Requests for training in antisemitism have increased since the JHC with the support of the Asper Foundation launched MB Institute to Combat Antisemitism
By Rhonda Spivak
In light of the recent explosion of antisemitism in Manitoba and Canada in the aftermath of Oct 7 attacks, the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada with the generous support of the Asper Foundation has recently launched the Manitoba Institute to Combat Antisemitism.
The institute, led by the Executive Director of the JHC Belle Jarniewski, endorses the IHRA definition of antisemitism, and offers presentations and training on this subject. As Jarniewski indicates, she has made presentations on the subject of antisemitism for “a variety of medical groups (students, doctors and other medical practitioners and faculty), law firms, police, Crown prosecutors -presenting at their annual conference- and civil servants.” Jarniewski adds that she has also been contacted by a number of high schools for training in the field of antisemitism.She has not been contacted by the municipal government so far.
Anita Wortzman, President of the Asper Foundation indicates that the Asper Foundation is very proud to support the establishment of this institute. "The Asper Foundation observed the amazing work that Belle Jarniewski was doing to educate professionals regarding antisemitism and realized that we needed to bring this to a broader audience. We worked with Belle to ensure she would have the capacity and resources to bring awareness to this initiative and to ensure that she could provide this training to a greater number of organizations who would embrace this opportunity."
Jarniewski notes some churches have reached out to her to teach about antisemitism. When asked whether any mosques have contacted her in this regard, Jarniewski answered that they had not.
Since the establishment of the new institute Jarniewski says she has been receiving more requests to conduct training in antisemitism. She indicates, “I have reached out to four individuals who are interested in being trained to do these presentations/trainings on antisemitism.
That will likely begin in the new year – as my schedule is quite full at the moment and I am also preparing for the IHRA plenary in Jerusalem which takes place in mid-December 2025.”
Jarniewski stresses that each training session is tailored to the needs of the group. “So for instance, presentations to medical practitioners or students would include historical antisemitism related to medicine as well as contemporary challenges- such as the Kuper Report. Sessions for professional groups are designed to help teams recognize antisemitic behavior, understand its historical and contemporary forms, and foster ally ship across diverse communities. By integrating Jewish narratives and emphasizing intercultural competency, these sessions empower professionals to address antisemitism with clarity and empathy, while reinforcing broader equity and anti-oppression goals.”
As Jarniewski points out, “In the case of educational institutions, training for teachers and students is a vital component of fostering inclusive and respectful learning environments. These programs aim to educate participants about the historical roots and modern manifestations of antisemitism, equipping them with the tools to recognize and respond to hate effectively. Workshops such as “Antisemitism: Then and Now” help educators identify various forms of antisemitism including the history of antisemitism in Canada. These trainings can proactively counter prejudice and promote a culture of empathy and understanding.
Regarding non-profit groups, Jarniewski says that antisemitism training for non-profit groups plays a crucial role in strengthening equity and inclusion efforts across the sector. ‘‘Trainings are designed to help organizations understand the unique nature of antisemitism, recognize its manifestations in professional and community settings, and ensure Jewish narratives are not excluded from broader anti-oppression work. These sessions often include historical context, contemporary case studies, and strategies for ally ship, tailored to the mission and culture of each organization. By integrating these insights into their diversity and inclusion frameworks, non-profits can create safer, more empathetic spaces for Jewish staff, volunteers, and stakeholders, while reinforcing their commitment to justice and human rights.”
When asked whether she will be training other individuals in the area of antisemitism , Jarniewski says she will .
Since 2013, Jarniewski she has served on Canada’s federally appointed delegation to the IHRA – the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), as a member of the Education Working Group and the Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial. She has contributed to several international IHRA publications as well as to the Canadian handbook on the IHRA definition.
Jarniewski is a gold medalist in the Faculty of Education (B.Ed. French and Judaic Studies). She has a Masters in Theology from the University of Winnipeg and her thesis focused on Holocaust survivor narratives reflected through the lens of Irving Greenberg’s Post-Holocaust Theology. She is the author of Voices of Winnipeg Holocaust Survivors, which examines the history of 73 local Holocaust survivors, outlining their stories before, during, and after the Shoah. Through her work at the JHC, she brings education on the Holocaust and Antisemitism to thousands of students each year. Belle also served two terms as president of the Manitoba Multifaith Council and has co-founded both Christian-Jewish and Muslim-Jewish dialogue groups. In May 2025, Jarniewski received a King Charles III medal and was also recognized in the Manitoba Legislature for her work bringing education on the Holocaust and antisemitism to Manitoba students.
To learn more about the institute go to
Editor’s note: I did ask Jarniewski whether the Jewish-Muslim dialogue group she co-founded is still meeting given the war in Gaza. She responded, “As for the Muslim-Jewish Dialogue group – I left the group in early October of 2023 although it had only sporadic virtual meetings during COVID. When we created the group, the focus was to be only about discussion and dialogue about the two faith traditions – as there was already another group (The Arab-Jewish Dialogue) that discussed the geopolitical issues of the region. Unfortunately, shortly after I stepped down as co-chair, the group went in another direction and in early October, I asked to be removed from the list. There seems to be no significant social media activity from the group, but I have no idea if they are still meeting.”
