Local News
After a prolonged absence, Schmoozer’s reopens at the Campus
By BERNIE BELLAN It’s been almost a year since Schmoozer’s in the Asper Campus was closed due to the Covid pandemic and the major drop-off in traffic at the campus.
In one more sign that things are getting back to some semblance of near-normal, Schmoozer’s has now reopened, although with more limited hours than in the past – for the time being (7:30 am – 4 pm, Monday –Thursday, and 7:30 am – 3 pm Fridays).
As part of the reorganization of Schmoozer’s, a new manager, Beth Jacob, has been hired to oversee operations. Beth brings with her a wealth of experience within the food industry. The daughter of Riva and Scott McWilliam, Beth is a graduate of Red River College’s Culinary Arts program. Her first employment in the food industry was at the Fort Garry Hotel, where she worked in the kitchen from 2002-2004.
In 2004, Beth went to Israel on the Birthright program. While there, she decided she’d like to stay on in Israel for a while, rather than returning home. From 2004-2006 she worked at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Eilat, where she was both a pastry and sous chef. Upon returning to Winnipeg, aside from getting married to Jonathon Jacob, Beth was the head chef for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet for a period of time. As well, Beth was the chef at Fresh Cafe, a popular healthier breakfast and lunch spot on Corydon in its time, she notes.
She also worked at Bernstein’s Deli for three years before taking time off to raise five-year-old twins. “In my tenure at Bernstein’s,” Beth notes, “we really brought new energy to the deli, and participated in Raw Almond and le Burger Week.”
This past June, Beth says, she started a short stint as the cook at Camp Massad which, while not open to campers, did rent out cabins to families. It was while she was at Massad that she was approached by someone on the Asper Campus board with an invitation to take over management of Schmoozer’s.
Visitors to the campus will not see anything particularly different at Schmoozer’s: still the same method of ordering and picking up food. In going over the menu with Beth, however, she pointed out that most of the menu is new, save a few popular items. “We didn’t keep many of the old menu dishes except the fries, a tuna sandwich and a kids grilled cheese,” Beth explains.
She adds that, while they’re still “keeping the kitchen kosher and dairy, we are making more things from scratch (baked goods in particular) and I think my own spin on classic homey dishes is kind of my niche.”
Beth points to such original items as “Grilled cheese with housemade tomato jam and spinach; pancakes with a cinnamon swirl and cream cheese icing with housemade raisins, new soup recipes, some healthier items with the Rady JC patrons in mind. Some grab and go items ready so people don’t have to wait in line (a common request from what I’ve heard). Daily specials to come soon as well.”
Some of the new menu choices include: Challah French Toast and Egg Wrap. With a nod to Israeli dishes, Beth has also introduced something called “Sabich”, which the menu describes as “Romaine, hardboiled egg, pickles, fried eggplant, raw veggies, pickled mango sauce, hummus, and pita chips.”
Beth also notes that Schmoozer’s has a new coffee supplier, Colosimo Coffee Roasters, and says patrons are sure to notice the difference in the quality of the coffee.
As far as students at Gray Academy being able to eat at Schmoozer’s goes, for the time being, they are not able to go there, although a program whereby hot food will be delivered to the students is being set up. As well, Schmoozer’s will be working with the Rady JCC daycare to provide some meals for kids.
And, going forward, Beth says that she expects the seniors “Lunch ‘n Learn program at the Rady will be “up and running soon” (hopefully by Chanukah, she adds).
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First year medical student Tim Rozovsky founds new association for local Jewish medical students
By MYRON LOVE In the face of a concerning surge in antisemitism over the past nearly three years, I am happy to report a good news story in that regard. Tim Rozovsky, the founder of the new Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba, reports that he and his fellow Jewish students enrolled in the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine are not experiencing any significant issues involving antisemitism.
Hopefully, the matter of the notorious Med school Valedictorian who used his podium to attack Israel was a one-off.
“My goal in forming the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba,” says the first year medical student, “was to create a safe, supportive environment for my fellow Jewish medical students.”
He reports that the current first year class at the school has eight Jewish students – an increase over more recent years – with maybe a dozen more in the other years.
For a new medical student, Rozovsky already has an impressive resume. He was born in Russia and grew up in Israel. After the completion of his army service in 2018, the then-22-year-old rejoined his parents, Dr. Katya and Alexander, who had moved to Winnipeg a few years before.
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, Rozovsky had completed a personal trainer program out of The Academic College at Wingate in Jerusalem. Some readers may know the young man from his work as a Master Personal Trainer at the Rady JCC.
Shortly after arriving here, he enrolled in a kinesiology program at the University of Winnipeg. He graduated with a BKin Honours in 2023 and did post graduate work at the University of Manitoba. Last fall, he received his MSc in Physiology and Pathophysiology – earning two gold medals, along with 32 awards and scholarships in the process.
Rozovsky says that it was his mother who inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Dr. Katya Rozovsky is an associate professor at the University of Manitoba and an attending radiologist, specializing in pediatric diagnostic imaging.
(Tim also adds that his wife, Irina Gelzin, whom he married about a year ago, is training to be a nurse.)
Insofar as the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba is concerned, Rozovky reports that the group gets together multiple times a year. One of its programs was a joint Chanukah celebration with the Jewish Physicians Association of Manitoba.
There was also a joint program with the Christian Medical and Dental Students’ Association of Manitoba.
“More recently, we have been helping prospective Jewish medical students with their applications,” he says. “Hopefully we will be able to get together over the summer with the incoming Jewish students.”
As to his own future plans, Rozovsky notes that it is too early for him to be deciding on a specialty. “My goal,” he says, “is to work hard and get good grades and become the best doctor that I can be.”
Local News
Gray Academy to Represent Manitoba at National Reach for the Top Competition
By NOAH STRAUSS Posted June 6) Gray Academy’s Reach for the Top team is headed to Moncton, New Brunswick, to represent Manitoba at the National Reach for the Top tournament.
Reach for the Top is a Canadian school league that quizzes teenagers on a variety of different topics, from science and history to pop culture. Reach started out in 1961 in Vancouver, where a local CBC station broadcasted the new show; it eventually became a national broadcast starting in 1966. Alex Trebek, who famously hosted Jeopardy!, started out by hosting Reach for the Top.
Gray Academy’s very own team, made up of Grade 7 and 8 students, will travel to Moncton, New Brunswick, to compete as Team Manitoba. By winning the provincial Reach tournament, they secured their spot in the national competition.
Faculty members at Gray Academy are very supportive of the program. The Jewish Post spoke with three different staff members at the school. Coach and high school teacher Danielle Miller says she is excited for the trip; although she will not be accompanying the team herself, shehas coached them all year.
“This year we had over 20 students come to the club to join us, they practice twice a cycle at lunch,” Miller said. Due to the large turnout this year, two teams had to be formed. At lunch practices, students split into two teams of four where each player has a buzzer. The two teams compete to see who can answer the most questions correctly.
One of the two teams did exceptionally well at various tournaments throughout the year and will be traveling to nationals as the sole team representing Manitoba.
Co-coach Micah Doerksen described Reach as a great academic competition where young minds are tested on various topics through quick,fast-paced questions.
High school guidance counselor Lindsey Leipsic said, “We have athletes, non-athletes, we have students who are really involved and students who are not as involved at school, and we have quiet leaders, and we’ve seen friendships be built in Reach.” Some of her favorite memories of Reach involve seeing students from across Winnipeg come to Gray Academy and bond with one another. Lev Chisick, who is competing at nationals, agreed, saying, “Moncton is going to strengthen our school spirit and make us a better team.”
As the junior team makes their way to Moncton, the senior team will head to provincials. Later this week, students from the senior team will travel to Virden, Manitoba, to compete at the provincial level. The team qualified after placing high enough at their most recent tournament, which took place at St. Paul’s.
Confidence is high as the school heads into these final tournaments. When Nath Goldenberg, who is also competing at nationals, was asked what he is most looking forward to, his answer was short and sweet:“Winning.”
