Local News
Lawyer Lawrence Pinsky has played a role in combating anti-Israel discrimination at U of M
By MYRON LOVE Lawrence Pinsky K.C. , the Progressive Conservative candidate in the recent Tuxedo by-election to fill the seat held by former Premier Heather Stefanson, says that when he was first approached to let his name stand, he initially demurred.
“I said that I would try to find someone else,” he says. “I approached five other potential candidates. All refused. Two cited concerns about anti-Semitism. So I said that I would run.”
But it is not only in politics that Pinsky has answered the call. In fact, the partner in the law firm, Taylor McCaffrey, has been answering the call to help students at the University of Manitoba who felt targeted for supporting Israel. For several months now Pinsky has been providing his legal services pro bono to Jewish students fighting discrimination at the University of Manitoba since shortly after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
The son of the late Harry and Dvora Pinsky grew up in West Kildonan. He earned his LLB at the University of Manitoba and was called to the Bar in 1993. He became a partner at Taylor McCaffrey in 1998.
Over the past 30 years Pinsky has built a solid career as a leader in the area of Family Law. Among the high points of his career have been his role as co-founder, director and president of FAMLI (the Family Arbitration and Mediation Legal Institute). He was also a co-founder and co-chair of the National Family Law Arbitration Program – and he served ten years as a member of the Manitoba Human Rights Commission adjudication panel.
As with almost everyone else in our Jewish community, Puisky was appalled by the horrors of the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7. “My wife Jennifer and I attended the community-wide rally in support of Israel shortly after,” says Pinsky, whose father was a Holocaust survivor. “What was happening on the streets of our cities was scary. I felt that I had to act.”
His first action was to go to Israel in November with Jennifer – under the auspices of Sar-El – and volunteer at the Tel Hashomer army base in the Tel Aviv area.
Upon his return home, he began working with Jewish students facing both physical assaults and discrimination at the U. of M.
“Several students reached out to me,” he says. “My colleagues and I began working with B’nai Brith and Hillel to try to help the students. We met with several students and professors and others in the community.”
One fact he learned, he says, is that there are about 3,000 Israelis living in Winnipeg. (Consulting Editor Bernie Bellan comments: That assertion is simply not borne out by a reference to the results of the 2021 Census. According to the census, only 1350 individuals in Winnipeg gave “Israeli” as one of their ethnic origins in answer to the question: “What is your ethnic origin?” Furthermore, It was possible to give more than one answer to the question about ethnic origin on the census – and you were allowed to list up to six different ethnic origins, but if someone who had lived in Israel and was born in Russia or Ukraine or anywhere else for that matter didn’t give “Israeli” as one of their ethnic origins, the figure of 3,000 Israelis living in Winnipeg is simply not supported by any evidence.
The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg had long been embellishing the number of Jews living in Winnipeg – with spokespersons such as former Federation President Gustavo Zentner claiming a figures as high as 17,000 Jews in Winnipeg at times in the past. In fact, after a thorough analysis of the 2021 Census, I found that, at an absolute maximum, there were no more than 14,270 Jews living in Winnipeg in 2021. And, that figure took into account a combination of individuals who said they were “Jewish” – either by ethnic origin or by religion. For instance, of the 10,700 individuals who gave Jewish as one of their ethnic origins, a full 1,245 said they were “Christian” by religion.
One other fascinating finding from the 2021 census was that, of the 1350 individuals who gave “Israeli” as one of their ethnic origins, only 855 also said they were “Jewish” by religion! A full 385 of those individuals said they had no religion at all, while 105 said they were Christian by religion. Further, only 11,170 individuals in the census said they were “Jewish” by religion in Winnipeg. I’ve long argued that many people exaggerate the number of Jews, also the number of Israelis living in Winnipeg – without having any empirical evidence to support their claims. But, if it makes you feel better to say there are 17,000 Jews in Winnipeg and 3,000 Israelis, go ahead and trot out any figures you might like. Just don’t claim that those figure are supported by any evidence.)
Pinsky points out that discrimination against Zionist students and faculty by the University of Manitoba Student Union pre-dates October 7 by a number of years, but the situation has noticeably worsened over the past eight months. Among the incidents he cites have been anti-Semitic posters being put up at the Asper School of Business, a Jewish student being spat upon, sexually harassing insults being hurled at a Jewish female student, hostage posters being torn down, discriminatory differential standards at The Manitoban (the University of Manitoba Student Union newspaper) being applied against Jewish Zionist students, the refusal or failure of the editor of The Manitoban to publish articles supporting Israel despite being provided articles and requests to do so, and the suspension on February 28 by UMSU of Students Supporting Israel because of a comment made by Bassam Eid, a Palestinian Muslim human rights campaigner who spoke at the university under the auspices of SSI and others.
Eid’s “offensive” statement (according to one Muslim student who made the complaint that got SSI suspended) was in response to a question from the audience. Eid said that “the major problem here, I call it the ideology of the Muslims. When it comes to ideology the Muslims are blind”.
Notes Pinsky, who also helped SSI get reinstated (on March 27), the SSI should never have been held responsible for Eid’s comment. “The suspension was in violation of UMSU’s own guidelines,” he says. “In addition, Mr. Eid made the comment in response to a question. The SSI organizers had no possible way of knowing or foreseeing Eid’s answer.”
The most recent disturbing situation on campus was sparked by an emergency session of the UMSU board to consider a motion that would have approved a new definition of anti-Palestinian racism – as defined by the Canadian Arab Lawyers Association – which appears to contradict existing UMSU policy, and which would essentially ban any criticism or disagreement of the official Palestinian narrative. Pinsky alleges that the student union proceeded in a manner that is contrary to existing UMSU bylaws.
“This is utter nonsense,” he states. “It is an attempt to rewrite history and a violation of freedom of speech. This is obscene.”
On April 5, Pinsky and his colleagues filed on behalf of his clients – a group of Jewish students at the University of Manitoba – a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission against the University of Manitoba Student Union (UMSU), the Manitoban, and other named individuals.
Whereas Jewish Zionist students and faculty at other universities in Canada and the United States beleaguered by systemic anti-Semitism have gone to court to seek redress, Pinsky explains that the University of Manitoba students sought intervention by the Manitoban Human Rights Commission instead because the MHRC writ is broader in this province.
“The recent actions of UMSU, The Manitoban and named respondents in regard to Jewish students and their supporters is unacceptable,” Pinsky states. “They are a violation of the Human Rights Code, according to the complaint that was initiated. UMSU, The Manitoban and the other named respondents would seem to have certain requirements that are applied only for Jewish Zionist students, restricting them in a way that would be unacceptable for any other groups . My clients are fighting to make sure that the UMSU, The Manitoban and the University generally becomes an environment where all students are treated equally and in a manner free of discrimination. Sadly, we have a long way to go.”
The vote on the UMSU motion was initially put off for two weeks to give both advocates and opponents more time to make their case and, shortly after the MHRC filing, was shelved indefinitely.
While he concedes that it could take several years before the MHRC puts out its report and recommendations on the matter, he is hopeful that he, his colleagues, and his clients will be able to work with UMSU, and the other respondents to find a positive way forward.
“I remain optimistic,” he says.
He adds that this case is important not only for the Zionist students on campus. In principle, any group could be similarly marginalized against,” he says. “I stand against all forms of discrimination.”
As to the situation at the many others campuses across Canada and the U.S. being consumed by anti-Israel hate and anti-Semitism, Pinsky comments that “The bottom line is that it is up to all universities administrations and student unions and all of their mechanisms and outlets to take the lead in acting strongly against hate before things escalate to the level that is roiling campuses such as Columbia, Harvard and McGill.
”To the extent that they fail to do so, governments should be enforcing or passing appropriate legislation to ensure a safe environment for all students without exception for hate targeted at Jewish students who happen to abide by the creed that the oldest still existent indigenous people of that land, have a right to the autonomy of a state there.”
Local News
Chesed Shel Emes project to improve safety, accessibility and parking after acquiring fire-damaged property
By MYRON LOVE The Chesed Shel Emes, Winnipeg’s non-profit funeral chapel and ritual tahara house, has embarked on a new project that will enhance safety, accessibility and provide more parking opportunities.
The new project stems from the Chesed’s acquisition of the property immediately north of the chapel on Main Street at Magnus Avenue. The plan will involve the demolition of the existing house and paving of the lot. This will allow the use of a pre-existing side door in the chapel to be used to transfer coffins directly to the hearse — thus freeing some additional parking in front of the building.
Rena Boroditsky, the Chesed’s long-time executive director, points out that pallbearers will no longer have to carry coffins down the front steps but, instead, walk along a level surface and place the caskets directly into the back of the hearse. As well, the new parking lot will have room for accessible parking.
“We weren’t looking for a new project,” Boroditsky reports. “About a year ago, we learned that the family who owned the home — and had been renting it out for a number of years — was looking to sell after the property suffered a devastating fire. We seized on the opportunity rather than have a retail business open or an apartment block be built that would further complicate the parking in front of our building.”
Boroditsky notes that the finished product will take a couple of years to complete. “Permits take time,” she says. “I expect that we will be able to demolish the house in the fall and have the paving done next year.”
She estimates that the budget for the work will come to about $190,000. “We have applied to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba and the Asper Foundation for grants,” Boroditsky reports. “We are also appealing to our many generous supporters in the community.”
She proudly points out that Chesed succeeded in raising $4-million for its most recent redevelopment program, in which the 100 year old office and tahara building was replaced with a new structure designed specifically to meet the needs of the Chevra Kadisha.
The new building includes state-of-the-art equipment for the care of the deceased — a larger tahara room with stainless steel counters, new up-to-date refrigeration, mechanical lifts for transferring bodies more safely, and enhanced safety features to improve the experience of volunteers and ensure the dignity of the deceased. The accessible facility also includes expanded storage space for caskets, shrouds, and supplies, a lending library, and private meeting spaces for mourners to gather. That project was completed five years ago.
“We are happy to report that we don’t have a mortgage,” Boroditsky says. “We have always exercised good fiscal management, and have been blessed with community support”.
Chesed Shel Emes began operations in 1930, serving all members of the community regardless of denomination, affiliation, or level of observance. No one is denied service due to financial constraints. Everyone is guaranteed a dignified funeral and burial care. The chapel was opened in 1947 as an active synagogue and community center.
“Over the past few years, we have been hosting more funerals,” Boroditsky notes, “in part because the Shaarey Zedek was closed for renovations for almost two years, and the Etz Chayim relocated to Wilkes Ave. As a result, more people were able to see that we offer a clean, warm and welcoming space.
Readers who wish to make a gift to support the “Opening New Doors” campaign can phone Rena at 204-582-5088, or visit the website at www.chesedshelemes.org New Chesed Shel Emes project will improve accessibility, allow for more parking in front
Local News
Dina Raihman’s lifelong journey in education
Foreword by BERNIE BELLAN Seven years ago, The Jewish Post & News published a story by Rebeca Kuropatwa about a woman who had arrived in Winnipeg from Israel in 2008. That woman was Dina Raihman.
Before moving to Canada, Dina had spent 25 years working as an educator in Israel. As Rebeca wrote at the time, Dina brought her passion for teaching with her and eventually opened her own private after-school program specializing in mathematics and science.
Over the years, Dina has kept in touch with us as her educational programs have continued to grow. What began as evening classes held in rented classrooms throughout Winnipeg gradually evolved into permanent school locations.
In 2022, she opened Integral School at 1080 Waverley Street in Linden Woods. Since then, a second location has opened in Transcona, and Dina says plans are already underway to open a third location in Sage Creek. All three locations offer after-school educational programs for students of different ages and abilities.
As we noted in a 2022 follow-up article to Rebeca Kuropatwa’s original story, Dina quickly identified a problem after beginning work as a substitute teacher in Manitoba’s public and private schools. She noticed that many mathematically gifted students were not being sufficiently challenged and, as a result, were failing to reach their full potential.
In 2014, she decided to do something about it.
Starting with only 17 students, her evening school steadily expanded. Today, approximately 270 students are enrolled in her programs.
When Dina recently contacted me to tell me about the opening of her second location in Transcona, I told her that rather than simply writing another update about the school, I wanted to know the story behind the educator herself.
Both Rebeca and I had previously written about Dina’s success working with children from many immigrant families, including those from countries where mathematics and science education has traditionally been emphasized, such as Israel and Ukraine. But neither of us had ever explored the experiences that shaped Dina’s own lifelong commitment to education.
So I asked Dina to tell her story in her own words.
Here it is:
My Story
By DINA RAIHMAN My story began long before I was born.
During World War II, my parents, along with my grandparents, were forced to leave Ukraine to escape the war. Fate brought them to Georgia, where our family eventually settled. It was there, after the war, that I was born.
My childhood, school years, and youth were spent in Georgia. It was there that I first discovered my love for mathematics and realized I wanted to become a teacher. I have always believed that a great teacher changes a child’s life not only by teaching a subject, but by teaching a child how to think.
I later attended the Voroshilovgrad Pedagogical Institute (now located in the city of Luhansk, Ukraine), where I earned a Master’s Degree in Mathematics and Physics. Even then, I knew teaching would become my life’s work.
In 1990, my husband and I made an important decision to begin a new chapter of our lives in Israel.
We lived there for seventeen years, raised our two children, and continued building both our family and our careers.
Then, in 2006, we made another life-changing decision.
We immigrated to Canada after my older sister had moved here. Like many newcomers, we knew we were starting almost from scratch, but we believed the opportunities available for our children made every sacrifice worthwhile.
As with many internationally trained professionals, I needed to have my education recognized in Canada. Although I already held a master’s degree and many years of teaching experience, I was required to earn Canadian teaching qualifications.
For a period of time, I worked at the University of Winnipeg. I was even offered the opportunity to pursue a PhD and continue an academic career.
Although it was an exciting opportunity, our family had only recently arrived in Canada. Financially, it was impossible for me to devote several years to graduate research while supporting my family. Instead, I chose another path—one that allowed me to continue studying while working.
I became a substitute teacher in Winnipeg.
Looking back, those years were among the most valuable of my professional life.
Over several years, I taught in approximately 80 percent of Winnipeg’s schools. Every school, every classroom, and every group of students gave me new experiences and broadened my understanding of Canadian education.
While teaching, I also continued studying at the University of Winnipeg to earn my Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate.
In 2010, I successfully received my Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate, allowing me to teach permanently in Manitoba schools.
My first full-time teaching position took me far north to the community of Pukatawagan, where I taught Biology to students in Grades 9 through 11.
The experience taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of understanding every student’s individual background.
After one year, I returned to Winnipeg and continued substitute teaching.
During the 2012–2013 school year, I accepted a one-year teaching replacement position in Saskatchewan, where I taught Mathematics to students in Grades 9 through 12.
By then, an idea that had been growing inside me for years had become impossible to ignore.
I wanted to create my own educational program—one that would help students truly understand mathematics, develop logical thinking, build confidence, and prepare for future academic success.
That dream became reality in 2014 when I founded the Physics and Mathematics Integral School.
The school first opened on Corydon Avenue before later moving to St. Vital.
Today, we operate permanent locations on Waverley Street and in Transcona, and we are preparing to open our third Winnipeg location in Sage Creek.
Since opening our doors, our mission has never been simply to teach mathematics.
We have always wanted to create an environment where children learn to think independently, analyze problems, embrace mistakes as part of learning, and believe in themselves.
Over the years, more than 1,000 students have studied with us.
One of our greatest sources of pride is seeing our graduates continue their education at Canadian universities in fields such as engineering, computer science, medicine, economics, and the natural sciences.
Since opening in 2014, we have helped more than 430 students successfully graduate from high school, many of whom have continued into university programs requiring strong mathematical foundations.
For us, however, success means much more than university admission.
We strive to develop logical thinking, independent problem-solving, confidence, perseverance, concentration, and the ability to learn from mistakes.
I often tell my students:
“Mistakes are not failures. They simply show us what we still have to learn.”
Today, approximately 270 students attend our programs.
We offer both in-person and online classes, making our programs accessible to students throughout Winnipeg and beyond.
Our youngest learners begin at 3 to 5 years of age, where they develop early mathematical thinking, logic, concentration, and problem-solving skills through engaging activities designed specifically for preschool children.
For school-age students, we offer both Beginner and Advanced groups, ensuring that every child learns at the level best suited to their abilities.
Our programs include:
Mathematics
Logic
Geometry
Mental Math using the Japanese Abacus program
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
In addition to our regular classes, we prepare students for mathematics competitions. Each year, many of our students participate in contests organized through their schools, where they apply not only mathematical knowledge but also logical reasoning, analytical thinking, and effective time management.
One of our proudest achievements is that 15 of our students have earned certificates recognizing them among the top 25 percent of young mathematics students in Canada through these prestigious competitions.
For me, these accomplishments represent much more than awards.
They demonstrate that every child has the potential to succeed when they are given encouragement, effective instruction, and the opportunity to believe in themselves.
Throughout my career, I have come to believe one simple truth:
Children are not born “good” or “bad” at mathematics.
They become successful when they have a teacher who can explain difficult ideas in simple ways, encourage them during challenging moments, and inspire them never to give up.
That is why every student who walks through our doors becomes part of one large family.
Looking back today, I realize that the journey that began many years ago in Georgia has become far more than a teaching career.
It has become a lifelong mission to help children discover confidence, develop their abilities, and understand that with the right guidance, they are capable of achieving far more than they ever imagined.
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
