Unique Holocaust autograph book resurfaces in Victoria, BC...artifact to become permanent part of CMHR
Special to The Jewish Post & News
An autograph book that reflects an artist’s life in the Theresienstadt ghetto and transit camp, once belonging to Holocaust survivor and Danish violinist Mænni Ruben, has reemerged in Victoria, BC.
Ruben’s unique perspective on the Holocaust is chronicled in his autograph book as the war is ending and survivors are being liberated.
Many Orthodox Jews support President Trump. I’m one of them — here’s why:
By BINYAMIN ROSE
August 28, 2020 JERUSALEM (JTA)
Only 6% of voters who cast ballots for Barack Obama in 2008 voted for Donald Trump in 2016. I’m one of them.
Political affiliation played no role in my decision. I’m a registered Democrat who often votes Republican. I was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family in North Jersey. We cried when Richard Nixon defeated Hubert Humphrey in 1968 and exulted when Ronald Reagan routed Jimmy Carter in 1980.
This year poses a fresh dilemma.
Cancercare Manitoba Foundation Challenge for Life adapts to changed circumstances
By MYRON LOVE
The 13th annual Cancercare Manitoba Foundation Challenge for Life 20KM walk (or 200-minute workout) has a new look this year – as a result of COVID 19 – with a smaller number of participants and lower expectations.
How former Gray Academy instructor Avi Posen came to take a central role in offering online education for Jewish schools
By BERNIE BELLAN
Elsewhere on this website we have a story about an interesting new partner-school program developed by an organization called OpenDor Media. The name of the program is “Unpacked for Educators”. To review what was in that story – in case you didn’t see it, the aim of the program “is to strengthen Israel education in Jewish schools around the world.
Cancercare Manitoba Foundation Chair Steven Kroft - a leader in the boardroom - and in the field
By MYRON LOVE
Steven Kroft is an individual who believes in leading by example. Thus, the newly-anointed Chair of the Board of the Cancercare Manitoba Foundation (as of June) has for the past couple of weeks been furiously working the pedals on his Peloton exercise bike raising money for the Foundation as a participant in its 13th annual Challenge for Life event.
Kamala Harris and her fluid identity
By BERNIE BELLAN
The announcement that Joe Biden has chosen Kamala Harris as his running mate immediately set off a torrent of applause from many Jews who, if they weren’t aware before that Harris is married to a Jewish man, Doug Emhoff, are certainly aware now.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights’ Manitoba 150 project inspired by Sarasota exhibit
By MYRON LOVE
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights’ current outdoor exhibit – “ARTiculate Our Rights” – celebrating Manitoba’s150th anniversary as a province, was inspired by a similar longstanding project called “Embracing Our Differences” in Sarasota, Florida.
Judaic Studies at the U of M to go online this fall - and anyone can audit any of the courses from the comfort of their own home
We received a note from the University of Manitoba’s Judaic Studies coordinator, Haskel Greenfield, asking whether we would help publicize the Judaic Studies program which, like all university programs, has had to completely revamp how its courses will be offered this fall.
Sharon Graham winner of the 2020 Switzer-Cooperstock Prize in Western Canadian Jewish History
By MARTIN ZEILIG
The Winnipeg Jewish Orphanage housed children from 1917 until 1948, and for a long portion of its existence it was served by an untrained social worker, Pearl Finkelstein (later Silver), Sharon Graham, PhD, writes in her paper, “Pearl Finkelstein, Unknown Hero: the Winnipeg Jewish Orphanage and Social Work in the Winnipeg Jewish community in the 1930s”.
Former Winnipeger Blair Kaplan Venables publishes book on entrepreneurship
We received this email from Blair Kaplan Venables, about whom we wrote in our June 26, 2019 issue when Blair was the guest speaker at the Jewish Child & Family Service AGM:
“My name is Blair Kaplan Venables, born and raised in the Winnipeg Jewish community, and I recently published & launched a book during the pandemic.
“The book is about entrepreneurship and it's called Pulsing Through My Veins: Raw And Real Stories From An Entrepreneur. When I launched I became a #1 best seller in a few categories on Amazon such as Entrepreneurship and Hot New Releases in Women In Business.”
Yazidi produce to be for sale Thursdays at Asper Campus
Last year, Yazidi newcomers to Manitoba operated a very successful pop-up vegetable stand outside the Asper Campus. Every Thursday, for the time being, vegetables in pre-packaged bags will be available for purchase once again. Read more to find out how you can get your fresh vegetables at great prices:
24 artists from around the world join together to exhibit works in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
By SUSAN TURNER
ARTA coordinator, participant, designer
ROUNDNESS, an ARTA project, is an on-line exhibition of work by 24 artists in response to issues around the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. The exhibition is located on YUMPU.com, a Swiss-based site at which on-line magazines can be created.
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/63697012/roundness-arta-project-artists-respond-to-covid-19-pandemic
Former Winnipegger Philip Berger: from a dynasty of docs
By GERRY POSNER
Recently the book “Healing Lives, a Century of Manitoba Jewish Physicians” was published and in it are the names of all Jewish physicians who practiced medicine in Manitoba for at least five years over the past 100 years. What is not included, however, are those doctors who graduated from the University of Manitoba medical school who went elsewhere to practice their profession. One of those doctors is none other than a descendant of a longtime Winnipeg family who has made his mark in the medical world: Philip Berger.
Avi Posen helps design new program for Jewish schools aiming to enhance students’ knowledge about Israel
Gray Academy to participate, along with five other schools in Canada
By BERNIE BELLAN
Two weeks ago we received some interesting information from an organization known as “Unpacked for Educators” about a new program designed to help educators in Jewish schools teach about Israel. At the time we received the email we didn't realize that the individual coordinating the program is none other than Avi Posen, formerly of Gray Academy, now residing in Israel. (You can read about Avi and his wife Ilana's moving to Israel last year at https://old.jewishpostandnews.ca/features/3044-gifted-teacher-and-chazan-avi-posen-and-wife-illana-make-aliyah)
Shaarey Zedek Cemetery update
By BERNIE BELLAN
In previous issues we reported on changes the Shaarey Zedek had made to the maintenance of its cemetery as a result of the pandemic.
In our June 10 issue we noted that the synagogue board had decided to forego the planting of flowers on graves that would ordinarily have had flowers planted in keeping with perpetual care agreements.