Local News
Etz Chayim, Shaarey Zedek members looking forward to experiencing High Holiday services in new surroundings

By MYRON LOVE High Holiday seats are selling out quickly at our community’s largest congregations as Etz Chayim and Shaarey Zedek members are eager to experience Yom Tov services in their new surrounding
With almost a month still to go until Yom Tov – Erev Rosh Hashanah is Wednesday, October 2 – Dr Rena Secter Elbaze, Shaarey Zedek’s executive director, reports that as of Friday, August 30, seats for the main sanctuary service are 74% sold out and that the family service already has a wait list.
For the past two years, the synagogue has been closed while the now-72-year-old building has been undergoing the first major thoroughgoing upgrade since the early 1970s. Over that time period, regular weekly minyan services have being held at Temple Shalom and Shabbat and High Holiday services at the Asper Campus. The congregation is scheduled to resume regular Shabbat and weekday services in its own building again after Rosh Hashanah.
Elbaze does note that, due to current fire code conditions and the need to make the sanctuary better able to accommodate wheelchairs, there are somewhat fewer seats in the sanctuary than there were before. On the other hand, services have been live-streamed now for several years.
“We have quite a few people from out of town who regularly follow our services online,” Elbaze points out.
Once again, this year, the popular Rabbi Emeritus Alan Green – who was the Shaarey Zedek’s senior rabbi for 18 years – is returning to lead Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services in the main sanctuary with Cantor Leslie Emery, the Quartet, and the Ruach Volunteer Choir. Rabbi Anibal Mass will be leading the popular family service with Noah Trachtenberg, a Youth Band and the Dor Chadash Youth Choir.
For the members of Congregation Etz Chayim, these will be the first High Holiday services in the synagogue’s new south end location at 1155 Wilkes.
“We are essentially sold out for Yom Tov,” reports Jonathan Buchwald, Etz Chayim’s executive director. “Our members are really excited about our first Yom Tov in our new building.”
Congregation Etz Chayim came into being on July 1, 2002, as a result of the merger of the Rosh Pina, Bnay Abraham and Beth Israel Congregations – the three largest synagogues in north Winnipeg. While the resulting new congregation had been davening at the former Rosh Pina’s building – which dated back to 1952, the broad and members had been – for several years – talking about relocating to south Winnipeg, where the majority of its members live. The discussions finally became reality within the past year. Last year, the congregation acquired the former Shriners headquarters while at the same time selling their north Winnipeg building to a church group. Following a complete renovation of the new building, the membership was able to begin services in March.
By necessity – in reflecting the congregation’s slowly declining membership numbers – the new Etz Chayim is considerably smaller than its predecessor. To accommodate the demand for Yom Kippur seating in particular, Buchwald reports, the Kol Nidre service will be held at the Holiday Inn Express at the airport – and there with two services for Yom Kippur day.
The services can also be followed online.
Rabbi Kliel Rose and Cantor Tracy Kasner will, as usual, be leading Etz Chayim’s High Holiday services.
“We will be holding our special family service again this year geared towards families with young children,” Buchwald notes. This will be a unique service involving songs, activities and storytelling. It will take place in the mornings of the second day of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur day.
Etz Chayim will also be holding Junior Congregation for the two days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur day for both the morning and afternoon services.
Services are available either in-person or online.
Temple Shalom, our community’s 60-year-old Reform Congregation, will be introducing their new clergy this year at Yom Tov. The 2024 High Holiday services will be led by cantorial soloist Janet Pelletier Goetz as well long time Temple Shalom member Myriam Saitman – who is set to begin training in September toward her rabbinical ordination – and, for the first time, choir leader Erica Tallis –a 2020 graduate of the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba.
South end Winnipeg further offers a fourth liberal Jewish option in the form of Rabbi Matthew Leibl’s “Services on the River: A Modern High Holidays”. This is the second year that the former Shaarey Zedek – and now independent – rabbi is leading his own service at the Gates on Roblin.
He reported last year that he had a lot of people asking him to lead Yom Tov services. ”Last year, I had about 250 people attending my service,” he says. “I am hoping to have a similar number this year.”
The venue has room for up to 300 people.
“Services on the River: A modern High Holidays” are once again scheduled for the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Erev Yom Kippur and Yom Kippur in the morning.
The three services, Leibl noted last year, “are designed to offer moments of reflection and introspection, beautiful live music, and a celebration of the Jewish New Year, all against the pastoral backdrop of the Assiniboine River, which will also be our site for Tashlich on Rosh Hashanah.”
He explained that he will be blending his trademark Torah commentary, relevant explanations, and some humour with a mix of traditional and contemporary liturgy, to deliver a High Holy Day experience that will feel both familiar and modern. He adds that he will again be working with the husband and wife cantorial team of Justin Odwak and Sarah Sommer.
All services will run 90 minutes. While families are encouraged to attend, there are no programs designed specifically for children.
South Winnipeg’s orthodox options include the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia and the Chabad Lubavitch centre. The former – led by Rabbi Yossi Benarroch – has a membership of about 100 and can accommodate up to 250. The latter has a capacity of between 200 and 300.
The Simkin Centre is holding Yom Tov services that are open to the general public. The services, which will begin at 10:00 A.M. on all three days of Yom Tov, are being led by Steven Hyman with the Simkin Centre Choir, led by Bonnie Antel.
Heather Blackman, the Manager of Resident Experience, is asking that anyone who may be planning on attending the service from the public RSVP either by email (heather.blackman@simkincentre.ca) or telephone (204 589-9008), so that she knows how many to plan for.
While it is too early to report as to High Holiday attendance at the Chevra Mishnayes Rob Waldman, the president of the egalitarian congregation in Garden City, says that the board is hopeful that there may be a few former Etz Chayim people in the North End who may choose the Chevra Mihsnayes this year.
A few former Etz Chayim members have been attending Shabbat services at the north Winnipeg congregation for the past several months.
Last year’s attendance was 100.
Once again, Al Benarroch will be leading the services.
Still with the North End, the venerable House of Ashkenazie, the last of our community’s older-style Orthodox congregations, also, according to president Gary Minuk, is hoping that there will be 30 to 40 daveners for the High Holidays this year.
One other Orthodox north Winnipeg alternative is the former Chavurat Tefila – on the corner of Hartford and McGregor – which merged last year with the Talmud Torah and is now operating under the Chavurat Tefila Talmud Torah name.
Last year, attendance at the CT-TT was around 40. The leadership is hoping to match, if not exceed, that number this year. Services this year will be led by Rabbi Menachem Frenkel from Baltimore.
Finally, for those who enjoy an alternative – yet traditional service in its own way – after a two-year absence, Camp Massad is resuming its innovative Rosh Hashanah service. Daniel Sprintz, the camp’s executive director, is pleased to announce that Massad will again be hosting its usual Rosh Hashanah program on the second day.
“We offer a creative and interactive service that combines some traditional prayers with contemporary readings, folk music and our usual Camp Massad shtick,” Sprintz says. “Our services will be followed by a kosher lunch and Tashlich at the Lake.”
Last year, just over 100 attended. He is hoping to have a somewhat larger number this year.
Yom Tov this year begins on Wednesday, October 2, in the evening.
Wishing all readers a sweet new year.
Local News
Cheryl Hirsch Katz, Jewish Child and Family Service’s longest serving staffer, set to retire at end of the month

By MYRON LOVE “I loved working at Jewish Child and Family Service,” says Cheryl Hirsh Katz, who is due to retire at the end of June. “I have always appreciated the warm and welcoming atmosphere here. I feel that the people working here are my extended family. I am going to miss my colleagues”.
“I have derived great satisfaction over the years to have been able to help many people in our community of all ages through my work at JCFS,” she continues.
After 44 years at the agency, Katz, the longest-serving member of the staff, was given an appreciative send-off at the JCFS’s recent (June 23) Annual General Meeting at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue.
The daughter of Art and Bess Hirsh, Cheryl grew up in Garden City. She attended Peretz School, then Jefferson Junior High and Garden City Collegiate. She joined the staff of JCFS in 1981, shortly after receiving her Bachelor of Social Work degree.
She earned an MSW in 1990.
“I chose to become a social worker,” she recalls, “because I always wanted to be able to help people.”
Katz was originally hired by JCFS to work with newcomers. After a couple of years, she was given responsibility for looking after the needs of older adults.
“I really enjoyed working in older adult services,” she says. “That is where I spent the bulk of my time at JCFS.”
After ten years as a case worker, she was promoted to a supervisory role. Later, she was also given responsibility for mental health and addictions programming and settlement services, while keeping the older adult files under her purview.
“As a supervisor, I wasn’t directly involved with individual clients,” she points out. “I was more involved with programming. Among the programs for seniors we organized were – for example – sessions on elder abuse, digital storytelling and memory loss.”
She notes that one of the trends she has seen over the last 44 years is that people are living longer and living in their homes longer. A lot more of our clients are living well into their 90s,” she observes. “We have had to continually expand our staff and the services we provide in order to accommodate the growing demands of an aging population.”
She also spoke of the mental health needs of seniors and aging Holocaust survivors.
She says that she has mixed feelings about leaving JCFS. “After so many years working full time, I am going to have to create a new routine,” she comments.
She notes that, now that she is retired, she will have more time to spend with her parents – who are in their 90s.
And then, there are the two dogs to look after. “I will have time now to try new activities,” she says. “ I might learn to play mah-jong.”
She speaks about maybe doing some traveling – although her husband, Murray, is still working full time.
(She and Murray have one daughter, Farah.)
“Retirement may also include some volunteering,” she adds.
It is quite likely, she will be continuing her association with JCFS but in a volunteer capacity.
Local News
Gray Academy students shine in provincial, national debating competitions

By MYRON LOVE It has been another good year for Gray Academy’s high school students who participated in provincial and national debating competitions. The best results were recorded by Grade 9 student Noa Mednikov, who finished fourth overall nationally, fourth in interpretive reading, and fifth in persuasive speaking at the junior National Public Speaking Championship in early May in Vancouver.
Last October, in the Junior Provincial British Parliamentary Championship – which was held at St. John’s-Ravenscourt – Noa and her partner, Raya Braunstein, finished third as a team while Raya placed third in individual debating.
Their fellow Grade 9 student Maxim Moscalenkov tied for first in persuasive speaking in Vancouver, while the Gray Academy team of Gabe Tapper and Aaron Koplovich finished fifth. Aaron also finished fifth in his individual debate.
Earlier, in March, Maxim finished fifth in the Provincial Juniors debating competition, which was held at Balmoral Hall He and his debate partner, Nate Shenkarow, finished seventh among the teams entered. Last November, he and partner, Ethan Tenenbein, finished seventh in the Junior Prepared Tournament – just behind the Gray Academy team of Nate Shenkarow and Jack Kay.
At the senior high level in that competition, the team of Jacob Tenenbein and Jonah Novoseller finished fourth and Jacob was recognized as fifth best in an individual capacity. Jonah and Jacob also paired up to win the Asper Cup, which was held at their home school.
Jacob represented Manitoba at the Junior National Speech Championship in Vancouver in May and, last October, he and Grade 12 Gray Academy students Julie Krozkin and Daniel Bokser represented Canada at an international debating tournament in Bermuda.
Gray Academy’s debating program was introduced by Linda Martin in 2003. She also led the debating teams at Balmoral Hall. In 2011, Martin was succeeded by Gray Academy high school English teacher Andrew Kaplan.
“Andrew has done a wonderful job with the debating program” says Martin, who has a debating trophy at Gray Academy named in her honour, as well as a provincial trophy for best individual junior debater. “Over the years, Gray Academy students have done very well in many local, national and international competitions,” she adds.
About three weeks ago, this writer had the opportunity to sit down with Andrew Kaplan and six of the school’s top debaters while they discussed the benefits of learning how to debate. According to Noah Strauss – who competed in the Junior Provincials at Balmoral Hall in March, public speaking leaves him with a feeling of accomplishment.
“It’s a good skill set to have,” he observes. “It builds confidence.”
“A benefit of being able to debate is that you learn how to convince people that you know what you are talking about,” adds Maxim Moscolenkov.
Raya Braunstein notes that being able to debate is a skill that she expects to be helpful in many university courses which she may choose to take.
As Andrew Kaplan notes, the ability to express yourself has a great impact in whatever career you choose to pursue.
He points out that debating is compulsory at Gray Academy for all Grade 7 and 8 students – and students can continue debating as an option in the higher grades
Of course, competitive debating is not for everyone. For those students who opt to take that path, the journey begins with internal school debate competition – with the top debating teams and individuals qualifying for local tournaments and – potentially – beyond.
Andrew Kaplan reports that a small number of high schools in Winnipeg and southern Manitoba have active debating programs – including St. Johns Ravenscourt, St. Paul’s High School, St. Mary’s Academy, Garden City and Maples Collegiates in the Seven Oaks School Division, St. Maurice (a Catholic School), as well as Morden Collegiate and Dasmesh, a Sikh private school.
Kaplan expresses his appreciation to the Asper Foundation and an endowment spearheaded by the Kives Family for providing funding for the Gray Academy debating program – as well as the Andrew Slough Foundation – which was established by his friends in memory of the outstanding former Ravenscourt student debater and lawyer who passed away suddenly two years ago at the still young age of 38.
I am confident that our Jewish community can look forward to the continued success of Gray Academy’s star debaters and to the continual emergence of future stars as the times goes by.
Local News
Antisemitism has crept into grade school in Canada

Antisemitism in Canada has moved beyond protests and politics; it is now entering classrooms and altering how Jewish children see themselves functioning within them.
A a university student I have observed the experience of my younger brother in grade eight as a Jewish student. Over the past few months, his school has been at the center of several deeply troubling incidents that have made him feel unsafe in our parks, community, and even his school. Swastikas were drawn around the community, in parks and ponds. Additionally, an older man, who claims to be a pro-Palestinian influencer, stood outside his predominantly Jewish school wearing a keffiyeh, filming a video which then circulated between students on TikTok.
This same man later showed up to our local Jewish community center in keffiyeh to allegedly watch his son play basketball where my brother and many of his classmates go for their lessons, basketball games, and Jewish events. These moments made him and his peers feel watched and targeted just for being Jewish. Local political representatives condemned the incidents and raised awareness about antisemitism, but the fear among students didn’t go away. The feeling of being targeted for simply existing has been taught to my brother, something my parents had tried their hardest to escape from.
Most recently, my brother was chosen to represent his school at a regional science fair. When one of the judges arrived wearing a keffiyeh, he froze. For many, including my brother after the incidents he has faced, the keffiyeh represents a political message. But even more so for my younger brother, it is tied to the fear and intimidation he had already experienced. He felt nervous, distracted, and unsure of how to act.
This is not about silencing political expression. It is about a child who came to share his ideas and left feeling uncertain and afraid. It is about the atmosphere forming in Canadian schools, where Jewish students are being made to feel targeted and unwelcome.
His school made an effort to address the incidents, but the impact is lasting. Posts on social media, much can be very vague at times about inclusion cannot fully undo the feeling of being singled out. A kind word from a teacher does not erase the fear that builds when threats are left unspoken but deeply felt.
I am writing this as a sister who watched her younger brother lose a moment that should have been filled with confidence and pride. He deserved to feel safe. So do all Jewish students in this country.
Moving forward, schools must take concrete steps to protect all students. Antisemitism cannot only be addressed when it becomes violent or overt. It must also be recognized when it appears as intimidation, symbolic targeting, or political messaging that creates fear among students. Children should never have to question whether they are safe in their own classrooms or community spaces.
Events that are meant to support and celebrate students must remain focused on them. Individuals who feel the need to bring political symbols or messages into school grounds or children’s events should not be welcomed in those spaces. Schools must make it clear that their environments exist to support learning, safety, and inclusion, not to host agendas that can intimidate or isolate students.
Administrators and educators must develop clear guidelines for identifying and responding to antisemitic behavior in all its forms. This includes strengthening security measures, offering ongoing staff training, and engaging directly with Jewish families to understand their concerns. Inclusion is not a one-time statement. It is a responsibility that must be reflected in everyday decisions and actions. No child should ever feel unsafe or unwelcome because of their identity.
The author is a Campus Media Fellow with HonestReporting Canada and Allied Voices for Israel who lives in Toronto.