The Jewish Physicians of Manitoba (JPAM), which was established following the Oct 7 attacks and the antisemitism unleashed in the medical community, is this year’s honouree at the Negev Dinner put on by the Friends of JNF Canada on May 6, 2026 at the RBC Convention Centre.
Charles Bernstein, who is the current chair of JPAM was one of 6 Jewish faculty at U of M who was targeted online as one of the top 6 Zionists by a former leader of Students for Justice in Palestine. Bernstein was named #3.”Bernstein says “While I am proud to be a Zionist, the nature of this post made it clear the term was being used as a performative, and I believe the intent of this post was to make me be the subject of harassment or worse.” According to Bernstein the UM administration has sought the advice of outside legal counsel to determine if the human rights of the 6 Jewish faculty on this list have been violated . Bernstein notes that assuming the legal opinion finds that he and the other 5 faculty have had their rights violated, the “question is what is the UM administration going to do about it.”
As an aside, Bernstein jested that his relatives in Israel were upset that he only made it to #3 on the list, and not # 1.”
David Greaves, Executive Director of Friends of /JNF Canada, said “We felt it was important to honour JPAM, since Jewish doctors have been facing challenges within the medical community ever since , 2023. JPAM exists in order to fight back against antisemitism. I have heard that some Jewish physicians may be getting fewer referrals or invitations to speak than would otherwise have been the case. There is a noticeable difference in the climate for some.” The funds from the Negev Dinner will go towards the Medical Clinic at the Ashdod Rehabilitation and therapy Centre. The featured guest is a top comedian from Israel Yohay Sponder.
Bernstein, who notes that there are some 160 members of JPAM, also indicated that the group has been dealing with trying to put out antisemitic fires within the medical community and the university community on an ongoing basis. For example notwithstanding that there were numerous complaints filed against a member of the medical school’s graduating in the aftermath of his “divisive” and “hateful” valedictory address at Medical School graduation, the College of Physicians and Surgeons chose to not investigate him. JPAM implored the College to conduct an investigation with human rights lawyer David Matas setting out legal rational on why the College was obligated to investigate the complaints but this fell on deaf ears. According to Bernstein ‘if this had been speech related to any other ethnic group, the complaints would not have been summarily dismissed without an investigation. ‘The College simply did not want to address the issue.”
“JPAM is simply asking that the Jewish community be treated equitably by the College and by the University,” In B’nai Brith Canada sued the college over a dismissed complaint alleging a Manitoba doctor made antisemitic posts.
Bernstein noted that out of the 140 students currently in medical school nine are Jewish, and a Jewish Medical students Association has been formed. “When I was in medical school 1n 1985 , some 25 out of 100 students were Jewish, which was common in those days, “Bernstein says.
On a positive note Natan Skladnik a first year medical student who is Jewish was elected as the President of his class.
Bernstein says he has heard that some Jewish applicants to medical school are trying to downplay their volunteerism in the Jewish community, to increase their chances of being accepted. Although Bernstein says he has not personally experienced antisemitism in his practice, he is aware that some Jewish doctors feel they are getting fewer referrals from other doctors because they are Jewish.” antisemitism in his practice, he has experienced antisemitism within the medical and university communities
Bernstein is very connected to Israel and plans on going to Israel in June where he has organized a symposium on Inflammatory Bowel Disease to take place before a meeting of the Israel Society of Gastrointerology.”The symposium is being underwritten by Celltrion, a Korean biosimilar company,” and there are seven other Canadian Jewish gastroenterologists who are coming to the symposium
The JPAM executive has ten members, including Dr. David Hochman who is its incoming President. Others on the executive are Cheryl Rochman- Greenberg, Grant Goldberg, Lorrie Kirshenbaum, Daniel Kroft, Brent Schachter, Isanne Schachter, Vivian Schutt and Marnie Wiseman. Alon Altman, Michael Boroditsky, Laura Chisick, and Zach Raisman were on the original JPAM executive.
Shayne Taback from the Rady Faculty of Medicine is the mentor for the Jewish medical students and residents. “I am chair of the Rady Faculty Working Group on Jewish Wellbeing, and meet and send reports to the academic and clinical healthcare leadership in Manitoba. I also am starting to lecture other healthcare trainees on providing safe healthcare to Jewish Canadians,” he told the Winnipeg Jewish Review. His role as a mentor began prior to the incident at the 2024 medical school graduation. He says that the climate overall has been better this year, with less tensions due to the war in Gaza “I doubt that in Toronto or Montreal the med school class would elect a class President who was Jewish and wears a Magen David,” Taback says.
Dr. Maury Pinsk was in charge of designing the antisemitism curriculum for medical students, aided by Laurelle Harris who is also the one who designed the law school anti-racism and antisemitism curriculum. Harris, who is the Director of ITL, Equity and Transformation at UM delivered the training this year.
Jessica Cogan is the chair of this year's Negev Dinner.
