Winnipeg’s Jewish community reacts after organizations receive bomb threats across Canada

The leadership among Winnipeg’s Jewish community were among the many institutions targeted by a bomb threats across Canada.

An email was sent to around 125 Jewish organizations across the country on Wednesday, many of which being synagogues.

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“They got what they wanted. They wanted to disrupt, they wanted to create fear,” said Dr. Rena Secter Elbaze, the executive director of Shaarey Zedek Synagogue.

“The last 24 hours have been disappointing, stressful.”

Winnipeg’s Shaarey Zedek synagogue was among the four synagogues in the city that received this email.

“We have been living in this climate of increasing anti-semitism, anti-Zionism since Oct.7, and it has been really ugly.”

In addition to the bomb threat, Belle Jarniewski says she received a hate-filled letter from an individual, she says, writes to her regularly.

“Sadly, this is a regular occurrence for me, but I think one of the main issues in the last couple of decades is (the rise of) social media,” said Jarniewski.

Winnipeg police say the RCMP provided a national precautionary statement regarding the threatening emails sent. Officers attended these locations and deemed no public risk, and that the threats were consistent with widespread national threats. But that if anyone has concerns to contact the hate crimes coordinator.  

“We do what we need to do to make sure the synagogues are safe and not only by hiring private security people to be at the buildings, but the Winnipeg police are also there to help us, whether it being at the synagogues or patrolling around to make sure that everyone is safe,” said Jeff Lieberman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg.