Local News
Chesed Shel Emes unveils new art installation honouring major donors to recent fundraising campaign
By MYRON LOVE The Chesed Shel Emes, our community’s non-profit burial society/funeral chapel, has recently unveiled a new piece of art in recognition of the major donors who contributed to the recent construction of the new administration building that is attached to the south side of the 75-year-old chapel.
“We wanted to commission a unique piece of art in celebration of our generous donors and create a permanent reminder of their connection to the community and our chapel,” says Chesed Shel Emes President Hillel Kravetsky.
The 7’ tall by 5’ wide sculptured wall hanging in the shape of the Hebrew letter “shin” contains the names of 330 families and individuals who contributed more than $1,000 a piece to the construction of the new administration building which officially opened just over a year ago. The new building replaces a more than 100-year-old house which the Chesed Shel Emes board purchased shortly after its formation in 1929.
Rena Boroditsky, the Chesed Shel Emes’ long time executive director, notes that the plaque in the shape of a “shin” is based on the organization’s logo which is on display on the front of the building and in the chapel itself. She explains that the letter, “shin”, is significant in our end of life rituals. The Shechinah – or feminine aspect of God – is with us in the tahara room as we lovingly prepare the body for burial.
She reports that nearly 1,000 donors contributed toward the campaign in total, raising $3.7 million to completely cover the cost of construction.
Boroditsky notes that fundraising continues – and that there is still a $165,000 bill to cover to replace the roof on the historic chapel.
“We knew that our roof needed work,” she says, “but we didn’t initially realize the extent of it.”
Readers who may want to support the Chesed Shel Emes can also contribute to the Building Fund or to one of organization‘s endowment funds being administered by the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
The interest from both the general fund and the Jeff Morgan ZL Memorial Fund goes toward fulfilling Chesed’s mandate of making sure that everyone is cared for regardless of financial constraints. (Morgan was a dedicated volunteer as well as a staff member who passed away suddenly two years ago.)
Boroditsky would also like to let the community know that the new facility – with its kosher kitchen – has meeting space for community organizations.
“Everyone is welcome to come by for a tour of our new building,” the executive director says.
For further information readers can contact Rena at chesedwinnipeg@gmail.com.
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Local News
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.”

