Oscars 2020 nominations: Scarlett Johansson enters elite company, Adam Sandler snubbed

By GABE FRIEDMAN
(JTA) – The 2020 Oscar nominations are out, and unsurprisingly, they’re already causing a firestorm on social media.
The list, announced early Monday morning, didn’t do much to quell longstanding concerns that the awards have issues with race and gender equality. Only one actor of color was nominated – Cyntha Erivo, for her role in “Harriet” – and the best director category is once again all male, despite the fact that Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of “Little Women” was a massive critical and commercial success.

Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education awarded judgment in lawsuit brought against parents of former Gray Academy students - but costs likely to be limited only to $100

By BERNIE BELLAN

A story about which we have been reporting since December 2018 has been the lawsuit brought by the Winnipeg Board of Jewish Education against Ido and Rochelle Raam for unpaid tuition relating to the 2017-18 school year.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Shawn Greenberg on December 17, 2019, Justice Greenberg found in favour of the plaintiff (the WBJE) in the amount of “$7,450 plus pre-judgment interest and post-judgment interest at the agreed rate.”

Adventures in Jerusalem

By SIMONE COHEN SCOTT
Jerusalem
When I call this piece ‘Adventures’, you have to realize who I am. I’m an elderly Jewish woman. Even before this happened to me though, I was not into bungee jumping, mountain climbing, deep sea diving (not even light scuba diving), canoe trips, stock car racing, or anything like that. Buying myself an apartment in Jerusalem is as adventurous as I’ve ever been. That’s a long story, and it’s not one that I’m going to tell today. But, I was gradually beginning to travel here more than once in twelve months, and I wanted to stop feeling like the meter is running and you have to keep doing something because otherwise money is going down the drain.

City of Kenora says it is not interested in subdividing Town Island; will sell to only one purchaser

By BERNIE BELLAN
A story that we have been following closely has taken an interesting twist. In the case of the looming sale of that portion of Town Island which is not already owned by BB Camp, the City of Kenora has clarified that if the rest of Town Island is sold, it will not be sold to more than one purchaser.

Ongoing stories about Town Island and lawsuit against parents of Gray Academy students nearing conclusions

By BERNIE BELLAN

The above two stories on our website have to do with stories whose final resolution is up in the air. Of the two stories, the story about the future of Town Island is of much more importance.

Even though I left Winnipeg years ago, the Shaarey Zedek's online streaming service keeps me connected

By GERRY POSNER

There I was planning to go to synagogue in Toronto in late December when my throat thought otherwise. I just was not up to it and I was worried that my cough might drown out the Torah reader.

Dr. Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg named as an “Officer to the Order of Canada”

By BERNIE BELLAN
The list of recipients of the Order of Canada named by Canada’s Governor General, Julie Payette, now includes Dr. Cheryl Rockman-Greenberg of Winnipeg.

Larry and Tova Vickar and Jewish Heritage Centre recognize Siepman family for World War II rescue efforts

By MYRON LOVE
If you are visiting the Asper Jewish Community Campus and you make a left turn at the Berney Theatre, you will come to the Freeman Family Foundation Holocaust Education Centre.

Dan the Carver carves unique role for himself carving mezuzah casings

By MYRON LOVE

Danny Waldman says that he has always enjoyed the challenge of doing something no one else is doing. That philosophy has led him to forge a niche creating hand-crafted mezzuzah casings out of blocks of wood.

Here we go again: Future of BB Camp on Town Island once more put into jeopardy

By BERNIE BELLAN
It was just five years ago that we announced the sale of 30 acres of Town Island in Lake of the Woods, which was owned by the City of Kenora, to BB Camp, which had leased a portion of the island since 1954.

Rabbi Matthew Leibl entertains Rady JCC audience with “Oy to the World!”

By BERNIE BELLAN
Rabbi Matthew Leibl is not your typical rabbi in many respects – but he sure can command a room.
With all his considerable talents – as a clever and always witty speaker, as a terrific keyboardist and pleasant singer, and with a range of interests that run the gamut from Jewish scholarship to sports, Rabbi Leibl can both entertain – and educate, often simultaneously.

Chanukah around the community

So many different organizations had different ways to mark Chanukah this year. We've put together a series of short descriptions of what's been happening in Winnipeg's Jewish community this year. Click "read more" to see what's been going on:

Groups pitch in to help less fortunate Winnipeggers

Various groups contributed to making this holiday season somewhat more pleasant for those among us who are less fortunate. B'nai Brith, in conjunction with Jewish Child & Family Service and the Chabad Lubavtich, provided 60 bags containing food and Chanukah-related items for different Winnipeg Jewish families.

Winnipeg Friends of Israel provided food bags containing only Israeli products - this year for Willow Place, which is a women's shelter. Read more about the great work that was the result of dedicated volunteers devoting hours of their time to worthy causes.

Rady AGM finishes in record time of 37 minutes

By BERNIE BELLAN
There’s a lesson to be learned from how the board and staff of the Rady JCC handled their Annual General Meeting on Monday, December 16: It was over in record time!
Why was that? The answer is: No long speeches! After all, like almost any Jewish event, the main point of the evening was to get to the food - not to hear how great a year an organization just had. (Does any organization ever say they’ve had a really crappy year?)

Larry & Evelyn Hecht have been devoted members of our community

By GERRY POSNER

Recently I was at a synagogue in Toronto to hear the former rabbi of the Tree of Life Temple in Pittsburgh recount the events of the tragedy at his former shul when, as the Torah was carried around the synagogue, who should appear in the aisle across from me, but Evelyn and Larry Hecht.