By BERNIE BELLAN It’s been a while since I’ve been able to report on Gray Academy without having to focus on how Covid had so drastically affected the lives of both students and teachers there. While every other school in the province was similarly affected, Gray Academy offers so many unique programs – almost all of which had to be put on hold for the past two and a half years, that when I spoke with Head of School Lori Binder on Tuesday, September 20, hearing of everything that had been going on there in just the short 11 days that the school had been open when we talked was somewhat overwhelming.
By BERNIE BELLAN Friends of Israel is a Christian non-evangelical organization dedicated to providing support for the State of Israel. Founded in 1938 by a group of concerned Christians in Philadelphia who had just witnessed the Nazi savagery of Kristallnacht, FOI actually predated the founding of the State of Israel by 10 years.
By BERNIE BELLAN In 2018 Yana Ustinski immigrated to Canada from Israel with her husband Leo and her two children, Leenes (pronounced Lee-Nes) and Adam, who were seven and five respectively at the time. Like many another immigrant to Canada, Yana had hoped to be able to find work in her chosen profession, which was as a pharmacist. (Leo was a production planner in Israel and he was able to find work in his field upon the family’s move to Winnipeg.)
As the original environmental organization through planting trees for the last century it seemed only natural for JNF to join forces with the friends of the Harte Trail and the city of Winnipeg’s 1,000,000 tree challenge and lend our support and muscle. On Sunday September 18, more than 60 people from both the Jewish and general communities joined forces to plant 75 new trees, generously provided by JNF, along the Harte Trail in Charleswood.
By BERNIE BELLAN On Wednesday, September 14, past and present participants, family members of participants, and support workers (both past and present) who have been involved with the G.R.O.W. program gathered at 91 Willow (which is one of two homes donated by the Lazareck family for the program, the other being the home next door at 93 Willow) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the G.R.O.W. in Gimli program.
By HOLLY HARRIS Laughter and tears will flow when the Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre (SOPAC) honours the late Jerry Maslowsky (zt”l), a prominent local business executive, supremely gifted entertainer, devoted family man, and all-around mensch, as the inaugural inductee for its newly minted “The Jerry Maslowsky Hall of Fame,” bearing the beloved Winnipegger’s name in perpetuity.
By MYRON LOVE For B’nai Brith Camp co-executive directors Jacob Brodovsky and his wife, Lexie Yurman, and their staff, it has been a satisfying summer at the Lake of the Woods campsite.
“We are happy to be able to report that we had full registration this year,” says Brodovsky whose relationship with BB Camp as camper, counsellor and executive director (since January 1, 2021) goes back 20 years. “Our numbers were back to 2017 and 2018 levels.”
By BERNIE BELLAN The Combined Jewish Appeal of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg launched its 2022-23 campaign before a small audience at the Berney Theatre on Tuesday evening, September 20. Welcoming remarks were given by Federation president Gustavo Zentner. Following his remarks, Zentner crossed the stage of the Berney Theatre where he introduced Ukrainian-born (and former resident of Israel) artist Eugene Kabrun. Together the two men unveiled a painting depicting the suffering ongoing in Ukraine and which will be on display at the campus.
While the skies were closed for the first waves of the pandemic, with many organizations canceling their Israel trips, Masa Israel Journey saw an increase of almost 40% of North American students and young professionals traveling to Israel to partake in immersive four-to-10-month programs.
Since its establishment in 2004 by the Jewish Agency and the government of Israel, Masa has served more than 180,000 Jewish students and young professionals ages 16 to 35, from more than 60 countries.
The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba is seeking a new Financial Administrator. Click on Read More to see full details and click on the ad to be taken to the Jewish Foundation website.
By MYRON LOVE There was a time – at least within the lifetime of older readers – when there seemed to be a kosher butcher on every corner in the old North End. An exaggeration, maybe, but in the 1930s, there were enough kosher butchers in Winnipeg to form their own shul.
The last kosher butcher in Winnipeg – that would be Omnitsky’s – closed in 2008 and, at about the same time, fresh kosher slaughter also came to end in our region.