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Winkler, Man.
Mennonites and Jews celebrate together


A historic event took place in Winkler, Man. May 26. A cairn, commemorating the pioneer Jewish settlers of the

Arthur Nitikman

town was unveiled in a newly designated park in the downtown section of the community. Mennonites had begun to settle the Winkler area in 1876. Jews, fleeing the pogroms of Russia between the 1890s and 1914 were invited by the Canadian Board of Colonization to settle in the Winkler area to provide some of the business skills which were lacking among the Mennonite settlers. Fifteen families were identified as being of this group, and their descendants, together with the Winkler Heritage Society and the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada, planned the event. Representatives of these families came from Winnipeg and many parts of North America to attend the unveiling; others, not able to participate, sent greetings. This original group of settlers has produced people prominent in many fields of endeavour: doctors, lawyers, university professors and a president, and business people. The event was also well attended by Winkler residents. As a follow-up, a day of “Geschichten” (stories) will be held in May 2003 in order to continue studies of Jewish and Mennonite interaction.

 – sbb

(l-r): Arla Nitikman Strauss, Harold Buchwald, Max Gladstone

Harold Buchwald gives dedication speech

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Last modified July 19, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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