Local News
Canadian survivor of Supernova Music Festival massacre Shye Klein recounts his story to Winnipeg audience
By MYRON LOVE Growing up in democratic countries in Western society, we are fortunate to be able to go about our lives oblivious to potential danger. We go to sporting events, concerts, folk festivals confident that there is nothing to worry about and we can have a good time.
Such was the thinking for about 3,500 young Israelis who converged on Kibbutz Re’im, near the border with Gaza, on Saturday, October 7, for the Supernova Music Festival. In the early morning hours, their idyll was shattered by an onslaught of Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists that resulted in the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history.
The number of victims who were murdered was more than 350. Among those who survived was young Canadian photographer Shye Klein – who was in Winnipeg on Monday, March 11as part of a speaking tour of Canada and the United States – to give eye-witness testimony of what he experienced and share his photos and videos of hat horrific day.
Klein’s presentation – in the Rady JCC gym – in front of about 300 people – was sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, Hillel, and the Asper Foundation.
Prior to Klein’s testimony, those in attendance heard introductory remarks by Federation CEO Jeff Lieberman and Federation President Paula Parks, as well as StandWithUs Canada University of Manitoba representative Benjamin Margulets. The speaker was introduced by University of Manitoba student Matthew Morry.
Originally from Toronto, the 26-year-old Klein made aliyah last April. He noted that, initially, when his cousin Mordechai told him about the upcoming festival a few week s in advance, the idea of going didn’t appeal to him.
“Just thinking of the people crowding around the stage, the garbage, I wasn’t interested,” he recalled.
Mordechai asked hm again the day before though, and he changed his mind. “I didn’t know many people in Israel, yet,” he said. “I thought this might be a good way to meet people.”
Klein’s small party of eight arrived at the location around 1:00 A.M. on the morning of the festival, and set up their tent. “I had no idea how close we were to the Gaza border,” he noted.
So, while his cousin and friends were chilling and enjoying the scene, Klein grabbed his camera and began to mingle. At this point in the presentation, he showed on screen all of the concert-goers whose photos he took throughout the night and early morning – talking a little bit about each one.
He also described the layout, small stages and main stage and the “marketplace”.
He added that, typical of such raves, the smell of drugs was omnipresent.
It was about daybreak – about 7:30 in the morning – when, he noted, people began getting messages on their cell phones about incoming missiles aimed at Tel Aviv, Petah Tikvah and elsewhere.
“The music was so loud that it muffled the sounds of explosions,” he recounted. “While some people began packing up, the consensus still seemed to be that we were safe. There were no strategic targets anywhere around us.
“Then we start hearing gunfire. It didn’t sound like it was coming from the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). Then explosions. There was a lot of commotion.”
Klein’s party quickly got to their car. “Of the eight of us, only three were in shape to drive,” he recalled. “Mordechai drove while I started videotaping what was happening.”
He recalled that there was pandemonium – with people fleeing – in their cars or on foot – in every direction. Standing in front of a screen showing his video of his group’s frantic efforts to escape, he described bypassing a long line of cars and trucks by driving around through a farm field, when they approached an IDF checkpoint where they were advised to go no further in the direction they were driving and to stay in their car no matter what.
His videos showed cars along the side of the road to Tel Aviv pocked with bullet holes. Klein added that there were bodies in some of the cars and along the road.
“We were freaking out,” he said. “At one point, we were approaching three guys dressed in black and wearing masks. We drove right by them. Thank goodness,. they didn’t shoot.
“As we were driving, we could see smoke from burning houses.”
The group made it safely to Tel Aviv by about 9:45.
“While we were safe, I didn’t know what happened to all the people I had met and taken pictures of at the music festival,” he noted. “I had exchanged contact information with them so, over the next few weeks, I went about contacting them.”
Happily, he was able to report that almost all of them were safe. As he had done earlier – showing the photos of his new friends and acquaintances from the festival, he again posted their pictures on the screen and briefly told their stories. One young woman, for example, had found herself on one of the kibbutzim under attack and hid in a fridge for several hours until she was rescued. Others found safety in the nearby JNF forest until rescued by the IDF.
Five and a half months after that horrendous day, Klein observed, “many people in Israel aren’t doing so well, but we are doing the best we can. No one is alone. There is also a greater sense of togetherness than there was before the war.”
He also reported that his friends in Israel encouraged him to share his photos and video with the world. As a result, he is currently on a speaking tour of North American Jewish communities.
He said that he is scheduled to return to Tel Aviv on May1.
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.”
Local News
New Israeli restaurant opens in River Heights
By BERNIE BELLAN (July 6, 2025) It’s been a long time since our community has been able to welcome the opening of a restaurant that specializes in Israeli food.
That void is now filled with the opening of The Green Falafel, at 1833 Grant (corner of Centennial – next to the Subway), which opened its doors (to huge crowds) on Monday, July 7.
(owners Ariel & Elena Maudi second and third from left)
The restaurant is the fulfillment of a dream long held by the husband and wife team of Ariel and Eden Maudi, who have been living in Winnipeg the past 11 years.
Ariel, who was born in Israel and grew up in Beer Sheva, says that he worked in telecommunications in Ramat Gan for several years. He adds though that he had always dreamed of owning his own falafel stand in Israel, but life was difficult there and he decided to come to Canada as a tourist to see whether there were any opportunities here for him, Eden and their two young children.
Eden, who was born in Russia and moved to Israel with her family in 1996, stayed behind with the two kids, who were both pre-schoolers, while Ariel tested the waters in Canada first.
Ariel says he came to Canada as a tourist in 2013. His first stop was in Toronto, where he acquired his 1st class driver’s license. At the end of 2013 he moved to Winnipeg where he began working as a truck driver. Soon he found himself employed as a successful sales person at Vickar Nissan where, he says, he once achieved the status as the top car sales person in Canada. After working at Vickar Nissan for a number of years, Ariel began working as an installer for Bell MTS.
Meanwhile, Eden began working at a Walmart, later at the Costco on Regent.
But, when the opportunity to move into a space that had been previously occupied by another restaurant, but which had closed, became available, Ariel and Eden decided to open their own Israeli restaurant in an area that hadn’t seen Israeli food served since the controversial closure of Bermax Café in 2019.
The Maudis say that they will be serving a variety of Israeli dishes – all vegetarian, and that they will be fully kosher.
The “green” in Green Falafel, by the way, Ariel Maudi explains, comes from the cilantro and parsley that are added to the chickpeas. In addition, their pitas will be coming from Israel and will be baked fresh daily.
The Green Falafel is open from 10-8 Sunday – Thursday and 10-4 on Friday. (Closed Saturday).Delivery will be available through Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Call 204-557-7837 for information.