Local News
Jewish Foundation releases list of organizations that received emergency funding
By BERNIE BELLAN
(First posted May 15; amended May 20) Note: This story appeared earlier on this website, but has now been amended to include the list of all “Jewish” organizations that received funding from the Jewish Foundation in what the Foundation says will ultimately be three rounds of emergency funding due to the pandemic.
The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba has given a major boost to many Jewish organizations that have found themselves in dire financial circumstances as a result of the restrictions placed on their operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We were first informed that the Foundation was helping many organizations when we were told that cheques had been sent out to many organizations the last week in April. (A copy of the email that was received by many of the organizations informing them of the financial assistance they were about to receive is shown on this page.) We contacted several organizations to verify what we had been told had happened and were able to confirm that cheques had been sent out by the Foundation.
But, while we did attempt to gather more information about what the Foundation was doing, it took some time before we received a detailed description from the Foundation of what exactly was going on. We had emailed a series of questions to various individuals associated with the Foundation on May 3, but it wasn’t until May 7 that we received a detailed response to those questions.
That detail came in the form of an email from John Diamond, CEO of the Jewish Foundation, which was received on May 7.
Following is what John Diamond wrote. His email also includes the exact questions that I posed in my May 3 email:
“I know that Richard Yaffe (Chair of the JFM board) has spoken to you and given you some information about the JFM’s planned approach to assisting our Jewish organizations during the Covid 19 pandemic. Since that time our board has met, as has our grants committee, and I can give you some updated information as well as some background.
“Our overall approach is governed by the legislation that created the Foundation, as well as by the JFM’s mission, vision and values. With this in mind, we saw it as our responsibility to provide at least some level of basic financial support to as many Manitoba based Jewish organizations as possible. We also want to provide further assistance to those organizations that are in particularly dire circumstances as a result of the pandemic.
“On the recommendation of staff, the JFM board decided to defer all regular 2020 grants. In fact, many of those grants related to projects that could no longer take place as a result of the pandemic. We decided to divide the available funds into three equal parts – each about $200,000. The funds for this were re-directed from our 2020 Jewish and Community grants.
“Recognizing that many organizations are very thinly staffed and that some are not as adept as others in applying for funds, the first funding (aggregate $200,000) was distributed, based on organizations’ operating budgets, to provide basic sustaining funding to all of the organizations. In addition, we provided an aggregate of $102,000 to four of Winnipeg’s frontline charities (Winnipeg Harvest, Siloam Mission, Agape Table, and Main Street Project).
“Our grants committee and board are now in the process of finalizing the guidelines for the distribution of the remaining $400,000, which will be done in two parts.
“I have compiled some points that I believe address all of the questions that you posed along with some additional insights into the process.
“1. Were you asked for assistance from certain organizations?”
“Some organizations have approached the Foundation for emergency funding. Many have not.
“2. What was the total amount of money JFM distributed to these organizations?”
“In total, so far we have distributed almost $300,000 in relief funding to Jewish Community organizations and frontline charities (approximately $200,000 to the Jewish organizations from our regular grants, and approximately $100,000 from our community grants fund to the frontline community charities).
“3. What was the formula JFM used to distribute the money?”
“To distribute to our 26 Manitoba based Jewish organizations, five levels of funding were established based on the operating budgets of each organization.
“4. The Foundation froze all spring grants that it was to have allocated. Can you explain why?”
“Many of the projects that the spring grants were to fund were cancelled or significantly altered since the time the applications for funding were submitted. We believe it is our responsibility to take action to help sustain our Jewish organizations, whether or not they have an immediate need and whether or not they have the human and financial resources to apply for funding.
“5. Will the JFM also be distributing more money for the relief of organizations based on need?”
“We know this is not the end of hardships to be endured by our Jewish organizations. Therefore in the next few weeks, more information will be provided to them regarding opportunities to apply for additional relief funding from the remaining $400,000. Our Grants Committee is currently finalizing the process and criteria for organizations to apply.
“To ensure we are implementing processes that will achieve the most impact, the JFM is in constant contact with our Jewish organizations. This includes the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. As both organizations endeavor to serve the community during this time of need, it will be through our shared information and consistent communication that support is administered where it is needed most.
“Thank you again for helping us communicate our ambition to support our community during this difficult time.”
As a follow-up to this story I contacted the Jewish Foundation with a request that they release the names of the organizations that had received assistance from the Foundation.
On May 14 I sent this email to John Diamond:
“Hi John,
“Would you be willing to release a list of organizations that received the initial grants from the Foundation and the amounts each received?
“(I should note that I’ve had a number of individuals, including one former board member of the Foundation, who’ve asked me whether that information can be given.)”
On May 16 I received the following response from Drew Unger, Marketing & Events Associate with the Foundation:
“In respect to your question, below, I have listed all of the Jewish organizations that have received funding by way of the Phase 1 distribution. We have now added two additional Jewish organizations to the list to bring the total to twenty-eight.
“To address the second part of your inquiry, due to a variety of unique circumstances currently faced by individual organizations, at this point, we will leave the disclosure of the amount they received to their discretion. Soon we will be positioned to paint a clear picture of the impact these distributions are making in the community with the imminent onset of Phase 2.”
1 Adas Yeshurun Herzlia Congregation
2 Aleph Bet Child Life Enrichment Program Inc.
3 Asper Jewish Community Campus of Winnipeg
4 B’nai Brith Canada – Midwest Region
5 B’nai Brith Jewish Community Camp
6 Camp Massad Manitoba
7 Canadian Institute for the Study of Antisemitism
8 Chabad-Lubavitch of Winnipeg
9 Chai Folk Arts Council Inc.
10 Chavurat Tefilah
11 Chesed Shel Emes
12 Chevra Mishnayes Synagogue
13 Congregation Etz Chayim
14 Congregation Shaarey Zedek
15 Gray Academy of Jewish Education
16 Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre
17 Hebrew Congregation of Winnipeg Beach
18 House of Ashkenazie
19 Jewish Child and Family Service
20 Jewish Federation of Winnipeg
21 Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada
22 National Council of Jewish Women of Canada-Winnipeg Section
23 Rady Jewish Community Centre
24 Saul & Claribel Simkin Centre
25 Shalom Residences Inc.
26 Talmud Torah Beth Jacob Synagogue
27 Temple Shalom Manitoba Inc.
28 Winnipeg Jewish Theatre Inc.
Local News
First year medical student Tim Rozovsky founds new association for local Jewish medical students
By MYRON LOVE In the face of a concerning surge in antisemitism over the past nearly three years, I am happy to report a good news story in that regard. Tim Rozovsky, the founder of the new Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba, reports that he and his fellow Jewish students enrolled in the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine are not experiencing any significant issues involving antisemitism.
Hopefully, the matter of the notorious Med school Valedictorian who used his podium to attack Israel was a one-off.
“My goal in forming the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba,” says the first year medical student, “was to create a safe, supportive environment for my fellow Jewish medical students.”
He reports that the current first year class at the school has eight Jewish students – an increase over more recent years – with maybe a dozen more in the other years.
For a new medical student, Rozovsky already has an impressive resume. He was born in Russia and grew up in Israel. After the completion of his army service in 2018, the then-22-year-old rejoined his parents, Dr. Katya and Alexander, who had moved to Winnipeg a few years before.
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, Rozovsky had completed a personal trainer program out of The Academic College at Wingate in Jerusalem. Some readers may know the young man from his work as a Master Personal Trainer at the Rady JCC.
Shortly after arriving here, he enrolled in a kinesiology program at the University of Winnipeg. He graduated with a BKin Honours in 2023 and did post graduate work at the University of Manitoba. Last fall, he received his MSc in Physiology and Pathophysiology – earning two gold medals, along with 32 awards and scholarships in the process.
Rozovsky says that it was his mother who inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Dr. Katya Rozovsky is an associate professor at the University of Manitoba and an attending radiologist, specializing in pediatric diagnostic imaging.
(Tim also adds that his wife, Irina Gelzin, whom he married about a year ago, is training to be a nurse.)
Insofar as the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba is concerned, Rozovky reports that the group gets together multiple times a year. One of its programs was a joint Chanukah celebration with the Jewish Physicians Association of Manitoba.
There was also a joint program with the Christian Medical and Dental Students’ Association of Manitoba.
“More recently, we have been helping prospective Jewish medical students with their applications,” he says. “Hopefully we will be able to get together over the summer with the incoming Jewish students.”
As to his own future plans, Rozovsky notes that it is too early for him to be deciding on a specialty. “My goal,” he says, “is to work hard and get good grades and become the best doctor that I can be.”
Local News
Gray Academy to Represent Manitoba at National Reach for the Top Competition
By NOAH STRAUSS Posted June 6) Gray Academy’s Reach for the Top team is headed to Moncton, New Brunswick, to represent Manitoba at the National Reach for the Top tournament.
Reach for the Top is a Canadian school league that quizzes teenagers on a variety of different topics, from science and history to pop culture. Reach started out in 1961 in Vancouver, where a local CBC station broadcasted the new show; it eventually became a national broadcast starting in 1966. Alex Trebek, who famously hosted Jeopardy!, started out by hosting Reach for the Top.
Gray Academy’s very own team, made up of Grade 7 and 8 students, will travel to Moncton, New Brunswick, to compete as Team Manitoba. By winning the provincial Reach tournament, they secured their spot in the national competition.
Faculty members at Gray Academy are very supportive of the program. The Jewish Post spoke with three different staff members at the school. Coach and high school teacher Danielle Miller says she is excited for the trip; although she will not be accompanying the team herself, shehas coached them all year.
“This year we had over 20 students come to the club to join us, they practice twice a cycle at lunch,” Miller said. Due to the large turnout this year, two teams had to be formed. At lunch practices, students split into two teams of four where each player has a buzzer. The two teams compete to see who can answer the most questions correctly.
One of the two teams did exceptionally well at various tournaments throughout the year and will be traveling to nationals as the sole team representing Manitoba.
Co-coach Micah Doerksen described Reach as a great academic competition where young minds are tested on various topics through quick,fast-paced questions.
High school guidance counselor Lindsey Leipsic said, “We have athletes, non-athletes, we have students who are really involved and students who are not as involved at school, and we have quiet leaders, and we’ve seen friendships be built in Reach.” Some of her favorite memories of Reach involve seeing students from across Winnipeg come to Gray Academy and bond with one another. Lev Chisick, who is competing at nationals, agreed, saying, “Moncton is going to strengthen our school spirit and make us a better team.”
As the junior team makes their way to Moncton, the senior team will head to provincials. Later this week, students from the senior team will travel to Virden, Manitoba, to compete at the provincial level. The team qualified after placing high enough at their most recent tournament, which took place at St. Paul’s.
Confidence is high as the school heads into these final tournaments. When Nath Goldenberg, who is also competing at nationals, was asked what he is most looking forward to, his answer was short and sweet:“Winning.”
Local News
Team Schvesters teammates Benji Harvey, Kim Gray once again among top ten fundraisers in this year’s CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Challenge for Life event
By MYRON LOVE This year’s annual CancerCare Manitoba Foundation’s Challenge for Life walk at Assiniboine Park is scheduled for Sunday, June 13 – and, once again, in terms of fundraising, Team Schvesters is sitting in second place overall – having raised just over $30,500 as of May 26 – which is $5,000 more than the team members had raised by the same time last year.
As well, team members Benji Harvey and Kim Gray are once again in the top ten among individual fundraisers. Harvey this year sits in fifth place, having raised a little over $16,000 as of May 17 – while Gray has raised just above $8,000 – putting her in seventh place.
Harvey reports that, -over the past 18, years participating in CancerCare Manitoba Foundation’s Challenge for Life, she has personally raised $180,000 for cancer research, while her team as a whole has brought in $367,000. In discussing her success as a fundraiser, Harvey says that she has made a lot of friends over the years and believes in giving back to the community.
The “Schvesters” are the Greenfeld sisters: Harvey and sisters Lesly Katz and Debra Lewis – the daughters of Lil and the late Ike Greenfeld. Two of the sisters are cancer survivors.
There is one other team member – in addition to Kim Gray. Judge Rocky Pollack first joined Team Schvesters in 2023. After a year away in 2024, he returned last year. Pollack lost his wife, Sharon, to cancer in 2014 after a multi-year struggle.
Nancy’s Nightingales has been a top 10 community fundraising team for Cancercare Manitoba and the Challenge for Life since its inception in 2008. As a team, they have walked together since 2006 when they walked 60 km in two days in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer.
Last year, the team – including Louise Raber, Joanne Katz, Rhonda Youell, Connie Botelho and Harriet Lyons – finished fifth in fundraising. So far this year, the team is again sitting in fifth place –having raised just under $12,500 (as of May 26) – a couple of thousand dollars more than last year, and just about $300 behind the fourth place team.
The Nightingales are named after a nurse who is a cancer survivor- and a friend of Louise Raber, Nancy’s Nightingales team leader.
“Our goal, as always, is to raise at least one dollar more than last year,” says Raber.
Team Jason’s Journey team leader Jason Gisser has experienced a more intimate and longer-lasting relationship with cancer than many of the other Challenge for Life participants. He was first diagnosed with cancer when he was 18. “I am a proud cancer fighter, having lived and battled a chronic cancer diagnosis for the last 23 years,” he said in an earlier interview. “I participate in the Challenge for Life not only to give back for the care and treatment which I have and continue to receive through CancerCare Manitoba, but to ensure that others do not have to endure the journey which I have endured.”
This is the ninth year that Gisser has taken up the Challenge for Life. His teammates are returnee Nora Fien, as well as friends Danial Sprintz, Wendy Martin White and Jason Roberts, also his mother, Judge Freda Steele. He has personally raised about $5,500 this year, while the team as a whole has raised just over $7,000.
“The Challenge for Life is great opportunity to raise valuable dollars for cancer research and treatment,” Gisser notes.
Readers can make donations to their preferred team by going online to CancerCarefdn.mb.ca and click on Challengeforlife.ca.
