Jewish billionaire who donated $30million to university slams valedictorian who spent nine minutes lecturing grads about Gaza: 'This is hate speech and lies'

A Jewish billionaire who donated millions to the University of Manitoba has slammed a speech made by a valedictorian as being filled with 'hate speech and lies'.

In a letter dated Monday, Ernest Rady told university officials at the school in Winnipeg, Manitoba, that he was left hurt and appalled by the speech made by valedictorian Gem Newman. 

Newman gave a speech last week to those graduating from the Max Rady College of Medicine and referenced the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. 

The school had been renamed in honor of Rady's father after he donated $30 million in 2016. 

Rady had attended the University and went on to found American Assets Inc, a real estate investment company, which has a market value in excess of $2 billion.

In his letter he said: 'Newman's speech not only dishonored the memory of my father, but also disrespected and disparaged Jewish people as a whole.'

In a letter dated Monday, Ernest Rady, seen here, told university officials he was left hurt and appalled by the speech made by valedictorian Gem Newman

Gem Newman gave a speech last week to those graduating from the Max Rady College of Medicine and referenced the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict

During his speech, Newman referenced what he called Israel's 'deliberate targeting' of hospitals in Palestine.

He also called for an 'immediate and lasting' ceasefire in Gaza and called on those gathered before him to do the same. 

Newman said: 'Israel's deliberate targeting of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure has lead to more than 35,000 deaths and widespread famines and disease.

'I ask that you join me in calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Palestine, join me in calling for unrestricted humanitarian and medical aid in Gaza. 

'I'm sure that some of you here today are worried that you might face censure for speaking about the genocidal war that Israel is waging on the people of Palestine, that it could jeopardize your career before it's even begun.

'I understand that fear. Surely, I don't have to remind any of you that advocacy is literally in our job description. It is never too late to join the right side of history.'

CBC reported that a video of his speech had been shared onto the University of Manitoba's YouTube page before it was removed after Rady demanded it.

The letter, first reported by the Winnipeg Free Press, also hit out at the University for allowing Newman to 'spew these hateful lies to a captive audience'. 

'For failing to call out Gem Newman's words for what they are, the university is no better.'

Rady called on them to 'acknowledge they were not only inaccurate, but flat-out lies, that they were hurtful to the university's Jewish students and all people of the Jewish faith, and that the remarks do not have a place in any setting at the university.'

A video of his speech had been shared onto the University of Manitoba's YouTube page before it was removed

Rady added: 'When I make a gift to an institution, I do it because I believe in that institution and I trust its governing body to do important, significant, and good work with that money.

'But in this instance, by remaining silent, I would be complicit. Those words are not political opinion. They are hate speech and they are lies.

'They espouse the same age-old prejudices about Jewish omnipotence and thirst for domination that have been used for centuries to justify the atrocities committed against this religious group.'

'Having failed to vet the valedictorian's speech in advance, I beg that the University of Manitoba step up and finally do the right thing. 

'Take down the convocation video and do not repost it unless the valedictorian's entire speech is removed. 

Acknowledge that they were not only inaccurate, but flat-out lies, that they were hurtful to the University's Jewish students and all people of the Jewish faith, and that the remarks do not have a place in any setting at the University.

During his speech, Newman, seen here, referenced what he called Israel's 'deliberate targeting' of hospitals in Palestine

'Advocating for the protection of one group of people, while in the same breath calling for the destruction and elimination of another is not advocacy. It is hate.' 

The day after the letter, Dr Peter Nickerson, Dean of the Max Rady College, said in a statement: 'I have heard from individuals who were present yesterday and who were disappointed and alarmed by the political message in the valedictorian's address. 

'I share these concerns. I, too, am disappointed that the address was delivered in a way that didn't represent all students and that was disrespectful to some audience members who were there to celebrate and be celebrated. 

'This isn't the purpose of a valedictorian address and the speech should have better reflected shared experiences, successes and a commitment to serve 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 valedictory address, I was critical of a national government that is currently engaged in its campaign of collective punishment of the Palestinian people, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. 

'It is frankly incredible to me that advocating for a cessation of hostilities is seen as not only controversial, but somehow hateful. 

'I have been and will continue to be vocally critical of the state of Israel's horrifying and disproportionate response to the awful tragedy of October 7th. 

'But criticism of the actions of the Israeli government does not in and of itself constitute antisemitism. 

The school, pictured here, had been renamed in honor of Rady's father after he donated $30 million in 2016

'That accusation (which has been levelled not only at me but at countless others) is not only unserious, but it also serves to trivialize the regrettably very real instances of antisemitism that do occur.'

He added: 'Since my valedictory address, 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 still get to hug my kids, something that so many parents in Gaza will never get to do again.'

Newman obtained his PhD from the college while also having a BSc in Computer Science. 

He also produces a podcast based around promoting secular humanism and scientific skepticism.