In Dec 2024 the Winnipeg Jewish Review asked questions to the UM administration after the graduate students union sponsored a one sided program at the CMHR made up only of anti-Israel speakers. Specifically, the Winnipeg Jewish Review asked whether the Masters in Human Rights program was being taught in an academically balanced and responsible way, but did not receive a direct answer to that question
The Winnipeg Jewish Review has now had an opportunity to thoroughly review posts by Prof Kjell Anderson who was has been the founding director of the UM Masters of Human Rights program housed in the Law School at UM since the program’s inception. A review of Kjell Anderson’s feed on X shows that he is obsessively focused on condemning Israel, institutions in Israel, Jewish organizations that fight antisemitism, mainstream Jewish organizations such as CIJA and elected officials in Canada who support Israeli, rarely, if ever saying anything negative about Hamas or Palestinian leadership. The Winnipeg Jewish Review has the following questions:
1.In a post on July 82024 Kjell Anderson vilifies Jewish Liberal MP, Anthony Housefather, Prime Minister Trudeau’s appointment as Special Advisor on Jewish community issues. Anderson refers to Housefather as “ a strident Israeli nationalist” who “ has zero credibility as an arbiter of antisemitism, who is manifestly unfit for any human rights related post.” Housefather is a Canadian member of Parliament who is not an Israeli.
a)Does the UM administration acknowledge that accusing Housefather of being “an Israeli” is itself anti-Semitic as it is accusing him of dual loyalty, which is a long standing anti-Semitic trope? Does the UM administration understand how offensive that is, especially coming from someone in the field of human rights?
b)Kjell Anderson has academic freedom to say what he will, but is the UM administration prepared to speak out against Kjell Anderson’s anti-Semitic tweet about Housefather, just as the Dean of Medical School spoke out against Gem Newman’s diatribe at convocation? Or will the UM administration be silent in the face of Anderson’s tweet about Housefather being an Israeli nationalist as proposed to being a Canadian ?
c)Is the UM of the view that Anderson could benefit from undergoing training in antisemitism or not?
d) Is the UM administration concerned that any student who expressed pro-Israel views in Anderson’s class could be accused unfairly of dual loyalty , and being an “Israeli nationalist” as opposed to being a Canadian? Does the UM administration acknowledge how Jewish students who support the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in their ancestral homeland, might well be reluctant to enter the Masters of Human Rights Program after reviewing Kjell Anderson’s post ?
e) Is the UM proud of Kjell Anderson and does the UM believe that his post about Housefather adds to the credibility and reputation of the UM’s Masters of Human Rights program?
2: On Oct 22 2024 on X Kjell Anderson wrote “It's feeling more and more like there is no anti anti-Semitism organization or institution that is not heavily invested in supporting Israel's expansionist ethnonationalist project.”
a)Kjell Andersons “feelings” are evident, but how does this predictable venting contribute to a fair-minded appreciation of the challenges facing Jews in Canada and the abuse and danger to which their advocates are subjected
b)Does the UM administration acknowledge that given the steep rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Manitoba and Canada, the fact that Anderson has vilified virtually all organizations combatting antisemitism is problematic to say the least?
C) What Jewish organizations combatting antisemitism in Canada have expressed formal opposition to a Middle East peace agreement with the Palestinians? Does the UM acknowledge that organizations combatting antisemitism in Canada consist of people who have very diverse views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and these organizations ought not to be unfairly demonized? Or will the UM administration be silent about this?
d) Does the UM acknowledge that any Jewish student concerned about steep rise in anti-Semitic incidents in this country may be reluctant to enter the UM Masters of Human Rights program, after reading Anderson’s posts on X?
3.Anderson has made posts essentially calling CIJA [Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs]as being racist and hateful. On Nov 6 ,2024 Anderson posted that “The fact that CIJA “is categorically against protecting Palestinians from racism and hate is very telling. This is not a human rights organization, or even an organization combatting antisemitism, it is anti-Palestinian first and foremost.” Elsewhere on X Anderson posted that “CIJA is a fundamentally racist, and hateful organization dedicated to spreading misinformation to justify and cover up atrocities committed by a powerful state.” In fact, CIJA agrees that Palestinian Canadians should be fully protected, like everyone else, by Canada’s human rights systems. Its objections were specifically towards a particular initiative on anti-Palestinian racism that is aimed at denying the legitimacy of Israel. CIJA is the advocacy arm of the Jewish Federations across Canada, an organization for the mainstream Jewish population of Canada majority of Canadian Jews. Anderson vilifies its very nature. CIJA has never suggested that it would oppose a two state agreement between Palestinians and Israelis.
a)Does the UM admin think it adds to the credibility of the UM Masters in Human Rights program that Kjell Anderson is vilifying CIJA a mainstream Jewish organization in Canada as essentially racist and hateful ? Does UM acknowledge that by vilifying CIJA, Anderson is perpetuating a dangerous stereotype of Canadian Jews as being racist and/or hateful?
( Note that Steve Kroft is the Wpg representative on the Board of CIJA. Kroft was awarded the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement. In the 2024 Spring Convocation at the UM, CEO Jeff Lieberman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Wpg was awarded the Peter D. Curry Chancellor's Award as a result of his positive contributions to community life, as demonstrated by his impressive business accomplishments, his many volunteer endeavours, and his unreserved service to his alma mater, the UM. CIJA is the advocacy arm of the Jewish Federation, an organization which Jeff Lieberman leads in Wpg.)
4.)While Kjell Anderson he has produced a book about the perpetrators of genocide, I have not yet found a single post on X in which he acknowledges and discusses the genocidal nature of Hamas: that is ideology is viciously and violently antisemitic, that it is committed to destroyed Israel and to repeating attacks like Oct 7 until it succeeds. Does this add to the credibility of the UM Masters of Human Rights program?
5. In light of all the above, does the UM admin have any concerns that the UM Masters of Human Rights program is being taught in a fair-minded and responsible manner, one in which any student defining themselves as a Zionist (i.e. in favour of the right of the Jewish people to self-determination )would be likely to enter?
6. Finally a post April 11,2204 Kjell Anderson says describes himself as Associate Professor of Law. But he does not have a professional degree in law (an LL.B), does he?
(Note also that On Dec 18, 2024, Kgell Anderson denounced a tweet by Melissa Lantsman, a Jewish MP of Thornhill, saying “I don’t even have words for this level of depravity. And she is the deputy leader of the Conservative pay.” Landsman was criticizing Melanie Joly for leaving up a post on Joly’s social media that Israel was to blame Israel for Gaza hospital explosion when in fact Hamas or the Islamic Jihad terror group were actually behind the strike, either intentionally or via a failed rocket launch.)
UM Media Relations responded on January 25,2025: The University does not have any more to add to our previous statement made in December.
The UM administration response in Dec 2024 was as follows :
"The University of Manitoba Master of Human Rights Students’ Association is an independent student organization. It does not speak on behalf of the university, and the university does not speak on its behalf. The student group has the authority to make decisions about its meetings, events, and matters pertaining to its operations and governance, without university interference or input. The university has extensive supports and processes in place to help ensure a safe work and learning environment, for all. This includes initiatives and training around antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism for students, faculty and staff. This is an ongoing effort and commitment we've made.
"Any person involved in conduct that contravenes university policies or the law, including speech advocating or glorifying intimidation, hate, or violence against specific individuals or groups, will be subject to consequences in accordance with university policy and the law.
"In a free and democratic society and as an institution of higher learning, UM encourages critical thinking, respectful debate and discourse on difficult and divisive topics."
