Local News
These days a single complaint can lead to silencing pro-Israel voices
By BERNIE BELLAN As the war in Gaza drags on Jews are finding themselves coming under regular threats in a myriad of locations around the world.
Every day seems to bring a new report – either of pro-Palestinian protesters disrupting an event or of actual clashes between pro-Palestinians and pro-Israelis.
Just this past week we heard about pro-Palestinian protesters in Toronto forcing the cancellation of a dinner on March 2 at the Art Gallery of Ontario where Prime Minister Trudeau was supposed to have hosted an event for visiting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
According to the Globe & Mail, “The event was called off abruptly after several hundred pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the venue, blocking doorways and making it difficult for guests to enter.”
Then, on the evening of March 4 – this time in Montreal, pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the main entrance to the Jewish Federation building in that city – trapping employees inside, and forcing them to escape through a back entrance.
As a result of that event, according to an article written by Judy Maltz in Haaretz, “A number of key Jewish organizations and institutions in Montreal have obtained a court injunction that prevents anti-Israel groups from holding protests outside their premises.”
Those are just two of the most recent events that followed upon other similar events where pro-Palestinian protesters have engaged in threatening behaviour.
There has been a constant flow of reports of Jewish students being harassed, often physically threatened – both on university campuses and high schools throughout the world, even in younger grades, as early as Grade Two in some cases.
Although I have written previously that Winnipeg Jews shouldn’t think that the level of danger for Jews is as high in our own community as it certainly appears to be in cities such as Toronto or Montreal, anyone following reports of Jews being harassed – and occasionally physically attacked in cities around the world, can be forgiven for wondering about the possibility of that also occurring in Winnipeg.
It’s for that reason that I chose to focus an article on the event at the University of Manitoba on February 26 that led to the banning of a pro-Israel organization known as Students Supporting Israel.
Regardless what the guest speaker at that event may have had to say about Islam, the notion that the University of Manitoba Students Union was quick to suspend that Jewish organization says volumes about where we’re at these days in terms of Jews being put on the defensive.
In my article about the event and the subsequent suspension of Students Supporting Israel by UMSU I referred to something called a “trigger warning” – without going into any detail what a trigger warning actually is. Here’s how the Oxford Dictionary defines trigger warning: “A statement at the start of a piece of writing, video, etc., alerting the reader or viewer to the fact that it contains potentially distressing material (often used to introduce a description of such content).”
While it may be totally acceptable for a Muslim student to claim that they have been upset by something said at an event – such as the event held at the U of M, the corollary certainly doesn’t hold for Jewish students.
Thus, when a group of eight University of Winnipeg teachers held that notorious hatefest on Israeli “imperialism, colonialism, and genocide” on November 24, and many individuals – both from within and without the Jewish community here, complained that holding such an event would be extremely distressing for members of the Jewish community, especially students at the U of W, did anyone from the U of W administration take steps to have that event cancelled?
Of course not. When it comes to moving to protect the rights of university students to feel safe on campuses, it’s a one-way street: A Muslim student at the U of M complained that she felt unsafe as a result of comments made on February 26 by a speaker at the university who himself was a Muslim – and UMSU took immediate steps in reaction to that complaint in what I would hold, any reasonable person would argue was a totally unjustified overreaction.
As the CBC report of what happened notes, Bassim Eid, the speaker at the event, made some critical comments about Islam, including that “When it comes to ideology, the Muslims are blind,” and the ideology of Muslims is ‘a major problem,’ saying they aren’t ready for change.”
But, “Belkis Elmoudi, a Muslim student at the university who attended the event, says she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
” ‘I knew I had to get out of there, because I did not feel safe,’ she told CBC News on Thursday” (February 29).
” ‘I mean not only were those comments made, [but] no one stood up and said anything, so it just made me feel very isolated, alone and scared.’ “
Omigod – someone says something negative about Muslims at an event sponsored by a pro-Israel organization and, whether or not those comments were justifiable, the pro-Israel organization is suspended from being allowed to be active on campus.
We know that the pendulum has swung so far in one direction that anyone saying they were offended by a comment made by someone who was pro-Israeli can expect to have their complaint acted upon almost immediately.
Yet, I am not advocating that Jewish students should also be able to suppress in advance any comments that they would regard as threatening their safety. Tolerance of ideas that we may find uncomfortable has long been an intrinsic element of what those of us who consider ourselves liberal would defend.
But, as the atmosphere surrounding discussion of Israel’s war in Gaza has become poisonous for anyone wanting to defend Israel, intimidation tactics of the type used by Belkis Elmondi – along with the strong and immediate support she received from the president of UMSU, is only likely to be repeated any time that someone tries to mount a defence of Israel on a university campus anywhere there are Muslim students.
One of the great ironies of this entire conundrum is that a great many Jews in the diaspora are themselves deeply critical of Israeli government policies, including what’s happening in Gaza, but because of the virulence – often accompanied by threats of physical violence and actual acts of physical violence, we keep the level of criticism of Israel relatively muted.
Instead we talk among ourselves at how badly Israel is doing in the court of public opinion – and then react with dismay when anti-Israel demonstrators engage in the worst sort of intimidation tactics.
As diaspora Jews, we’re sort of shell shocked by what we’re seeing – and when one student’s complaint gets an entire organization suspended, we simply shake our heads and wonder what’s next when it comes to intimidating pro-Israel supporters?
Local News
Fringe Festival star Melanie Gall to appear at Gwen Secter Centre July 16
By BERNIE BELLAN A veteran performer at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Melanie Gall, will be making a special guest appearance at the Gwen Secter Centre on Thursday, July 16.
Melanie will be the featured speaker (and entertainer) for the Remis Speakers’ Series that day. The Remis Speakers’ Series is held every Thursday starting at noon and ending at 1:30. This year’s series began May 7 and will continue through the end of October. This year it has been attracting increasingly large audiences – ranging from 40-60 people, as it offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy a delicious – and kosher lunch, while listening to a very diverse variety of speakers – all the way from Gail Asper talking about returning the Ten Commandments to Assiniboine Park to Rabbi Matthew Leibl performing Christmas songs that were written by Jewish songwriters. At the same time it provides those attending a chance to make new acquaintances – or perhaps bump into old friends they haven’t seen in a long time.
Melanie Gall’s own story is sure to be riveting. I’ve written about Melanie in the past, but the past two summers had been especially nerve wracking for Melanie, as she was subjected to a torrent of antisemitic abuse over her support for the State of Israel.
You can read my story about what Melanie went through during the Winnipeg Fringe Festival – both in 2024 and again last year, at Melanie Gall subjected to antisemitic abuse.
Melanie, who will be entering her 13th year of performing at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, will be peforming in only one show this year – a departure from her past practice of performing in multiple shows (as many as three different shows) during the Fringe Festival.
Elsewhere on this website we’ll be offering a preview of Melanie’s show (which is called “The Ballad of Isobel Gunn” and which is based on an incredible, but true story), along with previews of several other shows.
In the meantime, if you’re not already a member of the Remis Speakers’ Series group, but would ike to attend this coming Thursday, simply email us at jewishp@mymts.net and we’ll reserve a spot for you. The cost for the lunch is only $20.
The Gwen Secter Centre is located at 1588 Main Street (corner of Smithfield). There is parking available on a lot behind the centre or on the street.
Local News
Folk Festival Report
(Posted July 10) During this year’s Winnipeg Folk Festival we’re going to be running an ongoing blog report – with photos and blurbs from the festival, sent to us by Heather Silbert and Samara Ebanks.
Here’s Heather’s first entry (sent Friday at 3:33 pm): “It’s a hot hot day at the 51st Winnipeg Folk Festival! Lots of people; lots of good vibes; and an abundance of awesome music!!”
“We just moved to spruce hollow. Nice and shady. listening to Jacob Brodovsky.”
4:21 pm: “Jacob just announced that he lost his job and received a lot of vitriol from the Jewish Community because he’s a Jewish person who believes that Palestinian and Jewish lives are intertwined, and he is against the genocide. He is very deeply feeling, and expresses all these big feelings through his songs. I want to give him a hug, but it’s so hot outside!”
(Keep checking for updates)
Local News
New GrowWinnipeg “Grow Together” highlights diverse origins of our growing Jewish community
By MYRON LOVE On Monday, June 11, about 120 younger Jewish Winnipeggers from diverse backgrounds came together at the Asper Campus for an evening of food and music, games and prizes and, most important, the opportunity to socialize with their peers from a growing community that reflects the long term success of our community’s 26-year-old GrowWinnipeg initiative.
“We are gathered here to celebrate your and your parents’ decisions to come to Winnipeg, build families and raise families here,” noted Dalia Szpiro, GrowWinnipeg’s director, in addressing the young adults in attendance.
To summarize, the GrowWinnipeg Initiative arose when our past community’s leadership recognized that our Jewish population was an aging and shrinking community with aging infrastructure.
The first stage was the planning and construction of the Asper Campus, which brought our major institutions and organizations under one roof in an attractive new building.
The next challenge was to attract more people to our community. GrowWinnipeg was created to take on the challenge. The initiative, which was officially launched in 2000, is unique in its efforts to reach out to young Jewish families throughout the Western world.
The first outreach efforts were directed at Argentina’s sizeable Jewish community at a time when the South American country’s economy was going through a very difficult period. Several of our community leaders visited the Jewish community in Buenos Aires and a website was established. Arrangements were made for local families to host Jewish Argentinians here on exploratory visits and the community helped the prospective immigrants navigate the then new Provincial Nominee Program, find jobs and establish themselves here.
Since then, many young families – from Argentina, as well as a great number of other countries – have chosen to make Winnipeg their new home. The young people at the recent GrowWinnipeg evening were reflective of the diversity of our growing community. During the course of the evening, I had the opportunity to speak with not only Israeli-born participants, also young people from Russia and Ukraine, Turkey and Uruguay – and a young lady who grew up in Ottawa.
Naomi Kirshenblatt Palansky originally came here from Ottawa to go to university. She met and married local entrepreneur Noah Palansky in 2023. (We wrote about Noah in the December 19, 2025 issue). That same year, the former competitive swimmer who competed in the Maccabiah Games in 2009 and 2013 served as manager of the Canadian Junior swimming team participating in the games. She is currently the director of operations and strategy for a company called CoinFlip.
Although born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Yael Borovich grew up in Winnipeg. She is the daughter of Dalia Szpiro and Eduardo Borovich (and younger sister of Vanessa) all of whom moved here in 2002. She is a graduate of the Asper School of Business and works as a senior client relationship manager for Scotia Bank’s commercial branch.
Siblings Igal and Edem Avimelek arrived here from Turkey six years ago with their parents, Etel and Moris. Edem is in her second year at the University of Manitoba while Igal is studying engineering at UBC.
They report that their father, Moris, has established the Upperwear Textile Agency – marketing textile products online – while their mother Etel, is senior IT Director, software development and data analytics and enterprise architecture at Standard Aero.
“Our parents were looking to move to a new country and came across the GrowWinnipeg webpage,” Edem says. “GrowWinnipeg has been really supportive of us in helping us move here and become established.”
More recent arrivals Alex Tsmokaliuk and Jane Hin are from Ukraine and Russia respectively and have been together since 2022. “We were looking for a peaceful place to start a family,”: Alex says. “We heard about GrowWinnpeg and here we are.”
Alex is a fitness trainer while Jane is working for WRE Development as a property manager.
Dora Bronstein, who is originally from Beersheva, is also a recent arrival to our community. “I came to Winnipeg because I wanted to get away from war – and I heard about GrowWinnipeg,” she says.
She is currently working for L.C. Taylor Licensed Insolvency Trustee as an estate manager.
Erele Tzidon and Daniel Mejnov
Last October, GrowWinnipeg introduced its new Youth Ambassadors program.
“Since October, we have been working to create an organized system and opportunities to help young newcomers find their people within our community,” wrote Youth Ambassador Erele Tzidon on Facebook.
“Our mission is to help young immigrants find a sense of home in Winnipeg and support a smooth and welcoming transition.
We are excited to help bring our young Jewish community together.
As reported in the Jewish Post about 18 months ago, Tzidon is originally from Moshav Ginaton in central Israel. She came to Winnipeg in 2018 with her parents Ofer – formerly regional manager for a car rental agency in Israel and now an RBC branch manager – and Sharon – an emotional therapist in Israel who is currently working as an educational assistant at Gray Academy – and three younger brothers.
The 20-year Gray Academy graduate has recently completed her third year in Science at the University of Manitoba. For the past three years, she has also been a member of Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin’s research team at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (ICS), researching the link between pregnancy complications and the risk for heart disease.
In November, 2024, Tzidon was presented with the Dr. James S. McGoey Student Award – based on the quality of her cardiovascular research at the ICS, which operates out of the St. Boniface Hospital campus’s Albrechchtsen Research Centre.
Tzidon’s fellow Youth Ambassador is Daniel Mejnov. He was born in Beersheva but moved to Winnipeg with his parents, Dennis and Victoria (and younger brother Alon) 14 years ago. He is currently enrolled in an IT program at the University of Winnipeg.
Mejnov welcomed all those in attendance at the celebration and thanked the volunteers who helped him and Tzidon organize the event.
“It has been great being able to bring so many people together,” he said. “This is a good way to unite our community.
Two other individuals of particular note that I spoke with at the event were Orit Agabayev and Alina Plis, partners in three year old A and O Event Décor, who provided the balloon arches and walls, table settings and centre pieces for the evening.
Agabayev is originally from Netanya and Plis is from Yeruham (in southern Israel). The latter has been here for 18 years and operates a daycare. The former came 16 years. Her principal career is working in the field of animal nutrition.
In an Instagram PosI from four years ago, Plis noted that “I have always been passionate about planning parties and events. I started out with planning big surprise birthday parties for my kids. Eventually I began planning and decorating events for family and friends. Now I am taking the next step with my friend, Orit, who shares the same level enthusiasm as me. What drives me to go above and beyond is simply the excitement my creations bring to those who see my work.
On Facebook, Agabayev added that “Alina and I are so excited to start A&O event decor. We both love decorating and planning different events. We hope that you can put your trust in us to create or decorate an event for you. We do Birthday parties, anniversaries, bachelor/bachelorette parties, proposals, weddings and more..
“Message us with your ideas to get a free quote and you’re one step closer to having an unforgettable event.”
