Local News
B’nai Brith Camp announces new co-executive directors: Married couple Lexi Yurman and Jacob Brodovsky
By BERNIE BELLAN
For the first time ever, B’nai Brith Camp on Town Island in Lake of the Woods will be under the direction of a husband and wife team: Jacob Brodovsky and Lexie Yurman. The decision announcing their hiring was made in the fall. As of January 1st, Jacob and Lexie succeeded Jerrod Henoch, who was executive director for two years following the retirement of Brenda Tessler-Donen. (Unfortunately, this past summer, as was the case with sleepover camps everywhere, there was no camp.)
Not being allowed to operate this past summer would have come as a bitter disappointment, not only to regular sleep-over campers, of whom there were close to 300 in the summer of 2019, but also hundreds of day campers (who would arrive by boat from Kenora each morning), along with about 1,000 students who participate in spring programs during the school year.
Both Jacob and Lexie bring with them years of experience at BB Camp, both as campers and as staff members – in a variety of different positions.
Jacob says that, as a youngster, he attended Brock Corydon, Grant Park, and University of Winnipeg Collegiate, while Lexie says she went to Ramah “for my first year of junior kindergarten, then Gray Academy opened, and I went all the way through to Grade 12”.
“I’ve been a camper at BB Camp since I was six years old, says Jacob. “I’ve been working in youth work for about ten years now, including working at BB Camp in the summer”, he adds.
“We both started as counselors right out of the gate” (once they finished their experience as campers), Jacob explains. “I was a section head, then a program director, then operations director, finally assistant director. Something just clicked when I was in my 20s, thinking ‘It would be so great if I could just do camp as my whole career.’ “
Lexie says that her first experience at BB Camp came when she was in preschool and “started going for family weekends”. Like Jacob, she was a camper every summer until she was 17.
“I’ve been working at BB Camp” in a variety of roles, “for 11 years now”, Lexie adds. “Including Ac Outtripper, Health Officer, Wilderness Director, and eventually co-Assistant director for the last three seasons.”
Similar to Jacob, when she wasn’t working at BB Camp, Lexie says she was also involved in youth work.
In between working at BB Camp, however, both Jacob and Lexie spent years attending university following graduation from high school.
“We both lived in Toronto for about five years,” Jacob notes.
At this point in our conversation (which was conducted over Zoom), I was obliged to ask the question that immediately came to mind once Jacob explained that he and Lexie both lived in Toronto for five years. I had thought it was intrusive to ask at the outset, but at that point, I asked: “Are you a couple?”
The answer – from Jacob, was: “Yes, we met (in 2010) at camp, got engaged at camp, and got married at camp.”
“We got married in a teeny-tiny Covid wedding this past summer at camp,” Lexie adds.
Although the camp was closed this past summer, Lexie and Jacob say that they were both busy “doing a number of projects at the camp – repairing and cleaning up”.
“We’ve done a ton up upgrades to the camp,” Jacob explains.
“All our cabins were renovated. They got new roofs, new electrical. We have a brand new olam gadol, katan. We’ve added accessible bathrooms to our dining hall and upgraded ventilation.
“So, when our campers come back to camp this summer – hopefully, it will look like a brand new camp.”
As far as what the coming summer holds, naturally, it’s totally unknowable at this point what’s in store for sleepover camps. Still, Jacob and Lexie have been operating under the assumption that they will be given the go-ahead to reopen the camp come summer.
“We’ve hired about 25 staff already,” says Lexie (all of whom will be returning staff from 2019). (She adds that the usual staff complement numbers around 85.)
“All indications so far are that the (Ontario) government intends to allow us to run,” notes Jacob. “If we’re mandated to close again like last summer, we hope to be able to offer individual cabin rentals to families and alumni.”
Lexie adds: “Our goal for the summer is to meet or exceed every guideline so the community can safely spend time at BB Camp.”
Registration for summer 2021 opened on Friday February 5th at www.BBCamp.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.”