REGINA – The province of Saskatchewan will be celebrating Jewish Heritage Month this year.
In a proclamation issued on April 5, Laura Ross, Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport, requested Saskatchewanians recognize the history and contributions of Jewish Saskatchewanians during the month of May.
B’nai Brith previously encouraged the province to proclaim Jewish Heritage Month. Jewish people have lived in Saskatchewan predating the province joining confederation in 1905. Early Jewish immigrants established farming communities, including the Edenbridge Hebrew Colony, that made notable contributions to the province’s robust agricultural industry.
“Our Government is proud to proclaim May as Jewish Heritage Month in Saskatchewan, and recognize the contributions Jewish communities have made to our province,” said Laura Ross, Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport. “In December 2022, the Government of Saskatchewan adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, and we will continue our work in ensuring Saskatchewan is a safe place for all.”
“Today, there are more than 3000 Jews in Saskatchewan,” said Marvin Rotrand, National Director of B’nai Brith’s League for Human Rights. “Active congregations exist in Regina and Saskatoon. However, one does not have to look far in rural Saskatchewan to discover Jewish history. For example, the Beth Israel Synagogue is a historic Carpenter Gothic style Orthodox synagogue located in Edenbridge in the rural municipality of Willow Creek, near Melfort. Jewish life is vibrant in Saskatchewan and we thank the province for recognizing the community’s contributions and history.”
Saskatchewan is the third province to formally recognize May as Jewish Heritage Month, after Ontario and British Columbia. The Federal Government previously enacted a national Jewish Heritage Month in 2018. B’nai Brith has since encouraged dozens of partners, representing municipalities and school boards, to adopt their own proclamations.
“We thank Saskatchewan for proclaiming May as Jewish Heritage Month” said Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada. “The province has taken a lead in combating antisemitism, most notably by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism last December. We look forward to collaborating with the province on future projects to promote and uphold vibrant Jewish life.”
SOURCE: B’nai Brith Canada
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