Local News
2025 JNF honorees Yossi and Albert Benarroch recognized for outstanding community leadership
By MYRON LOVE It was a shiduch made in heaven but sadly, all good things must eventually come to an end. Thus, after nine years as spiritual leader of Adas Yeshurun Herzlia Synagogue, Rabbi Yossi Benarroch is retiring – as of the end of July – and returning full time to his family in Israel. Before he goes though, our Jewish community is giving the beloved rabbi a memorable send-off as one of the honorees at this year’s annual JNF Negev Gala – which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 6.
To make the occasion even sweeter, Rabbi Benarroch will be joined on stage by his fellow honoree – his brother, Albert. Where Yossi has been an outstanding community leader in the spiritual realm, Al is a leader in the social services area. For the past eleven years, he has served as Executive Director of the Jewish Family and Child Service. (His title was recently changed to CEO.) He served as the JCFS Clinical Director for 15 years before that. Al also contributes to our community’s religious life as the regular chazan for Yom Tov at the Chevra Mishnayes Synagogue in the North End’s Garden City neighbourhood.
Both brothers describe the JNF recognition as a great honour. “I know our parents would have schlepped a lot of nachus from this,” Yossi says. “This award is particularly significant to me because of my own strong connection to Israel,” he adds.
Al ads that “it is humbling” to be included among the many Negev Gala honorees over the years who have stood out for their leadership, philanthropy and dedication to our Jewish community and to the people of Israel.
He hastens to point out – needless to say – that while the recognition is much appreciated, his hope is that the honour – and the funds raised on the evening – will help make a difference for thousands of Israelis and some IDF veterans in Winnipeg suffering from PTSD.
“I have dedicated my 36-year career – including the past 26 years working for the JCFS – to helping clients suffering from mental health problems,” he notes. “In Israel today, it is estimated that 70% of Israeli children are suffering from PTSD. You would be hard-pressed to find a family in Israel that isn’t experiencing trauma from the events of the past 18 months of war – and a lifetime of stress from the constant threat of rocket fire and terrorism.”
To help some of those families in need, he reports, the project in Israel that the Benarroch brothers have chosen to support with the bulk of the funds from this year’s gala is an expansion to the Sderot Resilience Centre Family Therapy Suite.
According to the JNF webpage, the Resilience Center in Sderot was established by the local government in 2008, to promote resilience, strengthen individuals and the community, and foster the development of partnerships. The Resilience Center provides much needed support for these children and their families, offering therapy and emotional support, a 24/7 hotline, courses for parents to deal with child anxiety, emergency services and more. The Resilience Centre is currently lacking important infrastructure to support the children and families – suffering the trauma of repeated attacks – who rely on it.
Funds raised by the gala will go towards expanding the existing facility by adding a new Trauma Resilience Centre as well as a protective bomb shelter and make the centre accessible for those with disabilities. The additional wing will have 8 therapeutic rooms and allow for double the daily number of patients
Al Benarroch adds that, as part of the norm over the past few years, a portion of the funding raised from the gala will remain in Winnipeg –with some of that sum going toward the JCFS for programming aimed to help IDF veterans living in Winnipeg who may be dealing with their own PTSD – and the remainder going to support youth activities at the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia Synagogue.
Yossi and Al Benarroch are two of four sons (also including Rabbis Yamin and Michael) born to the late Solomon and Mary Benarroch, originally from Morocco, who came to Winnipeg in the early 1960s. For many years, as Torah reader, teacher of maftir, soifer (scribe), shoichet and occasion mohel, Solomon was an integral part of the religious life of our community. He and Mary were exemplary role models for their sons as observant Jews and ardent Zionists.
All four brothers are Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate graduates. Yossi earned a physical education degree from the University of Manitoba in 1984, following which he made aliyah. He studied at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva (among others), receiving smicha in 1991. In 1999, he and his wife, Elana, and their children moved to Vancouver.
He and his family were back living in Israel in 2016 when the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia pulpit became vacant. “I saw it as an opportunity to fulfil what I felt was my obligation to give back to the community which had given me so much in my early years,” he says.
A second motivation was that he would be able to spend more time with his aged parents and two brothers in Winnipeg.
“My wife, Elana, didn’t want to leave Israel,” he reports, “but she understood how important this was to me.”
The arrangement that they agreed upon was that he would spend blocks of nine weeks in Winnipeg, followed by three in Israel. He always made sure to be home (Israel) for Pesach, Sukkot, and half of Chanukah. Now, nearing 68 years of age, and with his parents both having passed away, Yossi Benaroch feels that it is time to go back permanently.
He leaves with many positive memories of his time at the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia – our community’s dominant Orthodox congregation – where he has been much loved. During his time in Winnpeg, he has also been responsible for kashrut supervision at Shmoozer’s Restaurant, the Simkin Centre, the Gwen Secter Creative Retirement Centre and Gunn’s Bakery – a role that Adas Yeshurun Herzlia rabbis have traditionally taken on over the past 20 years or so.
He is looking forward to spending a lot more time with his wife, their seven children and 14 grandchildren – almost all of whom are in close proximity to each other.
The gala this year will also be featuring Israeli-American comedian Modi Rosenfeld.
Readers seeking more information about the Gala can contact the JNF office at 204 947-0207 or david.greaves@jnf.ca.
Local News
Thank you to the community from the Chesed Shel Emes
We’re delighted to share a major milestone in our Capital Campaign, “Building on our Tradition.” Launched in November 2018, this campaign aimed to replace our outdated facility with a modern space tailored to our unique needs. Our new building is designed with ritual at its core, featuring ample preparation space, Shomer space, and storage, creating a warm and welcoming environment for our community during times of need.
We’re grateful to the nearly 1,000 generous donors who contributed over $4 million towards our new facility. A $750,000 mortgage will be retired in November 2025, completing this monumental project in just seven years.
We’re also thrilled to announce that our Chesed Shel Emes Endowment Fund has grown tenfold, from $15,000 to $150,000, thanks to you, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba’s FundMatch program, and Million Dollar Match initiative in 2024. Our fund helps ensure that everyone can have a dignified Jewish funeral regardless of financial need.
As we look to the future, our goal remains to ensure the Chevra Kadisha continues to serve our community for generations to come. Our focus now shifts to replenishing our savings account and growing our JFM Endowment fund.
We’re deeply grateful for your support over the past several years.
It’s our privilege to serve our community with care and compassion.
With sincere appreciation,
Campaign cabinet: Hillel Kravetsky, Gerry Pritchard, Stuart Pudavick,
Jack Solomon, and Rena Boroditsky
Murray S. Greenfield, President
Local News
Winnipeg Beach Synagogue about to celebrate 75th anniversary
By BERNIE BELLAN (July 13) In 1950 a group of cottage owners at Winnipeg Beach took it upon themselves to relocate a one-room schoolhouse that was in the Beausejour area to Winnipeg Beach where it became the beach synagogue at the corner of Hazel and Grove.
There it stayed until 1998 when it was moved to its current location at Camp Massad.
On August 2nd members of the synagogue will be holding a 75th anniversary celebration.
As part of the celebration anyone who is a descendant or relative of any of the original members of the first executive committee (as seen in the photo here) is invited to attend the synagogue that morning.
If you are a relative please contact Abe Borzykowski at wpgbeachshule@shaw.ca or aborzykowski@shaw.ca to let Abe know you might be attending or for more information about the 75th anniversary celebration.
We will soon be publishing a story about the history of the beach synagogue, which is something I’ve been writing about for over 25 years.
Local News
Vickar Family cuts ribbon on new Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre
By MYRON LOVE In the words of Larry Vickar, the Shaarey Zedek’s successful Dor V’ Dor Campaign “is not only a renewal of the synagogue but truly a renewal movement of Jewish life in our community.”An integral part of that renewal movement was the creation of a daycare centre within the expanded synagogue. On Monday, June 23, Larry and Tova Vickar cut the ribbon, thereby officially opening the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre in the presence of 100 of their family members, friends and other supporters of the project.
The short program preceding the morning ribbon-cutting began with a continental breakfast followed by a welcome by both Fanny Levy, Shaarey Zedek’s Board President, and Executive Director Dr. Rena Secter Elbaze. In Elbaze’s remarks, she noted that Larry and Tova wanted their family (including son Stephen and family, who flew in from Florida) and friends at the event to celebrate the opening of the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre, “not because of the accolades, but because, as Larry put it, he hopes that their investment in the congregation will inspire others to do the same.”
“When Larry and I spoke about what this gift meant to him and the message he wanted people to take away,” she continued, “I couldn’t help but connect it to the teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi whose book – Age-ing to Sage-ing – changes the whole way we look at the concept of ageing and basing it on our ancestral teachings.”
She explained that his concept of “Sage-ing” is based on three key ideas – Discover your meaning and purpose; accept our mortality and think about the legacy you want to leave.
“Larry spoke about these exact concepts when we met,” she said.
Elbaze also noted the presence of Shaarey Zedek’s newly-arrived senior Rabbi Carnie Rose, former Rabbi Alan Green, and area MLAs Mike Moroz and Carla Compton.
Larry Vickar expressed his great appreciation for all those in attendance. “Tova and I are deeply moved to stand here with you today for this important milestone in our community”, he said. “We are grateful to be surrounded by all of you, the people we care about, our family and friends… you who have touched our lives and played some part in our journey.”