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Representatives from The New Israel Fund of Canada come to Winnipeg to speak to Winnipeg audience
By BERNIE BELLAN In 1977, Menachem Begin became Prime Minister of Israel when his Likud Party was able to form a very narrow coalition with two other parties, thus ending 29 years of dominance by Israel’s Labor Party.
That event set in motion a series of changes to Israel’s political, social, and economic landscapes that are still reverberating to this day.
In reaction to the strongly conservative tilt of Begin’s government – which threatened to undo many of the democratic underpinnings of what Israel’s founders had attempted to achieve when Israel became a state in 1948, a group in California created what was known as the New Israel Fund. According to Wikipedia, “The New Israel Fund was established in 1979 in California and is credited with seed-funding ‘almost every significant cause-related progressive NGO in Israel’. Since its inception the fund has provided over US$250 million to more than 900 organizations. NIF states that while its position is that ‘Israel is and must be a Jewish and democratic state’ it says it was among the first organizations to see that civil, human and economic rights for Israeli Arabs is an issue crucial to the long-term survival of the state.’ “
In 1986, The New Israel Fund of Canada was established as a separate entity, with full charitable status in Canada. Since that time, “NIFC has contributed over $10 million to more than 100 organizations in Israel that fight for socio-economic equality, religious freedom, civil and human rights, shared society and anti-racism, Palestinian citizens, and democracy itself,” according to information taken from the NIFC website.
On Wednesday, December 11, two representatives of the New Israel Fund of Canada who were in Winnipeg spoke to a small group of individuals who braved a bitterly cold night to attend an information session held in the basement of Temple Shalom.
Those two individuals were: Michael Mitchell, a former Winnipegger and a longtime member of the board of NIFC; and Ben Murane, the executive director of NIFC. It was the first ever visit for Murane to Winnipeg and he said that one of the reasons he came here was to help make the work that NIFC has been doing in Israel more widely known to Winnipeggers.
Michael Mitchell introduced himself to the audience, saying that “the person who introduced me to the The New Israel Fund was (the late) Vivian Silver” (who, most readers are no doubt aware, was killed in the October 7 massacre).
Mitchell explained that the The New Israel Fund started “in the 1980s in a very small way, funding certain groups as the problems in Israeli society grew more severe.”
The New Israel Fund of Canada adheres very closely to the rules set out by the CRA for Canadian charities, he said. “We have agents in Israel supervising our projects.”
“NIF in Israel has an international board,” Mitchell noted, including Palestinians and representatives from NIF from other countries.
“NIF has money; they’re nimble, they’re quick,” Mitchell said, “to take nascent Israeli organizations and bring them along.”
NIF “has become much more sophisticated these past five years,” he suggested.
He cited as an example of how effective NIF has been in advancing the work of various Israeli peace groups the drastic decline in violence within Israel itself this past year between Jews and Palestinians, as opposed to what followed in the immediate aftermath of the October 7 massacre, when communities like Lod were riven by violent clashes between Israeli Jews and Arabs.
“If you’re in the middle of a war then you have to tamp down the violence between Jews and Palestinians,” Mitchell said. And a lot of the reasons for the decline in that kind of violence is attributable to the work done by organizations funded by NIF, he suggested.
Where NIF has achieved particular success, he continued, “is in organizing on the ground if you’re opposed to the messianic tendencies of the current Israeli government.”
“There’s a much bigger audience – both in Israel and abroad, that wants to see progressive goals achieved,” Mitchell argued.
As for where The New Israel Fund of Canada stands, Mitchell noted that “the Canadian Jewish community is going through what the American and British communities went through 15 years ago, which is to stop waiting for mainstream organizations to represent them.” A lot of new groups have been formed, he noted, such as “Women Wage Peace” and “Stand Together,” both of which helped to sponsor the December 11 event.
“Canadian Jews are not more conservative about Israel than American Jews,” Mitchell suggested, referring to the results of a survey of Canadian Jews for which NIFC was one of the sponsors. (For more on this turn to https://jewishpostandnews.ca/wjn/news-from-syria-shouldnt-distract-from-whats-been-going-on-in-gaza/.)
“There are at least 100,000 Canadian Jews who agree with us completely but are quiet because they don’t want to rock the boat.”
Ben Murane followed Mitchell, giving a lengthy presentation during which he fully outlined what the NIF is all about. He began by noting that “I am also making a pilgrimage to the place that made Vivian.”
Murane was just a youngster when Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated in 1995, he said. “A lot of the stuff I had heard about Israel – about how great it was, wasn’t quite true,” he noted.
Referring to the most recent Likud victory that returned Netyanyahu to the prime ministership in 2022, Murane said: “Let’s flash backward – a government got elected by a slim margin and announced a grand vision for rewriting Israel’s democracy. It was the first wave of what became a global populism.
“We (the NIF) started investing more in Israeli democracy projects.”
Two years ago, Murane reminded the audience, “hundreds of thousands of Israelis were on the streets” protesting what was then the Likud government’s attempt at judicial overhaul – which would have severely limited the power of Israel’s Supreme Court to intervene in cases where civil liberties were at stake.
“We (the NIF) were firmly there,” Murane said, helping Israeli civil liberties organizations to fight back at what the government was attempting to do.
Then, with the events set in motion by the October 7 massacre, Murane observed: “We knew what would happen. They (the Likud-led coalition) would use what happened as an excuse to advance the rest of their agenda.”
But, what happened after October 7 was the almost complete disappearance of many of the structures that held together Israeli civil society, Murane suggested.
Families were forced to evacuate from their homes near the Gaza Strip – with no support given by the government. Instead, groups that had sprung up in 2022 in response to the government’s attempted judicial overhaul stepped in to provide basic supports to those families, with food and housing. The NIF provided funding for many of those groups.
Something else soon became apparent after October 7, Murane said. “It was immediately obvious that the government didn’t care about the hostages…They weren’t their people.” (Many of the hostages came from kibbutzim that were strongly socialist in their orientation and not at all supportive of the right wing government coalition.)
In fact, Murane observed, within Israel’s current political atmosphere, the only opposition to the government is coming from “the organized support for the hostages.”
Something else Murane pointed out about the aftermath to October 7 is that “it wasn’t just Jews hurt on October 7.” There were members of other groups taken hostage, including Thai and Filipino workers, also Arab Bedouins.
The NIF has helped to provide support for evacuees ever since October 7, including to joint Jewish-Arab distribution centres that “have provided aid on a daily basis,” Murane noted.
“It is not Jew against Arab,” he said. “It is those who believe in life as opposed to those who believe in death…We will take care of each other. We will be the first to help civil society deliver aid.”
Murane suggested that there are several key components to what the NIF is attempting to do in Israel, including “pushback, partnership and peace.”
By “pushback,” he meant, pushing back at the narrative that the Netanyahu-led coalition has developed, which is that the hostages will not return until Hamas totally accedes to the demands put forward by the Israeli government.
“Freeing the hostages is a political matter,” he suggested. “The hostage families have been saying to Jews in the Diaspora: ‘If you want to support the hostages, then Bibi has to step down.’ “
As for “partnership,” Murane explained that “there are still many Jewish and Palestinian people who will stand together and find common cause.” He referred to groups such as “Omidm B’yachad” (standing together), whose members have been “protecting trucks bringing aid to Gaza” from Israelis who had been trying to stop those trucks from entering Gaza.
“We want to keep that flame of partnership alive,” Murane said.
He noted that on Yom Hazikaron (Remembrance Day in Israel) over “6,000 Jews and Arabs came together in one place to show compassion for one another.”
When it comes to “peace,” Murane pointed to the example of World Central Kitchen (an organization receiving funding from the NIF), which has been providing food to Palestinians in Gaza. Helping that group is “an act of morality showing people around the world Zionists giving support to their neighbours.”
Insofar as the road to peace is concerned, Murane suggested that “there are ways out of this mess.” He noted that the idea for the Abraham Accords, in which Israel signed peace agreements with Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, and Sudan, in 2020, was actually first advanced by an Israeli peace group known as “MITVIM.”
Murane posited that a “reinvigorated Palestinian Authority” is one component that would lead to advancing the peace process, but “of course the Israeli government doesn’t want to hear about that.”
The NIF has been active in supporting many different Israeli peace groups, Murane noted, including “Breaking the Silence,” which is made up of IDF veterans who want to draw attention to what Israel’s occupation of the West Bank is truly like.
“The way out of this mess is not going to come from the government,” Murane suggested. “It’s going to come from civil society.”
Yet, time is short, he said. There will be another election in Israel within the next year or two. “We have two to three years to see who will win the civil war in Israel: the annexationist camp or the pro-democracy camp,” he said.
To that end, the NIF has greatly increased funding for many Israeli human right groups, Murane noted. (In 2023, the NIF provided $19 million in funding to over 234 different organizations in Israel, of which $1 million came from The New Israel Fund of Canada.)
Local News
Government of Canada announces $10 million in increased support for Jewish communities to protect themselves against hate-motivated crimes
In a press release issued on Thursday, March 12, the Government of Canada announced that it is responding to the frightening upsurge in violent attacks against Jewish synagogues and institutions by allocating an additional $10 to provide heightened security measures for Jewish communities across the country.
Here is the text of the government announcement:
By announcing a dedicated investment of up to $10M to be provided to eligible organizations through the Canada Community Security Program (CCSP), that will assist Jewish communities in enhancing the security of their gathering spaces, including schools, day cares, overnight camps, and places of worship.
Any hate-motivated violence, such as what we saw in Toronto over the last week, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated anywhere. The Government of Canada is working directly with Jewish community organizations to identify and support the specific needs in those communities.
Under the CCSP, organizations receive funds for security equipment and hardware such as protective barriers, minor renovations to enhance security like reinforcements for windows and doors, security and emergency assessments and plans, training to respond to hate-motivated events, and time-limited third-party licensed security personnel.
This $10 million investment announced today will support the work of security operations centres to coordinate monitoring and security at Jewish institutions, as well as projects supported through these organizations.
The CCSP provides flexibility to organizations seeking financial support, and applications are accepted year-round. Organizations interested in the program can find more information on the CCSP website and are encouraged to subscribe to the National Crime Prevention Strategy mailing list.
The announcement also noted the following points:
The CCSP provides time-limited funding and support for communities at risk of hate-motivated incidents/crimes to enhance security measures at their gathering spaces.
The CCSP was announced in 2024, and replaces and enhances upon the former Security Infrastructure Program (SIP).
To date, the Government of Canada has invested over $41 million in almost 1000 projects to help Canadian communities at risk of hate-motivated crimes enhance the security of their community centres, places of worship, and other institutions.
Since the launch of the CCSP, the Government of Canada has approved $7.3 million for 143 projects to help protect Jewish communities.
The CCSP is one of four programs under the National Crime Prevention Strategy, which supports local, targeted crime prevention initiatives and the development and sharing of knowledge to prevent and reduce crime among at-risk populations and vulnerable communities. The other programs include the Crime Prevention Action Fund, the Youth Gang Prevention Fund, and the Northern and Indigenous Crime Prevention Fund.
Local News
What impact have the shootings in Toronto and the war with Iran had on Winnipeggers?
By BERNIE BELLAN (Posted March 11) I suppose that many of you have been wondering where I’ve been the past couple of months. After all, I’ve barely been writing any articles – although I have been working behind the scenes, editing articles contributed to the Jewish Post by other writers.
But, I had been rather content to lay back and enjoy the sun in Mexico – where I’ve been the past six weeks, without bothering to write anything.
Then, on Monday, March 9, I received an email from someone in Toronto asking me whether I’d be interested in interviewing three members of Toronto’s Jewish community with an eye toward writing something about how recent attacks on Toronto synagogues had impacted that community.
I replied that I was somewhat interested in doing that, but I wanted to situate any story I might write in a larger context, i.e., how has Winnipeg’s Jewish community itself been impacted by what happened in Toronto – when three different synagogues had been shot at in the space of five days, beginning in late February with a shooting at a Reform synagogue and culminating with two attacks on two other synagogues on March 8. (As of the time of writing there have been no arrests reported in any of the incidents.)
The person in Toronto who sent me the email asking whether I’d be writing about what happened in Toronto did follow up with quotes from two of the individuals whom she had asked whether I’d be interested in interviewing. (I had asked her to do the legwork on conducting any interviews since I wasn’t sure how pertinent what the interviewees might have to say would be to this story).
Here is what one of the interviewees, Sylvan Adams, President of the World Jewish Congress Israel Chapter, had to say, in reaction to the shootings at the three synagogues: “The nearly daily shooting this week at the synagogues in Toronto is part of a pattern of violence against the Canadian Jewish community. This is entirely alarming and must be stopped, rather than the weak statements we’ve been hearing for far too long from our Prime Ministers, beginning with Trudeau, who never failed to equate Islamophobia after every antisemitic incident. More recently, we’ve heard empty words from Prime Minister Carney, who is simply going through the motions. This would not happen if attacks were against ANY other community. Moreover, these acts of violence should concern far more than the Jewish community alone. When Jewish houses of worship and other institutions come under attack, it is a warning sign for every democratic society. History has shown that what starts with the Jews never finishes with the Jews. These violent antisocial acts are an attack on our way of life. It is part of the war between western civilization and medieval barbarism.”
Whoo boy! Why don’t you come out and say what you really think about the Liberal government, Sylvan?
Now, as if that weren’t harsh enough – in terms of attacking the federal government for not doing enough to protect Canadian Jews, I received an email from an organization called Tafsik, about which this paper had reported when they held an event in Winnipeg last winter. The email was headlined: “The Police REFUSE To Protect The Jewish Community, So Who Should?”
It goes on to say that “For months, we have been told to rely on police and politicians. Yet the results speak for themselves. Police statements multiply; political promises abound. But Jewish institutions and synagogues remain exposed, Jewish businesses are attacked, Jewish schools shot at and Jewish families are left wondering who is actually responsible for their protection.”
What are the solutions Tafsik recommends: “There are roughly 100 synagogues in Toronto and Thornhill area. A practical and financially feasible security model could involve deploying approximately 35 off-duty police officers rotating between institutions on unpredictable schedules. Such a system would ensure a constant professional presence while preventing potential attackers from predicting which locations are protected at any given time.
“The cost would be approximately:
~$100 per hour per off-duty officer
~$2,400 per officer per day
~35 officers rotating year-round
Total annual cost: approximately $30.6 million.”
But, if that seems a little too expensive, Tafsik also recommends a second possibility: “Demand your advocacy organization, CIJA, to lobby the government to permit licensed Jewish security organizations, such as Magen Herut and Shomrim, to obtain firearm carrying permits for trained personnel. Allowing properly vetted and licensed guards to operate in this capacity could significantly reduce costs compared to relying on police officers for security, while still improving protection for Jewish institutions and businesses.”
Great – now we’ll have armed Jewish security guards protecting Jewish institutions. The problem is how does an armed security guard or even a policeman stop someone with a high-powered rife, who can fire from hundreds of metres away, from shooting at a synagogue? All the synagogues fired at had security cameras. Still no arrests though. Doesn’t that tell you that whoever wants to take a shot at a synagogue is taking careful steps to make sure they’re not caught on camera?
The person in Toronto who asked me whether I’d be interested in writing about the Toronto situation sent me one more quote though, this time from a Holocaust survivor by the name of Sol Nayman:
“My wife Queenie and I went to Shul on Shabbat morning. And we can’t go through the main door – we were told to take the side door. We didn’t know what was happening – we saw some boarding up, so we thought maybe there was an accident. And then during davening one of the members of our security team told us what had happened Friday night.
“It’s horrible. Just horrible, horrible, horrible. What we’ve been through, and we don’t know when it will end.
“It’s been all over the news. I’ve had call and emails from friends in Israel, and Scotland.
“And you know, it’s not the first time. I try to remind our people that Zachor appears in the Torah by over 200 times. So we remember. We remember Pharaoh. We remember Amalek. We remember Haman. We remember Hitler… and the Khomeinis and the others.
“But at the end of the day, we will be the ones who survive. And this year, I’ll be on the March of the Living, which will be, combined with other trips to Poland, my 11th journey. And, having turned a young 90, I will hope to keep on going as long as long as I can!”
I like that spirit of defiance, but when it comes to the allusions to past cases where individuals wanted to wipe out the Jews – well, I can understand the emotional reaction but hey, let’s keep it in perspective: A gunshot through a synagogue door or window doesn’t mean someone wants to wipe out the Jews.
Okay – tensions are high in Toronto. That much is clear from everything you’ve read thus far. But, what about Winnipeg? I’ve been wondering.
Are members of the Jewish community in Winnipeg as much on edge as Jews in Toronto apparently are?
On Monday, the federal government announced that it was providing an additional $10 million to enhance security for Jewish institutions across Canada: “The federal government is earmarking $10 million to help Jewish communities bolster security at their gathering places after two Toronto-area synagogues were struck with gunfire.
“The money dispensed through the federal Canada Community Security Program is meant to help protect Jewish places of worship, schools, child care centres, overnight camps and other institutions.
“The program offers organizations at risk of hate-motivated crimes money for security equipment and hardware, such as protective barriers and window and door reinforcements.”
The Saturday, March 7 Free Press also reported that “Winnipeg police said they are increasing patrols around synagogues and Jewish community spaces in an effort to provide ‘reassurance’ to the local community.
“ ‘We haven’t received any similar types of associated threats, WPS Const. Dani McKinnon said Saturday. We’ve taken these types of precautions many times before, because we do have a large community we want to support. And this type of message resonates across Canada.’
But, haven’t we heard quite a few times before that the WPS is heightening patrols around Jewish institutions – especially since October 7, 2023? Does that mean they decrease patrols at some point – perhaps when things seem to be a little calmer?
The article went on to quote vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in Manitoba and Saskatchewan Gustavo Zentner, who said Saturday “Canada’s leaders ‘must be absolutely clear that it is outrageous for Canadian communities to face violence because of events happening abroad.’
“ ‘No more ‘thoughts and prayers’ — we need to see urgent action,” Zentner told the Free Press. ‘All levels of government must move immediately to address the escalating security demands of communities targeted by this wave of violence. Resources should flow quickly and distributed directly to communities most at risk.’
What more “resources” woulld want to see Gustavo did not say. But the Jewish Federation did hire a new community security director, William Sagel, earlier this year. In an article written about Sagel, Myron Love quoted Sagel as saying he wanted to emulate the model of security adopted by the Toronto and Montreal Jewish communities. suggesting that the Jewish community in Winnipeg “can learn from the national network and security networks already established in Montreal and Toronto to provide security and peace of mind for community members.” (I’m not so sure how that observation jives with what just happened in Toronto though.)
In the same Free Press article of March 7, Federation CEO Jeff Lieberman added his own two cents, observing that “Attacks like those in Toronto are deeply troubling.
“ ‘Incidents like these are meant to intimidate the Jewish community and make people feel unsafe in their places of worship. Canadians should be alarmed that synagogues in this country are once again being targeted with gunfire.
“ ‘We are in regular contact with our security partners and with the Winnipeg Police Service. While we do not comment on specific security measures, the safety of our community remains our highest priority, and we are continually refining our policies, procedures, and infrastructure. We appreciate WPS increasing patrols and their ongoing efforts to help protect synagogues and Jewish community institutions across our city.’ “
But, there was another question that loomed in my mind: How are average Winnipeg Jews reacting in terms of their day to day behaviour?
To answer that question I sent inquiries to representatives of a number of different organizations, including the Jewish Federation, CIJA, Shaarey Zedek and Etz Chaim congregations, and the Chabad-Lubavitch.
I asked each of them what they’ve been hearing from members of the Jewish community? Are people more frightened now – especially with what happened in Toronto – along with what’s going on in the Middle East? Has synagogue attendance been affected in any perceivable manner? I wondered. Perhaps it’s even gone up – as synagogue goers want to show solidarity with other members of the community?
We did receive a response from a spokesperson for the Jewish Federation in answer to my question: What is the mood among Jewish Winnipeggers at the moment:
” From what we’re seeing across the community, people are certainly aware of what’s happening elsewhere and there is concern – understandably so. But we are not seeing people withdraw from Jewish life or avoid community spaces.
“In fact, attendance at programs and services has remained strong. As you noted with the Purim celebration at Chabad, people continue to show up. In some cases, people are attending out of a sense of determination to not to let those who seek to intimidate us, or deter Jewish life, dictate whether or how we gather.
“At the same time, there is a heightened sense of vigilance. Many organizations are improving their procedures and security measures, and our Community Security Director, William Sagel, is working with them to refine policies, strengthen infrastructure, and coordinate with security and law enforcement (where appropriate).
“So the mood we’re seeing is both awareness and resolve. People appreciate that security is being taken seriously and understand the precautions, but they are not allowing incidents elsewhere to deter them from showing up and participating in Jewish life here in Winnipeg.
Rabbi Avrohom Altein of Chabad also responded to my questions, writing in an email: “Generally, we have had growing numbers of people for events. Purim – we had 230 people at our Purim Seudah and many at each Megillah Reading. We do have security at large events and the police stopped by today to say that they will do regular checking.
“But the world is open today, so news of what happens elsewhere does affect people all over.
“We try to encourage Jews to support each other and strengthen their connection to Mitzvos because that is our true identity. When we try to hide who we are, we lose respect from others. And when we are proud and strong as Jews and support each other, we are safer and earn Hashem’s protection and brochos.”
I responded to Rabbi Altein that I had attended a number of Chabad events in Puerto Vallarta. One of them was called “Shabbat 400” – where 400 Jews gathered together one Friday evening. That event was organized by local Chabad Rabbi Shneur Hecht – along with his dynamic wife, Mushkie.
During the event Rabbi Hecht told attendees that it had been very difficult to find a venue willing to host an event of that size – because of security concerns. There was security at the event – and it went off without a hitch, but it was an indication that the threat of violence against Jews is of worldwide concern. (Ironically, only a week later, violence did break out in Puerto Vallarta, but that had nothing to do with Jews – it was the Jalisco cartel reacting to the killing of their leader, El Mencho.)
The local Chabad does have a couple of police stationed outside when events are occurring there, but what struck me was that the name “Chabad” is displayed prominently outside the building, which is located on a main thoroughfare in Puerto Vallarta. I would have thought the sign would be somewhat more discreet. It does present a juicy target for anyone who wants to send a message by attacking Jews.
We also spoke with Rabbi Carnie Rose, spiritual leader of Shaarey Zedek Congregation. We asked him what the mood was among Shaarey Zedek members – in light of the recent triple shootings in Toronto and what is, at the time of writing, the war raging in the Middle East.
During the interview Rabbi Rose highlighted the Jewish community’s dual experience of concern over resurgent antisemitism and war, balanced by strong interfaith support and enhanced security measures. The community’s determination not to be intimidated by threats of violence reflects resilience, he suggested, while proactive engagement through, for example, school outreach and tangible safety steps, such as increased police collaboration fosters hope for “a better tomorrow,” he said.
Rabbi Rose suggested that congregation members are “concerned and worried,” but not surprised. They view large centres like Toronto as distant, but acknowledged the gravity of antisemitism, noting that it has become less muted recently. Rabbi Rose expressed sadness but not shock, stating, “There are folks out there who don’t like us, and they’re gonna take their… shots.”
Despite antisemitism, Rabbi Rose indicated that he was “profoundly heartened” by support that the congregation has received from varied – and disparate elements of the community. He cited as examples: “Older ladies” visiting the synagogue to show support; members of the Islamic community offering to “make a circle around the synagogue to protect people”; and schools requesting talks on Judaism to address questions like “why do people not like the Jewish people?”
Insofar as how congregants have been reacting to the war with Iran, Rabbi Rose observed that there are people both in and outside the Jewish community who are unhappy with the war, but the community stood in solidarity with monarchists at a recent rally (with Jewish flags). Rabbi Rose himself said that he believes Israel should not withdraw prematurely from the fighting, as “gains would dissipate quickly.”
We asked Rabbi Rose whether there have been enhanced security measures taken at the synagogue recently. He noted an increased police presence, saying that visible security has intensified, including police patrol cars greeting attendees after a large funeral (unprecedented in Rabbi Rose’s eight to nine months in the role, he observed).
He added that there has been a large police presence at events with 250+ people, citing as examples a public school teacher training session on antisemitism that included a synagogue tour and mini-Judaism course, also recent Purim gatherings.
Rabbi Rose described collaboration with Winnipeg Police Service as “excellent, and he expressed a “deep debt of gratitude.”
Local News
2026 Winnipeg Limmud to offer a smorgasbord of diverse speakers
By MYRON LOVE There are many facets to the study of Judaism and the Jewish people. The focus may be religious or cultural, historical or Israel-oriented – and Winnipeg’s annual Limmud Festival for Jewish Learning has always striven to cover as many angles as possible.
This year’s Limmud program (now in its 16th year) – scheduled for Sunday, March 15 – is following in that path with a diverse group of presenters.
Limmud’s current co-ordinator, Raya Margulets, reports that all of our community’s rabbis – including Rabbi Yossi Benarroch (who lives most of the year in Israel) – will be among the presenters. Topics to be covered by local experts encompass midrash, Jewish identity, antisemitism, conversion, biblical archaeology, textiles, parenting, art, and more.
But it wouldn’t be Limmud without interesting input from out of town personalities.
Perhaps the most prominent of the guest speakers who are confirmed is Yaron Deckel, an Israeli journalist and broadcaster who is currently the Jewish Agency’s Regional Director for Canada. According to a biography provided by Margulets, Deckel is a highly respected Israeli journalist widely known for his insight into Israeli politics, media, and society. Between 2002 and 2007, Yaron served as Washington Bureau Chief for Israeli Public Television. In that role, he covered U.S.–Israel relations and American politics, also interviewed three U.S. presidents: George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Jimmy Carter. As well, Deckel produced two acclaimed documentaries: “The Israelis” (about the lives of Israelis in North America), and “Jewish Identity in North America.”
From 2012 to 2017, he served as Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Galei Tzahal (IDF Radio), Israel’s leading national public radio station. He also hosted a prime-time weekly political show.
As a senior political correspondent and commentator for Israeli TV and radio, Yaron has covered the past 14 Israeli election campaigns and maintained close relationships with top political and military leaders in Israel. He conducted the last interview with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin—just 10 minutes before his assassination.
Decker is slated to do two presentations. In the morning, he will be speaking about the crossroads that Israel finds in the Middle East currently and what the challenges and possibilities may be.
In the afternoon, his subject will be “Israel after October 7 and the Iran War “ and what may lie ahead.
Also coming in from Toronto are Atarah Derrick, Achiya Klein, and Yahav Barnea.
Barnea is an Israeli-Canadian educator and community builder based in Toronto, with over a decade of experience working in Jewish and Israeli education, engagement, and community development.
Originally from Kibbutz Shomrat in Israel’s Western Galilee, Barnea’s outlook on life has been shaped by kibbutz values and her involvement in the Hashomer Hatza’ir youth movement.
She currently serves as the North America Regional Program Manager for the World Zionist Organization’s Department of Irgoon and Israelis Abroad, where she leads initiatives that strengthen connection, leadership, and communal life among Israelis living outside of Israel..
Barnea holds a Master of Education in Adult Education and Community Development, with a focus on intentional communities, as well as a Bachelor of Education specializing in Democratic Education, meaningful, values-based communities.
Her presentation will be titeld “A Kibbutz in the City – Intentional Communities and Immigration.”
Atarah Derrick is the executive director of the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind, an organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of life of visually impaired Israelis. The charity, the only internationally accredited guide dog program in Israel, was founded in 1991, and today serves Israel’s 24,000 blind and visually impaired citizens.
Achiya Klein is one of the guide dog centre’s beneficiaries. The Israeli veteran was an officer in the IDF combat engineering corps’ elite ‘Yahalom’ unit. In 2013, while on a sensitive mission to disable a tunnel in Gaza, an improvised explosive device was detonated, severely injuring Achiya and robbing him of his vision.
He has been a guide dog client since 2015.
Klein has not allowed his disability to limit his abilities. He competed for the Israeli national team at the Paralympic rowing championship in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.
He also earned a Masters Degree in the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy in Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security,at IDC Herzliya.
Klein is married and a father to two boys.
Coming back for a second successive year is Dan Ronis from Saskatoon. A plant breeder and geneticist, Ronis has taken a quite different approach to studying Torah. He has sought out the help of a medium to discern the back stories of Biblical figures.
For readers who may be unsure of who or what a medium is, think 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.
Last year Ronis focused on women who played a prominent role in the Torah. This year, he will be discussing the “untold story” of Adam and Eve.
Readers who may be interested in attending Limmud 2026 can go online at limmudwinnipeg.org to register.