Some fascinating facts about the Beirut explosion
The following information was submitted by Shurat Hadin (Israel Law Center) on Thursday, August 6:
As the Lebanese people struggle to recover from the catastrophic deaths and destruction wrought by the Beirut explosion, more questions than answers continue to arise. The official story, that in 2013, Lebanese port officials impounded a Moldovan flagged ship bound for Mozambique, laden with explosive chemicals, does not address other facts which have emerged and must be investigated:
Simkin Centre – and all other personal care homes in Manitoba facing unprecedented pressures due to COVID-19

By BERNIE BELLAN
Even though the Province of Manitoba has eased the rules governing personal care homes and how visitors will now be able to see loved ones, the financial pressures facing all personal care homes in Manitoba had been huge even before the pandemic set in.
Ben-Gurion University launches appeal to save the class of COVID-19

The university is raising a fund to support students in their studies as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
With the COVID-19 pandemic surging once again in Israel it is having a devastating effect on many young people who had been enrolled in institutions of higher learning throughout the country.
Winnipeg’s Jerry Shore looks back on seven decades in show business - including a stint as Harry Belafonte's tour manager

By MYRON LOVE
For my 21st birthday in 1970, a couple of friends treated me to a ticket to Winnipeg’s first ever major outdoor rock concert. One of the principal organizers of that concert, which was called the Man-Pop Festival, and which was held on Saturday, August 29, was Jerry Shore, who turns 90 on July 23.
COVID crisis forces annual Mishpatim program online

By MYRON LOVE
Ten years ago, University of Manitoba Law Professor Bryan Schwartz, in conjunction with the Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University, introduced Mishpatim, now known as the Asper International Law Program on Israeli Law and Society - a program whose goal was to introduce the State of Israel to University of Manitoba Law students through direct exposure to Israeli scholarship and society.
Proliferation of Middle Eastern restaurants in Winnipeg satisfies desire for Israeli foods

By BERNIE BELLAN
In recent weeks I’ve had occasion to meet the owners of some Arab restaurants in this city. Sure, it was to talk to them about advertising - but it was also a chance to discuss their feelings about relations between Jews and Muslims.
Hunkering down in Jerusalem
By SIMONE COHEN SCOTT
Winnipeg Beach, July 11, 2020
My usual practice is to spend the winter months in Jerusalem, returning to Canada in early April. That didn’t happen this year. I didn’t take the Coronavirus seriously until it was too late to ‘get out of town’, so to speak. I ignored the general talk as I have with the other ‘sky is falling’ viruses, just doubling up on Vitamin C and Ecinacea as a precaution.
Annamie Paul, candidate for leadership of the Green Party, had a surprising Winnipeg connection - unknown to her until recently

By GERRY POSNER
Imagine my surprise when I picked up a very recent edition of the JP&N and I saw an article on the very woman, Annamie Paul, I had just been asked to interview by Bernie Bellan. (Bernie’s reason for his wanting me to interview Annamie – even though the paper had just published an article about her, had to do with a Winnipeg connection – about which Annamie was probably unaware.)
Book written in 1933 in Yiddish provided first-hand account of Ukrainian famine known as the Holodomor

How People Live In Soviet Russia
Reviewed by MARTIN ZEILIG
In February and March 1932 Mendel Osherowitch visited the Soviet Union on assignment for the Yiddish-language newspaper, Forverts (The Jewish Daily Forward). With a daily circulation of 275,000, this influential New York City-based newspaper was “socialist in content but not Bolshevik in form,” notes Lubomyr Luciuk, a professor of political geography at the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, in the introduction to How People Live In Soviet Russia.
Op-ed piece by Myron Love on Black Lives Matter elicits strong reaction from reader David Weller

In our July 8 issue Myron Love wrote an op-ed piece titled "American Reform movement endorses anti-Semitic organization". That article elicited a strong reaction from reader David Weller. In the interest of presenting as many sides to an issue as possible, we present here both Myron's piece and David's response:
Jewish Foundation allocates a further $200,000 in phase 2 of emergency funding for Jewish organizations
By BERNIE BELLAN
As we reported in our June 24 issue, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba has announced that it will be giving a total of $600,000 in emergency funding to local Jewish organizations as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, of which $400,000 has now been given.
Jewish Federation increases allocations to beneficiary agencies by $90,000
Jewish Child and Family Service and Rady JCC see largest increases in allocations
By BERNIE BELLAN
The Jewish Federation of Winnipeg has released the amounts by which it will fund its 12 beneficiary agencies for the coming fiscal year, which begins September 1.
Want to maximize your experience of Israel? Join ESRA!

Ed. note: We received the following email last week:
Hello. My name is Jack Copelovici. My wife Ida and I made Aliyah from Toronto to Israel in 2016. It is obvious that relations are fraying between the Jews in the Diaspora and the Jews in Israel.
Jewish Child and Family Service holds successful Annual General Meeting - online

By BERNIE BELLAN
In covering Annual General Meetings over the years I always try and find something different about which I can write – so that an article like this doesn’t end up being simply a repeat of previous years’ reports.
Four years after launching her dream project, Jacquie Seipp has seen “One More Candle” spread around the world
By BERNIE BELLAN
A while back I was speaking with Jacquie Seipp who, four years ago, came up with a novel and very thoughtful idea: Invite individuals and groups to participate in commemorating the memories of the “1.5 million children murdered in the Shoah”.