“Agent Sonya” – the story of the Soviet Union’s most important female spy
Reviewed by BERNIE BELLAN I happened to have the radio on one Saturday afternoon – more as background noise than anything, when Elanor Wachtel’s CBC program on books, “Writers & Company”, came on. Normally I don’t pay attention to Wachtel’s program because it requires paying complete attention to the radio – something which I rarely do unless I’m out for a walk. However, as soon as Wachtel began to introduce her guest, a writer by the name of Ben Macintyre, the subject matter immediately grabbed my interest. Here is how she introduced Macintyre:
University of Manitoba Faculty Association’s proposed motion opposing adoption of IHRA definition of antisemitism leads to furor within some groups in Jewish community
By BERNIE BELLAN In what became a somewhat confusing sequence of events, after much consternation expressed by various parties representing different sections of the Jewish community, a motion that had been introduced by the University of Manitoba Faculty Association to “oppose the adoption or use of the IHRA definition at the University of Manitoba and elsewhere” has apparently been put on hold for the time being.
Where you stand on the IHRA definition of antisemitism has become a litmus test whether you're pro or anti Israel
By BERNIE BELLAN As if there weren’t more important issues in the world to consider, debating the merits of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism has now become one of those wedge issues by which individuals who have differing views on Israel define themselves.
Saying you’re in favour of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism seems to have become codeword for saying you’re defending Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.
For Harvey Minuk, the Ashkenazi Synagogue - and the Minuk family, have remained integral to his life even after he left Winnipeg
By GERRY POSNER When you talk of ex-Winnipeggers who have more than a fond spot in their hearts for the city, their past, their family and identity, look no further than Harvey Minuk, a central figure in that very large and well known Minuk clan so evident in Winnipeg and now beyond. Minuk oozes with what is the essence of Winnipeg life and I suggest he is transforming Toronto one house at a time.
Self-deprecating Ted Lyons to be this year’s Negev Gala honouree
By BERNIE BELLAN This year’s Jewish National Fund Negev Gala, on Monday, May 31, will be special for many reasons:
It will be the first Negev Gala here conducted entirely online.
It will be the first Negev Gala in Winnipeg in two years. (Last year’s had to be postponed because of Covid.)
It will be the first Negev Gala held in Winnipeg at which a medical physician will be honoured. (In 2018 the Alpha Omega Dental Fraternity was honoured as a collectivity.)
New novel set in 1968 Winnipeg Beach will certainly set off sparks...of amusement, perhaps annoyance
Reviewed by BERNIE BELLAN “The Renter” represents the fourth novel written by former Winnipegger Michael Tregebov, all of which have been set either in Winnipeg or, as is the case with this book – Winnipeg Beach.
Film producer Corey Marr’s new release draws inspiration from Leonard Cohen
By MYRON LOVE Filmmakers Corey Marr and Matthew Bissonnette have just released their newest production, “Death of a Ladies’ Man” to general acclaim. Former Winnipegger Marr reports that the film – which was unveiled in Canada on March 12th has garnered several positive reviews, is currently #6 on the iTunes charts, and has a 100% score on the popular ratings site Rotten Tomatoes.
Dr. Jack Lipkin receives presitgious award from American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics
Dr. Jack Lipkin, DMD, is the 2020 recipient of the George H. Moulton Lifetime Achievement Award for the American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics.
“I’m quite humbled by having won this,” says Dr. Lipkin. “I was blown away.”
World-renowned geneticist Dr. Cheryl Greenberg charged with developing new Prairie provinces diagnostic partnership
By MYRON LOVE The Federal Government, in the person of The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, recently announced funding for the creation of a Canadian Prairie Metabolic Network (CPMN), linking genetic researchers in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton and Calgary. One of the individuals chosen to lead the project is internationally-known pediatric geneticist Dr. Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg.
Bygone Winnipeg: A fictitous story based on true events: University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine 1932-1944
By DAVID TOPPER Call me a witness. I was there and heard almost everything that’s relevant to this story.
Yet, thinking deeper, I guess you could call me a spy – well, at least, some may say that, for there was an element of skulduggery in my employment situation. It was all because of my father, who changed my name when I was born. Of course, we’re all born with a surname, but―
“Proof of Life” - New book about Syrian conflict tells spellbinding story of one man’s search for a young American who went missing in 2014
Review by BERNIE BELLAN The war in Syria which began in 2011 following upon earlier upheavals in the Arab world that were ignited by what became known as the Arab Spring has, by and large, vanished from the headlines of the world’s newspapers.
My memories of Peretz Shul
By KINZEY POSEN It was a late Friday afternoon at Peretz Shul in 1964 or so. A good friend of mine at the time whose Yiddish name was Moishe said, “That’s it! I’m not coming back to school on Monday, I’m out of here!” Ok, as an 11 year old, he might have said it in a slightly different way. It was the first day of school in September and we were just about to go home. “Sure you are Moishe, I’m sure you’ll be back on Monday,” I told him.
Congregation Shir Tikvah officially dissolves
By BERNIE BELLAN In our July 24, 2019 issue we broke the news that Congregation Shir Tikvah was ceasing operations. In that issue we reported that “A Winnipeg congregation that had been holding High Holy Day services for the past 16 years is ceasing operations. In that article we wrote that, in a letter sent to congregation members dated July 12, Congregation Shir Tikvah President Sharon Bronstone stated:
Former Winnipegger Zev Cohen publishes book of short stories: "Twilight in Saigon"
Former Winnipegger Zev Cohen, who now lives part of the year in Israel and part of the year in Calgary, has just published a book of short stories titled "Twilight in Saigon". The book is available for purchase on Amazon. Here is how the book is described on Amazon: This eclectic collection of stories crosses genre lines - war, crime, romance, espionage, science fiction, fantasy -
Defining antisemitism - a history of the "IHRA" definition
By SIMONE COHEN SCOTT Late last year I was asked by The Jerusalem Report to interview the Hon. Irwin Cotler, upon his appointment by Prime Minister Trudeau as Special Envoy for Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism. His responsibilities will cover domestic and international antisemitism, and Holocaust education at every level.
At Limmud: New University of Manitoba president Michael Benarroch speaks of the challenges presented by stepping into his role in midst of a pandemic
By BERNIE BELLAN While there were a great many interesting speakers at this year’s Limmud, the one speaker to whom I was looking most forward to hearing was Michael Benarroch, the new president of the University of Manitoba.
Winnipeg-based researchers receive prestigious awards
By MYRON LOVE Three members of Dr. Lorrie Kirshenbaum’s Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences (ICS) research team – based at the St. Boniface Hospital campus’ Albrechchtsen Research Centre – were recently recognized for their efforts with prestigious awards.
Molyn Leszcz: In this case, “Leszcz” is more
By GERRY POSNER When you talk psychiatry and Winnipeg Jews, you enter into a remarkable and lengthy area for discussion, perhaps even a book. Prominent among the names of Jewish boys who became psychiatrists is Molyn Leszcz - as in very prominent. He is, among other things, a professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. How he got there from humble beginnings living on Ellice Avenue near his father’s grocery store and also close to the University of Winnipeg is by itself a compelling story.
Dynamic president of Canada Israel Chamber of Commerce aims to boost profile of organization so that it’s not simply a Toronto-centric organization
By BERNIE BELLAN A number of months back I was introduced, by a mutual friend in the investment industry, whose name is Mark Francis, to the president of the Canada Israel Chamber of Commerce (CICC for short): Oded Orgil.
Courage was the reason campus anti-Semites were beaten
A Tufts University student stood up to the mob of Israel-haters. His victory won’t necessarily prevent others from being targeted, but it showed how they, too, can prevail.
By JONATHAN TOBIN (March 5, 2021 / JNS) It was a familiar story but with an unfamiliar conclusion. A Jewish student objected to the anti-Semitic slanders promoted by a student organization dedicated to Israel’s destruction.
Most of Romania’s Jews were massacred during World War II, but not Bucharest’s Jews; Here’s why…
By ROBERTA SERET, PH.D. Anti-Semitism had always been part of Romanian culture long before the war, but it was in 1927 with the establishment of the Iron Guard, Romania’s fascist party, that their practices publicly centered on eliminating all Jews in Romania by torture and death squads.
Introducing Agerios Hair Products for both men and women - used in hair salons around the world and now available for purchase in Winnipeg
Recently I was given some new hair products by the name of Agerios to try.
I was so impressed with the results I got from these products - my hair had more body than it has typically has and I just loved the fragrance -that I decided to contact the company that makes Agerios hair products and find out more about them.
WJT stream of True Colors is now online - free to watch from March 8-24
(March 9, 2021; Winnipeg, Manitoba) -- Winnipeg Jewish Theatre (WJT) is now streaming True Colors, a show that was originally created by Jewish Women’s Theatre. True Colors will stream in three parts from March 8 to 28. The show is available for free on WJT’s YouTube channel, as part of Safe at Home Manitoba's Stay Home Initiative.
Consulate General of Israel to present free viewing of exciting new film March 17-24
In March, the Consulate General of Israel in Toronto and Western Canada will join forces with prominent Israeli Director Yonatan Nir to screen his film Dolphin Boy. The film will be available for free from March 17 to 24 and will be accompanied by an exclusive webinar with Nir himself on March 24.
For first time ever, a Manitoban is elected as International Teen President of BBYO
By BERNIE BELLAN History was made at the recent BBYO International Convention, which was a combination of in-person and virtual gatherings held over a four-day period, from February 11-15, when Winnipegger Emma Zentner was elected International N’siah (President) of BBYO.
Pro golfers David Berger & Max Homa (both Jewish) win PGA tournaments 1 week after another
By BERNIE BELLAN A story that was was recently brought to our attention came from reader Peter Mendelson (who told me he reads the paper after he gets it from his mother, who gets it from a neighbour – which leads me to wonder just how often our paper is handed from reader to reader?), has to do with two Jewish golfers: David Berger and Max Homa.
Jewish Child and Family Service programs help people recovering from addiction within Jewish context
By MYRON LOVE With the financial stress and uncertainty that many people have been experiencing over the past year as a result of Covid lockdowns, there has been a nationwide increase in alcohol and drug use (source: Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction) and – according to Ivy Kopstein, Jewish Child and Family Service’s Substance Use and Addiction Services Coordinator – members of the Jewish community have been affected parallel to the larger community.
Michael Eskin, longest serving University of Manitoba prof, showing no sign of slowing down
By MYRON LOVE As he nears his 80th birthday, Michael Eskin is still going strong. The much-honoured professor in the faculty of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences at the University of Manitoba Department - and a beloved chazan in our community - continues to teach two online classes with over 200 students and has written two more books – his 16th and 17th – over the past year.
Eclectic Nathan Zassman always on lookout for new challenges, new fields to conquer
By MYRON LOVE Aviva Natural Health Solutions on St. James Street is not your typical health food store just as Aviva’s founder, Nathan Zassman, is not your typical entrepreneur.
Arthur Ripstein: Following the Ripstein trail first laid in Manitoba 140 years ago
By GERRY POSNER Let me be clear. The Ripstein family has been a force in many ways in Winnipeg, in Manitoba and indeed in the entire country of Canada now for almost140 years.
In fact, in 1873, Jacob Ripstein began a series of many firsts in the family.