A Jewish billionaire who donated millions to the University of Manitoba criticized a valedictorian’s speech for being full of “hate speech and lies.”
In a letter dated Monday, Ernest Rady told university officials at the Winnipeg, Manitoba, school that he was hurt and shocked by the speech given by valedictorian Gem Newman.
Newman gave a speech last week to graduates of the Max Rady School of Medicine and referenced the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The school was renamed after Rady’s father after he donated $30 million in 2016.
Rady attended college and founded American Assets Inc, a real estate investment company, which has a market value of more than $2 billion.
In his letter he said: “Newman’s speech not only dishonored the memory of my father, but also disrespected and belittled the Jewish people as a whole.”
In a letter dated Monday, Ernest Rady, seen here, told university officials that he was hurt and shocked by the speech given by valedictorian Gem Newman.
Gem Newman gave a speech last week to graduates of the Max Rady School of Medicine and referenced the current conflict between Israel and Hamas.
During his speech, Newman referenced what he called Israel’s “deliberate attack” on hospitals in Palestine.
He also called for an “immediate and lasting” ceasefire in Gaza and asked those gathered before him to do the same.
Newman said: ‘Israel’s deliberate attacks on hospitals and other civilian infrastructure have led to more than 35,000 deaths and widespread famine and disease.
‘I ask you to join me in calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Palestine, to join me in calling for unrestricted humanitarian and medical aid in Gaza.
‘I’m sure some of you here today are worried that you may face censure for speaking out about the genocidal war Israel is waging against the people of Palestine, which could jeopardize your career before it has even begun.
‘I understand that fear. Surely I don’t have to remind any of you that promotion is literally in our job description. It’s never too late to join the right side of history.’
CBC reported that a video of his speech had been shared on the University of Manitoba’s YouTube page before it was removed after Rady demanded it.
The letter, first published by the Winnipeg Free PressHe also criticized the University for allowing Newman to “spew these hateful lies to a captive audience.”
“Not to mention Gem Newman’s words for what they are, college is no better.”
Rady asked them to “acknowledge that they were not only inaccurate, but blatant lies, that they were harmful to Jewish students at the university and to all people of the Jewish faith, and that the comments have no place in any university environment.”
A video of his speech was shared on the University of Manitoba’s YouTube page before being removed.
Rady added: ‘When I donate to an institution, I do so because I believe in that institution and I trust its governing body to do important, meaningful and good work with that money.
‘But in this case, if I remained silent, I would be an accomplice. Those words are not political opinion. They are hate speech and they are lies.
“They support the same ancient prejudices about Jewish omnipotence and thirst for domination that have been used for centuries to justify atrocities committed against this religious group.”
‘Having not been able to vet the valedictorian’s speech beforehand, I pray that the University of Manitoba will step up and finally do the right thing.
‘Delete the announcement video and do not repost it unless the entire speech of the best student is removed.
Recognize that they were not only inaccurate, but blatant lies, that they were hurtful to Jewish students at the University and to all people of the Jewish faith, and that the comments have no place in any University environment.
During his speech, Newman, seen here, referenced what he called Israel’s “deliberate attack” on hospitals in Palestine.
‘Advocating for the protection of one group of people while calling for the destruction and elimination of another is not advocacy. It’s hate.’
The day after the letter, Dr. Peter Nickerson, dean of Max Rady College, said in a statement: “I have heard from people who were present yesterday who were disappointed and alarmed by the political message in the valedictorian speech.” .
‘I share these concerns. I, too, am disappointed that the speech was delivered in a way that did not represent all students and was disrespectful to some audience members who were there to celebrate and be celebrated.
‘This is not the purpose of a farewell speech and the speech should have better reflected the shared experiences, successes and commitment to serving all communities.
“The valedictorian was expressing his own views, and this was not a message vetted or endorsed in any way by the College.”
In a statement shared on his social media, Newman said: “In my farewell speech, I criticized a national government that is currently engaged in its campaign of collective punishment of the Palestinian people, which has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. “. .
“It is frankly incredible to me that advocating for a cessation of hostilities is seen not only as controversial, but also as hateful.
‘I have been and will continue to be openly critical of the State of Israel’s horrific and disproportionate response to the terrible tragedy of October 7.
‘But criticism of the actions of the Israeli government does not in itself constitute anti-Semitism.
The school, shown here, was renamed after Rady’s father after he donated $30 million in 2016.
“That accusation (which has been directed not only at me but at many others) is not only unserious, but also serves to trivialize the unfortunately very real cases of anti-Semitism that occur.”
He added: ‘Since my farewell speech, I have received hundreds of messages from doctors, medical students and members of the public thanking me for my words.
‘I have also received more than my share of harassment and threats. But at the end of the day, I can still hug my children, something many parents in Gaza will never be able to do again.”
Newman earned his PhD from the university and at the same time had a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.
He also produces a podcast based on promoting secular humanism and scientific skepticism.
