Local News
Manitoba Métis Federation decisively votes down anti-Israel resolution
By MYRON LOVE On May 2, 2023, the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF), the Vickar Automotive Group and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev signed a Donor Pledge Agreement to establish a partnership for research, education and culture exchange. The partnership aims to promote cooperation and mutual understanding between the Red River Métis community and the academic community in Israel. The collaboration will focus on research in areas such as health, environment, and social issues, as well as educational and cultural programs. The partnership will also involve the sharing of resources and expertise.
On Saturday, October 19, at its Annual General Assembly, which was held at Assiniboine Downs, the 4,000 MMF delegates resoundingly beat back an anti-Israel resolution that called upon the MMF Assembly to vote to tear up the agreement with Ben Gurion University – referencing the Pope’s recent criticism of Israel and the usual laundry list of false charges against Israel – war crimes, violation of international law, genocide, apartheid, etc.
The two petitioners also charged that BGU builds the bombs that the Israeli air force is dropping on Gaza and practices “water apartheid.” They further threw in a demand that longtime MMF President David Chartrand write a letter to the Government of Israel and the Government of Canada demanding a ceasefire.
To his great credit, Chartrand answered back forcefully, even angrily at times. He spoke about his visit to BGU last year. He commented on how what once was desert is now green. He noted that the agreement with BGU stands to provide the Red River Métis with many benefits – with exchange programs, underwritten by the Vickar Group – will expose young Red River Métis to a different society and bring here BGU personnel and technical expertise of benefit to local Métis communities.
As to the resolution, the MMF president began by emphasizing that Ben Gurion University “has nothing to do with this war.”
Chartrand then pointed out that the words in the resolution that were attributed to the Pope were not accurate. He noted that this is both a land war and a religious war. While expressing sympathy for the suffering on both sides, he condemned the Palestinian terrorist groups who use women and children as human shields.
Chartrand angrily denounced the two petitioners – with their standard Palestinian clothing accessories – for not presenting the General Assembly members with all the facts. He further excoriated those “pro-Palestinian” activists who burned a Canadian flag at an anti-Israel protest in Vancouver a couple of weeks ago.
“I understand and respect where you are coming from,” Chartrand told the petitioners. ”We are prepared to help rebuild Gaza when this war is over. We are a democracy and you are free to submit this resolution. But, right now, there is nothing the Manitoba Métis Federation can do about the situation.
And, Chartrand added, “I am not going to write any letter to the Government of Canada or the Government of Israel.”
Larry Vickar and Gustavo Zentner, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs representative in Winnipeg, attended the MMF General Assembly as observers.
“I applaud David Chartrand’s leadership at the Assembly,” Zentner observed. “The resolution was one-sided and ill-founded. President Chartrand has shown a keen understanding of the concept of the Jewish People’s indigeneity to the land of Israel. In his response, he delivered a clear message to the anti-Israel activists at the General Assembly.”
Zentner reported that he and Larry Vickar attended the launch of the MMF’s AGA and participated in government presentations and networking. “The MC recognized us amongst the government, elected officials, and MMF partners,” he noted. “This was a result of Larry’s tremendous record of working with MMF and President Chartrand.”
He added that “we were briefed on the motion and were able to provide insights and a narrative to support the MMF and President Chartrand. We already have tangible actions and steps in motion which Chartrand and two of his MMF cabinet ministers are aware of.”
Zentner noted that CIJA’s outreach to the Red River Métis is part of the national Jewish organization’s ongoing efforts to build bridges with different levels of government as well as other communities.
“The Jewish people, the people of Israel and the Red River Métis have much in common,” Zentner observed. “We are both indigenous people living on our native land – with shared values. We have much we can learn from each other.”
He further spoke of planned educational and cultural exchanges between the Red River Metis and Israel’s southernmost university. “Israel is a world leader in technology in many areas,” he noted, “technology that Israel is always ready to share with partners worldwide.”
Local News
Join the Sewing Circle at Chesed Shel Emes
Local News
Talented Winnipeg composer Sara Kreindler teams up with her mother Reena Kreindler to create new satirical show to premiere here in May
By BERNIE BELLAN It’s been many years since I’ve heard from Sara Kreindler. Sara’s name first appeared in The Jewish Post & News in 2002 when a satirical musical titled “A Touch of Class” was reviewed by the late Arnold Ross. That particular production featured songs from popular Broadway shows that touched upon themes such as “greed, poverty, oppression, and social unrest.”
When she appeared in that show, Ross noted, Kreindler had just recently returned to Winnipeg from England, where she had obtained a doctorate in Social Psychology from Oxford University.
While at Oxford, Kreindler found time to compose a satirical musical titled “Charity,” which played to rave reviews there, and was performed five times.
Continuing in the theme of writing satirical musicals, Sara has now teamed up with her mother, Reena, to write a new musical titled “A Perfect Man,” which is set to run at the Gargoyle Theatre from May 6-17.
According to a press release we received, “A Perfect Man” is “a satirical musical, set on a fictional analogue of ‘The Bachelor’.
“The story follows an anthropologist who arrives to research TV’s hottest reality-dating show — only to discover she’s been made a contestant, and the bachelor is her high school crush. Past and present collide against an exuberant pastiche score that uses vintage musical styles to highlight modern absurdities.”
“Praised as ‘a musician [who] can make biofuels funny’ (CBC), Sara is known for whip-smart satire on a panoply of topics. Her digital musical, ‘Larry Saves the Canadian Healthcare System, created during her former life as an academic, has garnered over 84,000 YouTube views. Naturally, she had a field day with the subject of reality dating.
“The topic just begs for campy zaniness, which I think we all need in these times — but also for a more cerebral critique of what these shows say about the culture that spawned them,” says Kreindler. And thanks to the romance context, the satire is woven into a deeper, more personal story. “It’s satire with a heart.”
Here is some more information about Sara Kreindler, taken from a 2009 article I wrote about her:
“Born in Israel, Sara’s precocious talent was nurtured by her mother, Reena, whose own particular talent is literary, not musical. According to Reena, however, Sara was singing from the time she was a baby, and she began to study piano at the age of four.
“As a young girl, Sara began writing her own songs and poems, along with the “occasional musical”, notes Reena. Yet, Sara’s rare talent put her at odds with the typical interests of other children her own age, on top of which she attended a school to which she was exposed to a fair degree of antisemtism.
“As a result, Sara says, being bullied was a common aspect of her childhood. On one occasion, when she was nine, she notes, Sara fought back against one particular bully by reciting the following little ditty:
“I write so many epigrams to you that all the people laugh.
I’m tired of writing epigrams.
I want to write your epitaph!”
“Sara went on to compose a musical titled ‘Flutesong’ while she was a student at Vincent Massey Collegiate, she says. After doing her undergraduate work at the University of Manitoba, majoring in Psychology, Sara won a Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oxford University.
“Sara eventually earned a doctorate in Social Psychology and returned to Winnipeg, where she began teaching at the University of Manitoba, but she said she didn’t enjoy the “mass production” style of teaching upwards of 300 students at a time, so she switched careers and began doing health research for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.”
All the while Sara has been continuing to compose and perform her own songs, often teaming up with her mother, as she has for “A Perfect Man.”
Showtimes and ticket information for The Perfect Man are available at:
http://www.thegargoyletheatre.com/upcoming-events/the-perfect-man
Local News
Rabbi Kliel Rose to leave Congregation Etz Chayim for new post in Ottawa
The following email from Congregation Etz Chayim Executive Director Morissa Granove was sent to members of the congregation on Friday, April 10:
“Dear Members and Friends,
“As we know, Rabbi Kliel recently spent a weekend with Kehilllat Beth Israel where he has since been offered a position. After much thought and consideration, he has made the decision to sign a contract in Ottawa. He will continue to lead our congregation through Yom Kippur.
“This news marks a significant ending for our Etz Chayim community, and at the same time with change comes opportunity. Congregation Etz Chayim will soon embark on our own Rabbinical search with excitement as we look for our perfect candidates and explore the new possibilities that will help us to continue to shape a strong future for our synagogue and members.”
Kliel Rose took up the position of rabbi at Etz Chayim in August, 2018.
In an article announcing his appointment to the position in the June 6, 2018 issue of The Jewish Post & News, Myron Love wrote:
The congregation has been without a permanent rabbi since last summer when Rabbi Larry Lander chose to retire – after ten years here – and relocate to Toronto.
Kliel Rose is already a well-seasoned rabbi. He was ordained in 2004 by the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York.
He previously served as spiritual leader at the West End Synagogue in Nashville and Temple Enamu-El in Miami Beach. His current posting is Beth Shalom Synagogue in Edmonton.
Following the example of his parents, Kliel Rose has been active in interfaith dialogue and human rights work for which he was honoured in 2014 with the Human Rights Hero Award by Truah: The Rabbibic Call for Human Rights.
He has also participated in the Kellogg Management Education for Jewish Leaders program at Northwestern University and was most recently chosen to be among 20 rabbis from different denominations chosen to train in the Clergy leadership Incubator – a two-year program, under the leadership of Ranni Sidney Schwarz, intended to educate younger rabbis in innovative thinking, change management and institutional transformation.
In Edmonton, Rose also served as Jewish chaplain at the University of Alberta and took the lead on a program called “Faith and Inclusion”, whose mandate was to support individuals with cognitive and physical learning challenges to feel more welcome within various faith communities.