COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic for Pediatric Doses at Gray Academy Dec. 7
We received the following communication from Gray Academy, informing parents of any children age 5-11 of a special clinic that will be held at Gray Academy Tuesday, December 7...During School Hours and After School...Register by Wednesday, December 1
Rabbi Matthew Leibl explaining the Jewish origins of popular xmas songs

By BERNIE BELLAN This article first appeared in the Dec. 23, 2019 issue of The Jewish Post & News. Since being posted to our website almost two years ago, it's become one of our most widely read articles - and the Youtube video of Rabbi Matthew singing xmas songs written by Jewish composers has been viewed hundreds of times.If you want to watch the video, you can see it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWyZ1djqxaI
Here's my story from Dec/2019: It's hard to believe, but it was only two years ago that Rabbi Matthew Leibl entertained a packed room of mostly seniors in the Adult Lounge of the Asper Campus with a medley of famous xmas songs - all written by Jewish composers.
Rabbi Matthew Leibl is not your usual rabbi – but he sure can command a room.
Ashkenazie Synagogue seeks to repurpose itself into a synagogue/museum

By BERNIE BELLAN The Ashkenazie Synagogue at the corner of Burrows and Charles is Winnipeg's oldest synagogue and the last remaining of 18 synagogues which once dotted Winnipeg's North End. Now, like all the other synagogues that once existed contemporaneously with the House of Ashkenazie, it finds itself in a precarious position.
Jewish Heritage Centre lands CNN anchor Jake Tapper as next Kanee lecturer

The following is taken from a Jewish Heritage Centre release:
CNN Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent Jake Tapper to Deliver the 2022 Sol and Florence Kanee Distinguished Lecture
The Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada is thrilled to announce that the 2022 Sol and Florence Kanee Distinguished Lecturer will be Jake Tapper.
Arab-Israeli plays critical role in Israel’s medical system

By MYRON LOVE Dr. Marian Khatib is a testament to the inclusive nature of Israeli society – and outs the lie to accusations of no-nothing Israel-haters.
As reported in the October 31 edition of The Jerusalem Post, the 40-year-old mother of two, raised in a small Arab village outside Acre, has just been appointed the director of the Breast Surgery Center at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.
After more than 60 years, golden-voiced Lyle Smordin still broadcasting

By MYRON LOVE As Lyle Smordin tells it, when he was eight or nine years old, his mother Ida decided that he should learn to play the violin.
“At that time,” he recalls, “most Jewish mothers wanted their children to become musicians.”
Jason Klapman- from Peerless to a leader among peers

By GERRY POSNER It started in Winnipeg on August 17, 1934 when a young 23-year-old man named Meyer Klapman married a young 22-year-old woman named Gladys Wiseman. At that time, the young Klapman was a tailor operator. From that union came a story no doubt familiar to many readers and yet, with its own unique character.
Former Winnipegger Megan Kravetsky living La dolce Vida in Mexico

By MYRON LOVE Talking to Megan Kravetsky last week reminded me of the line from that once popular song “There you are down in Mexico, living free as the air. Here I am stuck in the city, not going anywhere”.
Three years ago, the veteran chef and restaurant consultant came across a deal she couldn’t refuse when she took advantage of an opportunity to buy Blake’s Restaurant and Bar, an established operation in Puerto Vallarta. Megan is now happily living year round in Mexico.
One man’s story – Barry Leipsic: choosing to serve his country during World War II

By BERNIE BELLAN Over the years we’ve had many stories in this newspaper chronicling the stories of brave Jewish men and women who served in various armed forces over the years.
It’s one thing to read history books that describe wars, it’s another thing to read personal accounts of what it was like to be in an actual war.
Witness to a mass murder

By DAVID and MILTON AMMEL Special to The Jewish Post & News Attacks on Jews have seen a sharp upsurge in recent years...indeed, many sources believe the epidemic of violence against Jews is the worst since Hitler. (In the latest perversion, some are even trying to blame the Jews for the Covid 19 pandemic!) The fact that 6 million Jews (or more) died in Hitler’s holocaust is beyond question; there are two questions that have faced the world ever since World War Two: 1. Did Allied leaders fighting Hitler know about the death camps long before their existence was known to the world? and 2. If the allies did know about it, then why wasn’t something done to at least limit Hitler’s atrocities?
Remembering a forgotten book: “Winnipeg Stories”

By IRENA KARSHENBAUM We take for granted that books will always be available to buy, but in fact, many books go out of print. Personally, I prefer rare titles as they are the most interesting.
Young entrepreneurs team up to provide helpful solution to parking woes

By BERNIE BELLAN Three years ago I wrote a story about a start-up tech company called Gryd.
One of the subjects of that story was a young entrepreneur by the name of Josh Glow, who was 22 at the time. Back in 2018 Gryd had developed a novel way for property managers to market units in their properties to would-be renters, using the latest in virtual reality technology. What Gryd allowed prospective tenants to do was to experience a 3D tour of any available rental unit – no matter where the viewer was situated.
Harriet Zaidman, Carol Matas launch new books aimed at the young reader market

Two of our community’s best known writers, Carol Matas and Harriet Zaidman, have both launched new books aimed at younger readers.
Carol’s book is titled “A Struggle for Hope”. Published by her long-time publisher, Scholastic Books, the book is available on Amazon. Harriet's book is titled "Second Chances. It's published by Red Deer Press.
Congregation Etz Chayim’s new program director very happy to be living in Winnipeg

By MYRON LOVE Monica Neiman, Congregation Etz Chayim’s new Program and Engagement Director, comes to her new role with impressive credentials. For the past seven years – up until she landed here in June – she served seven years at her home congregation –Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle, Washington – as Assistant Director of the congregation’s religion school.
Simkin Centre dedicates memorial to the 11 residents who lost their lives to Covid last year - and unveils 5 new Chanukah menorahs

By BERNIE BELLAN It was a little more than one year ago that the Simkin Centre was hit hard by Covid for an almost two-month period. As I noted in a daily blog that I kept updating on this website, it was on December 14 that I was finally able to report that “as of today, there are no active cases of COVID-19 at the Simkin Centre. After almost two consecutive months with at least one active case every day - either among residents or staff, there is now reason to believe that the worst is over.”
Meeting Michael Averbach- and reminiscing about Bredin Drive

By GERRY POSNER There I was sitting in a restaurant, my first time in one in over a year. It was inside or face the wasps outside. And since there was no one else inside, my good friend and former Winnipegger Dan Finkleman and I sat down at What a Bagel for our once a month lunch.
The Left, Jews, and Israel

By Dr. Phillip Berger Special to The Jewish Post & News
When I was ten years old in Winnipeg, a classmate asked me, “Why don’t you leave the old man alone?” He was referring to Israel’s prosecution of Adolph Eichmann, one of the architects of the Holocaust. As a Jew, I was being held accountable for the actions of Israel.
Tarbut to present film about what it means to be Jewish in Winnipeg

By BERNIE BELLAN In the October 27 issue of the JP&N, within our preview of Tarbut, we had a blurb about a film that will be shown Sunday evening, November 14, at 7:30 pm in the Berney Theatre.
Here is what the blurb said:
"Ma Nishma Manitoba"
Hot off a highly successful premiere at Gimli Film Festival 2021 – this, playful, funny, and evocative documentary by two local Jewish filmmakers explores the history of Jews in Winnipeg –
Here's a new Chanukah song from someone with a Winnipeg connection

We received a note from someone by the name of Haley Turner, who has a Winnipeg connection and wanted to let us know that she's written a new song for Chanukah.
Read on to read what Haley wrote us (and click on the links to listen both to her Hanukkah song and the original version of the famous Adam Sandler Hanukkah Song - which inspired her to write her own Hanukkah song):
Shaarey Zedek about to embark on $14 million reconstruction of existing building

By BERNIE BELLAN Shaarey Zedek Congregation is about to embark on the first major renovation of its building since the 1970s.
We've reproduced renderings that were drawn up by representatives of Number TEN Architectural Group, which is the firm that has been engaged to develop plans for the soon-to-be totally renovated Shaarey Zedek building.