Local News
CBC report on pro-Palestinian rally held Sunday allows unsubstantiated claim about Winnipeg rabbis to go forward
By BERNIE BELLAN (posted Nov. 13) A report posted to the CBC Manitoba website has allowed an unsubstantiated claim by pro-Palestinian rally organizer Ramsey Zeid about Winnipeg rabbis to go forward without retraction.
In its report about the rally, the article says: “The rally had been originally scheduled for Saturday, but organizers postponed it to avoid conflict with Remembrance Day ceremonies.
“They had hoped to hold a vigil that included faith leaders from the city’s Jewish, Muslim, Christian communities, as well as an Indigenous elder, Ramsey Zeid, president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, told reporters on Sunday.
“We were able to secure everybody except for a rabbi,” he said.
“The rabbis we spoke to were a little reluctant to be included in the vigil. They expressed a little concern that they would get a lot of flack from their community, so unfortunately, we weren’t able to do it but we are still going to try again.” (emphasis ours)
Upon learning of the article – after being contacted by Rabbi Yosef Benarroch of Adas Yeshurun-Herzlia Congregation, we sent an email to the CBC asking that the article redact the reference to Ramsey Zeid saying he had been in contact with “rabbis,” since there is no corroboration of his claim.
We subsequently received a response from the CBC in which it was noted that the article had been amended.
It now included the following: “Rabbi Kliel Rose, who leads Etz Chayim in Winnipeg, said he contacted all five members of the Winnipeg Council of Rabbis, who said they had not been contacted directly by Ramsey Zeid about a vigil.
“Rose added he also spoke with three rabbis who are not members of the council who said they had not been contacted by Zeid. Rose says he believes there are six rabbis in Winnipeg who are not members of the council.
”When later contacted by CBC, Zeid said he personally contacted three rabbis, but refused to provide names.
” ‘The idea that we did not attend because of the fear of what the Jewish community would think is categorically false,” Rose wrote in a statement to CBC News on Monday.
” ‘We would not attend such rallies unless those organizing it have condemned Hamas and called for the immediate release of the 250 hostages being held captive by Hamas in Gaza.’ “
However, since Ramsey Zeid was refusing to give the names of the rabbis with whom he had allegedly been in contact, we asked the CBC – again, to remove any reference to Zeid’s having contacted rabbis and especially Zeid’s statement that “The rabbis we spoke to were a little reluctant to be included in the vigil. They expressed a little concern that they would get a lot of flack from their community, so unfortunately, we weren’t able to do it but we are still going to try again.”
We wrote: “Without demanding that Mr. Zeid produce the names of the ‘rabbis’ with whom he was supposedly in contact, your story cannot be corroborated. As a responsible news organization, if you continue to carry the story – even with the additional information you have added, you may be spreading misinformation.
“I would urge you to delete entirely the reference to Mr. Zeid having spoken to any rabbis – until such time as he produces the names of the ‘three rabbis’ with whom he allegedly spoke.
“Given the inflammatory nature of Mr. Zeid’s allegation, I suggest you move quickly on this.”
To date the CBC has not further amended their story to remove Mr. Zeid’s unsubstantiated allegation about Winnipeg rabbis. I wonder if I added that I spoke to 10 CBC employees, all of whom said they hate working for the CBC but they’re reluctant to come forward because of the flack they might receive from the CBC community, would the CBC have grounds to be upset?
Local News
Thank you to the community from the Chesed Shel Emes
We’re delighted to share a major milestone in our Capital Campaign, “Building on our Tradition.” Launched in November 2018, this campaign aimed to replace our outdated facility with a modern space tailored to our unique needs. Our new building is designed with ritual at its core, featuring ample preparation space, Shomer space, and storage, creating a warm and welcoming environment for our community during times of need.
We’re grateful to the nearly 1,000 generous donors who contributed over $4 million towards our new facility. A $750,000 mortgage will be retired in November 2025, completing this monumental project in just seven years.
We’re also thrilled to announce that our Chesed Shel Emes Endowment Fund has grown tenfold, from $15,000 to $150,000, thanks to you, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba’s FundMatch program, and Million Dollar Match initiative in 2024. Our fund helps ensure that everyone can have a dignified Jewish funeral regardless of financial need.
As we look to the future, our goal remains to ensure the Chevra Kadisha continues to serve our community for generations to come. Our focus now shifts to replenishing our savings account and growing our JFM Endowment fund.
We’re deeply grateful for your support over the past several years.
It’s our privilege to serve our community with care and compassion.
With sincere appreciation,
Campaign cabinet: Hillel Kravetsky, Gerry Pritchard, Stuart Pudavick,
Jack Solomon, and Rena Boroditsky
Murray S. Greenfield, President
Local News
Winnipeg Beach Synagogue about to celebrate 75th anniversary
By BERNIE BELLAN (July 13) In 1950 a group of cottage owners at Winnipeg Beach took it upon themselves to relocate a one-room schoolhouse that was in the Beausejour area to Winnipeg Beach where it became the beach synagogue at the corner of Hazel and Grove.
There it stayed until 1998 when it was moved to its current location at Camp Massad.
On August 2nd members of the synagogue will be holding a 75th anniversary celebration.
As part of the celebration anyone who is a descendant or relative of any of the original members of the first executive committee (as seen in the photo here) is invited to attend the synagogue that morning.
If you are a relative please contact Abe Borzykowski at wpgbeachshule@shaw.ca or aborzykowski@shaw.ca to let Abe know you might be attending or for more information about the 75th anniversary celebration.
We will soon be publishing a story about the history of the beach synagogue, which is something I’ve been writing about for over 25 years.
Local News
Vickar Family cuts ribbon on new Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre
By MYRON LOVE In the words of Larry Vickar, the Shaarey Zedek’s successful Dor V’ Dor Campaign “is not only a renewal of the synagogue but truly a renewal movement of Jewish life in our community.”An integral part of that renewal movement was the creation of a daycare centre within the expanded synagogue. On Monday, June 23, Larry and Tova Vickar cut the ribbon, thereby officially opening the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre in the presence of 100 of their family members, friends and other supporters of the project.
The short program preceding the morning ribbon-cutting began with a continental breakfast followed by a welcome by both Fanny Levy, Shaarey Zedek’s Board President, and Executive Director Dr. Rena Secter Elbaze. In Elbaze’s remarks, she noted that Larry and Tova wanted their family (including son Stephen and family, who flew in from Florida) and friends at the event to celebrate the opening of the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre, “not because of the accolades, but because, as Larry put it, he hopes that their investment in the congregation will inspire others to do the same.”
“When Larry and I spoke about what this gift meant to him and the message he wanted people to take away,” she continued, “I couldn’t help but connect it to the teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi whose book – Age-ing to Sage-ing – changes the whole way we look at the concept of ageing and basing it on our ancestral teachings.”
She explained that his concept of “Sage-ing” is based on three key ideas – Discover your meaning and purpose; accept our mortality and think about the legacy you want to leave.
“Larry spoke about these exact concepts when we met,” she said.
Elbaze also noted the presence of Shaarey Zedek’s newly-arrived senior Rabbi Carnie Rose, former Rabbi Alan Green, and area MLAs Mike Moroz and Carla Compton.
Larry Vickar expressed his great appreciation for all those in attendance. “Tova and I are deeply moved to stand here with you today for this important milestone in our community”, he said. “We are grateful to be surrounded by all of you, the people we care about, our family and friends… you who have touched our lives and played some part in our journey.”