North Star with Ellin Bessner 'We need people to come forward': Winnipeg police update synagogue antisemitic graffiti case
The red swastikas and hateful tags that were spray painted on the front doors of Winnipeg’s Shaarey Zedek synagogue early on Jan. 2, 2026 have been mostly cleaned off the building’s front doors, less than a week later.
But Winnipeg police say the suspected hate crime is affecting not only the Jewish community, but the city as a whole. And it’s prompted them to call on residents to take a stand against hate, report suspicious activity, and refrain from acting as vigilantes.
Meanwhile, the Shaarey Zedek congregation has welcomed the outpouring of support in the last few days, which it received from Manitoba’s premier, Winnipeg’s mayor, the Lieutenant Governor, federal members of Parliament, and religious leaders of other faiths. But despite the solidarity, some Jewish leaders say what’s really needed is for existing hate laws to be enforced, and for Canada to quickly appoint a new special envoy on antisemitism—a post that’s been vacant since July 2025.
On today’s episode of The CJN’s North Star podcast, you’ll hear first from Inspector Jennifer McKinnon of Winnipeg’s Major Crimes Unit, then Rabbi Carnie Rose of Shaarey Zedek congregation and Belle Jarniewski, a Holocaust educator and director of Manitoba’s new Institute to Combat Antisemitism, which recently launched.
Related links
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Why Winnipeg police retrieved a suspicious item from the Shaarey Zedek property on Sunday Jan 4, 2026, in The CJN .
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Rabbi Carnie Rose returned to Winnipeg in the summer of 2025 to lead the city’s Shaarey Zedek congregation where he grew up, and be close to his brother Rabbi Kliel Rose who leads Congregation Etz Chayim in the same city. Then their parents moved back too. On The CJN’s North Star podcast.
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Under Belle Jarniewski’s guidance, Winnipeg’s Holocaust education centre got a redesign in 2023 aimed at accommodating more visits. Hear the story in The CJN.
Credits
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Host and writer: Ellin Bessner ( @ebessner )
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Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer
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Music:
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