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Conservative, Reform synagogues see continued expansion in number of online Yom Tov viewers
By MYRON LOVE In a full page ad on the back page of the August 4 issue of The Jewish Post & News, Shaarey Zedek Congregation let it be known that there would not be any in-person high holyday services come September, but all members of the community would be welcome to participate online.
The ad also said there would not be any charge to join online and that no tickets or passwords would be needed. In addition, the machzorim were to be digital, the aliyot virtual, and viewers would be able to chat online with other viewers.
The result, Ran Ukashi, the congregation’s executive director reports, is that over 16,000 viewers – from around the world – tuned into services at one point or another – a number that is about ten times the number of people who normally attended in person in pre-covid days.
“While the province did loosen restrictions, we felt it better – with conditions constantly subject to change – to take a safe rather than sorry approach,” Ran observes. “Our membership was really understanding.”
The Shaarey Zedek has been a leader among our community’s synagogues in livestreaming services, a technology that has been in use at the synagogue for several years.
“Everything went very well,” he adds. “It was nice to see our viewership continuing to grow.
”Maybe next year, we will be able to return to in-person services for the Holidays.”
While Congregation Etz Chayim opted to return this year to limited in-person attendance – in contrast to last year’s almost entirely virtual service(with the exception of ten people to form an in-person minyan ) – our community’s second largest congregation also increased its online presence.
“We were very pleased with how High Holy Days went this year – given the circumstances and the amount of uncertainty leading up to it,” says Jonathan Buchwald, Congregation Etz Chayim’s executive director. “We offered on-line services for the second year in a row but also included limited in-person attendance. Congregants could choose to attend either for Rosh Hashanah or for Yom Kippur in order to maximize attendance. For the first two days of Rosh Hashanah we had 50 people attend and for Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur we had 100 people attend. We were able to follow all of the safety protocols and everyone was extremely cooperative. It was so nice to have our congregants back in the building for the first time in a very long time. It was actually quite emotional for many of them and they were so grateful that they could attend.”
In terms of the on-line audience, Buchwald estimates that close to 200 screens were watching services daily, including many from out of town. “This would translate into about 500-600 people watching our services at any given time,” he notes. “Congregants were also able to offer special readings live via Zoom.
“Rabbi Kliel, Cantor Tracy and the entire Etz Chayim team deserve a huge Yasher Koach for delivering such uplifting and inspiring services during these most extraordinary times.”
As with Etz Chayim, Temple Shalom, our community’s only Reform Congregation, combined limited in-person services and livestreaming.
“A lot of people still feel uneasy,” observed Rabbi Allan Finkel in an earlier interview. “We are working to make sure that everyone will feel incredibly safe here.”
That included pre-registration – with members being priorized, limited seating, vaccinations and masks, and a shortened service.
Finkel reports that in-person services were limited to 100 congregants -in addition to clergy and technical staff. “We were close to capacity for Rosh Hashonah morning and Yom Kippur,” he says. “We estimate that we had between 400 and 600 people viewing us online. We had a lot of positive comments about our service both from people who attended in-person and those who watched online.”
For our community’s other shuls, livestreaming of Yom Tov services is not an option. While for Orthodox shuls, it goes against Halachah, the Chevra Mishnayes, a Conservative congregation in Garden City, doesn’t have the technology in place.
In a pre-High Holiday interview, Murray Greenfield, a member of the congregation’s executive, reported that “we are going beyond the government Covid guidelines. We are asking people to register ahead of time and we will be assigning seating.”
Social distancing was enforced – although family members could sit together.
As with last year the Adas-Yeshurun Herzlia, our community’s largest Orthodox congregation, limited in-person attendance to a maximum of 50 – but with two services a day for Rosh Hashonah. Congregation members hoping to attend had to register in advance and be able to show their vaccination cards (a scan or photocopy sufficed).
Congregation President Jack Craven reports that everything went well.
The Orthodox House of Ashkenazi in the North End and the Lubavitch Centre in south Winnipeg were the only shuls open to non-members for the High Holidays. The Lubavitch Centre does not actually have a “membership” category.
“While we had to limit our numbers, we had a nice group in attendance,” notes Rabbi Avrohom Altein, our community’s Lubavitch Rabbi for the past 50 years. “For Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, all of our tables were full.”
Only family members were allowed to share a table, he adds.
And Gary Minuk, the president of the House of Ashkenazi, reports that there were about 30 men and a few women in attendance for Yom Tov services – around the same number as last year.
“We had a nice service,” he says.
The Ashkenazi, he adds, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The synagogue is the last of the old time shuls in the old North End – with a women’s section upstairs. Until Covid restrictions, the Ashkenazi was still offering daily morning minyans. Currently, the congregation is trying to have minyans Thursday mornings.
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.”