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).
Local News
Nakba exhbit at CMHR – you can see it right here and make your own assessment
By BERNIE BELLAN (Posted June 26, updated July 19) The Nakba exhibit at the Canadian Exhibit for Human Rights opened to the public June 27. The morning before the exhibit was set to open to the public, (it had a private opening for invited guests the evening of June 26) we received a press release from the CMHR. That press release gave a very detailed description of what was in the exhibit, along with photos (supplied by Annie Kierans of the CMHR).
There is also a link right at the beginning of the press release that will allow you to watch the same videos that anyone attending the exhibit can watch. We reprinted what was sent to us without making one edit. We leave it to you to form your own opinion as to whether the exhibit is fair in its presentation, and whether it is lacking “context” – which is an accusation that has been levelled at the exhibit’s organizers by some representatives of Jewish organizations.
We have received many emails in reaction to the exhibit. If you have an opinion and would like to see it published on this website, you can send it to jewishp@mymts.net, but please indicate whether you would be willing to have it published on this website.
Here is what we received the morning of June 26:
Winnipeg, MB — June 26, 2026 — The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) will open a new exhibit tomorrow that explores human rights violations related to the ongoing forced displacement of Palestinian Canadians.
Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present will be on display in the Rights Today gallery on Level 5 until 2028. Featuring personal stories told through artifacts and video testimonies, the exhibit presents Palestinian Canadians reflecting on their ongoing struggle for human rights. The small exhibit reveals enduring patterns of loss and resilience, helping visitors understand more about this contemporary human rights story.
Palestinian Canadian stories are now included alongside many other stories of forced displacement and human rights violations featured in the Museum’s galleries. Each of these stories contribute to our visitors understanding of human rights and help the Museum fulfill its mandate to foster reflection and dialogue.
Exhibition highlights
Personal stories and artifacts: Experience firsthand accounts from Palestinian Canadians sharing their journeys of displacement and memory through a series of five artifacts. Cases display artifacts like property deeds, house keys, and a traditional Palestinian embroidered dress, accompanied by short videos that deepen understanding of the impacts of displacement.
Powerful artworks: In her painting Bound Together in Gaza, Malak Mattar, a Gazan artist, captures the struggles and resilience of her generation shaped by conflict. Her work pays homage to Guernica, Picasso’s powerful masterpiece depicting civilian suffering during war.
Curfews and Closures, by Rajie Cook, bears witness to life under military occupation during the 2000–2005 Palestinian uprising, when curfews and closures were expanded and further limited basic rights and freedoms.
Cultural heritage: Discover traditional Palestinian embroidery called tatreez. Tatreez motifs and colours are tied to place, family history and regional identity. Patterns are associated with particular towns, villages or areas of Palestine. In this way, tatreez is a form of storytelling: a way of preserving memory, sustaining identity and expressing resilience across displacement and exile.
Poetry and reflection: Engage with Mahmoud Darwish’s evocative verses, inspiring personal reflection on exile, voice, and responsibility. Visitors can take a card containing Darwish’s poem and add a personal note, fostering ongoing dialogue beyond the exhibit.
Contemporary context: Witness striking images of current events in Gaza and the West Bank, connecting past displacement to ongoing struggles.
Quotes:
“No force can silence the truth we carry. Growing up in Canada, my children lived the Nakba through our stories. And now we watch it happen again, live, on our phones. When I see the images coming out of Gaza, I am not watching the news. I am watching my history repeat itself.” -Fouad Sahyoun, a Palestinian Canadian featured in the exhibit
“We developed this exhibit with a clear awareness that Palestinian Canadian voices have too often been marginalized, silenced or spoken over — and that anti-Palestinian racism affects whose stories are heard and whose suffering is recognized. That is why we intentionally centred Palestinian Canadian voices throughout the exhibit.” -Isabelle Masson, Curator of Palestine Uprooted
“Human rights matter precisely when they are inconvenient, when the question of who deserves the dignity of having their rights recognized is genuinely contested. These are the moments where having a national museum for human rights is most important.
There are people who believe this exhibit should not exist in its current form. There are people who believe it should have existed sooner. There are people who will visit this exhibit and feel that it does not say enough, and others who will feel it says too much.
We have listened to every one of these voices. We have reflected. And we have renewed our resolve to continue the difficult, sometimes contested, and often controversial work of building understanding about human rights. We are a museum grounded in Canada’s human rights framework, whose mandate requires us to bear witness to the full complexity of the human story. We are proud to open this exhibit because the story it tells will help achieve that mandate, and because this story belongs in the collective memory of Canadians.”
- – Isha Khan, CEO
Local News
A photo that’s being circulated on the internet about me
For those of you not familiar with nutjob Michael Kalo – the psycho who created the notorious “$hitler’s List” years ago and the same psycho who went after Ben Carr, well – now he’s obviously taken a strong disliking to the stance I’ve taken on the Nakba exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (You can read elsewhere on this website how I simply posted the entire exhibit as it is – and asked readers to form their own opinions.)
Kalo likes to send out emails to various individual using phony names – such as Frank Ostrowski. When people ask me (or asked Ben Carr) why we don’t take action against him, my answer is: What’s the use? He only basks in the attention.
So Michael – enjoy the attention you’re receiving. I know how much of an embarrassment you are to your wonderfully talented daughters.
Local News
Ami Hassan returning as owner of Falafel Place
By BERNIE BELLAN In a surprise move – and after more than a six-year absence as owner of Falafel Place (Corydon at Wilton) the legendary Ami Hassan has decided to return as owner of one of Winnipeg’s most famous eateries.
Long known for his sometimes irreverent attitude to his customers, e.g., “If you’re finished, get out!”, Ami decided to return to running Falafel Place after having retired years ago (or so he thought) from running the Corydon Avenue restaurant.
We asked Ami whether he’ll be sending a special invitation to Julia Roberts to come visit him at Falafel Place. He asked again: “Who’s Julia Roberts?” (Just kidding – he really does know how Julia Roberts is.) Read the story how Ami told her to leave the restaurant and come back later at Julia Roberts turned away from Falafel Place
Ami did note that when customers saw him inside the restaurant one recent day as he was getting it ready for the reopening Monday, August 10, over 20 of them came in asking him if he was open already.
We asked Ami whether the menu will be the same as it was when he last ran the place and he said everything will be the same.
Falafel Place will be open 7 days a week from 7 am – 2 pm. Remember, if you’re finished – get out!
