Two scions of a prominent Winnipeg rabbinic family are now helming the city’s biggest shuls

For more than half a century, the Rose family—headed by Rabbi Neal Rose and his wife, Carol—have been prominent leaders in Winnipeg’s Jewish community. He has taught Judaic studies at university, they’ve led religious services and offered family programming, and mental health counselling. The Roses’ famous alternative High Holiday services launched in the basement of the Etz Chayim synagogue attracted hundreds of congregants over the years. But after their four sons grew up and became rabbis far away from Winnipeg—and their daughter, who is married to a rabbi, also left—eventually the elder Roses left Canada, too. For a decade, they’ve been living in St. Louis, MO, where their oldest son, Rabbi Carnie Rose, held his last pulpit position. But last week, the senior Roses pulled up stakes south of the border and moved back to Winnipeg, where they will now have to do some shuffling to decide where to attend High Holiday services: at Shaarey Zedek, where Rabbi Carnie Rose was hired three months ago? Or will they go to Etz Chayim, where their middle son, Rabbi Kliel Rose, has been the spiritual leader since he came home in 2018? On today’s episode of The CJN’s North Star podcast, we’re joined from Winnipeg by Rabbi Carnie Rose; his brother, Rabbi Kliel Rose; and by their father, Rabbi Neal Rose, to hear how family ties are playing out across the city this High Holiday season.

Related links

• Learn more about Rabbi Kliel Rose returning to Winnipeg in 2018 in The CJN and about his brother Rabbi Carnie Rose returning July 1 this summer.
• Rabbi Neal and Carol Rose’s departure from Winnipeg in 2017 after 45 years left a void, in The CJN.
• Why Winnipeg’s largest remaining North End synagogue, Etz Chayim moved to the city's south in 2023, in The CJN.

Credits

• Host and writer: Ellin Bessner (@ebessner)
• Production team: Zachary Kauffman (senior producer), Andrea Varsany (producer), Michael Fraiman (executive producer)
• Music: Bret Higgins

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