Local News
2025 Yom Tov Winnipeg synagogue attendance largely the same as last year’s
By MYRON LOVE The past year has been a time of renewal with the unveiling of new – or substantially renovated – buildings for our two major congregations and new rabbinical leadership this year at the Shaarey Zedek and Temple Shalom.
Much like last year, Jewish Winnipeggers greeted yom tov with enthusiasm – with this year’s attendance matching or – in the case of Etz Chayim – exceeding last year’s numbers.
Last year, in its first Yom Tov service in its new building at 1155 Wilkes Avenue in south Winnipeg, Etz Chayim recorded 335 in attendance for the first services on Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur service and 120 for the second – with 450 for Kol Nidre at the Viscount Gort hotel.
The problem for Etz Chayim at its new location is that capacity is considerably less than what is was in its previous building on Matheson Avenue in north Winnipeg. To remedy that situation this year, the congregation rented a larger space at a nearby facility called the Soul Sanctuary.
Morissa Granove, Congregation Etz Chayim’s executive director, notes that the location is basically a large gym. “We transformed the space into a synagogue for Yom Tov,” she says. “That allowed us to have all of our members and friends together under one roof. We sold over 480 tickets, even more than we expected. It was nice to have all of us together. We had a lovely service and received great feedback.”
Granove reports that the congregation’s plan in moving south was always to eventually expand the sanctuary to ensure that everyone can fit into their new spiritual home 365 days a year (including Yom Tov.) “We don’t as yet have a specific time line,” Granove reports. “That will be dependent on accessing grants and raising funds for this next step when the time is right. We are in an evolution, so to speak, and as hard as it is to wait for all of the pieces to fall perfectly into place, it was important to evolve within our means. Slow and steady with a clear vision and lots of excitement for everything still to come.”
The Shaarey Zedek, our community’s largest and oldest congregation, once again sold out early – although, says Dr. Rena Secter Elbaze, the synagogue’s executive director,” we always leave a few seats available. We never turn anyone away.”
She notes that the main sanctuary has a capacity of 1032 – with an additional 297 for the separate Family Service downstairs. “We had about 1300 congregants altogether counting those attending our family service downstairs for the families whose children are registered in our new daycare,” she reports. “We had almost 300 for the first family service and 70 for the second.”
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services in the main sanctuary were led by Rabbi Carnie Rose and Cantor Leslie Emery – with contributions from the Quartet and the Ruach Volunteer Choir. Rabbi Anibal Mass, as usual, led the family service with support from the youth band and the Dor Chadash Youth Choir.
“Carnie (Rabbi Rose) is having a huge impact on our membership,” Secter Elbaze points out. “Since he joined Shaarey Zedek in the summer, a lot of new members have joined. We are seeing new people becoming members virtually every day. Carnie has the ability to reach out to people and give them the feeling that they are loved.”
At Temple Shalom, our community’s 60-plus-year-old Reform Congregation, newly-installed Rabbi Myriam Saitman reports great attendance for Yom Tov. The synagogue’s capacity is about 200. “Everyone was very happy with the service,” she says. “We have a wonderful cantorial soloist in David Vamos and a wonderful choir led by Janet Pelletier Goetze. After the High Holidays, several new young people took out membership in our congregation.”
South end Winnipeg further offers a fourth Liberal Jewish option in the form of Rabbi Matthew Leibl’s “Services on the River: A Modern High Holidays”. This is the third year that the former Shaarey Zedek – and now independent – rabbi has led his own service at the Gates on Roblin.
He reports that the service was much the same as last year with 250 people buying tickets – the same number as last year.
The venue has room for up to 300 people.
“Services on the River: A modern High Holidays” held services on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Erev Yom Kippur and Yom Kippur in the morning. The three 90-minute services, Leibl noted last year, “are designed to offer moments of reflection and introspection, beautiful live music, and a celebration of the Jewish New Year, all against the pastoral backdrop of the Assiniboine River, which was also be our site for Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah.”
“We had a truly wonderful service,” he reported. “The atmosphere was warm and engaging. I loved it.”
Rabbi Leibl is also the “spiritual care aide” at the Simkin Centre – although Yom Tov services are led by Steven Hyman – with Bonnie Antel directing the choir. “A tremendous Yasher Koach to Steven and Bonnie,” he said.
Peak attendance at the Simkin Centre, Rabbi Leibl reported, came on the first day of Rosh Hashonah with about 200 residents and family members present. There were about 180 on the second day and on Yom Kippur – fewer for Kol Nidre.
“The highlight this year,” Rabbi Leibl noted, “was that we moved our services into the Atrium – the open space with high ceilings and beautiful wood beams, huge windows and tons of natural light made for an incredible atmosphere and space. We hold our weekly Friday and Saturday services in the Atrium so it made sense to try it out. While in the past, we’d used our Multi Purpose Room, the Atrium has so much more character and a feeling of something special in it. It’s also a more public space where people entering the building see what’s happening, whether they intend to or not. It worked so well that we intend to continue having our Yom Tov services in the Atrium.”
South Winnipeg is also home two Orthodox congregations and both the Lubavitch Centre and the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia did well. The latter’s Yom Tov service was made more meaningful by the continued presence of Rabbi Yossi Benarroch. While Benarroch officially retired – after ten years – as the congregation’s spiritual leader at the end of July to return full time to his family in Israel – he agreed to return for Yom Tov and continue as rabbi on a part time basis until the congregation can find a replacement.
Adas Yeshurun has a membership of about 100 and can accommodate up to 250. Speaking on behalf of the shul, Dr. Allen Kraut reports that attendance was about on par with last year.
The Lubavitch Centre’s senior Rabbi Avroham Altein reports that several hundred daveners crammed into the shul for Yom Tov. “We get a lot of support from the Israeli, Argentinian and Russian Jewish communities in addition to long-established community members,” he points out.
He added that a number of younger community members were in attendance.
There is no charge to davening at Chabad nor do you have to register in advance.
In the North End, High Holiday service options are more limited. The Chevra Mishnayes in Garden City offers an egalitarian service. Synagogue president Rob Waldman reports that about 100 attended services this year – about the same number as last year.
“Our services (led by Jewish Child and Family Service President and CEO Al Benarroch) went very well,” Waldman notes. “Every year, we lose one or two families and gain a couple of new families.”
Both the House of Ashkenazi, the last of our community’s older-style Orthodox congregations, and the Chavurat Tefila Talmud Torah offer Orthodox services. This year for the High Holidays, the congregation brought in Rabbi Gary Zweig and Cantor Manny Aptowitzer from Toronto. The number of people attending was between 40 and 50 – the best turnout in many years – which attests to the wisdom of the two struggling congregations agreeing to merge 18 months ago.
The House of Ashkenazi recorded Yom Tov attendance of between 20 and 30. During the rest of the year, the Ashkenazi remains open for services only on Thursday mornings. Synagogue members go to the Chavurat Tefila Talmud Torah for Shabbat and other holiday services.
Local News
Fringe Festival star Melanie Gall to appear at Gwen Secter Centre July 16
By BERNIE BELLAN A veteran performer at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Melanie Gall, will be making a special guest appearance at the Gwen Secter Centre on Thursday, July 16.
Melanie will be the featured speaker (and entertainer) for the Remis Speakers’ Series that day. The Remis Speakers’ Series is held every Thursday starting at noon and ending at 1:30. This year’s series began May 7 and will continue through the end of October. This year it has been attracting increasingly large audiences – ranging from 40-60 people, as it offers attendees the opportunity to enjoy a delicious – and kosher lunch, while listening to a very diverse variety of speakers – all the way from Gail Asper talking about returning the Ten Commandments to Assiniboine Park to Rabbi Matthew Leibl performing Christmas songs that were written by Jewish songwriters. At the same time it provides those attending a chance to make new acquaintances – or perhaps bump into old friends they haven’t seen in a long time.
Melanie Gall’s own story is sure to be riveting. I’ve written about Melanie in the past, but the past two summers had been especially nerve wracking for Melanie, as she was subjected to a torrent of antisemitic abuse over her support for the State of Israel.
You can read my story about what Melanie went through during the Winnipeg Fringe Festival – both in 2024 and again last year, at Melanie Gall subjected to antisemitic abuse.
Melanie, who will be entering her 13th year of performing at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, will be peforming in only one show this year – a departure from her past practice of performing in multiple shows (as many as three different shows) during the Fringe Festival.
Elsewhere on this website we’ll be offering a preview of Melanie’s show (which is called “The Ballad of Isobel Gunn” and which is based on an incredible, but true story), along with previews of several other shows.
In the meantime, if you’re not already a member of the Remis Speakers’ Series group, but would ike to attend this coming Thursday, simply email us at jewishp@mymts.net and we’ll reserve a spot for you. The cost for the lunch is only $20.
The Gwen Secter Centre is located at 1588 Main Street (corner of Smithfield). There is parking available on a lot behind the centre or on the street.
Local News
Folk Festival Report
(Posted July 10) During this year’s Winnipeg Folk Festival we’re going to be running an ongoing blog report – with photos and blurbs from the festival, sent to us by our Folk Fest correspondent Heather Silbert.
Here’s Heather’s first entry (sent Friday at 3:33 pm): “It’s a hot hot day at the 51st Winnipeg Folk Festival! Lots of people; lots of good vibes; and an abundance of awesome music!!”
“We just moved to spruce hollow. Nice and shady. listening to Jacob Brodovsky.”
4:21 pm: “Jacob just announced that he lost his job and received a lot of vitriol from the Jewish Community because he’s a Jewish person who believes that Palestinian and Jewish lives are intertwined, and he is against genocide. He is very deeply feeling, and expresses all these big feelings through his songs. I want to give him a hug, but it’s so hot outside!”
5:33 pm: The inscription in the plaque below begins with some lines from a Bruce Cockburn song called “Joy Will Find a Way (A Song About Dying)”: and continues with: “Memory Lane honours those who are no longer with us but whose presence lives on in the music, memories and moments we share here…”
7:06 pm “Gorgeous hand made polymer clay jewelry! Amanda Greisman makes gorgeous pieces that can be worn across many occasions! And she’s so so nice!” (See her booth called “Blue Sky Jewelry.”)
(Posted July 11, 4:20 pm) “Would you drive your bike to BHP for FF in this weather? I would drive here, but not sure if I’d have enough steam to bike home!”
“There’s aren’t any flower/leaf art installations this year(that I’ve found!) but loving the fairy village!!”
“It’s another sweltering day. Bright blue sky and a light Breeze. Cat Clyde is rocking it out at Bur Oakbank!! Loving it!!”
8:04 pm: “Snacktime! Excellent energy, good time! We’re sitting 2 tarp rows in front of the frog to the left of the Canadian flag. (Total FF directions! LOL!)”
Local News
New GrowWinnipeg “Grow Together” highlights diverse origins of our growing Jewish community
By MYRON LOVE On Monday, June 11, about 120 younger Jewish Winnipeggers from diverse backgrounds came together at the Asper Campus for an evening of food and music, games and prizes and, most important, the opportunity to socialize with their peers from a growing community that reflects the long term success of our community’s 26-year-old GrowWinnipeg initiative.
“We are gathered here to celebrate your and your parents’ decisions to come to Winnipeg, build families and raise families here,” noted Dalia Szpiro, GrowWinnipeg’s director, in addressing the young adults in attendance.
To summarize, the GrowWinnipeg Initiative arose when our past community’s leadership recognized that our Jewish population was an aging and shrinking community with aging infrastructure.
The first stage was the planning and construction of the Asper Campus, which brought our major institutions and organizations under one roof in an attractive new building.
The next challenge was to attract more people to our community. GrowWinnipeg was created to take on the challenge. The initiative, which was officially launched in 2000, is unique in its efforts to reach out to young Jewish families throughout the Western world.
The first outreach efforts were directed at Argentina’s sizeable Jewish community at a time when the South American country’s economy was going through a very difficult period. Several of our community leaders visited the Jewish community in Buenos Aires and a website was established. Arrangements were made for local families to host Jewish Argentinians here on exploratory visits and the community helped the prospective immigrants navigate the then new Provincial Nominee Program, find jobs and establish themselves here.
Since then, many young families – from Argentina, as well as a great number of other countries – have chosen to make Winnipeg their new home. The young people at the recent GrowWinnipeg evening were reflective of the diversity of our growing community. During the course of the evening, I had the opportunity to speak with not only Israeli-born participants, also young people from Russia and Ukraine, Turkey and Uruguay – and a young lady who grew up in Ottawa.
Naomi Kirshenblatt Palansky originally came here from Ottawa to go to university. She met and married local entrepreneur Noah Palansky in 2023. (We wrote about Noah in the December 19, 2025 issue). That same year, the former competitive swimmer who competed in the Maccabiah Games in 2009 and 2013 served as manager of the Canadian Junior swimming team participating in the games. She is currently the director of operations and strategy for a company called CoinFlip.
Although born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Yael Borovich grew up in Winnipeg. She is the daughter of Dalia Szpiro and Eduardo Borovich (and younger sister of Vanessa) all of whom moved here in 2002. She is a graduate of the Asper School of Business and works as a senior client relationship manager for Scotia Bank’s commercial branch.
Siblings Igal and Edem Avimelek arrived here from Turkey six years ago with their parents, Etel and Moris. Edem is in her second year at the University of Manitoba while Igal is studying engineering at UBC.
They report that their father, Moris, has established the Upperwear Textile Agency – marketing textile products online – while their mother Etel, is senior IT Director, software development and data analytics and enterprise architecture at Standard Aero.
“Our parents were looking to move to a new country and came across the GrowWinnipeg webpage,” Edem says. “GrowWinnipeg has been really supportive of us in helping us move here and become established.”
More recent arrivals Alex Tsmokaliuk and Jane Hin are from Ukraine and Russia respectively and have been together since 2022. “We were looking for a peaceful place to start a family,”: Alex says. “We heard about GrowWinnpeg and here we are.”
Alex is a fitness trainer while Jane is working for WRE Development as a property manager.
Dora Bronstein, who is originally from Beersheva, is also a recent arrival to our community. “I came to Winnipeg because I wanted to get away from war – and I heard about GrowWinnipeg,” she says.
She is currently working for L.C. Taylor Licensed Insolvency Trustee as an estate manager.
Erele Tzidon and Daniel Mejnov
Last October, GrowWinnipeg introduced its new Youth Ambassadors program.
“Since October, we have been working to create an organized system and opportunities to help young newcomers find their people within our community,” wrote Youth Ambassador Erele Tzidon on Facebook.
“Our mission is to help young immigrants find a sense of home in Winnipeg and support a smooth and welcoming transition.
We are excited to help bring our young Jewish community together.
As reported in the Jewish Post about 18 months ago, Tzidon is originally from Moshav Ginaton in central Israel. She came to Winnipeg in 2018 with her parents Ofer – formerly regional manager for a car rental agency in Israel and now an RBC branch manager – and Sharon – an emotional therapist in Israel who is currently working as an educational assistant at Gray Academy – and three younger brothers.
The 20-year Gray Academy graduate has recently completed her third year in Science at the University of Manitoba. For the past three years, she has also been a member of Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin’s research team at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (ICS), researching the link between pregnancy complications and the risk for heart disease.
In November, 2024, Tzidon was presented with the Dr. James S. McGoey Student Award – based on the quality of her cardiovascular research at the ICS, which operates out of the St. Boniface Hospital campus’s Albrechchtsen Research Centre.
Tzidon’s fellow Youth Ambassador is Daniel Mejnov. He was born in Beersheva but moved to Winnipeg with his parents, Dennis and Victoria (and younger brother Alon) 14 years ago. He is currently enrolled in an IT program at the University of Winnipeg.
Mejnov welcomed all those in attendance at the celebration and thanked the volunteers who helped him and Tzidon organize the event.
“It has been great being able to bring so many people together,” he said. “This is a good way to unite our community.
Two other individuals of particular note that I spoke with at the event were Orit Agabayev and Alina Plis, partners in three year old A and O Event Décor, who provided the balloon arches and walls, table settings and centre pieces for the evening.
Agabayev is originally from Netanya and Plis is from Yeruham (in southern Israel). The latter has been here for 18 years and operates a daycare. The former came 16 years. Her principal career is working in the field of animal nutrition.
In an Instagram PosI from four years ago, Plis noted that “I have always been passionate about planning parties and events. I started out with planning big surprise birthday parties for my kids. Eventually I began planning and decorating events for family and friends. Now I am taking the next step with my friend, Orit, who shares the same level enthusiasm as me. What drives me to go above and beyond is simply the excitement my creations bring to those who see my work.
On Facebook, Agabayev added that “Alina and I are so excited to start A&O event decor. We both love decorating and planning different events. We hope that you can put your trust in us to create or decorate an event for you. We do Birthday parties, anniversaries, bachelor/bachelorette parties, proposals, weddings and more..
“Message us with your ideas to get a free quote and you’re one step closer to having an unforgettable event.”
