Local News
A message from Winnipeg South Centre MP Ben Carr
When I was young, my father told me stories of life when he was a kid. I took them all in. One story however, stood out. Around age 12, he recounted with difficulty, that he and a few friends were beat up outside of the Crescentwood Community Centre in Winnipeg for a single reason: They were Jews.
The fear and anxiety he felt in that moment is not unlike what we are all feeling today.
Jews make up but 1% of the Canadian population, yet we are the victims of 67% of reported religiously motivated hate crimes in Canada. The events of the past two weeks have led to a spike in reported hate crimes, and we are all sharing the feelings that have made us angry, sad, and filled with unimaginable grief.
The terror attacks of October 7th, 2023 are the deadliest levied against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.
We should be able to live in a world where we strive for peace in the Middle East, while at the same time, being able to state, in no uncertain terms, that we condemn the rape, murder, and kidnapping, of innocent women, children, and the elderly.
We must be able say this without the word “but” inserted to serve as some moral justification. There is no morality to be found in what they have done.
Make no mistake – Hamas is the enemy of the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. Even the lives of people whose interests Hamas claims to represent mean nothing in their pursuit of hatred.
Last week in the House of Commons, I heard members of opposition parties, including NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, call for Israel to “resist revenge.” During debate, when I asked Mr. Singh point blank if he thought Israel’s response to these attacks should be characterized as “revenge”, Mr. Singh pivoted and refused to simply say “no.” In reference to Israel, he went on to say that “we cannot allow for the continuing dehumanization of an entire population. When we stop seeing each other as human… this is when the seeds of genocide take hold.” He should have delivered that message to Hamas. Again, I asked him a question directly: Did he believe Israel was “committing or on the verge of committing genocide?” He refused to say “no.”
I asked Mr. Singh if he felt Israel had the right to defend itself? I asked if he understood that the use of the word “genocide” requires deliberate and intentional action in pursuit of eradicating a group of people? I asked what he thought would happen to the fate of Jewish people should Israel simply lay down its arms while Hamas thrives?
With over 1400 Jews murdered in the cruelest ways, hundreds still held hostage, thousands wounded, and all the while still intact – a group of terrorists whose sole objective is the eradication of Jews from the earth, I challenge anyone, including Mr. Singh, to ask themselves: Who is truly seeking to commit genocide?
Nevertheless, we must continue to uphold the value of all human life. Here at home, we can choose to hold dear the human values of compassion, kindness, and dignity, as we struggle through this together.
I have spoken out publicly on this crisis since it began. I have met with the leadership of both the Jewish and Muslim communities in Winnipeg on several occasions, and continue to be in contact with members of both communities on a daily basis. My number one priority right now is to ensure Jewish and Muslim community members feel safe in their homes, at work, and public spaces. This should be the top priority of all governments, community leaders, and citizens alike.
I have met with Jews who fear for their safety both at home and in public. I have met with Muslims who fear for their safety both at home and in public. I am working with government officials at all levels, as well as faith-based community leaders to ensure safety and security is maintained.
As I said at the rally we held recently in Winnipeg in support of Israel and the Jewish community, I am here for you. When I look at the Jewish community, which I do now as both an individual member and as a federal representative for Winnipeg South Centre, I see a group of individuals bound together by tradition and experiences – both painful and joy-filled – that share an unbreakable dedication to one another.
Our community is strong and we will get through this, as we have before, and will continue to in the future.
During the recent unveiling of my father’s headstone, we walked past the burial site of my grandmother. Her epitaph reads: She made everybody feel like a somebody. Right now, more than ever, we must aspire to live by that example.
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.”