Local News
In Winnipeg, Everything’s “Coming up Roses”
Ed. note: Elsewhere on this website we have a story about Rabbi Carnie Rose having recently become the senior rabbi for Shaarey Zedek Congregation. At the time that story appeared, Gerry Posner was not aware that Myron would be doing a profile of Rabbi Carnie Rose, so he sent us his own story about the Rose family. But, in his own inimitable way, Gerry Posner tells the story of the Roses.
By GERRY POSNER With the recent arrival of Rabbi Carnie Rose to serve as senior rabbi for Shaarey Zedek Congregation and with his brother Kliel having served as spiritual leader of Etz Chayim Congregation since 2018, one should realize the full significance of having two brothers both serving as rabbis – for different congregations, in the same city.
You really have to go back 58 years ago – to the summer of 1967, when Rabbi Neal Rose and his wife Carol came to Winnipeg. Neal had come here to take a position in the Judaic Studies Department of the University of Manitoba (from 1967-2000).
Neal Rose had a tremendous impact upon the Winnipeg Jewish community – in the many roles he played. For instance, just ask anyone who was part of the alternative minyan which he led at the then Rosh Pina Synagogue during the High Holidays. You could also chat with anyone who was around during the 13 years when Rabbi Neal Rose served an an instructor in family therapy at the University of Winnipeg’s Department of Spiritual Care (from 2000-2013).
That was “Rose 1.0” (as in the Winnipeg Jets 1.0). As it turns out, Rabbi Neal and Carol are making a return engagement to Winnipeg (which I call “Rose 2.0”) to live here later this year – after some ten years living in St. Louis, Missouri, where Neal worked as a rabbinic scholar at Congregation B’Nai Amoona.
Now, with all of that said, one must not overlook the fact that the Roses and the rabbinate go beyond even sons Carnie and Kliel. Would you believe that the eldest son, Avi Rose, is a rabbi in Israel? Rabbi Avi Rose embraces what might be called the humanist aspect of Judaism. He is actively involved in leading life cycle events, teaching, assisting in rituals and indeed participating in Jewish calendar events. What Rabbi Avi Rose does is to focus on the person in his interaction with his congregants and fellow worshippers, inside and outside of the synagogue.
Then, there is Rabbi Or Rose. He is a rabbi, writer and social activist, and is the founding director of the Centre for Global Judaism at Boston’s Hebrew College. His writing skills likely emanate from his mother Carol, a well known poet. If going for 4 for 4 in the rabbinate for Neal and Carol was not enough of a rabbinical feat, add to that total the fact that daughter Adira is married to a rabbi, Michael Rose Knopf, the senior rabbi at Temple Beth-El in Stamford, Connecticut.
Of course, each of the Rose kids is a story. But one cannot just ignore the reality of the two Rose brothers holding leading rabbinic positions at the two largest synagogues in Winnipeg at the same moment in time. How did that come to pass? is the question congregants are lined up to discover – even if that means an early Shachrit service to get the answer.
Rabbi Kliel Rose has been at the helm of Congregation Etz Chayim since 2018. He returned to Winnipeg after a period of over 25 years away from this city. A graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary, also a former spiritual leader in several congregations in the USA, then the rabbi at Beth Shalom Synagogue in Edmonton, the attraction for Rabbi Kliel Rose to come back to his roots in Winnipeg was palpable. After nearly seven years back with the congregation with which he grew up, he is conscious of the debt he owes to his parents, who were major role models for him. He is also aware of the relationships he developed in his growing-up years and the fact he was able to resume many of those connections so easily. During his time in the pulpit Rabbi Kliel has been honoured to receive a prestigious Human Rights Hero Award from “Truah: the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.” Like his brother Carnie, Kliel is deeply involved in multifaith dialogue.
Kliel acknowledges the very unusual aspect of the two brothers working in the same city as rabbis of major congregations. He says that there was just no way for him to have imagined this scenario. He emphasizes the closeness he has with his older brother, referring to the fact that they often speak twice a day on matters rabbinical – or not. One of the comments Rabbi Kliel made about the future in Winnipeg with both Roses leading the way is that he sees this as a collaborative opportunity and not a competitive one. Interestingly, Rabbi Kliel Rose attributes his love of learning of Torah to his mother, who was his very first teacher. Kliel and wife Dorit Kosmin are the parents of five children. (Is there a future rabbi in the mix ?) He says that he benefitted from his parents in that they did not put any pressure on him or his siblings to enter the rabbinate. It just evolved.
Older brother Rabbi Carnie Shalom Rose, now 59, only recently conducted his very first Shabbat service at Shaarey Zedek. (I was there). He has had positions all over the world – in Canada, the USA, Israel, also the Far East, i.e., Japan, and Europe. Like Kliel, he was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He spent over 30 years in the rabbinical trenches. About 18 months ago he ventured into the Jewish organizational world when he assumed the role of President and CEO of the Mandel Jewish Community Centre in Cleveland, Ohio.
But, the pull to return to the synagogue and to Winnipeg was too great for Rabbi Carnie and his wife Paulie Zimnavoda Rose. After all, his whole career was centred in the synagogue. One aspect of Rabbi Carnie’s approach to his rabbinical duties is his emphasis on interfaith dialogue and relationships. He credits his parents for his firmly set belief in the importance of reaching out to the broader community. Most of all, he makes clear that it was Neal and Carol who nurtured his and indeed, all of the Rose family, with the love of Judaism. He, too, is amazed at the turn of events that has brought him and his brother together now. As Rabbi Carnie put it: “Winnipeg gave me grounding and an opportunity. I felt an obligation to return. I will gain if I can give back to those who gave to me.”
Carnie did return to live on Matheson Avenue, where he grew up, as he and Paulie took up residence in the south end of the city, closer to the Shaarey Zedek. The couple are the proud parents of four children, all of whom are now in their twenties, and all of whom are away at university, so Carnie and Paulie are now much sought after by Kliel and Dorit’s children – who finally have an aunt and uncle in the same city with them. Not so surprisingly, one of Carnie and Paulie Rose’s children, son Zakai, is preparing to follow in the family business, as he is a student at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Even the family of the legendary Gordie Howe of hockey fame could only produce two generations of NHL players.
What I came away with after talking to the two Rabbi Roses was first, how much they sounded like each other in voice; second, how close was their attachment to one another; and third, how much joy they anticipate working together from time to time in Winnipeg. At the time that I talked with both of them, for instance, they were excited about their plans to hold the first joint Tiisha B’Av service for Etz Chayim and Shaarey Zedek. They made me feel good about the future of Judaism in Winnipeg.
So what did the parents of these rabbis have to say? The patriarch of the family, Rabbi Neal Rose, was clear in attributing to his wife the fact that he and Carol have four sons who are rabbis and how it was that two of them ended up in the same city at the same time. He says that Carol had a huge influence on the children – right from an early age, in introducing the blessings and inculcating Jewish values. It was Carol, Neal says, who created an environment of learning which had such an impact on sons Carnie and Kliel. Her role in creating a Jewish home in Winnipeg for many years was instrumental in both Carnie and Kliel being open to returning to their original home of Winnipeg. True enough, the Rose boys both had a desire – in both their return engagements here, to serve as pulpit rabbis and, in doing so, to utilize one of their biggest assets: their strong interpersonal skills. Both are very comfortable in and enjoy that congregant to rabbi relationships -so critical in any successful synagogue.
As for the matriarch, Carol Rose, she agrees that this return to Winnipeg could not have been anticipated. She credits Winnipeg’s Jewish schooling and network of close friends for helping to secure a strong Jewish foundation for her sons. As she put it so succinctly, “The family had opportunities to grow up Jewishly.” With four sons now rabbis, and with their only daughter married to a rabbi, Carol clearly made an impact on her children. She admits that when she and Neal return this fall to Winnipeg, their biggest challenge will be to figure out which synagogue to attend each Shabbat. She also recognizes that even though Neal Rose has no plans to return to the pulpit, it is possible he might bless either or both congregations from time to time with his wisdom through occasional Divrei Torah or by teaching classes.
Some readers will recall the late Ethel Merman, who, without knowing it, foresaw this unusual moment in Winnipeg Jewish history appropriately in her song, “Everything’s coming up roses.”
Local News
Jewish Foundation Endowment Book Of Life program Sunday, November 1st
By BERNIE BELLAN The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba first launched its Endowment Book of Life legacy programme in 1998.
This charitable initiative allows donors to promise a future bequest to the foundation in exchange for having their personal history, family experiences, and philanthropic values permanently inscribed in a physical and digital archive.
On Sunday morning, November 1, the Jewish Foundation held its most recent Endowment Book of Life event followed by a brunch at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue. There were five new entries into the Book of Life, from: Brownie Fleishman – in memory of her parents, Beryl and Esther Pierce; Marilyn Goldberg – in memory of her husband, Dr. Norman Goldberg; Melissa Rice – in memory of her husband, Richard Rice; Sharon Wolchock, in memory of her husband, Sid Wolchock; and Anna and Lyle Silverman.
The signers were introduced by Jewish Foundation CEO John Diamond, who, in addressing the signers, said: “Your stories, your generosity, and your commitment to the future of our community will continue to inspire others for generations to come. Thank you for making this meaningful commitment.”
Diamond read excerpts from what the signers had written in the Book of Life or described what had led some of them to be motivated to want to be part of the Book of Life.
From Brownie Fleishman’s inscription about her parents, Beryl and Esther Pierce, Diamond read: “The story of the Pierce family began in Winnipeg in the early 20th century, when Beryl and Esther Pierce came to Canada to establish a new life for themselves and their children.
“Beryl Benjamin Pierce was born in 1883 in Poltova, then part of the Russian Empire, and now Ukraine. He immigrated to Canada in 1912 and settled in Winnipeg, where he became a pioneer in the fur industry. A skilled designer and cutter, he established Pierce Fur Company in the Exchange District. The building that housed that business was later designated a municipal historic building.”
From Marilyn Goldberg’s inscription about her late husband, Norman: “Norman had a deep connection to Judaism and to the Jewish community. He attended synagogue regularly and served on the boards of both the Rosh Pina and the Shaarey Zedek synagogues. He was a leader in the efforts to change the Shaarey Zedek cemetery rules to allow interfaith couples to be buried together. His commitment to Tikun Olam extended to reaching out to the larger world. He helped lead the community’s efforts to settle refugees from Darfur.
“Our children characterized his faith this way: ‘His was a Judaism that was not orthodox in practice, but deeply rooted in Jewish values, tradition, and faith. This led him to good deeds, good words, a good life.’ “
From Melissa Rice’s inscription about her late husband, Richard: “Richard was immensely proud of his Jewish faith and heritage. He celebrated his bar mitzvah, participated in Kadima and AZA, and formed friendships that would last a lifetime.
“His close friend circle included and many who shared countless adventures, misadventures, and laughs over the years. Their friendships endured because Richard understood something important. Relationships require time, loyalty, and commitment.”
John Diamond spoke about Anna and Lyle Silverman’s long commitment to the Jewish community: “Both Anna and Lyle have always been strong philanthropic supporters of the local Jewish community, of Israel, and of Holocaust education.
“A commitment that was reinforced a few years ago after they had participated in an emotionally draining and unforgettable March of the Living trip that took them to the gates of Auschwitz. Their ongoing support of the Jewish community is also inspired by Anna’s memory of the tremendous help that her family received from the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society when they landed in Montreal as refugees. Their story goes on to say they have been lucky in love and in business, and now as they continue to enjoy a long, comfortable, and well deserved retirement, they are eager to share their good fortune with others. ‘We have a wonderful life and couldn’t ask for anything more,’ Lyle says, ‘so now it is time to give back.’
“Through hard work, a commitment to education, and a strong connection to their Jewish community, they built a family whose succeeding generations continue to benefit from the opportunities they created.”
Diamond said this about Sharon Wolchock’s inscription about her late husband, Sid: “Sid was Sharon’s biggest supporter. Her volunteer work with the National Council of Jewish Women and the Jewish Federation mattered as much to him as his own legal career, and he backed it fully. He wanted Sharon and their daughters rooted in the Jewish community in whatever way suited each of them. In 1983, on Sid and Sharon’s first trip to Israel, Sid’s lifelong connection with the Jewish state was born.
“Sid’s love of aviation and history and his pride in being a Jew emerged during that trip. He became a passionate supporter of Israel’s soldiers and donated club rooms on two Air Force bases named for his brothers Harvey and Bernie so that the hardworking and often underappreciated technical crews had somewhere pleasant to relax.”
Following the ceremonial signing ceremony, guests in attendance were treated to entertainment by a quartet of talented singers: Julia Kroft, Josh Bellan, Alyssa Crockett, and Vinnie Alberto.
Closing out the day’s programme, current Jewish Foundation Board Chair Dafna Shore paid tribute to this year’s signers – and to the more than 800 signers of the Book of Life who had preceded them:
Shore said: “What makes this program so extraordinary and why it continues to resonate with so many people is the opportunity it gives us to share the stories that shape who we are, stories that might not otherwise have been told.
“Through the Endowment Book of Life, these stories are given a permanent home. Together, they form a living history of Jewish life in Manitoba, one filled with resilience, compassion, humor, and hope. These stories are more than a record of the past. They offer lessons for the future, showing generations to come, what it means to belong, to give, and to take responsibility for the strength of our community. Thank you for adding your voice and your vision.
“To this collection and for making a legacy commitment to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, your generation helps ensure that the programs, schools, and organizations that sustain Jewish life here will continue to thrive for generations to come.
“One of the great privileges of serving as chair is helping advance the Foundation’s mission, securing our community’s future while supporting its growth today. The Endowment Book of Life embodies that mission beautifully. It reminds us that each of us in our own way has the power to make a lasting difference.
“As we reflect on the importance of leaving a lasting legacy, I’d also like to take a moment to remember two valued members of the Jewish Foundation and Manitoba family who we lost this past year, Sheldon Berney and Lillian Neaman.
“Both served as governors of the Foundation, demonstrating their commitment to our community through their leadership and service. We are grateful for their contributions and the role they played in helping strengthen the foundation. Their memories remind us that a lasting legacy is built through the generosity, dedication, and commitment of those that came before us. May their memories be a blessing.
“As long as members of our community continue to invest in tomorrow, through their generosity, their readership, and their willingness to share their stories, Jewish life in Manitoba will continue to flourish. Thank you all for being part of that story.”
Local News
Application filed by two former members of Etz Chayim Congregation against the congregation to have their memberships restored dismissed by judge
The following is taken from the Canadian Jewish News website: “Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench has dismissed Hadass Eviatar and David Hoult’s application challenging the termination of their membership at Congregation Etz Chayim. In his decision, Justice Vic Toews noted that, although Hoult’s letter describing a hypothetical attack on the synagogue may have lacked sensitivity given the political climate, he did not intend to threaten violence against congregants. However, the judge ruled that the court did not have jurisdiction to intervene in the membership dispute under Manitoba’s Corporations Act, finding that the couple had no financial, proprietary or economic interest that would entitle them to the remedies they sought. The judge concluded that religious organizations are generally free to determine their own membership rules and ordered each side to bear its own legal costs.”
If you would like to read the original article that broke the story about the battle between Hadaass Eviatar and David Hoult with Etz Chayim Congregation you can go to Epic Court Battle.”
Local News
Jewish Federation now says Jewish population of Winnipeg in 2021 (according to the census) was 13,940 – not the 16,000 figure that the Federation had been touting for years
By BERNIE BELLAN (Posted Oct. 27, 2026) Longtime readers of The Jewish Post & News (and this website) would probably know that I have long had a very strong interest in establishing as accurate figures as possible when it has come to reporting the size of Winnipeg’s Jewish community.
For years I argued that our Jewish Federation was exaggerating the size of our Jewish population. I heard the figure of 16,000 bandied about by leaders in our community quite often when it came to reporting the size of our Jewish population – without any empirical evidence to back that figure up.
I had long maintained that the only reasonably accurate figures when it came to reporting the size of Winnipeg’s Jewish population were those produced by the late Evelyn Katz, when she was the unofficial demographer for the Jewish Federation – over 30 years ago. What Evelyn would do is keep careful track of births, deaths, numbers of newcomers but, perhaps most important: the number of people who had left our community.
Thus, in August 2022 when I interviewed Faye Rosenberg Cohen who, at the time, was just about to retire as the Jewish Federation’s Chief Planning and Allocations Officer, I was somewhat astonished to hear Faye say, when I asked her what proportion of our Jewish community was made up of immigrants, she answered that “I can honestly say when I look at those numbers it’s somewhere around 1/3 of the community.”
In response, I asked: “So you’d say it’s somewhere between 4-5,000?”
Faye said: “I think it’s more than that.”
I wrote in that article, “I indicated my skepticism at that time, saying ‘You know that I’ve always been skeptical about the numbers that have been used by the Federation for the population of the Jewish community. I think though that it’s always been more of a case of identification – who identifies as Jewish.’ ”
Later, after the results of the 2021 census were released, I wrote that “if you take into account the results of the 2021 census, the Jewish community cannot be larger than 14,270 at a maximum. But that figure would also include anyone who had either said either their ethnic origin was Jewish or their religion was Jewish.”
Since many of the individuals who had said on the 2021 census that their ethnic origin was Jewish, but their religion was something else, I maintained that ascertaining the real size of our Jewish community was highly problematic.
Still, for the sake of argument I was willing to accept that, realistically, it was somewhere between 13,000-14,000 – but nowhere close to the figure of 16,000 that had come to be suggested by our then president of the Jewish Federation or by other leading figures in our community.
So, it was with a sense of satisfaction that I heard Sharon Graham, who is now the Jewish Federation’s Community Planning and Allocations Lead say to an audience of over 50 people who were at the Gwen Secter Centre on Thursday, October 22, that the Jewish community in 2021 was – at a maximum: 13,940.
Sharon was at the Gwen Secter Centre to speak to Remis Lecture attendees. Her presentation preceded a presentation by Jewish Federation CEO Jeff Lieberman. Sharon used a PowerPoint presentation to provide some very interesting insights into where our Jewish community was at in 2021- and I’m offering some parts of her presentation here for you to read because I thought they were so interesting.
I had actually made many of the same observations about the results of the 2021 census in my own reporting back in 2022, but seeing what I had written confirmed by the Jewish Federation’s point person on planning told me that Sharon has a much more realistic view of our community than did Faye Rosenberg Cohen.
Here, for instance, is a slide that shows the proportion of our Jewish community that is made up of immigrants. It’s slightly under one fifth, not the one third percentage that Faye had suggested.
But, what really set Sharon’s presentation apart from anything else I’ve ever seen presented by someone from the Jewish Federation – other than the aforementioned Evelyn Katz, was the slide she projected which showed that, while there had been a large influx of newcomers to Winnipeg’s Jewish community between 2016-2021 there had also been a significantly high number of people who had left our Jewish community in those same years, as you can see in the following slide:
That is something we just don’t hear discussed by leaders of our Jewish organizations, but let’s be realistic: For many newcomers who came to Winnipeg and were counted as new members of our Jewish community, Winnipeg – for a variety of reasons, was a stepping stone to other communities. It may have been for reasons of better job opportunities, moving closer to other family members, or – the reason that we hear so often when it comes to people saying they want to leave Winnipeg: the weather.
But, whatever the reason, Sharon’s figures show that, as much as GrowWinnipeg may have been an abiding success when it’s come to attracting newcomers to our Jewish community here, getting them to stay long term is a different story.
And, while there were other aspects of Sharon’s presentation that certainly merit discussion, especially the figures she produced about intermarriage, rather than delving into them here, I thought it useful simply to insert them for you, the reader, to see – and draw your own conclusions.
