Rabbis in Winnipeg have criticized a decision by the Jewish community center in the Canadian city to open earlier on Shabbat.

The recent decision by the Rose and Max Rady JCC to open at 8 a.m. on Saturdays instead of at noon means “the final vestige of observance of this most significant mitzvah … has now been erased from the institutional memory of our community,” said the Winnipeg Council of Rabbis in a statement.

The statement acknowledged that many of the JCC’s members are not Jewish and the “vast majority” are not Sabbath observant, and conceded that the move will have “little if any impact” on synagogue attendance.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The council “wishes simply to draw the community’s attention to this subtle, but significant shift. These kinds of decisions not only affect the current generation of Winnipeg Jews, but also, our generations yet unborn,” said the statement by Rabbis Alan Green, Larry Lander, Ari Ellis and Neal Rose.

“How much further down this road is it prudent for us, as a community, to travel? And what kind of message are we currently sending to our young people about the incorporation of Jewish values into their lives?” the rabbis asked.

In a statement on the center’s website, JCC President Eric Sawyer wrote, “I know that many members have indicated that they would like to work out on Saturday mornings and I am pleased that we are able to respond to this request.

“I would like to emphasize that this is a decision that the Rady JCC Board gave very careful consideration to. There will be some members of our community that may find this decision difficult and we respect this perspective.”

Sawyer added that “as is the current practice, there will be no exchange of money on Saturdays. Payment for any programs or services will need to be made prior to Shabbat.”

The Winnipeg center is now in line with the practices of JCCs in Toronto and Montreal. Vancouver’s JCC opens at 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount