Rabbi Carnie Rose, who returned home to Winnipeg on July 1, 2025, to take up his role as the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, after a thirty-year absence, is excited to see that the synagogue is experiencing a “renaissance” in engagement.
“Our engagement numbers continue to swell at the synagogue. I can tell by the Kiddush numbers at regular Shabbat services. We started with about 75 people per week for Kiddush, but are now up to more than 140 each week.”
Rose notes playfully that he celebrated his own Bar Mitzvah at CSZ more than 40 years ago and still feels a deep sense of connection to the Congregation. “People at Shaarey Zedek have been so very welcoming to my wife Paulie and me,” he says. “They have opened their hearts and their homes in ways that are so appreciated.”
Rabbi Rose adds, “It appears that people who left the Shul are now coming back. And there are new, young families joining, some through our daycare initiative and some through other avenues like Rabbi Mass’ Choosing Judaism courses. Still others are looking to celebrate life-cycle events. We recently had 30 families register to attend a Bar/Bat Mitzvah information night. This could be an area of significant growth for Congregation Shaarey Zedek. Our conscious focus on affirming the potency of the spiritual dimensions of life for all ages and stages seems to be attracting tremendous interest”.
Rose notes that one of the nicest things about moving back to Winnipeg is the chance to live and work, for the first time ever as an adult, in the same city as his younger brother, Rabbi Kliel Rose, the Rabbi of Congregation Etz Chayim. Additionally, Carnie adds that his mother Carol and father Rabbi Neal have also moved back to Winnipeg from St. Louis, Missouri, which makes the experience of living here even sweeter.
“When we lived in St Louis, my dad, Rabbi Neal, was on staff at Congregation B’nai Amoona where I held the Senior Rabbinic Chair. Dad was our Senior Scholar in Residence, which gave him an opportunity to use his prodigious skills in the areas of education and pastoral counselling. We spent almost every Shabbat and Holiday together and it was a great blessing for us and especially for our children.”
The Rabbi gene seems to run deep in the Rose family. All of Carol and Rabbi Neal’s four sons (Avi, Carnie, Kliel and Or) have become Rabbis and their daughter Adira, is married to a Rabbi. One of Carnie and Paulie’s son’s, Zakai, age 25, is currently in his second year of Rabbinical School in New York, and Rabbi Kliel has a child who is interested in Rabbinical School as well. Clearly there will be a next generation of Rose Rabbis! “This is very special for my parents. To see an Aynikle, a grandchild, enter Rabbinical School is the fulfilment of many of their hopes and dreams.”
Rabbi Carnie also speaks proudly and lovingly of his other three children, “Our eldest Noa, age 27, is a physician; our third child Lev, age 23 —who is currently living and studying in the Old City of Yerushalayim – has degrees in computer science engineering with an interest in cyber security and is currently in the process of making Aliyah. Our youngest, Ellior, age 21, is a 4th year University student, and is currently taking a semester abroad in Australia”. They really are great young people; they have an outstanding mother!”
Carnie indicates that he has enjoyed meeting up with many old friends since his return to Winnipeg. “I even met for coffee with a student of mine from the Ramah School where I taught Judaics to a grade six class when I was studying at University of Winnipeg. Winnipeg was fertile ground for us as it offered us many opportunities, at young ages, to engage in the life of the Jewish Community. It was a terrific training ground; a real blessing!”
Carnie recalls the vibrancy of Jewish life while growing up in the North End on Matheson Avenue. “We lived near the Laksers, the Benarrochs, the Charachs, the Millers, the Rappaports, the Sheils, and Bricks, and so many more. Even if we went to different Shuls, we would get together on Shabbat and holidays. It was a very special upbringing”.
When asked about his plans for Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Rabbi Carnie says he wants to expand the intellectual and spiritual offerings. “My dream is to have our Shul become a center for Jewish pursuits: intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and artistic. We are tapping extant local talent: My dad is teaching a course on the formation of modern Judaism, my mom is teaching a course on harnessing the power of imagination, Rabbi Mass is teaching Basic Judaism, and a study of the weekly Parshah, Cantor Leslie Emery is teaching a Hebrew reading crash course, and of course training our B-Mitzvah children and adults, and I will be teaching a text based course entitled Into the Mystic which will examine Rabbinic Literature—the Talmud and the Kabbalah. In addition, we will be gathering regularly on Shabbat right after services for study, singing, and discussions of various topics. It’s all very exciting!”
Rose foresees Shaarey Zedek developing a more robust and comprehensive youth program, for both pre-teens and teens. “We want CSZ to be a center in which youth can learn about their heritage, the Jewish world, and of course, Hebrew, Israel, and Zionism.”
Rose points out that the new Tova Vickar Family and Childcare Centre that recently opened at the synagogue is nearly full. With respect to the scarcity of well-trained Jewish early childhood educators, Rose noted that when he was a CEO of the Mandel JCC in Cleveland, he applied for and received a one million dollar grant from the Mandel Foundation to raise the starting salaries of early childhood educators and thus, enabled these precious teachers to earn a living wage while pursuing continuing and advanced education. “This ensured that our treasured educators – folks who are facile, thoughtful, sensitive, and Judaically aware – could earn a living wage.”
When asked about his thoughts on whether Shaarey Zedek ought to rejoin the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, as Congregation Etz Chayim has done, Rose replied that he can see both sides of the issue. “Belonging surely has benefits, but I can see that not belonging may also have some benefits. I’m listening to both sides of this debate. Being affiliated surely has upsides, but being independent can potentially allow for greater creativity, innovation, and some much needed out-of-the-box thinking”.
When asked if he will be teaching at Gray Academy or Brock-Corydon, Rabbi Carnie says he would like the Shaarey Zedek to be doing something once a week in each location, but this needs to be further explored. “Our team is committed to being a force for good in all aspects of Jewish communal life.”
Rabbi Rose says that since arriving in Winnipeg he has been surprised by the number of people seeking personal, family, and spiritual counselling. “I look forward to working closely with my CSZ colleagues, and the array of other Jewish professionals and organizations, for the enhancement and betterment of the Winnipeg Kehillah, community. It is abundantly clear that there is tremendous yearning and need. Most importantly, Rebbetzin Paulie and I look forward to warmly welcoming people to our Shabbat and holiday table. That’s where the magic really happens! After all, who could possibly resist the sights, smells and sounds of Judaism being lived deeply, seriously, joyously, and deliciously?! We are elated to be here – it already feels like home!”
