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
“Chanukah Guilt: A Jewish Holiday Murder Mystery”
Review –Interview by MARTIN ZEILIG
With “Chanukah Guilt: A Jewish Holiday Murder Mystery” (Scribal Scion Publishing 182 pg. $20.00) Winnipeg author Avra Love steps confidently into the world of cozy Jewish crime fiction, delivering a warm, witty, and culturally textured novel that feels instantly familiar to anyone who has spent time in a synagogue social hall.
Published by Scribal Scion in August 2026, the book marks a notable shift from Love’s earlier works — the playful children’s book “Don’t Wake Mommy!” and her flash fiction collection “Into the Junk Drawer” — yet it carries forward her trademark blend of humour, character insight, and affection for the small dramas of everyday life.
Love, who was interviewed by email for this article, grew up surrounded by stories and language, and that early immersion shows. She had long wanted to take on a larger scale project, and this idea — sparked by her own experiences participating in holiday craft sales — lent itself naturally to expansion.
“I was always struck by the diversity and energy you find at these events,” she says. “When I considered it as a background for my story, I chose to make it a Jewish setting.”
The novel unfolds over a single day: the pre Chanukah craft sale at a local synagogue. It’s the kind of event many Jewish readers will recognize immediately — twenty vendors, tables overflowing with handmade goods, the hum of conversation, and the quiet hope that the turnout will justify all the effort.
Into this bustling scene steps Becky, the first time coordinator of the sale, who has taken on the job mostly because no one else would. Becky’s background as a theatre director gives her a keen eye for personalities, staging, and the subtle tensions that animate a room. It also makes her an unexpectedly capable amateur sleuth when a sudden death shatters the cheerful atmosphere.
Love’s decision to set the mystery within a single communal event is inspired. The synagogue social hall becomes a microcosm of Jewish communal life — warm, opinionated, occasionally chaotic, and full of characters who are both endearing and exasperating. The vendors, each with their quirks and motivations, form a lively ensemble cast. Their interactions provide humour, texture, and a steady stream of clues as Becky tries to piece together what happened before the police arrive.
The tone throughout is unmistakably cozy.
Love isn’t interested in grisly details or procedural complexity; her focus is on character, community, and the gentle absurdities that arise when ordinary people are thrust into extraordinary circumstances. The dialogue is sharp and often funny, peppered with Hebrew and Yiddish expressions that feel authentic rather than ornamental. A glossary at the end ensures that readers of all backgrounds can follow along without missing the cultural flavour.
Behind the scenes, Hanukah Guilt was very much a labour of love.
The book began as a “piecework project built over sporadic bouts of creativity,” Love explains, and then underwent multiple revisions.
All told, it took most of three years to complete. When it came time to publish, she didn’t hesitate to bring the manuscript to Scribal Scion.
“I had such a great experience working with James Gershfield on my first children’s book that I went to him first — and I’m glad I did. I’ve been so appreciative of his hard work and expertise in helping me craft the finished product.”
What elevates Hanukah Guilt is Love’s ability to balance levity with sincerity. Beneath the humour lies a genuine appreciation for Jewish communal spaces — their warmth, their imperfections, and their role as gathering points for tradition, creativity, and connection. Becky’s determination to solve the mystery is less about heroism and more about responsibility: to the vendors, to the event, and to the community she cares about.
Love’s writing career continues to expand. In addition to this novel, she has two new Jewish children’s picture books underway with Scribal Scion Kids and continues to write short stories in her spare time. Hanukah Guilt is her third published book — and her most ambitious to date.
In Hanukah Guilt, Avra Love has crafted a charming, accessible, and distinctly Jewish mystery that will resonate with readers across generations. It is a welcome addition to holidaythemed fiction and a delightful new chapter in the career of a Winnipeg writer whose voice continues to grow in range and confidence.
This is a book that belongs on Jewish bookshelves — and one that will make readers smile even as they turn the pages in search of clues.
Avra Love is a Winnipeg educator with a background in English Language studies and Philosophy. She is the author of three books: the flash fiction collection “Into the Junk Drawer,” the children’s book “Don’t Wake Mommy!,” and her new cozy mystery “Hanukah Guilt: A Jewish Holiday Murder Mystery.” She loves to read, write, craft, and practice healthy living.
Local News
Israel’s ambassador to Canada makes first visit to Winnipeg
By MYRON LOVE On Thursday, August 6, Iddo Moed, Israel’s ambassador to Canada, made his first visit to Winnipeg and shared an overview of Israel-Canada relations with an engaged audience of about 100 Jewish community members and supporters. This was an important visit for the Winnipeg community. The event was focused on community affairs, with no presence of government or elected officials.
Moed is a 34-year veteran of the Israeli diplomat corps with a resumé that includes postings in China, Singapore, the Netherlands, and the Dominican Republic as well as some African countries. He has been stationed in Ottawa for the past three years.
The evening before the presentation, according to Jeff Lieberman, the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg’s CEO, the ambassador walked through the Asper Campus introducing himself to people he encountered, then took in the show at the Israel Pavilion. Afterward, Moed spoke with several people at the show. On his way out, he looked into the Bedouin tent in front of the cultural display and visited for a few minutes with a family inside.
The evening began with remarks from Gustavo Zentner, Vice President, Prairies, at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), who highlighted the unbreakable bond between our Jewish community and Israel, as well as the deep and enduring connection between the Jewish people and Israel. “At a time of heightened antisemitism and anti-Zionism across Canada,” Zentner said, “the contributions of Jewish Canadians to Manitoba and to Canada are foundational to our shared society.”
He called on the community to celebrate what makes us strong, our innovation, our Jewish “chutzpah”, our resilience, and our commitment to being there for one another. Zentner noted that our determination to strengthen and protect our community must extend beyond our own institutions and include strong, visible advocacy.
“This means,” he observed, “creating more opportunities for open dialogue and meaningful engagement, while firmly denouncing and pushing back against antisemitism, Jew-hatred and anti-Zionism, not only to protect the Jewish community, but also as a means of safeguarding our Canadian way of life and standing up for other minority communities whose voices may not otherwise be heard.”
During his own remarks, Ambassador Moed spoke about the friendliness of Canadians but, nonetheless, he observed, his time here has been difficult.
“I remember a discussion that I had years ago with a friend who predicted that even though incidents of antisemitism back then were minimal, there would undoubtedly be a resurgence.” he observed. “The level of hate I have seen in Canada and around the world has been quite disturbing.”
Moed claimed that 97% of Jewish university students in North America report that they have experienced antisemitism. He added that for Holocaust survivors, the current levels of hate are bringing back traumatic memories.
“Since October 7, life has been much more challenging and difficult for our people,” he noted. “Social media in particular has been a major problem. We need to reach out to our allies in the non-Jewish world. We need to find ways to highlight all the good that Israel does in the world. We also need to emphasize that Jewish values are largely in sync with Canadian values.
“And our Jewish community institutions need to be working together in a pro-active manner,” Moed said.
When it comes to Canada-Israel trade, Moed described the current situation as “stagnant.” “There is a lot of interest in Canada in potential trade deals with Israel,” he reported, “but federal government policies are not helpful.” Moed did add that he sees much potential for trade at the provincial level. “There has been a lot of interest in Quebec and Ontario in particular,” he said. “We are trying to reach out to the other provinces as well.”
The ambassador spoke for a relatively short time so as to leave a lot of time for questions from the audience. One question was about the possibility of a two-state solution. In response, Moed pointed out that over the years, Israel has offered numerous concessions – to no avail.
“We have learned that we can’t trust the Palestinian leadership,” he said.
A question about war crimes gave Moed an opportunity to contrast the Israel Defense Force’s great efforts to reduce casualties among Palestinian civilians with frequent warnings before the air force drop bombs or infantry units move into populated areas with Hamas and Islamic Jihad literally hiding among and behind women and children and hiding in and storing weapons in schools, hospitals, mosques and private homes.
Moed added that every IDF regiment has a legal advisor embedded with it to ascertain that military actions abide by international law.
He noted that on October 6, 2023, Gaza was quiet. On October 8, social media and the legacy media were already condemning Israel for “genocide”.
Moed emphasized the importance of Jewish education in our communities in Canada and the United States – even suggesting that some of the money our communities send to Israel might be better spent investing in Jewish education here at home.
(Despite almost three years of war, Israel still has one of the world’s strongest economies.)
One questioner asked about the prospect of Israel’s high-tech industry- which is second in size only to California – being able to develop a system that can override all the negativity and present a more positive picture online of Israel and the Jewish People.
Moed agreed that “the left are eating our lunch.” “Maybe we can create a platform using AI that can present a more positive view of Israel,” he suggested.
Moed has one more year to serve in Ottawa before he returns to Israel and finds out where he is off to next.
Local News
This Toronto street corner has been a site of anti-Zionist activism for months. Police just opened a hate crime investigation.
By Sage Lattman August 25, 2026
This story was originally published in the Forward. Click here to get the Forward’s free email newsletters delivered to your inbox.
The Toronto Police Service hate crimes unit is investigating teacher Abbas Hamze for remarks about “Zionists.” Canadian Jewish groups, including the Jewish Federations of Canada’s advocacy arm and B’nai Brith Canada, have called his speech, which went viral online, “blatant antisemitism.”
Hamze’s remarks invoked antisemitic tropes, accusing “Zionists” of performing “black magic” as well as raping and killing children. He spoke at the intersection of Bathurst and Sheppard, in the heavily Jewish Toronto neighborhood of Bathurst Manor – Clanton Park.
According to his LinkedIn, Hamze works as an instructor at several Canadian colleges in the area, including the University of Niagara Falls and Georgian College. He does not specify what he teaches.
According to a statement by Georgian College, Hamze is no longer employed there, having taught an online data analytics course until last academic year. In an email to the Forward, a college spokesperson described Hamze’s remarks as “violent, derogatory and hateful” and said the college “doesn’t tolerate racism, hate, discrimination or harassment, including antisemitism, directed at any individual or group.”
Hamze could not be reached for comment. The University of Niagara Falls did not respond to requests to comment, and the Toronto Police declined a request for comment.
UNF issued a statement addressing Hamze’s remarks, distancing the university from the instructor’s statements and stating that they have “zero tolerance for discrimination, hate, harassment, or any conduct that threatens the dignity and well-being of others.” They announced that they are “launching an internal investigation” into the matter.
In his speech, Hamze claimed that “British colonizers have planted this cancerous, false Zionist state of Israel … right in the heart of Islam.”
Later — wearing a keffiyeh and reading from his phone into a megaphone emblazoned with the Lebanese flag — the instructor repeated numerous antisemitic conspiracy theories, including the debunked idea that Jews have caused or deserved centuries of persecution.
“The Zionists have never had a country of their own because of their mischief,” Hamze said. “They are the most kicked-out people in the world who are making black magic and horrible things.”
He went on to say that Jewish corruption is “crystal clear in Epstein Island where they have the Jewish leaders from all around the world.” He accused “Zionists” of having “raped, and killed, and ate children at the same time.”
Finally, he unfoundedly blamed the actions of President Donald Trump on “Zionists” who “blackmail” and “control” people.
“That’s why you can see now a guy like Trump who caused this genocide in Gaza kidnaps the presidents of Venezuala, kills the supreme leader of Iran Imam Ali Khamenei, may God sanctify his soul,” he said. “This is because of them, the terrorist Zionists.”
It appears that people became aware of Hamze’s remarks after Casey Babb, an Israel and International Relations scholar, posted a video of him on X.
In a joint statement, Canadian Jewish groups described Hamze’s claims as “antisemitic blood libels that have been used for centuries to justify hatred and violence against Jews.”
The statement says that the intersection where Hamze spoke, Bathurst and Sheppard, has long been a site of “antisemitic harassment, intimidation and provocation, too often under the guise of anti-Zionism,” and called on Toronto’s police department to investigate the incident.
“Allowing this behaviour to go unchecked is to normalize antisemitism as an everyday feature of life in this city,” it stated.
The city’s police have opened an investigation. However, online, some said that Hamze had been speaking at the street corner for months without police intervention.
In Canada, public incitement of hatred is considered a criminal offense. The Canadian criminal code says that “communicating statements in any public place” that “incites hatred against any identifiable group where such incitement is likely to lead to a breach of the peace” is a breach of law, resulting in up to two years in prison.
This story was originally published on the Forward.
