Local News
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.
‘“Gray Away” was reintroduced this past week, from kindergarten to Grade 12,” Lori Binder, Head of School at Gray Academy, said during a phone interview.
“Our junior kindergarten students have been able to remain on site,” Lori added, “since JK falls under early learning child care.”
As well, similar to all other schools in the province, Lori noted that “we are supporting children of critical service workers or those students who need supports. We’ve had about 80 kids in the building even during Gray Away. Most of those kids have been K-6, along with junior kindergarten – and just a sprinkling in the high school.”
“All teachers have been on site, so remote learning was taught from the school…Even though we were made aware [remote learning] was a possibility, before vacation was over, staff got together in a Zoom meeting to be prepared for the transition.”
As well, Lori added, “prior to break we sent stuff home with kids because Omicron was spreading – so at least we were able to prepare most of our students to have their belongings they needed for learning.”
Something else that the school will be able to give students is rapid test kits for all students (including those in JK) up to Grade 6. Lori noted that the province had supplied the school with sufficient quantities (five tests per student) of rapid test kits for all students in K-6 to be tested every three days. With school set to resume in person on January 17, parents are to pick up the test kits on Sunday, January 16.
As well, Lori noted, “We were given a supply of tests from BB Camp” that had been left over following the summer session of that camp. Those tests were given to parents and have been used for students in Junior Kindergarten, so that they, could also be tested every three days. The test kits were also made available for Critical Care Workers whose children were in school the week of January 10-14 for in person learning.
Parents of all students in JK-6 are being asked to administer tests to their children prior to the resumption of in person learning as an additional layer to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID upon their return. With five rapid tests for each student to take every three days, this will help for the first two weeks back after the long break from in person learning.
As far as test kits for kids in 7-12 are concerned, Lori said the province did not provide schools with kits to send home as high school-aged students are eligible to be vaccinated. At Gray Academy, students aged 12 and up are all fully vaccinated. (Still, in light of the Omicron variant infecting fully vaccinated individuals, I wonder whether the province might now be giving consideration to giving students who may have received two vaccines test kits as welll? Anyone under 18 is not eligible for a booster shot in Canada, although they could be in the U.S.)
I asked Lori when was the last time Gray Academy had been forced to implement remote learning?
“It was May and June of 2021,” she answered.
When Gray Academy first introduced “Gray Away” in March 2020, however, it was for all students, including Junior Kindergarten. Since then, there’s been the clear realization that “learning remotely is not effective for three and four-year-olds,” Lori explained.
As it was when remote learning was first introduced almost two years ago, classes are structured similar to how they would be in person, with breaks structured into schedules. “In elementary it’s tweaked just a little bit so that there’s more time to move around between classes,” Lori added.
I wondered, when school began in the fall, whether Gray Academy was still maintaining the strict protocols that had been in force all last school year, i.e., social distancing, students remaining in cohorts, no movement of students between classrooms (with teachers moving instead from class to class)?
Lori said that Gray Academy had been adhering to stricter rules than were nominally dictated by the province. When school began in the fall, she explained, “schools were in ‘Yellow’; we were operating a little closer to ‘Orange. For example, our staff were in medical grade masks since September. Our students in elementary have been cohorted and had two metres between their desks.
“In high school this year, because all students were fully vaccinated (which, we noted back in September, made Gray Academy one of only two high schools which required that all students be vaccinated, the other being the University of Winnipeg Collegiate) – in late November it was the first time students began to move around the school again. That was an amazing, refreshing thing for our high school students – being able to move from class to class. For instance, they were actually able to take biology in the biology lab, rather than the biology teacher coming to them.”
It was around the same time that “the library reopened for the first time, singing started again – with masks on. That was before Omicron landed in Manitoba.”
I wondered whether there had been any cases of COVID in Gray Academy since the pandemic took hold here back in March 2020?
“From March 2020 to December 22, 2021, we had one case,” Lori answered.
“Then the school closed on December 22 for winter break; that’s when Omicron was sort of bubbling, and Friday, December 24 we started to receive reports of cases among individuals who had been at school. Even though we were on break we wanted to follow the protocols and communicate with our families. We reported to the (appropriate) grade and to the school that there was a positive case. Between December 22 and 10 days following, we reported on 15 cases after school closed which, in light of Omicron, is not surprising.”
“There was no indication of spread among those cases. They were sprinkled here and there, mostly in elementary, which again is not surprising, since our high school students and all staff are fully vaccinated.”
“Our goal was to keep our school community healthy by informing families of any potential exposure.”
I wanted to once again remind readers what the overall consequence was of requiring that all students aged 12 and up be vaccinated prior to the start of the school year in September, so I asked Lori whether there had been any further developments insofar as parents pulling their children from the school because they didn’t want to have them vaccinated.
Lori responded that the figures she reported to me back in September had remained the same: A total of only 11 families with 20 children who had been enrolled in Gray Academy last school year had withdrawn their children from the school as a result of the vaccination requirement.
Further, Lori reported that there had been complete compliance among staff with regard to getting vaccinated.
Given the uncertainty about students returning to in school education, I suggested to Lori that the most she and her staff can do is plan five days at a time.
“That’s right,” she said. “Five days at a time.”
Local News
Marty Green expands his protest against extremist Jewish settlers to two more venues – and is arrested twice more
(Tuesday, October 27) We received the following press release about Marty Green being arrested again, both at the University of Manitoba and at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue:
Both sides came to blows on Saturday, October 24, at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue as security personnel sought to prevent Marty Green from interfering with synagogue traffic as he protested just outside synagogue grounds against the actions of religious settlers in Israel’s occupied West Bank territory. Synagogue Executive Director Rena Secter Elbaze quickly intervened to prevent further escalation. Police arrived shorty thereafter and detained Green for 45 minutes before driving him home and releasing him. It is not clear whether their decision not to lay charges was the result of their own onsite investigation or whether it was at the request of the synagogue executive.
Green has now been arrested four times in the last month and faces multiple charges for disturbing the peace, including two episodes at the Asper Campus and one more this past Friday (Oct. 23) at the University of Manitoba. While Green says initially he was merely handing out leaflets (at the Asper Campus), since his first arrest on September 23, he has returned to the campus with a large placard and an acccordion, accompanying himself while singing songs with lyrics that include such phrases as “The Jews Are Bananas….B-A-N-A-N-A-S”. In addition to listing actions of the religious settlers as including arson, vandalism, and theft, he pointedly alleges that the IDF has been backing up the settlers in their actions.
Green had earlier notified the Shaarey Zedek that he was contemplating bringing his protest to the synagogue. He was told that if he attempted to enter the grounds he would be prevented from doing so. At that time, Secter Elbaze told Green that his intentions were inappropriate, declaring the synagogue to be “a house of worship dedicated to prayer, learning, community, and spiritual engagement.” Green responded that if the synagogue were willing to contact the Crown and inform them that “that there was never any legal basis for their claims that I was conducting myself inappropriately at the Asper Campus” (with regard to his earlier arrests) that he would “voluntarily refrain from carrying his informational campaign to the synagogue(s).”
Green further argues that the recent “psak” (religious ruling) by leading Israeli rabbi Rov Dov Lior, in which Lior declares that it is not merely permissible but praiseworthy for Jews to steal olives from Arab orchards….that this ruling brings his protest within the proper realm of religious discourse. He says further that if the local rabbis were willing to speak out to their congregations against the aforesaid psak, that he might have refrained from taking his campaign to their grounds.
Although Green was released on Saturday without charges, police confiscated his placard. They explained that it was being held as evidence pending an investigation by Major Crimes as to whether it constituted hate literature.
There was no further information given as to what happened at the University of Manitoba.
Local News
Third annual JFest Winnipeg will be offering programs for all ages
By MYRON LOVE JFest Winnipeg is back with a good variety of musical performances, a book launch, popular Jewish-themed films, children’s activities, and a family-oriented Shabbat dinner.
“JFest,” observes Laura Marjovsky, the Rady JCC Director of Programming, “is an opportunity for our community to experience Jewish art and culture. With our range of JFest events, we are trying to reach out beyond what has been our base audience and appeal to all ages. We have a commitment to bring top notch Israeli performers to share the highest caliber of Israeli entertainment with our audiences.”
The week-long festival (November 14-21) kicks off with a performance by top-ranked Israeli singer-songwriter Harel Skaat. The popular Israeli star began singing as a child. He shot to fame when he finished second in the second season of “Kochav Nolad” – Israel’s version of “American Idol.” His first album was released in 2006 and achieved Platinum status – with one of the songs being ranked as “song of the year.” He followed that up in 2009 with a second album that reached Gold status. In 2010, he represented Israel at the Eurovision competition.
Skaat’s performance is scheduled for the Seven Oaks Performing Arts Centre (which is attached to Garden City Collegiate) beginning at 8:00 P.M. on Saturday, November 14. Patrons will have the opportunity to purchase an enhanced ticket to attend a meet and greet with Harel.
All other JFest programs and activities will be at the Rady JCC.
Music Producer Karla Berbrayer says Ben Caplan’s performance on Saturday, November 21 will also be another highlight. “Ben Caplan redefines what it means to be a modern folk artist,” Berbrayer says. “His music and stories are matched by his larger-than-life stage presence. This concert focuses on how his Jewish upbringing has influenced his entire performance career.”
“Flatland Famous” is returning by popular demand. This quintet, known for its performances at Winnipeg Jets games, will be presenting its concert, “Jewish Soul of Rock and Roll,” on Wednesday, November 18, at 7:30 pm. This year’s show will feature songs by Amy Winehouse, Neil Diamond, Barbra Streisand, Simon and Garfinkel, and other famous Jewish icons.
On Tuesday, November 17, local author Deborah Schnitzer will be taking centre stage with the launch of her new book, “The Woman Who Swallowed West Hawk Lake.” The University of Winnipeg English Professor Emeritus’s new novel explores intergenerational trauma related to Nazi breeding programs. Joining Schnitzer on stage will be a panel of professionals who have experience working with children who have experienced trauma.
And of course, “Best of the Fest” is back. Films to be presented will include“The Floaters” and “We Met at Grossingers,” two wildly popular movies at last spring’s Winnipeg International Jewish Film Festival.
“The Floaters,” to be screened on Monday , November 16 at 7:00 pm is a funny and bang-on depiction of Jewish summer camp culture.
“We Met at Grossingers” is a loving look back at the Borscht Belt in New York’s Catskills, where generations of young Jewish performers earned their dues and developed their acts. The film will be screened on Thursday, November 19 at 7:00 P.M.
On Friday November 20, JFest will host a Family Shabbat dinner featuring Anat Kriger, an Israeli-born, Toronto-based musician, actor, and children’s performer, who has made several appearances in Winnipeg at major communal events.
Kidfest on Sunday, November 15, will be a day-long potpourri of programming that will include live performances, workshops, bouncy castles, games and crafts, and much more.
Readers seeking more information about JFest can contact Laura Marjovsky at 204 477-7539 or lmarjovsky@radyjcc/com
Local News
Hen Mazzig, leading Israeli advocate, makes first Winnipeg appearance
By MYRON LOVE On Tuesday, October 6, a large number of members of our community packed the chapel at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, eager to welcome Hen Mazzig in his first appearance in our community.
Over the past few years, the Israeli-born Mazzig – who was appearing at the invitation of our Jewish Federation and Combined Jewish Appeal team – has become one of Israel’s and the Jewish people’s leading advocates on the international stage. His online platforms reach as many 100 million viewers a month with a regular following of almost 1 million. He has been interviewed by numerous leading media outlets and has given addresses at close to 500 universities in recent years.
Mazzig’s presentation in Winnipeg (which was funded by the Asper Family and the Asper Foundation) took the form of a question and answer format with Sarah Mali, the Director General of JFC-UIA (Jewish Federations-United Jewish Appeal) Canada in Israel, asking the questions.
Mali , who was visiting Winnipeg for the third time in the past three years, began by expressing how honoured she felt about having the opportunity to converse with Mazzig – referring to Jewish Federation of Winnipeg President Carrie Shenkarow’s comments regarding Mazzig’s “devotion to Israel and the Jewish people”, his “deep sense of purpose, moral clarity” and “willingness to enter some of the most difficult spaces and conversations.”
The first question that Mali posed to Mazzig was related to his visit to the Canadian Museum of Human Rights and its controversial and one-sided take on the longstanding and ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She referred to a comment that Mazzig had made on X the day after visiting the museum, in which he wrote that while he “has no problem with people learning about Palestinian history,” he wished that “Palestine Uprooted” didn’t “distort the regional events, including the displacement of 800,000 people just like my grandmother, Hela, who became a refugee when Iraq turned on its Jewish community” post-1948.
“History can only lead to reconciliation when it is told honestly,” he observed. “Otherwise, it is just fuelilng an agenda.”
What most disturbed him about the exhibit, Mazzig told his audience, is that it erased his own family’s history. Expanding upon his family’s roots, he noted that his father’s family came to Israel from Tunisia and his mother’s side from Iraq. He spoke in particular about his maternal grandmother, Hela, who left behind “a beautiful civilization” – Jews had been living and thriving in Iraq since before the Roman destruction of Jerusalem 2000 years ago – to a new land (Israel), where she had to learn a new language (Hebrew) and rebuild her life.
Mazzig added that his grandmother is his anchor in life and the inspiration for all that he has accomplished.
Mali asked Mazzig about his ability to empathize with Palestinians. It was difficult to do, he answered. He got to know Palestinians, he recalled, during the Covid epidemic when he was serving as a medic with the Israel Defense Force and found himself responsible for helping Palestinians through that difficult time and transporting sick Palestinians to Israeli hospitals.
“Even though I fight so hard for Israel,” he observed, it doesn’t mean that I can’t feel empathy for anyone else.”
Mali asked Mazzig how October 7, 2023, changed him.
“I chose not to become a victim,” he said, “but rather to engage more with the world, bear witness, share our stories and talk about genocide. While I was actively advocating for Israel before October 7, I have been much more in demand since. I have become a lot more visible.
”I have found that a lot of people support us,” he continued. “They see what is happening and are on our side.”
On the other hand, he added, a lot of people don’t know anything about Israel. “It is a matter of education,” he said. “I encourage people to go to Israel and talk to Israelis.”
Mali’s last question was what Mazzig means when he writes that “I promise to love being Jewish ten times more than anyone hates me for it.” What does it mean to him to love and find joy and happiness in being Jewish”, she added?
It means cherishing our rich history, Mazzig responded, enjoying Shabbat dinners with family and friends, celebrating all of our holidays and traditions.
“The Jewish People have been through so much over the past 2000 years,” he said. “Many people have tried to destroy us, but we have survived. We are arisen from the ashes numerous time and continued to move forward. Not only are we still here but we have returned as an independent people living again in our ancestral homeland.”
Also addressing the audience at the Shaarey Zedek was Steven Shulman, the president and CEO of the Jewish Federations of Canada. Shulman heaped much praise on our Jewish community in Winnipeg.
“Winnipeg is special,” he noted, “not just in Canada but worldwide. Your CJA campaign continues to be the most successful in North America. You have an outstanding CEO (of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg) in Jeff Lieberman, who is universally respected.”
He further praised Gray Academy and our community’s highly successful GrowWinnipeg campaign – which has attracted thousands of new families to our community over the past 25 years.
He noted that he was particularly impressed with how our community has come together to protest the biased Nakba exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.
He also spoke of the many supporters that we have among non-Jewish Canadians – singling out, as an example, the police officer in Belleville who put his own life on the line protecting the city’s only Jewish congregation from a terrorist attack during yom tov services.
The last word went to Jeff Lieberman, who thanked all the members of our community who have contributed to the CJA campaign this year, as well as our many non-Jewish friends who continue to stand with Israel and the Jewish community.
