Local News
Manitoba Legislature recognizes May as “Jewish Heritage Month”
By BERNIE BELLAN The Manitoba Legislature passed a motion unanimously on Tuesday, May 31 that recognizes May as “Jewish Heritage Month” in Manitoba.
In a press release describing the motion, it was noted that “Springfield-Richot MLA Ron Schuler was pleased to present Bill 240, The Jewish Heritage Month Act, which would make each year’s month of May Jewish Heritage Month.
The Bill was first read on Monday, May 30, and was debated on Tuesday May 31. Many prominent Jewish community leaders and organizations watched from the gallery.
“ ‘Jewish people have persevered throughout human history, and throughout Canadian history as well,’ said Schuler. ‘We will never forget the atrocities committed during the Second World War and the Holocaust. As Canadians, we need to learn from our past and do our part to ensure that these events never happen again.’
Pictured in the above photo are: front row (l-r): Jon Gerrard, MLA, River Heights; Elaine Goldstine, CEO, Jewish Federation; Ron Shuler, MLA, Springfield-Ritchot (and presenter of the bill); Gustavo Zentner, President, Jewish Federation; Carol Duboff, board member, Jewish Federation; Andrew Micklefield, MLA, Rossmere (and seconder of the bill); Shelley Faintuch, former Community Relations Director, Jewish Federation; Haskel Greenfield, U of M Judaic Studies Program Coordinator
second row (l-r): Adam Levy, Communications & Public Relations Director, Jewish Federation; Belle Jarniewski, Executive Director, Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada; (behind Belle) Patrick Elazar, Member, Jewish Federation board; Stan Carbone, Director of Programs & Exhibits, JHCWC; Ruth Ashrafi, B’nai Brith Manitoba Regional Director; John Diamond, CEO, Jewish Foundation of Manitoba;
third row, (l-r): Gray Academy students Emery Rosen, Max Eilberg; Adriana Glickman, Winnipeg Program Coordinator, B’nai Brith; Gray Academy student Eden Avimelek; Judi Price-Rosen, Gray Academy staff representative
Following is the text of the act:
WHEREAS Manitoba is home to a strong and vibrant Jewish community;
AND WHEREAS Manitoba’s Jewish community is the fifth-largest Jewish population in Canada;
AND WHEREAS Manitoba’s Jewish community reflects the vibrant history and diverse culture of the Jewish people;
AND WHEREAS the Jewish community has made significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of Manitoba while overcoming tremendous obstacles;
AND WHEREAS the month of May is meaningful for the Jewish community;
AND WHEREAS celebrating the Jewish community in Manitoba will provide an opportunity to educate future generations about the inspirational role that Jewish Manitobans have played and continue to play across Manitoba;
THEREFORE HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:
Jewish Heritage Month
In each year, the month of May is to be known throughout Manitoba as Jewish Heritage Month.
Following passage of the act, various representatives of the Jewish community,along with some students from Gray Academy, met with members of the provincial government, including MLA Ron Schuler and MLA Andrew Micklefield.
Jewish Federation President Gustavo Zentner then read remarks describing the history of the Jewish community in Manitoba.
Good morning,
My name is Gustavo Zentner, and I am the President of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, the representative body of Manitoba’s Jewish community.
I would like to begin by extending sincere thanks on behalf of our community to The Honourable Andrew Smith, Minister of Sport, Culture, and Heritage, as well as The Honourable Ron Schuler, for inviting us here today to participate in today’s dedication.
We applaud the Province of Manitoba for the introduction of the Jewish Heritage Month Act, declaring May as Jewish Heritage Month in Manitoba. The Federal designation of the month of May as Canadian Jewish Heritage Month was passed unanimously by Parliament, and since then, other provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia have followed suit.
I wish to recognize the work and leadership displayed by Senator Linda Frum for her work in getting the Canadian Jewish Heritage Month Act passed in 2018. I had an opportunity to meet with Senator Frum last week and was particularly humbled to reflect on the importance of Jewish Heritage Month and its implications for Canada.
We are pleased to count Manitoba among the provinces that celebrate the contributions of its Jewish citizens, who have a long and storied history in this province.
It is from that position of strength, community building, and positive engagement that I bring remarks to mark this momentous occasion. Let me be clear: the Jewish community is joined by many other ethnic groups and faith-based organizations that have made significant contributions to our province.
Deeply rooted in Jewish values, we celebrate and promote inclusion, equality, and diversity as reflected by the Jewish community delegation accompanying me here today.
Our Jewish community has played a leading role in the development of this province and, throughout our history here, has partnered with Manitobans and others to make this a prosperous and welcoming province for all.
In 1877-1878 the first known Jewish residents of Manitoba arrived. By the dawn of the following decade, more Jewish immigrants began to arrive in Manitoba, establishing themselves as merchants, peddlers, and traders. By 1881, there were 33 Jewish families in Manitoba, and the total Jewish population numbered about one hundred.
Early settlers of Jewish descent had a profound impact on our business community. I reflect on the life of Max Goldstine, a Hudson’s Bay factor at Fort Qu’Appelle during the Riel Rebellion. He moved to Winnipeg in 1880, married Jennie Cohn from Lexington, Kentucky and in 1883 established a clothing and general merchandise business, The Manitoba Clothing Company. One full century later, his great-grandson, Dr. Ian Goldstine, my friend, led the Manitoba Medical Association, now Doctors Manitoba, in 1993, and led the Jewish community as President from 2001-2003.
In the early 1880s, Alexander II, the Czar of Russia, was assassinated in St. Petersburg. The Russian government quickly pointed the finger at the Jews of Russia for his assassination. This caused its population to revolt against Russia’s Jewish population, who began to face unprecedented antisemitism through violent antisemitic attacks known as pogroms.
This caused a mass exodus of Jews from Russia. Seeking a land of opportunity free of antisemitism, many of them chose Manitoba as their new home, leading to the tripling of the Jewish population here to over 300 by 1882.
All was not bright for Jews once they arrived here, however, as many struggled to adapt to new cultural, political, and socio-economic conditions.
However, they persevered, and by the late 1880s land was assigned to Jewish farm settlers within Manitoba, in locations such as Niverville, Bender Hamlet, and Camper. Closer to Winnipeg, several Jewish farmers set up dairy farms.
In the decades that followed, rampant antisemitism began to tear through Europe, which led to the influx of Jewish immigrants to Manitoba continuing. By the turn of the century, the Jewish population here had increased to just over 1,500. By 1921, it had grown to over 16,000.
Standing here with you today is a privilege I do not take for granted, and I believe it is only fitting to reflect on some of the individuals who have built the core of our community and province.
A recently published book called “Healing Lives, A Century of Manitoba Jewish Physicians,” narrates the contributions made by Jewish doctors to our province. It was in Portage La Prairie that, in 1883, Jewish doctors started to engage in a variety of medical practices, primarily internal and respiratory, led by Dr. Cherniack. With growing cases of tuberculosis, Dr. Earl Hershfield led a practice in Northern and Aboriginal communities.
It is fascinating to reflect on the fact that, despite the ‘numerus clausa’ in place at that time – to ensure that the “right people” practiced medicine, members of our community continued with their commitment to build community and serve to the greatest extent possible…such as Dr. Ruven Lyons, who retired at the age of 82 from his obstetrics practice, and who also served as President of Shaarey Zedek Congregation.
That commitment was further carried on by Dr. Edward Lyons, whose leadership has included his role as President of the Canadian Association of Radiology and the International Society of Radiology and Ultrasound.
This is reflective of how Manitobans are in having an impact at national and international levels. Dr. Lyons, my friend and mentor, was also a former President of Congregation Shaarey Zedek and a Past President of the Federation.
Members of our community have also played vital roles in the judicial system, advocating for the rule of law, and occupying many notable positions within the judicial system in Manitoba.
It was in the decades that followed the first migration of Jews to Manitoba that Jewish people began to make an indelible mark on the historical fabric of Manitoba, through their increased participation in social, business, and political spheres.
Unfortunately, partly as a byproduct of their further integration into society, many experienced antisemitism. As late as the 1930s, Jews were excluded from private clubs and popular vacation spots here in Manitoba.
Undeterred, they continued to flourish. In the early 1960s, the Jewish population of Manitoba peaked at 21,000 and then began to decline. In 1990 Winnipeg’s Jewish population had fallen to less than 16,000 due to an aging population along with younger members of the community leaving to find opportunities in larger Canadian cities.
That is when leaders of our community took charge and undertook a series of actions to reverse that worrisome trend. The first was the opening of the Asper Jewish Community Campus in September 1997 – which still serves as the beating heart of our community to this day. Our Federation’s GrowWinnipeg initiative followed shortly thereafter, focuseing on the retention of our local Jewish population, and active recruitment of Jewish immigrants from all over the world.
Key to these efforts was outreach to the Jewish communities of Latin America, especially Argentina. In 1998, their Honours, Gary and Janice Filmon led efforts to open Manitoba to members of the Argentinean Jewish community, who were encouraged to consider moving to Manitoba and starting new lives here.
As a result, our Federation organized a program to actively recruit Jewish families from South America, which was quite successful in our revitalization efforts. Over the next several years, close to 500 South American Jewish families moved to Winnipeg, where they became a prosperous contingent of our local population. I am proud to say that I am here because of the initiative shown by certain individuals and humbled to play a leadership role standing on the shoulders of remarkable Manitobans.
For nearly 150 years, Jewish people have contributed to the social, political, and cultural vibrancy of Manitoba. Notably, members of our community’s leadership have paved the way to enable our province to reach international heights while building a strong community in Manitoba and across Canada. The late Izzy Asper was one of our leaders who played a prominent role in government, leading the Manitoba Liberal Party, developing a strong legal and business practice, and becoming the cornerstone of philanthropy in our province by establishing the Asper Foundation. One of his most accomplished legacies is the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, which he envisioned by drawing on Jewish values and a commitment to Tikkun- Olam, a Hebrew phrase meaning ‘repairing the world’.
With us today, we are surrounded by representatives of the Asper Jewish Community Campus, home of most of Manitoba’s Jewish institutions.
Our community’s commitment to heritage is highlighted by the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada. Our sports and experiential Jewish life are enabled by the beautiful and vibrant Rady Jewish Community Centre; and our youth camps, B’nai Brith Camp and Camp Massad, leading our experiential Judaism and delivering youth programs in Manitoba.
The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, established in 1964, has surpassed $150 million in endowments, and plays a key role in enabling and sponsoring activities within and outside the Jewish community. I am proud to serve on its Board of Directors and can see first-hand the impact its contributions make.
The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg’s mandate is to enable a secure, connected, and safe community for all. We celebrate this month and look to the future by ensuring Jewish education, as exemplified by the Gray Academy of Jewish Education and other Hebrew and Jewish programs at other schools across our city, providing formal education for generations to come.
We are vigilant in monitoring the rise of antisemitism across Canada; I recognize the work done by B’nai B’rith Canada to eradicate racism and hatred.
Our clergy and others not only serve roles in our Jewish synagogues, they also engage in cross-communal and inter-faith activities, contributing to a prosperous and connected province, based on Jewish values and deep connections with other communities in Manitoba. I recognize the work done by the Manitoba Council of Rabbis with other faith groups in our province.
As I stand here today, I can’t help but wonder what those first Jewish immigrants who arrived here in Manitoba would think of the active, thriving community that we have built – and what they would think of us, standing here today, celebrating the contributions of Jewish people in the Province of Manitoba, in partnership with our elected officials, at the invitation of the Government of Manitoba to the Manitoba Legislative Building. Today, The Manitoba Government has unanimously passed the adoption of Bill 240, The Jewish Heritage Month Act.
In this month of May, we recognize, remember, and reflect on the horrors of the Holocaust -Yom HaShoah. We remember and honour the Israeli soldiers and those who have fallen in defense of the State of Israel and the Jewish world (Hebrew: Tzvah’ Haganat Israel), the Israel Defense Forces, or IDF.
And we celebrate the great State of Israel, a sovereign democracy, home of the Jewish people wherever they reside… a country committed to supporting humanity around the world, (Hebrew: Am Israel Chai; Eretz Israel Chai) The People of Israel Live, The State of Israel Lives.
Local News
Limmud speaker Dan Ronis to introduce alternative way of learning about Jewish history
By MYRON LOVE The study of Jewish history – actually history in general – can be approached in any number of ways. There is the traditional yeshiva way of study, for example. Or, there is the conventional, modern, secular approach – as exemplified by Daniel Kroft (who was profiled in the last edition of the Jewish Post) – who accessed online lectures and university courses as well as readings to prepare himself for the launch of his relatively new Jewish history podcast.
Dan Ronis, who, like Kroft, will be presenting at Lummud Winnipeg on Sunday, March 23, is taking a decidedly different tack in learning about and teaching aspects of Jewish history.
A plant breeder and plant geneticist by training, Ronis, who currently lives in Saskatoon, will be giving two presentations at Limmud. His afternoon seminar will be about presenting Jewish history through the lens of a board game – specifically a visual recreation of the 70 CE Roman siege of Jerusalem.
Now board games recreating historical battles have been around for decades. (I remember as a teenager recreating the Allies’ D Day invasion of Normandy in June, 1944.)
“I have always loved chess and other board games involving strategy,” Ronis says. “With board games that recreate significant historic battles, you can actually see the disposition of the different armies in relation to each other. You can visualize the Roman siege towers, for example, the battering rams. You can visualize Judean forces sneaking out of the besieged city from time to time to launch surprise attacks on the enemy. It helps the players to understand how hard it was for both sides.“
(Ronis notes that there are other board games emulating each of the wars of modern Israel.)
Ronis’s morning presentation will be more esoteric” “No Forbidden Fruit – No Angry God” – which is also the title of one of two books he has written – the other being “Women of the Hebrew Bible: Their Stories”, (both of which are available on Amazon).
“No Forbidden Fruit – No Angry God” tells the stories of the Torah, from information he has gleaned through the practice of “channeling” through a professional medium.
“The women and men who led the way of faith, are more magnificent than is told in our writings,” Ronis claims. “That is what I believe after composing two channelled books which present those people and the events in a different light. I am pleased to be able to share some of these stories at Limmud.”
For readers who may be unsure of who or what a medium is, think of Theresa Caputo of television fame. Mediums claim to be able to converse with those who have passed on through a spirit guide. While many may be skeptical, there are also many believers.
Be that as it may, what Ronis has learned through his medium about the personalities in the Torah is certainly food for thought.
The medium through whom he gained his information is Donna Somerville, with whom he first came into contact while working for McCain Foods in New Brunswick as a potato breeder.
“I got to know some people who had consulted Donna and found what she had to say interesting,” he recalls. “Three or four years ago, I went to see her about some relationship issues and family matters. We became good friends.”
So, a few short years ago, Ronis – who grew up in Washington, D.C. within a Reform family, decided to see if Somerville, who now lives in Halifax, could also channel biblical figures. “We had nine or ten sessions and the results were fascinating,” he recalls. “She described real people.”
The sessions, he notes, focused largely on the five books of Moses. He reports, for example, that she vouched for the reality of Adam and Eve – but suggested that Noah was an amalgam of three God-fearing men who each built arks. One of the three was the story-teller.
He adds that the flood was largely restricted to the northern hemisphere.
“My questions were open-ended,” he says. “Donna, for example, provided intriguing new information about the story of Esther.”
Ronis notes that he was particular interested in stories of women in that long ago era because they have been largely overlooked in Jewish writing.
For the first book he recounts, he recorded the sessions on audio and video before transcribing the information. For the second book, he had free software which allowed him to change the text on the fly.
Readers who may be interested in attending Limmud this year can call 204 557-6260 or email coordinator@limmudwinnipeg.org. Ticket prices are $55 for the full day (which includes lunch and snacks) or $30 for a half day.
Local News
Congregation Etz Chayim’s new Chief Operating Officer is embracing the meaning of Jewish life
By MYRON LOVE In her new role as the Chief Operating Officer of Congregation Etz Chayim, Morissa Granove is focused on the future of synagogue life. She is also committed to creating meaningful Jewish experiences for herself, the synagogue’s members, and Winnipeg’s Jewish community. “We will be working to create something special for everyone at every age with a special focus on engaging the younger members of our community,” she says.
Granove, who was appointed to the position just six weeks ago, is herself an example of a younger person who has rediscovered meaning in community and has taken on a leadership role. It is heartening to see a growing number of younger community members assuming leadership roles in our communal institutions and bodes well for the future of our Jewish community.
The daughter of Bruce and Dina z”l Granove, Morissa grew up in Garden City. She attended Peretz School, Talmud Torah, and Joseph Wolinsky until the end of Grade 9, before attending high school at Garden City Collegiate. After finishing school, she joined her father in business at the Work Boot Factory Outlet Store Ltd. on Regent Avenue, which first opened in 1989. Over the years, Morissa came to assume the management responsibilities.
In 2015, she reports, she stepped back from day-to-day management of the business. Her father Bruce was retired, and her wife, Laurie McCreery, took charge of the daily operations, while Morissa continued to have input and oversee things from afar.
Morissa Granove has been on a spiritual quest since 2003. She notes that she has studied various Eastern philosophies and healing practices over the past 20 plus years. In 2015, she began a private practice that she still maintains in which she helps others overcome being overwhelmed emotionally, using easy-to-learn skills and simple steps that continue to support Morissa herself daily. “I was learning what it means to live a truly good life, and as a deeply sensitive person, I was seeking out how to better control my emotions so they would no longer control me,” she says. Many of the same skills that have supported her personally were also key to her success in business, she adds.
While Granove grew up attending the Beth Israel Synagogue, which later merged with Congregation Etz Chayim (and the Bnay Abraham Synagogue) 25 years ago. She, as with many of her contemporaries, had drawn away from Jewish life as it relates to synagogue attendance. It was the sudden passing of her mother, Dina z”l, that brought her back to shul, she explains.
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“I found coming back here after mom died gave me a great sense of comfort and a strong feeling of belonging,” she recalls. “I didn’t expect that.”
Initially, she took on the role as the Etz Chayim’s “Spiritual Concierge & Director of Lifecycle Events.” “I am looking forward to building on our traditions and history,” she says.
It is just over a year since Congregation Etz Chayim moved into its new home at 1155 Wilkes Avenue in south Winnipeg, after 70 years on Matheson Avenue in north Winnipeg. The move was a long time coming. The building needed a lot of upgrading and, with 70% of the membership and 80% of the younger families living south, it made sense to relocate to where the membership is.
“By being closer to our membership, it has made it easier for more people to be involved.” the new Chief Operating Officer notes, “We are getting good numbers coming for Shabbat services. We are seeing more people coming by the office. We are getting a steady stream of new people coming in for exploratory visits, and we are having more young families getting involved in our incredible programs.”
Granove has observed that moving Etz Chayim south has turned out to be so much more than simply moving from point A to point B. Rather, she notes, “the move gave us the opportunity to look at how we can operate more efficiently and effectively. This is so much more than a new location. It is a new opportunity.” At the new Etz Chayim, she continues, “we are able to offer meaningful Jewish events and programming for all age groups in a convenient location.”
She cites, for example, the synagogue’s new USY (United Synagogue Youth) program – in conjunction with the USCJ (United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism) – of which Etz Chayim is a member – for teens which, she reports, has drawn a good number of participants, and is growing. She has also had requests for more seniors’ programming and is excited to be working on some new initiatives for the coming months. As she often says, “Stay tuned.”
“I have been wondering for some time if the synagogue (in the generic sense) could go back to the days when it was a centre of community life,” she muses. “I think we can!”
“I hope that our members come to view Etz Chayim as a home away from home for themselves and their family, just as I have,” Granove says. “I am committed to working for our community and we will continue to create more and more reasons for others to choose Congregation Etz Chayim as a home for their religious needs and community connection.”
Local News
Young pediatrician Daniel Kroft and his Jewish history podcast
By MYRON L0VE It has been said that if you want to make sure to get something done, give the task to the busiest person in the room. That adage would certainly apply to Daniel Kroft.
Although only 30 years old, Daniel, the son of community leaders Jonathan and Dr. Cara Kroft, has emulated both of his parents by being a community leader as well as a pediatrician. In the former category, Daniel is a member of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg’s Community Planning Committee (His father, Jonathan, is a Past President of the Federation).
The younger Kroft is also a co-founder of the Manitoba Maccabim – a young Jewish advocacy group. He recently joined Belle Jarniewski, executive director of the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Manitoba, in a presentation to the Internal Medicine Department of Health Sciences Center on the subject of antisemitism.
Professionally, the Gray Academy graduate (class of 2012) is a member of a clinic run out of St. Boniface Hospital, is on staff at the Children’s Hospital, puts in time at the Health Sciences Centre, and serves as a consultant pediatrician at Brandon’s regional hospital. He also takes trips to northern Manitoba to offer his services.
In addition, he is a member of the Jewish Physicians Association of Manitoba.
With all that on his plate, you wouldn’t think that Kroft would have time for much else. If so, you would be wrong. Four years ago, he launched a new initiative, a podcast – “The Jewish Story” – intended to teach interested listeners about Jewish history.
The idea came to him, he says, back in 2021, when he was still a medical student. “It was the time when Black Lives Matter was in the news,” he recalls. “At med school, we were learning all about Black history and Indigenous history. I realized that I actually didn’t know much about my own Jewish history.”
The first source he turned to was the Anglo-Jewish historian Simon Schama and his book, “The Story of the Jews”. He followed up with online courses from Oxford and Harvard as well as a lecture series led by prominent historian Henry Abramson.
Setting up a podcast, he notes, required another learning curve. “It takes me about a year to do the research and organize my podcasts,” he reports. “I had to learn how to do a podcast and about which equipment to buy. I set up a recording studio in a room in my house.”
On his website (rss.com/podcasts/thejewishstory/), Kroft describes “The Jewish Story” as “a Jewish history podcast for the 21st century”. “We use the latest in archaeology, linguistics and historical methods to sculpt the history of the Jewish People from the exodus from Egypt until the present,” he notes.
He started his series of podcasts going back to the beginning – from the earliest evidence of Jewish existence through the establishment of the Jewish kingdom, its conflicts with neighbouring empires, to its destruction by the Babylonians.
And that is just the first episode.
The first season – seven episodes – encompassed Jewish history up to and including the Roman invasion of Jerusalem and destruction of the second Temple in 70 CE. Kroft points out that some of his podcasts feature guest commentators. In his first season, for example, in the third episode, he interviews Rabbi Matthew Leibl about the relevance to modern Jewish life of the first eight centuries of Jewish history.
In the seventh episode, he discusses with his former elementary school teacher, Sherry Wolfe Elazar ,what lessons modern Jews can learn from the Greco-Roman period for Jewish history.
The second series of podcasts focuses on the development of Jewish life in the first centuries after the Diaspora and the effects of the new Christian and Muslim religions on the Jewish people. The seventh and last episode of season two features Rabbi Anibal Mass, the spiritual leader of the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, talking about a wide range of subjects ,including the breakaway Karaites, he definition of Jewish music, and how technology has shaped modern Jewish practice.
The third season covers the 11th-15th centuries while the most recent series of episodes spans the period from 1500 to 1650. Kroft reports that the next group of podcasts will provide an overview of Jewish life in the 17th and early 18th centuries, including the beginnings of Jewish life in North America.
I asked Kroft when he finds the time to work on his podcasts. His response: in his spare time – weekends and holidays.
The podcaster reports that when he started, he was getting 30-40 listeners per episode. Now his numbers are up to 200-300 from all over the world.
For readers who may want to hear Daniel Kroft’s story in person, he will be one of the presenters at the upcoming Limmud Winnipeg. Kroft will be presenting on Sunday, March 23, at 1:30 at the Campus.
For more information aboutLimmud, contact coordinator@limmudwinnipeg.org or 204-557-6260
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