WINNIPEG — On Sunday, I took my seat at Merchants Corner in Winnipeg, wearing my “I’m That Zionist Guy!” shirt, prepared to engage in honest debate about Israel and the Jewish people’s future. The event, hosted by the United Jewish People’s Order (UJPO), brought together panelists from several explicitly anti-Zionist and left-leaning Jewish or allied organizations: UJPO, Independent Jewish Voices, Manitoba Friends of Standing Together, JewishPost&News, and Women Wage Peace (Winnipeg).
From the outset, it became clear that mine was the only openly Zionist voice in the room, joined by a single Indigenous ally. The forum was dominated by perspectives that dismissed Zionism as a colonial project and repeatedly condemned Israel. “Genocide” and “holocaust” were among the most commonly used terms, directed not at the memory of Jewish suffering, but at the Jewish state and its citizens.
There was no debate or genuine discussion regarding the flood of accusations. The panel’s speakers, and most of the audience, used the forum as an opportunity to harshly criticize legacy organizations such as the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg and CIJA, blaming these and other traditional institutions for the rise of antisemitism in Canada.
A highlight for organizers was the uncritical promotion of an upcoming Nakba exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, arranged by a Jewish audience member who had moved from Los Angeles. Panelists and speakers advocated for this narrative as essential, even as the conversation made little space for the context of Hamas’s massacre of Israelis on October 7, 2023, that triggered the Gaza war.
Calls for a “one state solution” to replace Israel, condemnation of Israelis as “genocidal,” and the erasure of Jewish self-determination were presented as matter-of-fact positions, with no panelist dissent. The discourse systematically delegitimized Zionism, historical Jewish ties to the land of Israel, and the Jewish people’s longing for national liberation.
At no point was there a balanced discussion about the meaning of Zionism, the complexities of the Gaza conflict, or the legitimacy of mainstream Jewish organizations and identity. As a result, pro-Israel perspectives were not just absent because of overwhelming opposition; rather, no attendees voiced views in defense of Israel or Zionism. There were no attempts to introduce pro-Israel opinions, and no effort was made to foster dialogue on the subject.
During his closing remarks, the publisher of the Jewish Post & News directed personal criticism toward Jeff Lieberman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. He claimed that Lieberman “is not an intellectual heavyweight,” and dismissed the Federation’s public support for Israel as little more than a “kneejerk reaction” rather than the outcome of a thoughtful community policy.
The publisher further stated that he remains “on the fence” regarding the debates about Israel, Zionism, and allegations of genocide in Gaza, and described his own views as ambivalent while repeatedly casting doubt on the motives and credibility of established Jewish organizations.
I left the event disappointed by the hostility toward Zionism and deeply concerned about the degree to which anti-Zionist ideology can dominate and exclude in the name of open discussion. As a Winnipeg Jew, an Israeli, and a proud Zionist, I remain committed to advocating for Israel’s legitimacy and the dignity of all Jews, even when my voice is in the minority.
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This account is based on firsthand observation, event materials, and public organizational statements, reflecting the realities of the Winnipeg Jewish and allied community as experienced on November 2, 2025.
You forgot to mention that legacy Jewish community groups were invited and declined to participate.
There’s nothing stopping CIJA or Bnai Brith from inviting IJV to a debate. They prefer to try to exclude them from the Jewish community instead.
The publisher of the Jewish Post is not a he, but she, the Executive Director of Gwen Sector Seniors Centre. . Bernie Bellan gave the JPost to Gwen Sector over a year ago. If he claimed he was still publisher, he misinformed you. He only writes a column, and is NOT the publisher, so please correct this error. He reads Ha’aretz faithfully so that tells you exactly his views which by far are not mainstream.
Hi Bonnie,
I sent you a private email.