Former Winnipegger Laurence Wall honoured by Canadian Hadassah-WIZO

CBC Radio newscaster Laurence Wall is the honoree of the Canadian Hadassah-WIZO (CHW) 2020 Spring Tea in Ottawa. The tea, which was originally scheduled for Sunday, June 7, became a “phantom tea” because the COVID-19 pandemic prevents individuals from gathering together in lage groups.

Shaarey Zedek temporarily discontinues planting flowers on graves

As a result of much higher costs than normal due to new regulations imposed upon cemeteries by provincial regulations, the Shaarey Zedek board has informed members and others who had Perpetual Care agreements with the synagogue that flowers will not be planted by the synagogue this year at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery.

“Cilka’s Journey” picks up on a story first mentioned in “The Tatooist of Auchwitz”

Cilka’s Journey”
by Heather Morris
(St. Martin’s Press 343 pg.)
Reviewed by MARTIN ZEILIG
Right at the beginning of “Cilka’s Journey”, author Heather Morris states that the novel “weaves together facts and reportage with the experiences of women survivors” of the Holocaust and the experiences of women sent to the Soviet Gulag system at the end of the Second World War.

Some things you may not have known about seniors and COVID-19

By HARRIS GULKO
The coronavirus causing COVID-19 was confirmed to have reached Canada on January 27, 2020, after an individual who had returned to Toronto from Wuhan, Hubei, China, tested positive. Because seniors are so vulnerable to COVID-19, health officials have asked people 70 years of age and over to self-isolate at home. But, after three months at home, most want to go out into the world again. It is discouraging for seniors to see people of other ages resume activities. They feel excluded. Still, they want to be safe.

On Black Lives Matter and Israel's annexation of parts of the West Bank

By BERNIE BELLAN

For a change we’re going to veer away from writing extensively about local issues in this column and take a look instead at the story that has dominated the news cycle the past three weeks: the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman – along with some thoughts on Israel’s push to annex parts of the West Bank.

COVID-19: How it’s affected Israeli-owned local engineering company Iris Construction Management - Part 1 of a series

Ed. note: A while back I was put in touch with a university student by the name of Jon Van Deer Veen who told me that he would like to gain some experience working for The Jewish Post & News over the summer before returning to school.

Gray Academy excels at online teaching during pandemic with ‘Gray Away”

By BERNIE BELLAN
It was March 13 when the Province of Manitoba announced that, effective March 23, all schools in Manitoba were going to close for three weeks – with the possibility that the closure might be extended.

Parents of Gray Academy students offer praise for “Gray Away”

By BERNIE BELLAN
At the end of my conversation with Lori Binder, Rob Dalgliesh, and Andrea Ritter about how Gray Academy has adapted to online learning, I asked Andrea whether she could suggest the names of some parents who might be willing to offer comments about how their children have taken to online learning.

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.

Some questions about how the Jewish Foundation decided who should get assistance during the pandemic

By BERNIE BELLAN

There was an interesting message sent out recently from Joel Lazer, President of the Jewish Federation, in which he offered special praise for Becky Chisick, Executive Director of the Gwen Secter Centre, for the incredibly important effort Becky and her tiny staff have been making in getting meals out to Jewish seniors during this entire period of isolation.

Manitoba film czar Rachel Rusen looking forward to busy time post-COVID

By MYRON LOVE
“I am excited that our provincial government has identified film production as one of the industries that will be allowed to re-open as part of phase 2 of lifting Covid-19 restrictions in Manitoba,” says Rachel Rusen, Manitoba Film Commissioner and CEO of the Manitoba Film & Sound Recording Development Corporation.

Leader in palliative counseling among those calling for government support for grief-related trauma

By MYRON LOVE
Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov is a world leader in the psychological and emotional issues involved in palliative care.

New honour puts chazan/scientist Michael Eskin in elite company

By MYRON LOVE

In a career rich in accomplishments, Michael Eskin has climbed another pinnacle. In early May, he was notified that he is this year’s recipient of the Supelco AOCS (American Oil Chemists Society) Research Award.

12-year-old Gregory Hyman really is a one-man band!

By BERNIE BELLAN
At the beginning of May I posted to Facebook that anyone who had an interesting story about how someone was coping during this period of self-isolation could contact me and I would consider writing a story about that person.

Jewish Foundation of Manitoba steps up to the plate with huge infusion of assistance for Jewish organizations

Originally posted May 13. Updated May 16

By BERNIE BELLAN 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.