Local News
Winnipeg’s last Jewish men’s bowling league celebrates 100 years of camaraderie and friendly competition
By MYRON LOVE On June 15, the Recreation Men’s Bowling League held its annual wind-up banquet at the Glendale Golf & Country Club. As per usual, the wind-up is the venue for handing out the awards for the year just past.Once again, for the tenth year in a row, Terry Robinson won the W. Harry Zimmerman Memorial Trophy for Highest Average, a feat that the largely Jewish Recreation Men’s Bowling League’s current secretary has achieved for 16 of the past 20 years.
The Norm Lachter Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship was awarded to league treasurer Harvey Appelle for the fourth time – one more than Robinson.
Art Greenspan was recognized with the Jacob Memorial Trophy for most improved bowler.
Among the team awards, Robinson’s team (including Chad Selk, Andrew Feniuk, Sam Binder and Gary Verin) won the Larry Rosenberg Memorial Trophy (Aggregate Team Winner); the Spigelman Team (Avery Spigelman, Aaron London, Evan, Roitenberg, Sheldon Zipursky, Danny Gunn and Stu Slayen) received the Joseph Kay Memorial Trophy (A Roll-Off Team Winner); and Magorel Team (Garry Magorel, Saul Greenberg, Frank Dahl, Mel Verin and Brian Greenberg) earned the Sam Greenspan Memorial Trophy (B Roll-off Team Winner).
Robinson notes that the league currently consists of eight teams with five bowlers per team – a number that has remained fairly consistent over recent years – with members ranging in age from 18 to 92 (the oldest members being Joe Elfenbaum and Rube Helman). The men bowl at Chateau Lanes Wednesday evenings from the beginning of September through April.
The league itself is part of the Manitoba Tenpin Bowling Association.
Bowling has been a popular pastime in our Jewish community as long as bowling alleys have existed here. Several members of our community have had leadership roles in the sport over the past 100 years. The most impactful was the late Harry Zimmerman.
The businessman served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Manitoba Ten Pin Association for 36 years – from 1927 to his death in 1963 – and also treasurer of the Winnipeg Bowling Association for 21 years from 1942 to 1963. He was instrumental in the organizing of 5 Pin Bowling in Winnipeg. As well, he organized an annual high school tournament in the city of Winnipeg to introduce the sport to new members.
In his listing in the Manitoba Bowling hall of Fame (he was inducted in 1989) it is noted that “even in the lean years when the sport had only one house in addition to the clubs, Zimmerman never despaired and showed great optimism for the future.
Nate Lexier, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990, may have been the finest bowler Winnipeg has ever produced – according to the Hall of Fame citation. During a career that spanned 50 years – starting in 1932 when he was 13 – he averaged a score of 200 or better for seven consecutive seasons and was a member of the Senior League Championship Team eight times.
He also served on the Winnipeg Bowling Association for 14 years, including 11 seasons as President from 1942 – 53.
Of more recent vintage have been Elaine Yamron and Harvey Zimberg. Both have been leaders in the world of bowling locally, nationally and internationally – for 50 years, beginning in the early 1970s. Yamron even competed for Canada at the 2001 Maccabi Games.
Over the decades, there have been several different Jewish bowling leagues – with board members and scores posted weekly in what was formerly The Jewish Post – in the club and social news section – and, in more recent years, at the end of Harvey Rosen’s sports columns.
In the April, 19th, 1951 edition, for example, in the paper, there is a report on the results for the Bnai Brith Ten Pin league bowling results for March 3.
In 1961, one can find details on the Classic Ten-Pin League as well as B’nai Brith Ten-Pin Bowling, in addition to the Recreation Ten-Pin league.
In 1978, the Post reported the scores of 12 Jewish bowling leagues – men’s women’s and mixed. In 2001, there were Post reports on the Gateway Mixed Bowling league, Jewish Women’s International League and Recreation League.
Terry Robinson is the longest serving member of the Recreation League. “I have been bowling for 47 years,” says the grandson of Sydney I. Robinson, who worked in the sporting goods industry for most of his career. “My father was a bowler. Just after I got married in 1975, my dad let me know that there was an opening in the league and invited me to join.”
Saul London and his wife, Caroline, started bowling together more than 30 years ago in a league with many Jewish members who bowled Sunday evenings in the basement of the German Club. When that league folded, the retired accountant joined the Recreation League.
For many years, London was the Recreation League’s secretary and the individual who sent in the regular results to what was by then The Jewish Post & News.
At the time London joined, he recalls, the league was bowling at Empress Lanes. When that bowling alley closed, the men moved to Chateau Lanes – where they currently bowl.
Al Rosenberg has been president of the Recreation League for the past eight years. The businessman (advertising and marketing) was recruited by London.
“Mel Verin , who was one of my best friends, was also a member,” Rosenberg says. “I really enjoy the camaraderie.”
Robinson also comments on the social experience. “We have a really good group of guys,” he observes. “I also enjoy the competitive aspect.”
Harvey Appelle, the League’s long time treasurer, reports that while the number of League bowlers is not quite what it was – there used to be almost 50 participants – the group has been able to retain 40 for several years now.
He laments though that the league membership is getting older. Robinson agrees that it would be nice to be able to attract a few more younger bowlers.
“It’s understandable though that younger people would prefer to bowl with their friends,” he observes.
Nonetheless, all the League participants are eager to get going this month for the Recreation League’s 101st season.
Local News
Thank you to the community from the Chesed Shel Emes
We’re delighted to share a major milestone in our Capital Campaign, “Building on our Tradition.” Launched in November 2018, this campaign aimed to replace our outdated facility with a modern space tailored to our unique needs. Our new building is designed with ritual at its core, featuring ample preparation space, Shomer space, and storage, creating a warm and welcoming environment for our community during times of need.
We’re grateful to the nearly 1,000 generous donors who contributed over $4 million towards our new facility. A $750,000 mortgage will be retired in November 2025, completing this monumental project in just seven years.
We’re also thrilled to announce that our Chesed Shel Emes Endowment Fund has grown tenfold, from $15,000 to $150,000, thanks to you, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba’s FundMatch program, and Million Dollar Match initiative in 2024. Our fund helps ensure that everyone can have a dignified Jewish funeral regardless of financial need.
As we look to the future, our goal remains to ensure the Chevra Kadisha continues to serve our community for generations to come. Our focus now shifts to replenishing our savings account and growing our JFM Endowment fund.
We’re deeply grateful for your support over the past several years.
It’s our privilege to serve our community with care and compassion.
With sincere appreciation,
Campaign cabinet: Hillel Kravetsky, Gerry Pritchard, Stuart Pudavick,
Jack Solomon, and Rena Boroditsky
Murray S. Greenfield, President
Local News
Winnipeg Beach Synagogue about to celebrate 75th anniversary
By BERNIE BELLAN (July 13) In 1950 a group of cottage owners at Winnipeg Beach took it upon themselves to relocate a one-room schoolhouse that was in the Beausejour area to Winnipeg Beach where it became the beach synagogue at the corner of Hazel and Grove.
There it stayed until 1998 when it was moved to its current location at Camp Massad.
On August 2nd members of the synagogue will be holding a 75th anniversary celebration.
As part of the celebration anyone who is a descendant or relative of any of the original members of the first executive committee (as seen in the photo here) is invited to attend the synagogue that morning.
If you are a relative please contact Abe Borzykowski at wpgbeachshule@shaw.ca or aborzykowski@shaw.ca to let Abe know you might be attending or for more information about the 75th anniversary celebration.
We will soon be publishing a story about the history of the beach synagogue, which is something I’ve been writing about for over 25 years.
Local News
Vickar Family cuts ribbon on new Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre
By MYRON LOVE In the words of Larry Vickar, the Shaarey Zedek’s successful Dor V’ Dor Campaign “is not only a renewal of the synagogue but truly a renewal movement of Jewish life in our community.”An integral part of that renewal movement was the creation of a daycare centre within the expanded synagogue. On Monday, June 23, Larry and Tova Vickar cut the ribbon, thereby officially opening the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre in the presence of 100 of their family members, friends and other supporters of the project.
The short program preceding the morning ribbon-cutting began with a continental breakfast followed by a welcome by both Fanny Levy, Shaarey Zedek’s Board President, and Executive Director Dr. Rena Secter Elbaze. In Elbaze’s remarks, she noted that Larry and Tova wanted their family (including son Stephen and family, who flew in from Florida) and friends at the event to celebrate the opening of the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre, “not because of the accolades, but because, as Larry put it, he hopes that their investment in the congregation will inspire others to do the same.”
“When Larry and I spoke about what this gift meant to him and the message he wanted people to take away,” she continued, “I couldn’t help but connect it to the teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi whose book – Age-ing to Sage-ing – changes the whole way we look at the concept of ageing and basing it on our ancestral teachings.”
She explained that his concept of “Sage-ing” is based on three key ideas – Discover your meaning and purpose; accept our mortality and think about the legacy you want to leave.
“Larry spoke about these exact concepts when we met,” she said.
Elbaze also noted the presence of Shaarey Zedek’s newly-arrived senior Rabbi Carnie Rose, former Rabbi Alan Green, and area MLAs Mike Moroz and Carla Compton.
Larry Vickar expressed his great appreciation for all those in attendance. “Tova and I are deeply moved to stand here with you today for this important milestone in our community”, he said. “We are grateful to be surrounded by all of you, the people we care about, our family and friends… you who have touched our lives and played some part in our journey.”