Local News
Congregation Etz Chayim’s new program director very happy to be living in Winnipeg
By MYRON LOVE Monica Neiman, Congregation Etz Chayim’s new Program and Engagement Director, comes to her new role with impressive credentials. For the past seven years – up until she landed here in June – she served seven years at her home congregation –Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle, Washington – as Assistant Director of the congregation’s religion school.
With about 1600 member families, she notes, Temple De Hirsch Sinai is the largest Reform Congregation for the Pacific Northwest in the United States. The K-12th Grade religion school has an enrollment of approximately 350 students divided between two campuses.
(Monica notes that Seattle has a Jewish population of about 70,000.)
Her duties included developing the Judaica curriculum and programming for students and families, supervising and creating professional development for the teachers,
coordinating logistics for large school events and programs involving both campuses; organizing the transition to online learning at the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic program; involvement in school budget decisions: teacher hiring and monthly payroll submissions and involvement in student and new family registration.
So, what led Neiman to leave her family, community and dream job and move halfway across the continent to our fair city? The answer is “love”.
In early 2019, Neiman was in the midst of spring break – one quarter away from finishing her first year of graduate school at University of Washington – when she connected through a Jewish Dating App called JSwipe with Javier Gore, a recent immigrant to Winnipeg from Argentina.
Initially, Neiman recalls, she assumed that Gore was living in Seattle but, in fact, the former University of Winnipeg HR student was only in Seattle to visit a cousin. Although Neiman was skeptical about the prospect of a long-distance relationship, her new suitor persuaded her to exchange numbers and they started texting. After a week, they arranged to begin meeting via FaceTime and liked what they saw.
In June, 2019, Gore flew to Seattle to meet Monica in person and things progressed from there in a positive direction. In January, Neiman came to Winnipeg to marry Gore in a civil ceremony – a traditional Jewish family wedding is scheduled for next summer – and she began the six-month process of becoming a landed immigrant through spousal sponsorship.
She officially arrived in Canada on August 15 and started in her new position at Etz Chayim on September 20.
“I learned about this opening at Etz Chayim,” she says, “from Lori Binder (Gray Academy of Jewish Education Head of School and CEO) who is a very good friend of Tracy Kasner (Etz Chayim’s cantor). With my background, it seemed to be a good fit.”
In her new role, Neiman will be organizing and co-ordinating programming that encompasses adults and children and families. “We are working on bringing back a modified, in-person Chanukah dinner and other Yom Tov celebrations throughout the year,” she reports. “We are also planning some new educational series every couple of months. In November, for example, we will be starting our next Beit Chayim online education series with a Talmud scholar and, starting during Holocaust Education Week, we will also be offering a three-part series focusing on Jewish art during and after the Holocaust.’
She says of her new home city that she is enjoying the slower pace of life. “I have told my husband that I feel more relaxed and calmer here,” she observes. “The vibe here reminds of what life used to be like in Seattle when I was growing up. I appreciate that people in the neighbourhood still say “good morning” to you.”
Socially, she notes that she and her husband have many friends among Winnipeg’s Argentinian Jewish community.
“We also enjoy outdoor activities,“ she says of herself and her husband, such as picnics at Assiniboine Park and hikes.”
She is also looking forward to visiting our city’s museums, taking in some Jets games and signing up for art classes.
Monica adds that she and Javier are both foodies and enjoy cooking together and trying out different restaurants.
And, while neither has any family here – her parents and siblings are all in Seattle while his parents are in Argentina and he has a sister in Miami – there is always Zoom and other online means of face to face communications.
Then, of course, there is a wedding to prepare for – by which time it is to be hoped that most Covid restrictions will have been lifted.
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.”