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New documentary about David Matas chronicles his long career as a tireless advocate for human rights
By BERNIE BELLAN David Matas has achieved world-wide recognition for his life-long work advocating on behalf of repressed minorities throughout the world. Yet, as the same time as he is probably one of the most famous – and successful individuals working in the area of human rights, his unassuming and low key style would often belie the success he has achieved.
Now, in a new documentary film, titled “The Justice Hunter,” written and produced by Israeli-born Winnipegger Yolanda Papini-Pollock (who, many readers may also know is the founder and driving force behind the advocacy group, Winnipeg Friends of Israel), viewers are given the opportunity to see Matas’s life chronicled in a very interesting – and often revealing manner.
Papini-Pollock has produced other films centering around the subject of human rights, including “Never Again: A Broken Promise,” which drew upon the experiences of survivors of four different genocides (the Holocaust, Rwandan, Indigenous and Yazidi genocides); “Get Over It: A Path to Healing,” about the health crisis facing Canada’s Indigenous communities; and ‘Painful Truth: The Falun Gong Genocide,” which tells the story of the Chinese government’s horrible record of persecution – and often, execution of practitioners of Falun Gong. Stemming from Papini-Pollock’s documentary about the persecution of practitioners of Falun Gong, she developed a particular interest in telling David Mata’s story in some detail, since no one has done more to fight antisemitism and to bring to light China’s abysmal record of persecution of the Falun Gong than David Matas.
“The Justice Hunter,” however, conveys Papini-Pollock’s growth as a documentary movie-maker. Whereas “A Broken Promise” relied primarily upon interviews with four different subjects, “The Justice Hunter” uses a much faster-paced style of movie-making. Interspersing short snippets of interviews with such individuals whose lives have become interconnected with David Matas over the years, such as lawyer and former Canadian Minister of External Affairs Irwin Cotler, the film also features the voice of David Matas himself offering observations about various aspects of his career. As well, the film also includes footage showing in some detail how the Chinese government have been complicit in the persecution of the Falun Gong, along with an interesting segment explaining how Israelis had become prime recipients of organs harvested from executed Falun Gong members until that practice was exposed by Matas and he late David Kilgour, former Member of Parliament, in a book titled “Bloody Harvest,” which was published in 2005.
The film is narrated by Leah Ross, a former lawyer and student of Matas’s herself – now a music educator with the Winnipeg School Division. Ross offers her own observations about Matas’s career and how inspiring he has been to law students such as herself. In one touching scene, a group of friends gather to celebrate Matas’s 80th birthday. As the attendees at the party sing “Happy birthday,” Matas recalls the famous opening line of Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,” which, he suggests, is a fitting description of his career fighting for human rights around the world.
One especially interesting insight that Matas offers at one point is how he has been able to remain somewhat detached from all the many legal battles in which he has been immersed. He notes, for instance, that while he was subject to occasional antisemitism growing up in north end Winnipeg, his family did not experience the Holocaust, and thus, he did not carry any personal baggage when he began to invest time into dealing with others who had been undergoing persecution.
In addition to focusing on Matas’s long battle of behalf of Falun Gong practitioners, in which he worked together with David Kilgour, to expose the horrible Chinese government practice of executing Falon Gong prisoners so that their organs could be harvested, the film also depicts other battles Matas has waged, on behalf of Wiegers in China (who are Muslim), and Tamils (in Sri Lanka).
Late in the film, we meet Hannah Taylor, another young Winnipeg lawyer, who has also been inspired to work with Matas, helping him to research and prepare briefs for various international bodies around the world. (Although the film doesn’t mention it, Taylor herself achieved quite some renown when, as a very young girl here, she started something called “The Ladybug Foundation,” to help Winnipeggers experiencing homelessness.)
But perhaps as well known as Matas’ work on behalf of repressed minorities in all areas of the globe has been Matas’s efforts to combat antisemitism. As legal counsel for B’nai Brith Canada, Matas’s work investigating Nazi war criminals in Canada is also explored in the film. Snippets of interviews with Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada, and Alan Yusim, former Midwest Regional Representative for B’nai Brith Canada, reveal just how extraordinary Matas’s contribution to fighting antisemitism in Canada has been for many years now.
I asked Yolanda Papini-Pollock what led her to want to make a film about David Matas’s career?
She answered: “The idea for this film came from Professor Emeritus Maria Cheung, with whom I previously collaborated on Painful Truth: The Falun Gong Genocide. In that project, we interviewed David Matas about his groundbreaking research into the forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners in China. The Falun Gong community deeply appreciated David’s tireless efforts to expose these atrocities and wanted to create a tribute to honour him. Professor Cheung along with JadeRose Film and TV productions approached me with the idea, and I was delighted to take it on, as I greatly value David’s work in human rights and his contributions to not only the Jewish but also to communities across Canada and around the world.”
Papini-Pollock says it took her about a year to make the film.
I asked her though, where it might be seen?
She says “B’nai Brith Canada is planning a screening on December 17 in Winnipeg to honor David Matas’ contributions as their senior legal counsel. They also intend to host a screening in Ottawa in February.” The film can also be viewed at https://www.ntdfilms.com/the-justice-hunter/
(I would think “The Justice Hunter” would fit well into the program schedule of a network such as Vision TV, which I’ve contacted to suggest it ought to consider airing the film).
In addition to the film, “The Justice Hunter,” Papini-Pollock has also produced a picture book by the same name, intended for grade school children. She explains that “The idea for the book came to me during the production of the film. As I learned more about David, I felt it was important to share his story with young children as well. David expressed a desire for the film to inspire others to take up human rights work, and I realized that introducing his story to children could be impactful. The challenge, however, was to present his work in an age-appropriate way—something that could inspire without overwhelming or frightening young readers. Crafting a story that balanced these elements was both a struggle and a rewarding experience.”
Papini-Pollock adds that “The book is now available for purchase on various digital platforms, including Amazon, Indigo, and Barnes & Noble, in both soft cover and digital formats. Christine Melnick from Sharing the Magic of Literacy has shown interest in distributing it to schools and remote communities.”
Local News
Shalom Residences Foundation to host third annual donor appreciation evening
By MYRON LOVE On Tuesday, June 16, Shalom Residences Foundation Inc (SRFI) will be hosting its third annual Donor Appreciation evening. Donors and other Shalom Residences supporters can look forward to chilling to the music of local singer/songwriter David Grenon (aka Soul Bear), who will be performing songs by Billy Joel, Elton John and other well-known artists.
Dr. Allen Kraut has organized the donor appreciation night while the entertainment for the evening will be organized by Karla Berbrayer.
For readers who are not yet familiar with Shalom Residences, the organization was originally created to care for intellectually challenged Jewish young adults. The vision was to provide them with a Jewish environment – strictly kosher group homes where all the Jewish holidays are observed and celebrated.
One of Shalom Residences’ objectives has always been to develop a community in which individuals with intellectual disabilities are fully included, self-actualized, and valued in all aspects of life.
The concept has been a remarkable success.
Shalom Residences was founded in 1980 by six far-sighted couples, including Thelma and Ernie Bronstein, Dolly and Zivey Chudnow, Min and Joe Fromkin, Roberta and Larry Hurtig, Elaine and Bobby Paul,
and Sybil and Frank Steele. Jim Gauthier was also among the original group of Zivey Chudnow’s friends who organized the first lottery dinner in 1982 to raise funds for the Shalom Residences with the view of establishing a foundation to sustain the homes long term.The original Shalom Home was a converted house on Cathedral Avenue.
“Thelma Bronstein’s determination and dynamism contributed to making it happen,” says Elaine Paul, currently Shalom Residences’ treasurer (and for the past 20 years, the organization’s leading fundraiser).
I remember the home’s official opening. This was shortly after I started writing for the Jewish Post. Rabbi Charles Grysman affixed the mezzuzah to the door frame.
Today, the organization operates six group homes housing 19 residents as well as 12 residents in supported independent living arrangements.
While the operations today are largely funded by the provincial government – which means that the residences have to be open to accepting non-Jewish clients as well (just over half of the residents are Jewish) – the Shalom Residences Foundation funding supplements the government contribution – providing financial support for increasing staffing levels when needed, as well as extraordinary expenditures and contingencies. The Foundation has also provided the down payment for the purchase of new housing when necessary. .
The necessity of fundraising was evident right from the beginning. Elaine Paul recalls that the first Manitoba Marathon – in which all the founding parents were involved – provided the funding for the mortgage at 175 Cathedral Ave.
“We worked with Helen Steinkopf and John Robertson to develop the marathon,” Paul remembers. ”For several years, Hy Kravetsky and I worked handing out water to the runners.”
Paul relates that it was Zivey Chudnow who was instrumental in starting up Shalom Residences’ annual fundraising. “Three of Zivey’s friends,:Norman Tatleman, Sam Ostrove, and Gary Levinson, asked how they could help,” she recalls. “Their idea was to have a fundraising dinner. We combined the dinner with a lottery. We sold 60 tickets at $1,000 a piece and paid out $15,000 to the winning ticket and lesser amounts to other lucky winners.”
The organization also held annual well attended fundraising teas.
Paul reports that, for years, Chudnow was Shalom Residences’ best fundraiser – with honourable mention to Avrum Katz, Frank Steele, and the late Joe Elfenbaum. Paul took over the role 10 years ago – again with honourable mention to SRFI board members, Dr. Allen Kraut, Peter Leipsic, Donna Chudnow, Jon Feldman, and Mickey Rosenberg.
In addition, the goal was, and remains empowering adults with intellectual disabilities to live meaningful, dignified lives in community-based homes in Winnipeg, enriched by Jewish values.
Charles Tax, the SRFI’s long time president, notes that in 2017, the organization created an endowment fund with the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. “At the time, we transferred more than half of our assets to the JFM,” he says. “We continue to make contributions to our fund.”
He notes that the annual dinners came to an end with the 20230 Covid lockdowns. The donor appreciation evenings were started in 2023.
“One of our goals is to acquire one or two more houses in the south end,” Tax adds.
Readers who may be interested in attending the donor appreciation evening or otherwise supporting SRFI can contact the office at 204 582-7064 or via email (admin@shalomresidences.com).
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Local News
Debbie Maslowsky playing lead role in upcoming Dry Cold Productions musical
By MYRON LOVE For the past 40 years Debbie Maslowsky has been entertaining Winnipeg audiences – both Jewish and non-Jewish, with her acting and singing. Arguably Winnipeg’s queen of musical theatre is returning to the stage on May 13 in a lead role in Dry Cold Productions’ upcoming “Kimberly Akimbo”.
Maslowsky is enthusiastic about the Tony-winning production, which debuted on Broadway in November 2022. “It’s a gem of a musical,” she says of the production crafted by the musical team of composer Jeanine Tesori and lyricist David Lindsay-Abaire.
The subject itself is not – on the surface – uplifting. As Maslowsky describes it, “Kimberly Akimbo” is the story of a teenager suffering from a very rare condition – progeria – also known as the aging disease. The genetic condition causes children to age at an accelerated rate causing them to die of old age while still in their teens. For those readers who may recall Rabbi Harold Kushner’s book, “Why Bad Things Happen to Good People” – written years ago, Kushner was responding to the death of his own son from progeria.
In the hands of Tesori and Lindsay-Abaire though, Maslowsky notes, the show is about mindfulness and living day by day. In the production, Maslowsky explains, “Kimberly is trying to live as normal a life as she can despite her illness. Her life is further complicated by a dysfunctional family. Her parents are dealing with their own issues. Then there is the madcap aunt who develops a complicated and hilarious plan to make money for a family road trip, raise funds for choir costumes – with some left over for herself.
“The play is very funny,” Maslowsky comments, “but also poignant. Kimberly knows that she most likely won’t live much beyond 16. Therefore, she wants to live every day to the fullest. She wants to live every day in the now. At the same time, she doesn’t want to hide from reality. She doesn’t want special treatment. She also doesn’t want people – such as her parents – trying to pretend that everything will be okay.”
Maslowsky last appeared on stage in Winnipeg Jewish Theatre’s one-woman production of “A Pickle” in the spring of 2023. That was the true story of a Jewish pickle maker living in Minnesota who had to fight to get her pickles included in the state fair pickle competition, which tried to disqualify her because her pickles were made the Jewish way through a brining process that the non-Jewish judges refused to accept.
In the interim, Maslowsky has been focusing on her longstanding business as a trade show, conference and event manage,r as well as picking up some singing gigs. She reports that she began winding down her business last fall.
She speaks highly of her younger cast mates. “They are an amazing group of young people,” she says. “For some of them, this is their first show. I myself am still learning new things after all these years.”
Maslowsky will next be appearing in the joint Winnipeg Jewish Theatre-Rainbow Stage production of “Fiddler on the Roof” in September. “I played one of the daughters years ago in an earlier Fiddler production,” she recalls. “I feel like I am coming full circle.”
Dry Cold Productions was founded by Donna Fletcher and Reid Harrison (now retired) more than 25 years ago. The company stages a yearly musical theatre production – sometimes edgy – which has played on Broadway and is new to Winnipeg audiences.
The Dry Cold website cautions that “Kimberly Akimbo” contains “strong language (with frequent profanity), mature humour, and references to sexual activity”.
“Kimberly Akimbo” is scheduled to run May 13–17, 2026 at the Prairie Theatre Exchange. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Dry Cold productions online.
Local News
The second Bar Mitzvah: Better than the first
By GERRY POSNER As we pass down the corridor of life, there are certainly times we can identify as moments we will never forget. I had such a moment on April 11 at my second Bar Mitzvah, at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, shared with Dr. Ted Lyons, or E. A. as I called him over the years. We were celebrating this life cycle event at the very same synagogue as the first one, that is – the Shaarey Zede. For me, it was some 70 years ago or 25,557 days – from April 21, 1956 to April 11, 2026. The notion of returning to the original place of Bar Mitzvah 1.0 was too powerful a force, causing me to abandon my plan to do this in Toronto where my wife, Sherna and I have lived for the last 13 plus years.
It was quite the weekend. We started just before Erev Shabbat with photos of our two families on the bimah. Ted had his whole family there, including his daughter Mara, her husband Sheldon, and their two daughters, as well as his son Sami, his wife Rose, and their three kids, all of whom live In Calgary, not to forget his sister Ellen and her husband Howard Goldstein, from Toronto. Our three kids: Ari, Rami and Amira, all of whom live in Toronto, along with two of my grandchildren, as well as my brother Michael from Toronto were also present.
After the Shabbat service, we stayed on in the building for our Shabbat dinner. There were 23 of us, including Michael’s partner, Ruth Grubert, (formerly Mozersky), also a former Winnipegger, as well as Rabbi Mass,his son Ranan, Rabbi Carnie Rose and his wife Pauline. It was a warm group and the dinner was gobbled up and appreciated by all of us. We were all surprised when independently, the respective grandchildren of the Bar Mitzvah “bochers” presented both of us with a kind of tribute – funny and sincere in their affection for their Zaidas.
Then came the big day. It lived up to and even exceeded my expectations. It was a sell-out crowd. I was overwhelmed just at that fact. The only thing missing from the building was the electronic ark. The respective families all participated with aliyahs and indeed Torah readings by Sami Lyons and the 83-year-old Bar Mitzvah boy Ted Lyons. Now, “leyning” from the Torah was not something Ted had done at the first go-round 70 years ago. (In fact, almost all of us were deficient in that area).
One particular moment during the service was especially meaningful for Sherna and me. In the first part of the service, there is a prayer called “Mi Chamocha.” My son Ari had written music for that prayer several years ago and now he was at Shaarey Zedek, where he had his Bar Mitzvah long ago. This time though the clergy had arranged to use his music and to sing his melody. (It had been used many times previously, but without Ari. ) Not only that, he was invited to play his composition at the service as Cantor Leslie Emery sang it. Those few moments – as we watched and listened, at this – my second Bar Mitzvah, at a place where my parents had been members for years and whose names are on the memorial plaque in the chapel, well, that was powerful, to put it mildly.
Ted and his family had various honours as did my family. I was given the Haftorah to chant. Now, I have few talents, but I can chant a Haftroah (not the most marketable skill), so that was not that much of an obstacle for me. In fact, I rather enjoyed doing this part of the service. Rabbi Rose had also given me permission to deliver a D’var Torah on the portion of the week, “Shemini”, and to discuss the meaning of this, my second Bar Mitzvah. Once I had the mic and the stage, I was ready to go in spite of my wife’s protestations that it was too long. And, in fact, as I rolled along into my Haftorah, after about 10 minutes, my parter in the double Bar, Ted, came up from behind me where he was sitting, and nudged me gently, or to put it more accurately, gave me the hook, announcing that it was time to wrap up. It was kind of comical, in fact. I got a large charge from that sudden intervention. To top it off, as I had been speaking, I noticed a congregant on my left near the front who had apparently passed out. It was alarming to me at first, but the medics came and were able to revive this person. I was told later that other first words out of the mouth were “Has he finally finished?”
We concluded the day with a rather large kiddish luncheon highlighted at least for me by traditional party sandwiches, which were a staple of the kiddishes of my youth. I met with so many people of my past, which was a treat and a half for me. I was so into the moment that It was hard to get me out of the building.
As I reflect on the day and the service, I recognized that for all of us, we have times in our lives, whether it be an hour, a day or a week, that we will never forget. This day was for me one such moment. It is etched in my memory to be relived through the Youtube video now in my possession. The gift that keeps on giving, I say.
My first Bar Mitzvah was good, for sure. This one was far better. I knew what I was doing.
Post script (After Gerry had sent us his story, he sent us something else that he said should have been included in the story): True, Ted and I had the Bar Mitzvah no 2. But we only had it because there was one person who did the real work and yet received no credit. She made all the arrangements with the synagogue for both the Friday night Shabbat dinner and the kiddish lunch after the service. She dealt with various people in the synagogue and basically took charge of our simcha. I speak, of course, of Harriet Lyons. That I failed to mention her was due to my excess focus on the eating of the party sandwiches and not enough on the reason we had them in the first place. Harriet teaches the weaving of tallits, but she stands tall in the arranging of Bar Mitzvahs.