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This article was published 03/10/2025 (393 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Against a backdrop of rising antisemitism in Canada, the Asper Foundation and the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada have created the Manitoba Institute to Combat Antisemitism.

The institute, which was launched Oct. 3, has been made possible by financial support from the foundation. It is led by Belle Jarniewski, executive director of the Jewish Heritage Centre, who has been involved in antisemitism training and education for six years.

“We have seen a dramatic rise in antisemitism in Canada and around the world over the past few years, and especially since Oct. 7, 2023,” Jarniewski said, referring to the Hamas attacks on Israel. “It’s more pervasive and aggressive than ever before.”

The Jewish community was the most targeted group for hate crimes in the country last year, Statistics Canada data show. Almost 19 per cent, or 920 of the nearly 4,900 reported hate crimes, were committed against members of that group.

Statistics Canada also reported in 2023 that nearly 70 per cent of religiously motivated hate crimes were against Jewish people, who make up only 0.9 per cent of the population.

The goal of the institute is to offer training about ways to identify and combat antisemitism for businesses, government and faith, university, health care, non-profit and other organizations, Jarniewski said.

The free training will be customized for each group, she added, noting they will offer tailored information about the history of antisemitism in various sectors like health, law, and religion and provide ways to fight it.

“It’s all an effort to reach as many people and groups as possible at a time when antisemitism is fueling threats and violence against members of Manitoba’s Jewish community,” Jarniewski said, adding the goal is to foster “a peaceful, inclusive, and respectful society.”

The dangers posed by social media will also be highlighted.

“There are so many examples of antisemitism online. It shows how much hate is out there.”

Anita Wortzman, president of the Asper Foundation said the initiative will help give Manitobans the tools to fight antisemitism.

For more information, visit mbica.org.

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