world’s best known fighters for human rights.
Matas reported that the event – which attracted almost 500 viewers – provided an overview of the work of B’nai Brith and its Winnipeg-based League for Human Rights which is involved in highlighting war crimes, hate speech, Holocaust denial, anti-Zionism and antisemitism, as well as more general human rights issues.
“We also explained what the Matas Law Society is striving to accomplish,” Matas said. “We received a lot of positive feedback.”
In an earlier interview with The Jewish Post & News, Michael Mostyn noted that the Matas Law Society has been in the planning for about a year. “We have had a lot of discussion with Jewish lawyers across Canada about the need for a Jewish law group to fight against anti-semitism and for human rights,” he said. “There was one such group in Toronto but it disbanded in the 1970s. It was felt at the time that there was no longer a need for such a group.
“But with antisemitism rising, using the law is one way to combat it. We’ve been regularly hearing from legal professionals asking how they can help contribute to fighting antisemitism and standing up for human rights.”
Mostyn added that David Matas is the ideal individual to spearhead such a legal network. “David personifies what the Matas Law Society is about,” Mostyn noted. “We are honoured that he agreed to lead this initiative. His inspiring passion for the law and tireless work in fighting for human rights embodies the spirit of what we hope to achieve with this new law society.”
Matas himself pointed out that antisemitism has been around for a long time and is not going to go away. “Before World War II, antisemitism was acceptable everywhere,” he said. “The Holocaust drove it underground and made it disreputable for a time. But as the Holocaust recedes farther into the past, antisemitism is becoming ever more difficult to suppress.”
Mostyn reported that the new Law Society is being very well received thus far. “We have had over 120 individuals sign on even though we have not done much advertising yet,” he said. “That number includes students from almost every law school in Canada.”
He added that there have even been some American students who have shown interest.
“We have had quite a buzz,” he continued. “And we expect that interest to only grow as we continue to build our program.
“We are seeking accreditation for our educational efforts from law societies across the country.”
Membership in the Matas Law society, he pointed out, offers a whole host of exclusive opportunities that are highly valuable no matter what stage of your legal career you are at. These includ:e Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programming; access to unique networking opportunities with some of this country’s most prominent lawyers and activists; B’nai Brith lodge membership; and, for those inclined, an opportunity to improve the state of human rights in Canada by getting involved with some of the major cases with which B’nai Brith is constantly involved on the national stage. The League for Human Rights regularly intervenes before the courts in highly publicized cases.
Among the cases in which B’nai Birth has been involved are: the issue of the labeling of Israeli wines from Judea and Samaria – which is now before the Federal Court of Appeal; a case at the Ontario Court of Appeal involving the provincial government’s Student Choice Initiative policy, which permits Ontario postsecondary students to opt out of paying incidental fees for non-essential services at their schools (which may include fees towards student unions that support the BDS movement); and a landmark case before the Supreme Court of Canada as to whether the use of humour can be used as a potential defense for the promotion of discrimination. The latter case concerns Mike Ward, a Quebec-based comedian who was sued for extensively mocking a nine-year-old disabled boy during his shows.
Mostyn noted that all levels of involvement in the Matas Law Society are welcome and everything helps — from simply signing up to actively defending the community in court, there is something for everyone. Membership costs $250 per year and is open to all Jewish lawyers, paralegals, and law students. Students currently enrolled in a law program are eligible to join for free.
Local News
Nakba exhbit at CMHR – you can see it right here and make your own assessment
By BERNIE BELLAN (Posted June 26, updated July 19) The Nakba exhibit at the Canadian Exhibit for Human Rights opened to the public June 27. The morning before the exhibit was set to open to the public, (it had a private opening for invited guests the evening of June 26) we received a press release from the CMHR. That press release gave a very detailed description of what was in the exhibit, along with photos (supplied by Annie Kierans of the CMHR).
There is also a link right at the beginning of the press release that will allow you to watch the same videos that anyone attending the exhibit can watch. We reprinted what was sent to us without making one edit. We leave it to you to form your own opinion as to whether the exhibit is fair in its presentation, and whether it is lacking “context” – which is an accusation that has been levelled at the exhibit’s organizers by some representatives of Jewish organizations.
We have received many emails in reaction to the exhibit. If you have an opinion and would like to see it published on this website, you can send it to jewishp@mymts.net, but please indicate whether you would be willing to have it published on this website.
Here is what we received the morning of June 26:
Winnipeg, MB — June 26, 2026 — The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) will open a new exhibit tomorrow that explores human rights violations related to the ongoing forced displacement of Palestinian Canadians.
Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present will be on display in the Rights Today gallery on Level 5 until 2028. Featuring personal stories told through artifacts and video testimonies, the exhibit presents Palestinian Canadians reflecting on their ongoing struggle for human rights. The small exhibit reveals enduring patterns of loss and resilience, helping visitors understand more about this contemporary human rights story.
Palestinian Canadian stories are now included alongside many other stories of forced displacement and human rights violations featured in the Museum’s galleries. Each of these stories contribute to our visitors understanding of human rights and help the Museum fulfill its mandate to foster reflection and dialogue.
Exhibition highlights
Personal stories and artifacts: Experience firsthand accounts from Palestinian Canadians sharing their journeys of displacement and memory through a series of five artifacts. Cases display artifacts like property deeds, house keys, and a traditional Palestinian embroidered dress, accompanied by short videos that deepen understanding of the impacts of displacement.
Powerful artworks: In her painting Bound Together in Gaza, Malak Mattar, a Gazan artist, captures the struggles and resilience of her generation shaped by conflict. Her work pays homage to Guernica, Picasso’s powerful masterpiece depicting civilian suffering during war.
Curfews and Closures, by Rajie Cook, bears witness to life under military occupation during the 2000–2005 Palestinian uprising, when curfews and closures were expanded and further limited basic rights and freedoms.
Cultural heritage: Discover traditional Palestinian embroidery called tatreez. Tatreez motifs and colours are tied to place, family history and regional identity. Patterns are associated with particular towns, villages or areas of Palestine. In this way, tatreez is a form of storytelling: a way of preserving memory, sustaining identity and expressing resilience across displacement and exile.
Poetry and reflection: Engage with Mahmoud Darwish’s evocative verses, inspiring personal reflection on exile, voice, and responsibility. Visitors can take a card containing Darwish’s poem and add a personal note, fostering ongoing dialogue beyond the exhibit.
Contemporary context: Witness striking images of current events in Gaza and the West Bank, connecting past displacement to ongoing struggles.
Quotes:
“No force can silence the truth we carry. Growing up in Canada, my children lived the Nakba through our stories. And now we watch it happen again, live, on our phones. When I see the images coming out of Gaza, I am not watching the news. I am watching my history repeat itself.” -Fouad Sahyoun, a Palestinian Canadian featured in the exhibit
“We developed this exhibit with a clear awareness that Palestinian Canadian voices have too often been marginalized, silenced or spoken over — and that anti-Palestinian racism affects whose stories are heard and whose suffering is recognized. That is why we intentionally centred Palestinian Canadian voices throughout the exhibit.” -Isabelle Masson, Curator of Palestine Uprooted
“Human rights matter precisely when they are inconvenient, when the question of who deserves the dignity of having their rights recognized is genuinely contested. These are the moments where having a national museum for human rights is most important.
There are people who believe this exhibit should not exist in its current form. There are people who believe it should have existed sooner. There are people who will visit this exhibit and feel that it does not say enough, and others who will feel it says too much.
We have listened to every one of these voices. We have reflected. And we have renewed our resolve to continue the difficult, sometimes contested, and often controversial work of building understanding about human rights. We are a museum grounded in Canada’s human rights framework, whose mandate requires us to bear witness to the full complexity of the human story. We are proud to open this exhibit because the story it tells will help achieve that mandate, and because this story belongs in the collective memory of Canadians.”
- – Isha Khan, CEO
Local News
A photo that’s being circulated on the internet about me
For those of you not familiar with nutjob Michael Kalo – the psycho who created the notorious “$hitler’s List” years ago and the same psycho who went after Ben Carr, well – now he’s obviously taken a strong disliking to the stance I’ve taken on the Nakba exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (You can read elsewhere on this website how I simply posted the entire exhibit as it is – and asked readers to form their own opinions.)
Kalo likes to send out emails to various individual using phony names – such as Frank Ostrowski. When people ask me (or asked Ben Carr) why we don’t take action against him, my answer is: What’s the use? He only basks in the attention.
So Michael – enjoy the attention you’re receiving. I know how much of an embarrassment you are to your wonderfully talented daughters.
Local News
Ami Hassan returning as owner of Falafel Place
By BERNIE BELLAN In a surprise move – and after more than a six-year absence as owner of Falafel Place (Corydon at Wilton) the legendary Ami Hassan has decided to return as owner of one of Winnipeg’s most famous eateries.
Long known for his sometimes irreverent attitude to his customers, e.g., “If you’re finished, get out!”, Ami decided to return to running Falafel Place after having retired years ago (or so he thought) from running the Corydon Avenue restaurant.
We asked Ami whether he’ll be sending a special invitation to Julia Roberts to come visit him at Falafel Place. He asked again: “Who’s Julia Roberts?” (Just kidding – he really does know how Julia Roberts is.) Read the story how Ami told her to leave the restaurant and come back later at Julia Roberts turned away from Falafel Place
Ami did note that when customers saw him inside the restaurant one recent day as he was getting it ready for the reopening Monday, August 10, over 20 of them came in asking him if he was open already.
We asked Ami whether the menu will be the same as it was when he last ran the place and he said everything will be the same.
Falafel Place will be open 7 days a week from 7 am – 2 pm. Remember, if you’re finished – get out!
