Long time friends Ben Carr & Kevin Freedman cheering each other on in school trustee by-election campaigns
By MYRON LOVE
Long time friends Ben Carr and Kevin Freedman are hoping to be working together come March 21 as fellow members of Winnipeg School Division No. 1’s Board of Trustees.
The pair are running in two separate byelections – in Wards 3 and 4, where the previously elected school trustees, Mark Wasyliw and Lisa Naylor, quit their positions after winning seats in the Manitoba legislature in last fall’s provincial election.
New documentary by Winnipeg filmmaker Yolanda Papini-Pollock exposes horrors of Falun Gong persecution in China
By MYRON LOVE
Genocide can take different forms. The Holocaust, for example, and the more recent Rwandan genocide were condensed in a frenzy of killing. For the Indigenous peoples of the Americas and Australia, the killing and attempted erasure of their cultures transpired over several hundred years.
Then, there is the matter of the Falun Gong.
Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa and Qi Gong) is a practice combining simple exercises with meditation based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance.Of ancient Chinese origin, the practice – with the encouragement of the Chinese Communist government – developed a very large following in modern China. In 1999, however, Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, decided that practicing Falun Gong was a threat to the Chinese Communist government. He initiated a thoroughgoing campaign to demonize the practice and eradicate anyone who continued to practice the tradition.
Lifesaving Israeli training coming to Winnipeg
By REBECA KUROPATWA
In 2016, when Magen David Adom (MDA) introduced the Life Guardian Program, thousands of Israelis with no medical training jumped at the opportunity to participate.
The Life Guardian Program added another layer of responders to emergencies to potentially save more lives with faster response time, by certifying or recertifying everyday Israeli citizens. Many participants had learned CPR as part of their army service or teacher certification, and others took first-aid basics for the first time.
Music ‘N’ Mavens kicks off 22nd season
By MYRON LOVE
The Rady JCC’s popular Music ‘N’ Mavens kicked off its 22nd season on Tuesday, January 14, with a bravura performance by the incomparable Jennifer Hanson. Accompanied by Gilles Fournier on base and Murray Pulver on guitar (both of whom are also fixtures on the local music scene) – and still getting over a cold, one of Winnipeg’s leading ladies of song delivered a range of numbers beginning with long ago hits from Cole Porter and encompassing the Turtles, the Beatles, the Pointer Sisters, Linda Ronstadt and more (including a song of her own composition) while between songs chatting comfortably with her audience of nearly 200 who filled the Berney Theatre.
Downing of Ukraine Airlines flight: a classic case of mismanagement of a crisis
By YURI KOGAN and ZEV COHEN of Ergo Oriens Crisis Management. (Special to The Jewish Post & News)
PS752, a scheduled commercial flight by Ukraine International Airlines from Tehran to Kyiv disappeared from air traffic control radar a few minutes after departure in the early morning hours of Wednesday, January 10. Initial media reports, quoting local witnesses and Iranian officials reported the airliner disappeared 6 minutes after departure at an altitude of 8,000 ft. It was reported that no distress call was transmitted by the crew. All 176 crew and passengers on board were reported as casualties. There were no survivors. Most of those on board were either Canadian citizens or others on their way to Canada through Kyiv.
Realtor Danielle Margolis goes for a walk in the desert... and raises $38,000 for Winnipeg women’s shelter
By MYRON LOVE
Realtor Danielle Margolis recently went for a trek in the desert to raise money for an initiative she strongly believes in. The desert was the Sahara and Margolis one of 120 Royal LePage realtors from across the country – divided into four groups - who took part in the “Sahara Desert Challenge”, on behalf of the Royal LePage Shelter Foundation - in support of women’s and children’s shelters across Canada.
Bermax Caffé case takes new twist
By BERNIE BELLAN
As reported on the CBC website on January 16, two of the three lawyers who had been representing different members of the Berent family, which owned Bermax Caffé & Bistro, “are no longer defending” two members of the Berent family – Alexander and Oksana Berent, following a” ‘breakdown in the solicitor-client relationship,’ Crown prosecutor Mike Himmelman told the court.”
Both James Lowry, who had been defending Alexander Berent, and Martin Glazer, who had been defending Oksana Berent, have resigned as counsel for the accused, according to the CBC report.
Situation re possible sale of Town Island gets even murkier
By BERNIE BELLAN
The situation regarding the possible sale of Town Island took a somewhat confusing twist these past two weeks when an online publication known as Kenora Online reported on Monday, January 13, that Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford (who is also Ontario’s Northern Development Minister) said “he’s working with the City of Kenora on a possible Town Island land swap.”
Adventures in Jerusalem
By SIMONE COHEN SCOTT
Jerusalem
When I call this piece ‘Adventures’, you have to realize who I am. I’m an elderly Jewish woman. Even before this happened to me though, I was not into bungee jumping, mountain climbing, deep sea diving (not even light scuba diving), canoe trips, stock car racing, or anything like that. Buying myself an apartment in Jerusalem is as adventurous as I’ve ever been. That’s a long story, and it’s not one that I’m going to tell today. But, I was gradually beginning to travel here more than once in twelve months, and I wanted to stop feeling like the meter is running and you have to keep doing something because otherwise money is going down the drain.
Even though I left Winnipeg years ago, the Shaarey Zedek's online streaming service keeps me connected
By GERRY POSNER
There I was planning to go to synagogue in Toronto in late December when my throat thought otherwise. I just was not up to it and I was worried that my cough might drown out the Torah reader.
Dr. Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg named as an “Officer to the Order of Canada”
By BERNIE BELLAN
The list of recipients of the Order of Canada named by Canada’s Governor General, Julie Payette, now includes Dr. Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg of Winnipeg.
Larry and Tova Vickar and Jewish Heritage Centre recognize Siepman family for World War II rescue efforts
By MYRON LOVE
If you are visiting the Asper Jewish Community Campus and you make a left turn at the Berney Theatre, you will come to the Freeman Family Foundation Holocaust Education Centre.
Dan the Carver carves unique role for himself carving mezuzah casings
By MYRON LOVE
Danny Waldman says that he has always enjoyed the challenge of doing something no one else is doing. That philosophy has led him to forge a niche creating hand-crafted mezzuzah casings out of blocks of wood.
Ongoing stories about Town Island and lawsuit against parents of Gray Academy students nearing conclusions
By BERNIE BELLAN
The above two stories on our website have to do with stories whose final resolution is up in the air. Of the two stories, the story about the future of Town Island is of much more importance.
Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education awarded judgment in lawsuit brought against parents of former Gray Academy students - but costs likely to be limited only to $100
By BERNIE BELLAN
A story about which we have been reporting since December 2018 has been the lawsuit brought by the Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education against Ido and Rochelle Raam for unpaid tuition relating to the 2017-18 school year.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Shawn Greenberg on December 17, 2019, Justice Greenberg found in favour of the plaintiff (the WBJE) in the amount of “$7,450 plus pre-judgment interest and post-judgment interest at the agreed rate.”
City of Kenora says it is not interested in subdividing Town Island; will sell to only one purchaser
By BERNIE BELLAN
A story that we have been following closely has taken an interesting twist. In the case of the looming sale of that portion of Town Island which is not already owned by BB Camp, the City of Kenora has clarified that if the rest of Town Island is sold, it will not be sold to more than one purchaser.
New book by former Winnipegger suggests introducing new “rituals” into divorce as a way of easing the pain
“Moving Forward - An Ancient Divorce Ritual for the Modern World”
By Dr. Marilyn Beloff
Available on Amazon Books
Reviewed by RAYMOND HALL
Introduction: Dr. Marilyn Beloff, PhD is a collaborative divorce coach, child specialist, divorce mediator, and marital and family therapist. A native of Winnipeg, she presently lives and works in Vancouver, BC.
Former Winnipegger Dana Mahon helps women find their “true selves”
By REBECA KUROPATWA
Now living in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, Dana Mahon was born and raised in Winnipeg, where she lived until the age of 28. In Winnipeg, she was an active member of the Jewish community – through her schooling, camp, and involvement with the Chai Dancers.
Argentinian-born Javier Nudler helping businesspeople and professionals connect with each other
By MYRON LOVE
In Winnipeg, you could say that, when it comes to connecting people, Javier Nudler is the master of connectivity.
The Argentinian-born Nudler is the man in our community who is at the centre of Business Network International (BNI), the world’s largest business networking and business referral organization.
Retiring Temple Shalom administrator most proud of putting Reform congregation “on the map”
By MYRON LOVE
In her eight years as Temple Shalom’s administrator, Ruthie Maman – who is retiring at the end of the year – says that the highlight of her tenure at Winnipeg’s Reform congregation was bringing the synagogue into the Jewish mainstream in Winnipeg. mainstream in Winnipeg.