Local News
High holiday services for both Etz Chayim and Shaarey Zedek congregations to mark last high holidays before both congregations move into new venues

By MYRON LOVE Rosh Hashanah, which begins on the evening of Friday, September 15 and Yom Kippur, on Sunday, September 24, finds our synagogue scene in a state of flux. While this will be the last Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for Etz Chayim congregants in their current 70-year-old location in north Winnipeg, for Shaarey Zedek members this will be the last Yom Tov outside their building on Wellington Crescent – currently undergoing renovations and an expansion.
And, under the dynamic leadership of new executive director Dr. Rena Secter Elbaze, the Shaarey Zedek is going all out to make this a Yom Tov to remember.
This is the second year that the Shaarey Zedek will have been holding Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services at the Asper Campus – with regular Shabbat services at the Berney Theatre and weekday services at Temple Shalom – and, Elbaze says, “in an effort to show our members that we appreciate their patience and understanding during this period of construction, we are offering all of our members free seating for Yom Tov for those who want to attend services in person as well as congregants viewing the services on-line.”
Non-members, she adds, can purchase their seats and will also be eligible for free seating if they participate in our daily minyanim or volunteer their time to help with Shabbat minyanim.
A further incentive will be the return of the popular Rabbi Alan Green to join Rabbi Anibal Mass to lead the main service. Rabbi Mass will also be leading the family service – accompanied by Grant Park High School Grade 12 student Noah Trachtenberg – in the Asper campus Multipurpose room.
Elbaze adds that the popular Quartet will be returning – along with the 20-voice Ruach Folk Choir to further uplift and engage participants in this year’s services.
Childcare will also be on offer.
Elbaze reports that thus far 350 have registered for in-person attendance (“We hope to have 500,” she says) along with106 for the family services and 92 for the online services.
“We have received over $21,000 in donations so far,” she notes.
As to regular Shabbat attendance, the numbers are still not back to where they were pre-pandemic restrictions. Elbaze reports that Shabbat services are averaging about 40 as compared to 175 three years ago.
“We are excited about our future prospects,” she adds. “We are making a concerted effort to attract younger people through organizing regular Shabbat dinners and havdalah parties in members’ homes.”
Meanwhile, Congregation Etz Chayim in north Winnipeg is celebrating its last Yom Tov at its current location at 123 Matheson. In November, our community’s second largest congregation will be leaving behind its 71-year-old building and moving to the former Shriners’ headquarters on Wilkes in south Winnipeg.
For this final Yom Tov on Matheson services will continue to be led by Rabbi Kliel Rose and Cantor Tracy Kasner – with Kelly Robinson leading the High Holy Day Choir. Jonathan Buchwald, Etz Chayim’s executive director, further reports that “this year, in addition to the regular adult choir, we will be incorporating youth voices as well.
“We are also offering a Family Service designed for young families led by Deborah Spigelman and Nina Eilberg. This will be a 45 minute service” and will include storytelling, games and songs.
In addition, there will be a Junior Congregation youth service for all ages and a special designated group for Kadima age children. And, on the first day of Rosh Hashanah and on Kol Nidre there will be a program designed specifically for teens in grades 9 to 12.
Services are available either in-person or online.
Rob Waldman, the president of the egalitarian Chevra Mishnayes congregation in Garden City, says that the board is not expecting much change from last year. “We hope that attendance will be a little higher this year,” he says.
Last year’s attendance was 90 – exceeding all expectations.
Once again, Al Benarroch will be leading the services.
Still with the North End, the venerable House of Ashkenazie, the last of our community’s older-style Orthodox congregations, is also, according to president Gary Minuk, expecting little change for Yom Tov from last year when about 50 were in attendance for the first day of Rosh Hashanah and over 40 for Kol Nidre – numbers which were the best in some years.
One new option this year for frum members of our community living in the North End may be the former Chavurat Tefila – on the corner of Hartford and McGregor – which has reopened – after being closed for three years – as the North End Orthodox Minyan. The new congregation began regular Shabbat services at the end of July and is planning to be open for all Yom Tovim throughout the year – but the situation for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is still to be determined.
South Winnipeg also has a new Yom Tov option this year in the form of services being offered by Rabbi Matthew Leibl at the Gates on Roblin. “Last year, I had a lots of people ask me what I was going to do for Yom Tov,” says Leibl, who has been in demand for weddings, funerals and other community events since he left the Shaarey Zedek four years ago. “I perceived that there was a need for another alternative for High Holiday services.”
“Services on the River: A modern High Holidays” are scheduled for the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur morning. “Because the Shofar is not traditionally blown on Shabbat, we decided to celebrate Rosh Hashanah on the second day instead to be able to have the shofar in our service, ” Rabbi Leibl explains.
“ ‘Services on the River’ will be three services designed to offer moments of reflection and introspection, beautiful live music, and a celebration of the Jewish New Year, all against the pastoral backdrop of the Assiniboine River, which will also be our site for Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah. Rabbi Leibl adds.
He notes that he will be blending his trademark Torah commentary, relevant explanations, and some humour with a mix of traditional and contemporary liturgy, to deliver a High Holy Day experience that will feel both familiar and modern. He adds that he will be working with the husband and wife cantorial team of Justin Odwak and Sarah Sommer. All services will run 90 minutes. While families are encouraged to attend, there are no programs designed specifically for children.
Rabbi Leibl reports that the venue can accommodate up to 400 and that, thus far, he has commitments from about 150.
Both Ruth Livingston and Jack Craven, presidents respectively of Reform Congregation Temple Shalom and the Orthodox Adas Yeshurun Herzlia in south Winnipeg are reporting that it is business as usual this year. Both are hoping to see some growth in the numbers in attendance though, as fears of Covid continue to recede.
The Lubavitch Centre will also be business as usual. Capacity for the south Winnipeg institution is about 250-300. There is no charge for those wishing to attend services.
And, after a three-year absence, the Simkin Centre will again be holding Yom Tov services that are open to the general public. The services, which will begin at 10:00 A.M. on all three days of Yom Tov, will be led by Steven Hyman with the choir being led by Bonnie Antel.
Caitlin Liewicki, the manager of Resident Experience, is asking that anyone who may be planning on attending the service from the public to RSVP either by email (caitlin.liewicki@simkincentre.ca) or telephone (204- 589-9008), so that she knows how many to plan for.
Finally for those who enjoy the alternative – and, by now traditional services in their own way – at Camp Massad, there remains one more option for those seeking to attend a High Holiday service. After two years absence, Camp Massad is resuming its innovative Rosh Hashanah service. Daniel Sprintz, the camp’s executive director, is pleased to announce that Massad will again be hosting its usual Rosh Hashonah program on the second day.
“We offer a creative and interactive service that combines some traditional prayers with contemporary readings, folk music and our usual Camp massad Shtick,” Sprintz says. “Our services will be followed by a kosher lunch and Tashlich at the Lake.”
The service, this year, he notes, is being led by Rabbanit Dorit Kosmin. In pre-Covid times, Sprintz reports, Rosh Hashanah at Massad attracted as many as 150 participants. Last year, 90 attended. He is hoping to have a somewhat larger number this year.
The Registration deadline (massad.ca) is September 15.
Yom Tov this year begins on Friday, September 15, in the evening.
Wishing all readers a sweet new year.
Local News
Rabbi Matthew Leibl’s Friday afternoon service at Simkin Centre has grown in popularity

By BERNIE BELLAN In November 2023 I published a story in The Jewish Post & News about the first-ever Friday afternoon “Erev Shabbat” service at the Simkin Centre, which was held October 27, 2023.
It was an opportunity for me to see how much of an impact the newly spiritual care aide at the Simkin Centre, Rabbi Matthew Leibl, was having on residents. But that was in 2023 – only 2 years after the Simkin Centre had emerged from the most harrowing period in its history.
As you may recall, when Covid 19 began to spread in early 2020, it was personal care homes across Canada that were hit hardest – and the Simkin Centre was not spared the ravages of Covid. A total of 11 residents passed away at the Centre in 2020 and 2021.
Another result of the Covid epidemic was that the number of non-Jewish residents at the Simkin Centre jumped by quite a large number during the epidemic. Here are some figures showing how many more non-Jewish residents moved into the home by 2021 than had been there previously:
2017 – 67 non-Jewish or 33.5%
2018 – 63 non-Jewish or 31.5%
2019 – 71 non-Jewish or 35.5%
2020 – 61 non-Jewish or 30.5%
2021 – 86 non-Jewish or 43.0%

Rabbi Leibl had been hired in the spring of 2023. His hiring was enabled by a grant from the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. Here is how the Foundation explained what its purpose was in making a grant to the Simkin Centre for the hiring of a full-time spiritual care aide:
“I know how important spiritual care is in our type of setting,” said Laurie Cerqueti, Simkin Centre CEO. “For our residents, our families, and our community.”
Since she took over the CEO role, Laurie’s thoughts had been directed to ‘How can we serve our people even more than we are now? How can we make this bigger and better?’
This sparked the idea that someone should be brought in to look at what they were doing regarding spiritual care to see where gaps and opportunities lay to develop the program.
The Simkin Centre hired Rabbi Matthew Leibl as the person to fill the role, someone Cerqueti thought would be a perfect fit f for what they’were hoping to do.
“As I spoke with Matthew about this opportunity, we see it as an opportunity to make a significant difference for the residents and their families,” said Cerqueti.
This interaction with the Simkin Centre is not Rabbi Leibl’s first. He has been involved with the Simkin Centre for over 15 years, first working there at age 21. That year, he did concerts three times per week for the residents.
“I found that the music and performing was an incredible way to connect with the people there,” said Rabbi Leibl.
He recalled a story from that time frame where he was performing Oseh Shalom, and one resident who had been, to that point, without her memory and less present, began to mouth the words along with him. The song helped her break through what she had been dealing with.
“That moment was truly a game changer for me. I’m so excited to be able to give back to a place that helped people in my own family and was a great place for me while I was figuring out my way many years ago,” said Rabbi Leibl.
“Simkin is such a special place, and what they’re doing there is awesome.”
In the year and a half since I was present at Rabbi Leibl’s first ever Friday afternoon service at the Simkin Centre much has changed. Most of the new residents who have moved into the centre have, once again, been Jewish. But, in recognition of how many residents are not Jewish the centre has begun offering services for different denominations as well. The May calendar of events lists a Catholic Mass, an Anglican service, a Christian Bible Study, and a Hymnsing.
But it was Rabbi Leibl’s Erev Shabbat service I was interested in seeing again – some 18 months after the first service he had conducted, to see whether it had changed – and how many residents came to watch.
The atrium of the centre was filled with residents on Friday, April 26 – quite a few more than that October 2023 service. The increased number of attendees was also a reflection of how many more of the centre’s residents, once again, are Jewish. (In case you weren’t aware, if there’s a vacant unit at the Simkin Centre and someone who is Jewish is on the wait list to gain admission into the centre, that individual will be given first crack at moving into the centre. I had been told by Laurie Cerqueti that the 14 most recent new residents in the centre were all Jewish.)
There was one other aspect to Rabbi Leibl’s service which was brought to my attention. One of the residents at the Simkin Centre, Carol Manishen, also has a son living in a Shalom Residence: Josh Manishen. When Carol’s husband, Wayne, saw me at that Friday service he told me that he often comes early with Josh – before the start of the regular service at 4:00 pm, and Josh sings various Hebrew prayers, accompanied by Rabbi Leibl on the keyboard. To watch a video of Josh singing, click here:
One more thing though: Since Rabbi Leibl and I go a long way back – and we both have a fond taste for sacasm, he singled me out from among the audience and said to everyone there: “We’ve even got a reporter from the Jewish Post here.”
I couldn’t help but respond – in my usual facetious manner, that I was there to do an exposé.
To which, Rabbi Leibl retorted: “You can call it “Sex, Drugs, and Candlesticks.” Hmm, I wonder how much more there is about the Simkin Centre that I haven’t learned yet?
Local News
Well, that didn’t take long…BB Camp Board announces hiring of two new co-directors

(Posted April 27) In a span of a little more than two weeks, BB Camp has gone from parting ways with one of its co-executive directors, Jacob Brodovsky, to the hiring of two new co-directors. (We have been attempting to ascertain the status of Lexi Yurman, who was also camp co-executive director with Jacob – who also happened to be her husband, and who is now on maternity leave. Would she be entitled to return as co-executive director once her maternity leave is up, we wonder?)
The BB Camp board released a press release announcing the new hires at 12:42 pm today. Interestingly, there is no mention whether the positions that are to be filled by the two individuals, Sarah Gould and Aliza Millo, are to be permanent or temporary. Also, the two women are referred to as co-camp directors, not co-executive directors. Is there any significance to that, we wonder? Since no one from the BB Camp board has responded to any questions we have posed to them since this whole mess began, we won’t hold our breath waiting for answers to any of the questions we’ve just asked here either.
Here is the complete text of the BB Camp board announcement:
Dear BB Camp Community,
On behalf of the Board, we wanted to let you know that we acknowledge that the last week has caused much stress and uncertainty. We have felt it too and have been working very hard to ensure that the summer season unfolds as we all expect.
We are extremely excited to share with you that our 2025 summer senior Camp leadership team is now in place!
Please give a BB Camp W-E-L-C-O-M-E to Sarah Gould and Aliza Millo!

Sarah Gould: co-Camp Director (Wilderness and Operations)
Sarah is returning to BB Camp as co-Camp Director (Wilderness and Operations). Sarah’s history with BB Camp stretches back decades. She spent many formative summers on Town Island—as a camper, counselor, canoe instructor, and AC out-tripper. After BB, she took her skills to Camp Hatikvah in BC, where she helped develop and expand their wilderness and out-tripping program. Sarah has an intimate knowledge of wilderness programming, the importance of integrating Jewish values into outdoor education, and as camp alumni and a current camp parent, has a clear understanding of our community’s interests and hopes for BB Camp’s future.
Sarah has been fortunate to spend every summer of her life at Lake of the Woods. Her family cottage is on Channel Island, directly across from Town Island. She has strong ties to our Lake of the Woods neighbours and an ability to navigate the lake and Kenora. Sarah also was a key volunteer on the Friends of Town Island campaign, through which Camp was able to successfully partner with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to have Town Island designated as a protected area—ensuring its legacy for generations to come.
Professionally, Sarah has years of experience in education, research, and community organizing. She taught anthropology and international development at Trent and the University of Toronto and now works as a researcher and consultant in health studies. In her community life, she leads a neighborhood organization in Toronto, where she has spearheaded grassroots initiatives—from building a skating rink to coordinating with city officials and local stakeholders on community improvement projects. Sarah is also active in the Jewish community, including advocacy for Israel and supporting students facing antisemitism on campus.
Sarah is excited to be returning to Town Island and the BB Camp family for an amazing summer of 2025.

Aliza Millo: co-Camp Director (Programs)
Aliza’s history with BB Camp dates back decades as well. She spent many years at Camp as a camper, counselor, section head, and LTP Coordinator. After Camp, Aliza pursued a career she felt was most adjacent to working at Camp and transitioned into the classroom. She moved to Toronto to pursue her education degree, where she also completed a Jewish Education Certificate at York University.
For the next seven years, Aliza taught at the Toronto Heschel School, a school dedicated to tikkun olam and social justice, with a particular focus on environmental stewardship and sustainability. While there, Aliza taught grades three through seven, with a greater focus on the upper elementary years, teaching Judaics, Hebrew, and General Studies in a pluralistic, integrated setting.
After 10 years in Toronto, Aliza was happy to move back home to Winnipeg. Aliza met her future husband David Azuelos at BB Camp many years ago; to get a sense of how important BB Camp is to Aliza, she had her wedding on Town Island. Since her return to Winnipeg, Aliza has worked at St. John’s-Ravenscourt School, teaching Grade 4, cultivating an environmental leadership team at the Junior School level, and even bringing groups of Grade 4 and 5 students to Town Island for Outdoor Ed. Aliza has also helped organize and fundraise for Kendra’s Walk, a student-led initiative at SJR supporting teens living with cancer.
Aliza’s true passion lies in building community, whether in the classroom or at Camp. Since her time as a camper, she has enjoyed returning to the island for Work Weekend, volunteering in the kitchen, and serving on the Alumni Committee ahead of the 70th Alumni Weekend. She is most passionate when working with children and believes in strong communication with parents to build meaningful and supportive relationships. Having worked in a kindergarten to Grade 12 school setting, she has enjoyed maintaining lifelong relationships with students and families in the community.
Aliza is excited to be bringing her two boys, Judah and Dubie, to Camp. She is thrilled to be returning in this position — working with and mentoring the already incredible staff, and helping to foster deep and meaningful connections to Jewish values, traditions, and culture. Aliza looks forward to helping build a strong, nurturing community where every camper feels a sense of comfort, belonging, and pride in who they are — and in being a BB Camp camper.
***
The Camp Board of Directors is grateful that Sarah and Aliza, two lifelong BB Campers who together have an exceptional skill set, will be leading our community’s beloved Camp this summer. We are looking forward to another great Camp summer, full of amazing Camp memories. We will be reaching out directly to Camp families with more information. Please bear with us as our new leadership team gets up to speed and starts working with our current staff. Reach us at info@bbcamp.ca
Local News
A detailed look at how Jacob Brodovsky was targeted by one particular website – and how that led to him losing his job as co-executive director of BB Camp

By BERNIE BELLAN (Posted April 25) The following is taken from Bnai Brith Camp’s website as the camp’s mission statement:
“BB Camp’s mission is to provide a fun, supportive, and inclusive Jewish environment in which youth can explore, grow, and mature. Campers are provided opportunities to develop independence, foster lasting friendships, and strengthen their identities within a natural wilderness setting. BB Camp is committed to making sure that every camper leaves with wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
“Since its founding in 1954, BB Camp has remained committed to ensuring that all children, no matter what their financial situation might be, have the opportunity to experience the joy and wonder of attending Camp. At BB Camp, our goal is to offer a summer ‘home away from home’ where children can learn about and take pride in their Jewish culture, community, and heritage. It is a place where children can grow both individually and as a group. It is a place where important socializing skills are developed and where lifelong friendships are formed. It is a place where connection to the Jewish community can become part of a child’s life forever.”
Elsewhere on the website, under the category “Jewish Life at Camp,” this is what the site has to say about the role that Israel plays at the camp: Our main focus in Israel-based programming is to provide interactive opportunities for our campers and staff to develop a connection to Israel. We create connections to Israel by hiring Israeli staff to teach our
campers about daily life in Israel. Each summer we run an Israel Day program for both of our summer sessions where campers can learn about Israeli culture, food, and geography. In addition to this day-long program, we entwine Israel-based education with day-to-day camp life, including a ‘Hebrew word of the day’ at morning services and by using basic Israel education pieces including using Hebrew names for our camp buildings, flying the Israeli flag, and singing Hatikvah (Israel’s national anthem) as a camp each day when we lower the flags for the evening.”
Jacob Brodovsky had been a staffer at BB Camp for 15 years. Since 2021 he and his wife, Lexi Yurman, had served as camp co-executive directors. In an article posted to The Times of Israel website in August 2024, writer Jon van der Veen wrote: “He (Brodovsky) mentioned that BB has had a positive growth in campers over the years, “about 10 percent year over year” (emphasis mine). Lexie gave me the rough numbers, saying, (BB Camp) ‘consistently in a summer through both sessions, and including our LTP and AC programs, we have 300 to 350 campers.
“Jacob describes BB as a ‘Jewish camp for everyone,’ which is important because he also informed me that ‘about 15 percent of campers are non-Jewish‘ (emphasis mine). Jacob and Lexie believe this number is a testament to the appeal of BB camp and its good reputation. Lexie added, ‘Most of our non-Jewish campers, they just come with their friends, because their friends talk about camp, and they want to be a part of it.’
In the camp’s mission statement nowhere does the word “Zionism” appear.
But, following a series of three incendiary articles that appeared on a website known as thej.ca, beginning with an article that was first posted on April 6, and which was titled “Winnipeg Parents Outraged Over Camp BB Kenora Director’s Apparent Anti‑Israel Social Media Activity,” a campaign to oust Jacob Brodovsky as camp co-executive director quickly gathered steam. Ordinarily I would not lend credence to the vituperative attacks on Brodovsky that were posted to that website, but I think it important that readers see first hand the evidence that was used to martial what became an online campaign to have Brodovsky removed as camp co-executive director.
That article went on to make several statements that might well be considered defamatory, including describing Brodovsky’s behaviour as “incendiary.” The article also quoted (from an unnamed parent): “Parents send their children to BB Kenora for a safe, enriching Jewish experience—not political indoctrination against Israel.” (There is no evidence offered as to what “political indoctrination against Israel” in which Brodovsky might have engaged.)
The entire basis of the case against Brodovsky seemed to revolve as his having “liked” certain social media posts that had been posted by someone or some group that went by the name “Rusty_Robot,” and which were posted to Instagram in April and May 2024. Those social media posts were sympathetic to Palestinians.
Further, there were comments that levelled very serious allegations, not only against Brodovsky, but also his wife, Lexie, including: “Anyone who supports the dangerous and vicious views regarding the Jewish right to exist should be held accountable and fired. Our children deserve better !”
Another commenter write: “I’m confused why there is no commentary on his wife, who runs the camp along side him and has allowed for this behaviour from him for years. She is complicit to his actions.”
A third commenter writes: “if you are the director of a Jewish camp who shuts down support for hostages and protests the raising of the Israeli flag and singing Hatikvah, then your politics are affecting your role and the climate at camp.”
There were other very serious allegations made against Brodovsky, yet there were also comments that came to his defence, including: “My children came home from BB camp last summer more secure and attached to their Jewish identity than when they left.
“They sang Hatikva. They prayed at meals. They participated in a Havdalah service. Most importantly, they got to experience the sense of community that comes from being in a secure Jewish environment.”
At first, the BB Camp Board reacted by giving Brodovsky a vote of support following an emergency meeting of the board held on April 8, at which time the Board issued a statement that read, in part: “After conducting painstaking due diligence, the BB Camp Board of Directors unanimously (emphasis mine) voted to retain Co-Executive Director, Jacob Brodovsky, following his full apology for his serious error in judgement on social media.
“After listening to all comments and concerns, the Board made a decision that it believes is best for the organization moving forward.
“ ‘While we know not everyone will agree with our decision, we have full confidence that Jacob will continue to provide our campers, families, and clients with the same safe and nurturing environment that they have come to expect and enjoy over the last four years,’ said Board chair, Leah Leibl.
Leibl pointed to Jacob’s sincerity in issuing an apology.
“’ ‘I accept full responsibility and sincerely apologize for the gravity of my mistake and lack of judgement in liking posts that did not align with the values of BB Camp,’ said Co-Executive Director, Jacob Brodovsky. ‘ am extremely remorseful for my actions and most grateful to be able to continue in my role serving our Jewish community.’
“Jacob also reaffirmed his belief in the State of Israel and is working closely with others to examine steps that can be taken to strengthen Jewish life and deepen support for Israel at Camp.
“Jacob added, ‘I ‘ believe in Israel’s right to exist and care deeply about the safety of all Jews and Israelis.’
“In addition to the apology, the Board requires their Co-Executive Director, who agreed, to exercise due caution in his use of social media and avoid any activity that may run counter to the mission of the organization. The Board of Directors has also expressed to Jacob the extreme seriousness of this matter, and has reinforced to him his obligation to uphold all Camp policies.”
On April 9, however, thej.ca once again criticized the BB Camp Board of Directors in an article titled “Weak Leadership Exposed: Camp BB Kenora Board Keeps Controversial Director Despite Overwhelming Outcry”.
The lead line of that article said: “Despite irrefutable evidence of his anti‑Israel bias and incendiary pro‑Palestine online activities, the board’s decision to retain Jacob Brodovsky reveals a dangerous capitulation to woke (emphasis mine) pressures—at the expense of true Zionist values.”
On April 16, the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg held an emergency meeting for the purpose of discussing the BB Camp situation. On April 17 the BB Camp Board released a statement in which it reversed its decision to retain Brodovsky as co-executive director, noting “the camp’s Board of Directors has announced that “the Board of Directors and co-Executive Director Jacob Brodovsky have amicably agreed to part ways, having regard to the best interests of the Camp and the community at large.”
We have been in contact with various camp staffers, some of whom who wished to remain anonymous, but all of whom have denied that there were any instances where Hatikvah was not allowed to be sung or where the Israeli flag was not raised.
Another issue which was raised by other commenters had to do with campers not being allowed either to make or wear “yellow ribbons,” which have become symbolic of sympathy for the hostages still being held in Gaza.
Following the BB Camp Board’s complete reversal of its position, the j.ca ran a third article, on April 17, titled “Stunning Turn Of Events At BB Camp Kenora As Board Reexamines Leadership Choice.”
Following the article, however, a commenter who identified as a camp staffer posted this comment: “As a current staff member at Camp BB, I have to say it’s outrageous that Jacob is being slandered over baseless rumours and social media activity taken wildly out of context. What’s even more ridiculous is that most of the people fuelling this outrage haven’t stepped foot on camp during the summer and have no idea how things are actually run. Jacob’s personal political views never once interfered with camp life. Camp BB remained very much a Jewish camp, rich in tradition and community, under his leadership.
The camp staffer goes on to refer to the “yellow ribbon” situation – in apparent reference to a paragraph which appeared in the April 6 j.ca article, which wrote: “Several parents told TheJ.Ca that Brodovsky also refused campers’ requests to create yellow ribbons in solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. ‘My daughter was heartbroken,’ said one mother. ‘She wanted to show support for the hostages in Gaza, but Jacob wouldn’t allow it.’ “
The camp staffer who posted a comment in defence of Brodovsky on the j.ca site wrote – with specific reference to the “yellow ribbon” situation: “It’s also interesting that none of the staff can recall this supposed ‘yellow ribbon’ situation—so where did that even come from? Are we really at the point where rumours and assumptions are enough to justify firing someone?”
Questions now remain as to why the BB Camp Board reversed its original decision to retain Brodovsky as camp co-executive director? Was it a result of some well-heeled donors exerting financial pressure on either the BB Camp Board or the Jewish Federation?
We have also received a copy of a letter that was sent to the BB Camp Board which also levels some very serious allegations against Brodovsky, especially with respect to his interactions with camp staffers. That letter offers specifics which the articles in thej.ca do not. Whether that letter – and perhaps other letters that were sent to the BB Camp Board played an influential role in the dramatic reversal of the Board’s original unanimous decision made on April 9 to retain Brodovsky as co-executive director, only to be followed by a decision eight days later to part ways with Brodovsky, we do not know.
Unlike the j.ca, however, we do not engage in idle speculation. We ask questions and await answers.
There is one final – and somewhat intriguing aspect to this controversy, and that has to do with BB Camp’s charitable status. As some readers might be aware, Jewish National Fund Canada had its charitable status revoked by the CRA in August 2024. To read more about how that came about, go to https://jewishpostandnews.ca/faqs/rokmicronews-fp-1/jnf-canada-responds-to-cra-decision-to-revoke-its-charity-status/
In order for any charity to retain its charitable status it has to clearly state its charitable object. If BB Camp were now to include, as part of its charitable object, “to better reflect the Camp’s fundamental support of Israel” (emphasis mine), which it says is now part of its mission in the statement issued on April 17, one might well ask whether that constitutes quite a departure from its previous mission statement, which makes no reference at all to Israel, and in particular, “fundamental support of Israel?” Based on what happened with the JNF, which lost its charitable status, allegedly for having deviated from its “charitable object,” one might wonder how the CRA would react to BB Camp becoming politicized to that extent?
We had sent a copy of this article to both the Federation and BB Camp Board asking both of them whether they had any response to issue before this article was published. Neither organization responded.