This remote Jewish study buddy program is finding its moment in the COVID era

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By ERIC BERGER  (JTA) When Sheri Heller’s husband nearly died in 2014 after doctors found that a quarter he had swallowed decades earlier had perforated his small bowel, Heller decided that the episode was a case of God “banging on our door.”

Gwen Secter Centre and Jewish Child and Family Service working together to provide much needed help for seniors in our community

By BERNIE BELLAN
Beginning two months ago, I’ve been reporting on the incredible job that the Gwen Secter Centre has been doing in providing meals for seniors in our Jewish community since the Province imposed a lockdown on March 13.

Arab countries continue to grow closer to Israel despite ongoing Palestinian, leftist demonization

By MYRON LOVE

It’s a strange phenomenon: While certain Western media and academics, European leaders and leftist politicians continue to demonize Israel over largely fictional mistreatment of Palestinians, those supposedly oppressed Palestinians and Arab countries as a whole continue to draw ever closer to the Jewish State and its citizens.

Former Winnipegger Eileen Sever finds previously unknown cousin in Ukraine

 

By GERRY POSNER

Many of us who have roots in Canada can trace our origins to Eastern Europe. It does not matter which country our ancestors started from in Europe - the story is the same in one way or another. One venturous soul makes his or her way and gradually, the rest follow, sometimes over a period of years.

Grade 12 graduate Lauren Cogan creates virtual grad video with student participation from around the world

 

By MYRON LOVE
Like other students who expected to graduate high school anywhere in the world, 2020 Oak Park High School graduate Lauren Cogan was disappointed that there will be no formal graduation ceremonies this year to mark this momentous occasion in one’s life.

New book by Winnipeg-based refugee advocate Shauna Labman delves into Canada’s refugee resettlement program

Shauna Labman (second from right) & family

By MYRON LOVE
In launching her first book, “Crossing Law’s Border: Canada’s Refugee Resettlement Program”, at McNally Robinson earlier this year, Shauna Labman took a somewhat different approach to this particular book launch. Rather than just reading an excerpt from the book, she invited one of her former students and one current student as well as the executive director of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba Inc. (IRCOM) – all of whom came to Canada as refugees - to share their stories.

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.