Joe Diner: a lifetime of experience

By GERRY POSNER If you want to find a life that has had a series of twists and turns mixed in with a wide variety of experiences, look no further than Joe Diner. He has had a lifetime of what I would call rich experiences in many different places and settings.
Israel story: 'By the Monastery’ in Jerusalem

By SIMONE COHEN SCOTT Jan. 16, 2022 Jerusalem These past months in Jerusalem were different than other years when I’ve had a foot in both Israel and Canada. For one thing, this time I used a travel agency instead of my usual CheapOair website. A good thing too, as I was a document short checking in, and was told I could only get as far as Toronto. A quick call to my travel wizard fixed that.
Limmud preview: Haskel Greenfield at Limmud 2022

By MARTIN ZEILIG Haskel Greenfield has spent a good deal of his professional life as an archeologist attempting to uncover the mysteries of the Canaanite culture.
It’s not been an easy task. But, oh so fascinating.
Graphic artist Steven Rosenberg go-to guy for Winnipeg theatre and arts communities

By MYRON LOVE While graphic designer Steven Rosenberg’s name may be unfamiliar to most readers, his work is not. Rosenberg is a partner in Doowah Design. Every time you see a brochure, a poster or online art promoting the Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre and a host of other arts bodies, you are most likely looking at Doowah’s creations.
Educator Dina Raihman set to open full-time private school next September

By BERNIE BELLAN In our August 17, 2019 issue we featured an article by Rebeca Kuropatwa about a program that had been in place for several years, run by Dina Raihman. Here's part of what Rebeca wrote back then (with updates from Dina provided on January 28, 2022):
Both sides

Introduction: We were sent this short story by John Ginsburg, who is a Winnipeg writer. Given the constant stream of stories about students and professors being intimidated by forces championing political correctness, especially when it comes to anything having to do with Israel, we thought it timely to publish the story here.
June 2021 Mackenzie King College Walking east, past the Theatre building, the view was genuinely inspiring, especially in the bright morning sunshine.
Steven Aronovitch: Covering all the "BASEs"

By GERRY POSNER A long ago in Winnipeg, one of the giants of this community started a business with his brother-in-law, Louis Leipsic. That business became a powerhouse in the real estate and insurance fields. Its name: Aronovitch and Leipsic.
That giant was Abraham Herman Aronovitch.
Jewish Federation launches new program: “TAP” (Teens and Philanthropy) - to give teens a voice in fundraising

By BERNIE BELLAN When Sam Slutchuk was still a student at Gray Academy – five years ago, he developed a keen interest in working with the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg.
As he told me in a recent phone interview, “I’ve been connected to the Federation since high school. I began as an intern, then when I started university, I was asked to work for the Federation part-time.”
New documentary focuses on heartwarming relationship between Israeli psychologist (& former Winnipegger) Solly Dreman and Indigenous local photographer Don Barnard

By MYRON LOVE Over the past few years, Yolanda Papini Pollock has created a solid body of work as a documentary filmmaker with a focus on human rights.
Community leader Elana Schultz has lifelong history of volunteerism

By MYRON LOVE Community has always been important for Elana Schultz. The daughter of Dr. Ben and Serky Goldberg credits her parents with showing her the way. (Her mother was the 2018 recipient of the Max and Mollie Shore Memorial Award.)
Limmud preview: Allan Cheskes - when Klezmer Met Jazz

Introduction: With this story we begin what has become an annual tradition, which is to preview some of the speakers who will be presenting at this year’s upcoming Limmud. As it was last year, Limmud will be held virtually – this year, on March 6.
In his presentation at the upcoming Limmud Winnipeg 2022, Allan Cheskes, a retired Deloitte partner in Toronto and amateur musicologist, will explore the history of Klezmer music as it developed and moved from Europe to America.
Leah Braemer making dance programs accessible to wider range of Manitobans

By MYRON LOVE In the movie “Billy Ellliot”, the eponymous character, when asked by a review board why he, the son of a hard-bitten goal miner, should be accepted into the Royal Ballet School, responds that when he is dancing, he feels - to paraphrase – “electric”.
Winnipeg duo leading initiative to address styling needs of individuals new to 2SLGBTQIA+ community

By MYRON LOVE Life is about community. Community brings together people of shared interests, values and beliefs and provides a sense of belonging. The bottom line is that – ideally – members of a community support each other.
17 cases of Covid now at Simkin Centre
Updated April 2 The past few days have seen a resurgence of Covid at the Simkin Centre, although the current variant affecting residents, Omicron B-1 is milder than the previous Delta and Alpha variants. According to information provided on the Simkin Centre Facebook page, 14 residents on Simkin 2 are currently testing positive for Covid, while three residents on Weinberg 1 are also testing positive.
Previously, seven residents on Weinberg 1 had tested positive but, as of March 28, four have recovered. The outbreak on Simkin 2 was first made public on March 28. At that point only one resident on Simkin 2 tested positive. The fact that the outbreak has now spread to 13 other residents is an indication how virulent the current strain of Covid is.
The April 1 Simkin Centre Facebook post warns that "Designated Caregivers on Simkin 2 are welcome to visit at their own risk. Personal protective equipment will be provided and must be worn during your visit."
The post goes on to say that "With the rising number of Resident and staff cases we are experiencing significant staffing shortages. We want to thank the Designated Caregivers for their assistance during this challenging time."
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Poarws Jan. 17 A total of 20 Residents have tested positive for Covid. Of those 20, 15 have recovered. The remainder are in the Covid isolation unit. In addition, two more staff have tested positive, bringing the total number of staff who have tested positive to 31. Twenty-six of the staff have returned to work.
Gray Academy pivots once again to “Gray Away” during provincially mandated week of remote learning
By BERNIE BELLAN With the decision by the provincial government to require online learning in all classrooms for students from K-12 from January 10-14, Gray Academy was well positioned to implement what it began to refer to as “Gray Away” when it was first introduced in May 2020. As well, the school has also taken steps to provide all parents of students in JK-6 with test kits that the parents are being asked to administer every three days beginning January 16.
Jewish synagogues react to rapid spread of Omicron variant – most put temporary end to in-person services
By BERNIE BELLAN With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant it comes as no surprise that many local synagogues have taken a proactive approach to dealing with the pandemic. For the time being, however, the Rady JCC is maintaining its existing schedule, although that may change quickly depending on possible new restrictions that may be issued by the provincial government.
Harvey Secter, Robert Silver appointed to Order of Canada

Two well-known members of Winnipeg’s Jewish community were among 135 Canadians to be appointed to the Order of Canada last week.
Pembina Valley golf tournament raises money for bomb shelter in Israel

By BERNIE BELLAN Taylor Polstra is a young woman now living in southern Manitoba who originally comes from the southern US.
In 2010 Taylor was working for an organization known as the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem.
“Operation Lifeshield” (known as “Project Life Initiatives” in Canada) builds bomb shelters in Israel in areas not within seven kilometres of either the Gaza or Lebanon borders

By BERNIE BELLAN As noted in our article about the Covenant Cup golf tournament elsewhere on this website, money raised by a group in southern Manitoba was used to build a bomb shelter in a community in Israel. The name of the community is Maalot-Tarshiha, situated in the northern Galil, only 15 kilometres from the Lebanese border.
Progressive Movements, Israel, and Anti-Semitism

By Dr. PHILIP BERGER Special to The Jewish Post & News Some organizations and persons holding themselves out to be progressive have grown increasingly hostile to Zionism and to Israel ever since the 1967 Arab Israeli war. Their claims that Israel is a colonialist and racist state sometimes equate with the denial of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. They have thrown virtually every imaginable slander at Israel, with the intent of delegitimizing and eliminating the only Jewish state.