Piece of Passover tradition lost as U.S.-made Manischewitz wine removed from liquor stores: rabbi

CBC

04-04-2025

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A popular brand of kosher wine that has become a staple at Passover will be missing from the Seder tables of many Manitoba families this year, with the U.S.-made Manischewitz pulled from shelves in Manitoba's liquor stores in response to the ongoing trade war.
Manitoba removed American-made alcohol from the shelves of its provincially run Liquor Marts in early March, after the first round of tariffs imposed by the U.S. administration on some imported Canadian goods.
That included Manischewitz kosher wine, a New York state-made beverage that has become a staple in Jewish religious celebrations passed from one generation to the next, said Allan Finkel, rabbi at Winnipeg's Temple Shalom.
"It's really sweet, syrupy — it's like cough syrup, but it's still … very much tied to the Passover Seder experience," Finkel said, referring to the ceremonial dinner that marks the start of Passover.
Not having it this year will be "a loss of a piece of tradition," he said.
Passover, which begins on April 12 this year, is an eight-day celebration that marks the liberation of the Jews from slavery and their exodus from ancient Egypt. During Passover Seder, four cups of wine are drunk at different stages during the meal.
Request to bring Manischewitz back
Ahead of Passover, Jeff Lieberman, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, wrote to the province requesting an exemption to bring Manischewitz back to Liquor Marts, given its importance to the Jewish community.
"Time is running short," he said Thursday. "I'm hoping that the wine will be back, certainly with enough time for people to buy it."
Others said they hope so too.
Wine is "one of the most important" parts of the Passover meal, said Winnipegger Laura Marjovsky.
"It's a staple of the Seder, and it should be available," said Shayla Fink, another Winnipeg resident.
But speaking to reporters about U.S. tariffs on Thursday, Premier Wab Kinew said American alcohol, including Manischewitz, will stay off Manitoba's shelves.
"That's gotten attention south of the border," the premier said.
He also described the action as an "act of solidarity" with other provinces that have taken similar measures.
"I apologize if that causes disappointment, but from what I understand, there are substitutes," Kinew said.
WATCH | Passover staple may be missing in Manitoba this year due to U.S. booze boycott:
Passover staple may be missing in Manitoba this year due to U.S. booze boycott
2 hours ago
Duration 2:11
A wine popular at Passover may be absent from the holiday for Manitobans this year. Manischewitz kosher wine is made in the U.S., and Manitoba, along with many other provinces, has pulled U.S. liquor from shelves amid ongoing tariffs.
Jews looking for kosher wine might still find some Israeli wine in government-operated liquor stores. Manitoba Liquor Marts offer three kosher wines, both red and white, from the Galil Mountain Winery, a spokesperson said.
However, about a half dozen liquor stores CBC spoke with — both private and provincial — said they didn't have kosher wines in stock at the moment.
Another replacement is kosher grape juice, said Rabbi Finkel, already in use by families who don't drink liquor.
"It's about the blessing of the fruit of the vine. It's actually not about a fermented or an alcoholic drink necessarily," he said.
"The tradition disappears, but in no way are we changing the real ritual experience."