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.
B’nai Brith launches new Canada-wide legal networkto fight antisemitism, human rights abuses
By MYRON LOVE On Monday, February 22, B’nai Brith Canada introduced its new legal network – the Matas Law Society – to the world with a virtual program – a “fireside chat” – featuring B’nai Birth CEO Michael Mostyn and the eponymous David Matas himself – B’nai Brith Canada’s long time senior legal counsel and one of the world’s best known fighters for human rights.
Berdina Shorten: Her long and circuitous journey to returning to her Jewish roots
By BERNIE BELLAN Berdina Shorten has lived in Winnipeg since coming here with her family from the Netherlands in 1953. Although Berdina was Jewish by ancestry (going back to her great-grandmother), she hadn’t been raised Jewish. It was only several years after having come to Canada – and having got married, that Berdina – and her late husband, Ken Shorten, both converted to Judaism.
Bernie Bellan & Gerry Posner in conversation about the Jewish Post
On Tuesday, March 2, the Jewish Heritage Centre conducted a Zoom program featuring Bernie Bellan & Gerry Posner talking about Bernie's 37 year history with the paper - along with stories about the paper in previous years. You can watch what turned into a mostly light-hearted discussion at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oug6-UvGpbA
2 young Israeli entrepreneurs launch new start-up, Ajoby - which aims to revolutionize the HR World.
When we look at how most companies hire employees, it seems that the basic process has remained unchanged for the past century...
My transitions in Jewish education
By PHYLLIS LIPSON DANA From 1941 until 1945 I lived on Mountain and Aikins and was a student from Kindergarten to Grade 4 at the Folk School, located in a 3 storey house at the corner of St Johns and Charles.
Marnie Singer’s passion for cats infuses her efforts to keep felines safe
By MYRON LOVE Healthcare worker Marnie Singer loves what she does. The nursing home worker says that she really enjoys working with seniors.
“I work at a smaller nursing home,” she notes. “We have a great team of workers with low turnover and we thankfully have had no Covid cases among our residents.”
Nicole Shuckett: Continuing the family ties
By GERRY POSNER While walking the streets of Toronto in my neighbourhood (What else is there for me to do these days)?, I was suddenly taken aback by someone calling out my name.
University of Winnipeg students giving back to community through Canada-wide tutoring, mentoring program
By MYRON LOVE Cousins Jacob Wiseman and Jonah Perlmutter appreciate that they have benefitted in adapting to university life because they had mentors in their lives to guide them.
Former Winnipegger Zena Simces offers advice on how to become a great consultant in new book
In a new book written by former Winnipegger Zena Simces, titled "You Can Make a Difference: A Guide to Being a Great Consultant", Ms. Simces offers advice based on her own longtime career as a consultant.
Norah Myers proving by example that Pilates is for everyone
By REBECA KUROPATWA Growing up in Winnipeg, Norah Myers (34) enjoyed spending a lot of her time reading. Born prematurely -when Norah was only eight-days-old, she suffered brain trauma.
As a result one year later, Norah was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a disability that affects her movement and posture.
Former JCFS president Danita Aziza offering practical approach to maintaining health and wellness
By MYRON LOVE Danita Dubinsky Aziza firmly believes that people can be helped to feel better physically and mentally if they are knowledgeable and committed to giving their bodies the right inputs. For over three decades, she has been committed to learning all she can about what can help make people feel well.
Gray Academy shows marked increase in retention of students in comparison with same period in previous years
By BERNIE BELLAN Every February, Gray Academy opens up priority re-enrollment for current families for the next school year. In 2019, the percentage of parents who re-enrolled at this point in the year was 62%. In 2020, it was 70.61%.
This year, as of February 10, the percentage topped 90% - almost 30% higher than the same period just two years ago.
Photos from the 30s: Peretz School & the Maple Leaf Curling Club
We received two interesting emails from readers Lou Billinkoff and Martin Buchwald that harken back to a much earlier time in the existence of the Winnipeg Jewish community: the 1930s. Click on "read more" to see those emails - and some fascinating pictures that are over 85 years old.
Six cases of Covid confirmed at Rady JCC managed early years centre on Grosvenor
By BERNIE BELLAN The first confirmed cases of Covid at one of the day care centres operated by the Rady JCC have occurred at the centre on Grosvenor Avenue.
Ice Dreams Come True at Gray Academy: Gray Academy-Tough Duck Community Ice Rink opens in January
Submitted by Gray Academy
The Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education (WBJE) is thrilled to announce an exciting new addition to Gray Academy of Jewish Education this winter, one that will bring tremendous benefits to students and the entire community. With the generous support of donors, we have recently unveiled a brand-new outdoor ice-skating rink.
B’nai Brith Camp announces new co-executive directors: Married couple Lexi Yurman and Jacob Brodovsky
By BERNIE BELLAN
For the first time ever, B’nai Brith Camp on Town Island in Lake of the Woods will be under the direction of a husband and wife team: Jacob Brodovsky and Lexie Yurman. The decision announcing their hiring was made in the fall. As of January 1st, Jacob and Lexie succeeded Jerrod Henoch, who was executive director for two years following the retirement of Brenda Tessler-Donen. (Unfortunately, this past summer, as was the case with sleepover camps everywhere, there was no camp.)
Two upcoming Zoom sessions open to anyone
On Feb. 16 the Shaarey Zedek will be offering a Zoom session featuring former Winnipegger Beatty Cohan, a renowned sex therapist, teaching how to "Never Make a Mistake in Love Again!"
On Feb. 21, former Winnipegger Sandy Shefrin Rabin will be holding a Zoom launch of her book, "Prairie Sonata". Read more to find out about both Zoom sessions.
Canadian couples – in Hamilton and Winnipeg – step up with “Homeless Cars”
By REBECA KUROPATWA
In Hamilton, Ontario, couple Georgina Rosenberg and Benjy Katz could not help but notice that homelessness is a growing issue – in Hamilton, Toronto, Winnipeg, and many more Canadian cities and beyond.
Benjy owns and operates an auto recycling business in Hamilton. With his and Georgina’s desire to curb homelessness, this past summer, they founded a charity: Homeless Cars.
Miriam Jacobson: She may have left Winnipeg years ago - but she keeps coming back
By GERRY POSNER
With all of the many people who have left Winnipeg, there is a large core of them (me included) who still have lingering thoughts of the city and the happy life which we had there. But while we might be willing enthusiastic advocates for Winnipeg and even broadcast the virtues of the city to anyone we meet and greet, no one goes further in her support of and affection for Winnipeg than Miriam Jacobson.
MK Global Trade offers local businesses the opportunity to engage in barter with hundreds of other businesses
By BERNIE BELLAN
With the crippling effect that the Covid pandemic has had on the economy, and with so many small businesses suffering either to the point of having to scale back operations or even close down completely, many business people have been looking to alternative ways of doing things.