Interfaith outreach program brings Winnipeggers together

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This article was published 01/02/2025 (616 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Both yarmulkes and turbans were in full view at a recent gathering at Winnipeg’s Asper Jewish Community Campus. That Friday, Jan. 17 evening event was the fourth incarnation of the Asper Community Shabbat Outreach Program, an interfaith, intercultural initiative that periodically arranges for selected representatives from a specific local Jewish community organization or agency to host selected representatives from a local non-Jewish organization.

The outreach program, which is facilitated by the Asper Foundation and the Rady JCC, gathers together these Winnipeggers from disparate backgrounds in order for them to jointly experience the serenity and spirituality of the Jewish Sabbath, share a kosher meal, enjoy cultural entertainment, and learn about each other’s traditions and beliefs. The intent of the program is to foster and enhance cross-cultural and interfaith understanding, promote inclusivity, and cement relationships among the city’s Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

Since launching last spring, the unique program has seen the Jewish Heritage Centre, Jewish Child and Family Service and the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg host guests from the Bear Clan Patrol, the General Child and Family Services Authority and the Filipino community, respectively. In January 2025, Etz Chayim Congregation became the fourth Jewish organization to join the program when it welcomed guests from the Sikh community to the campus for what was likely the first ever exclusive Sikh-Jewish event to be held in Winnipeg.

“The Asper Foundation believes there is value in fostering cross-cultural understanding and community outreach, weekly reflection and joy,” explains Anita Wortzman, president of the Asper Foundation. “It believes if you sit down with others and break bread together and share your customs, there will be positive outcomes and mutual understanding. The impact of face-to-face dialogue and interaction, connecting individuals on a deeply human level can be game-changing.”

Face to face interfaith interaction and intercommunity events can also serve to make participants realize how much they share in common and how their beliefs and traditions sometimes converge, even when they wear different head coverings or recite different blessings.

Bir Ender Behl, secretary at Gurdwara Winnipeg South Sikh Centre, elaborated on that idea after participating in the January Shabbat program.

“I had the opportunity to speak and share Sikh beliefs and traditions, which were warmly appreciated,” he says. “We learned that both Jews and Sikhs share the belief in one God, known by different names.”

“We feel honoured to participate in the Asper Community Shabbat Program,” he continues. “We deeply value diversity and believe in the importance of strengthening connections across different communities. Engaging in such programs reflects our commitment to building bridges of mutual respect and harmony.”

Perla Javate had a similar response after participating in the Shabbat program last fall as a representative of the Filipino community. That evening program featured prayerful participation from both a rabbi and a pastor, lively musical performances from members of the Filipino community, and a moving rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah harmonized by representatives of both communities.

“By being open to embracing each other, we learn, we grow, develop and enrich ourselves, and hopefully, the shadow of racism will vanish,” says Javate, who serves as president of the Philippine Heritage Council of MB Inc. and co-chair of the Ethnocultural Council of MB Inc.

“If what we wish is a peaceful, vibrant and inclusive society,” she adds, “more interfaith and intercultural events should be taking place in our midst.”

To that end, the Filipino community is currently making arrangements to host another gathering with the Jewish community later this year. Similarly, the Sikh community has extended an invitation to Jewish community members to visit the Gurdwara, their Winnipeg South Sikh Centre. And, another Asper Community Shabbat Outreach Program, which will bring together representatives of Winnipeg Jewish Theatre with representatives of the local Scottish community, is also planned for late February.

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