Local News
Former Melfort Torah scroll donated to Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada
By MYRON LOVE As a result of the closure of the South Shore Jewish Community Congregaton in Montreal in December 2021, an historic Torah scroll which used to grace the ark of the former Beth Israel Synagogue in Melfort, in northeastern Saskatchewan, has been returned to Western Canada.
On Tuesday, June 25, about 60 former residents and descendants of the Melfort and District Jewish community gathered at the Berney Theatre to celebrate the donation of the Torah scroll to the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada.
At its peak in the 1950s and early1960s, the Melfort and District Jewish community numbered 40 to 50 Jewish families. The Jewish Heritage Centre’s new Torah scroll possibly arrived in Melfort by way of the Jewish farm colony in nearby Edenbridge (which was founded in 1906), where some of the Melfort Jewish families came from.
The gifted Torah was one of three that were at Melfort’s Beth Israel Synagogue, which was opened in 1952. After the shul closed in 1986, Melfort Jewish community member Anita Levitt Lefevre looked after the Torah scrolls until they could be placed in new homes. One was placed in a shul in Richmond, B.C. in 1986 and a second made its way to a synagogue in England. The third scroll – which was the one donated to the JHCWC had been given to the Montreal South Shore Congregation.
It was in the early 1990s, according to a story by Janice Arnold in the Canadian Jewish News on December 23, 2021 – reporting on the closing of the South Shore Jewish Community Congregation in the Montreal suburb of the same name – that the late Walter Lee, the founder of the South Shore community, drove to Saskatoon to pick up the third Melfort Torah to bring back to his new congregation.
David Vickar, who organized the two-day celebration of – and served as emcee for – the presentation of the Torah to the JHC noted that it was he who first learned about the location of the Torah through the article in the Canadian Jewish News in the course of researching Vickar family history for the family reunion in Melfort and Edenbridge last summer.
“Our Torah scroll was mentioned in the second last paragraph in the article,” noted the Edmonton-based radiologist. “I took the initiative of travelling to Montreal and arranging for the Torah scroll to be returned to Winnipeg.”
As reported by the Shaarey Zedek’s Cantor Leslie Emery –who is also a Torah reader – the Torah scroll was most likely written in the late 18th century somewhere in central Europe – either in southern Germany, Austria or what is now the Czech Republic.
“I have had a chance to look at this scroll,” she said. “Rabbi (Yossi) Benarroch (the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia’s spiritual leader) and two sofers (scribes) were shown images of it. The scribes considered the layout and style of script to determine the location in which the scroll was written. The date was determined by the faded Hebrew dedication written on the disc of the scroll, which included a date.”
She pointed out that this Torah scroll is different from modern Torah scrolls in that it pre-dates the more modern Vavei Ha’amudim style characterized by the letter “Vav”at the beginning of most columns. She noted some other differences as well.
“There are very few Torah scrolls like this in North America or the world,” she said. “So much of our heritage was lost in the Holocaust.”
David Vickar noted that the JHCWC was the appropriate place for the venerable Torah scroll as the organization was formed in 1998 as an amalgamation of the pre-existing Jewish Historical Society of Western Canada, the Freeman Family Foundation Holocaust Education Centre and the Marion and Ed Vickar Jewish Museum of Western Canada.
The presentation was made by Marion and Ed’s children, Elaine Sharfe of Saskatoon and Dr. Garry Vickar from St. Louis.
In addition to Leslie Emery, there were presentations by JHC President Harlan Abells and Stan Carbone, director of Programs and Exhibits. Carbone spoke of the strong relationship between the JHCWC and the Vickar family historically and praised their generosity.
There were also comments from the Honourable Jacques Saada via zoom from Montreal. Saada, a former Liberal member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister in the Paul Martin Government, had been the president of the South Shore Congregation since 2013.
While the Torah scroll can no longer be used in synagogue services due to imperfections that have developed over the decades, Leslie Emery observed that it can still be used for study.
The Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada is the repository of our community’s history in Winnipeg and Western Canada. Its archives contain over 70,000 photos, more than 4000 artifacts and 1,300-plus recordings and oral histories in its archives. Its mission is to document, preserve and share information on the culture and historical formation of Jewish communities in Western Canada and also serve as an advocate for anti-racism and education on the Holocaust and Antisemitism.
Local News
The Jewish Post Ltd. launches new website for food lovers
By BERNIE BELLAN Three months ago I wrote a story about something my daughter, Shira, had started doing on social media that had proved to be wildly successful – much to her own surprise. That story was titled: Local foodie finds fame by trying foods on Facebook Marketplace
What Shira was doing was going on to Facebook Marketplace and trying different foods that she was able to buy from local vendors. She often didn’t know what the heck it was she was ordering, but each time she would get a new food she would film herself reacting to that food.
The results have been consistently entertaining – often hilarious, to the point where Shira now has over 10,300 followers on Instagram, as well as on Facebook, TikTok, and Youtube. (You can find her Instagram page at Winnipeg Marketplace Food Finds.)
I suggested to Shira that she ought to parlay the success she’s found by posting on social media into a further venture: creating a website that would give wider exposure to the food vendors whose food Shira liked the most.
As a result, Shira and I teamed up with the marvellous web designer whose name is Mario Lacunza who is responsible for the design of jewishpostandnews.ca -to create a brand new website called Winnipeg Marketplace Food Finds.
On that website you will find pictures of some of the most popular foods Shira has tried from Marketplace, along with links to the original Instagram posts where she reviewed those foods – and links that will take you directly to the vendors’ Facebook pages.
There are so many brilliantly creative people selling food on Marketplace and Shira’s social media posts have brought many of them a lot of new business. Our hope is that our new website will bring them even more business.
The website will also offer stories about food from a variety of sources. So, take a look at the new site and be amazed at the originality of the foods being produced on Facebook Marketplace.
Local News
UNVEILING for the headstone of Dr. Velimir Kon (Sept. 18, 1950-June 27, 2025)
A true mensch and person of many talents and profoundness, Dr. Velimir (Shlomo) Kon is deeply missed and loved by his family and friends.
Known for his warmth, kindness, integrity and love of learning and teaching, Velimir continues to inspire all who knew him and his memory warms our hearts and souls. Velimir is deeply missed.
You are invited to helps us remember and honour our beloved husband and father who passed away almost a year ago.
We, Branka, Deborah and Lea Kon, wish to inform our relatives and friends of the unveiling of a headstone dedicated to his loving memory on FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2026 at 11:00am at the HEBREW SICK CEMETERY (2605 McPhillips Street) followed by lunch at the Chabad Lubavitch of Winnipeg – Jewish Learning Centre (1845 Mathers Avenue). Please come say a l’chaim in his honour.
In Memoriam
1st Yahrzeit
In loving memory of Dr. Velimir (Shlomo) Kon who passed away June 27, 2025, 12 Days in Tammuz.
⁃ Forever and deeply loved and missed by his wife of over 50 years, Branka, and daughters Deborah and Lea Kon. Velimir brought joy to our lives with his boundless kindness and gentleness, irrepressible humour, great intellect and love of people, tikun olam and Judaism.
Not a day goes by that we do not mention Velimir and feel his presence with us. Our lives are not the same without him and we deeply miss and cherish him. We can never forget his presence that was larger than life, yet also his humility and thoughtfulness.
A gentleman to the very core, Velimir was respected as a scientist, academic, professor, researcher, and later as a teacher and mentor. He always endeavoured to make every place he worked and lived at better and was able to bridge many cultures. He was Abraham of his generation and made many personal sacrifices; giving up status, position and privilege in order for his family to have a better and peaceful future.
May his memory always be a blessing. He left us at only 74 years young and we wish we had had more time together. Indeed, to know him was to love him.
Local News
Younger Jewish talents continue to shine in their respective categories at annual Winnipeg Music Festival
By MYRON LOVE A number of younger members of our community were repeat stars at the most recent (108th annual) Winnipeg Music Festival – which takes place annually in March. Among the repeat Jewish singers and musicians in the ranks of high achievers this year were” Yale Rayburn-Vander Hout, Gregory Hyman, Alex Schaeffer, Juliet Eskin, Noah Kravetsky, and Lyla Chisick.
Vocalist Yale Rayburn-Vander Hout, the oldest of this year’s group of Jewish repeat winners, was competing in his fifth straight festival, where he continued to build on his accomplishments in previous festivals. This year, the 20-year-old son of Samantha and Peter finished first in two musical theatre categories – songs from musical theatre productions between 1965 and 1999, and shows from the past 26 years. Yale sang “I’m Allergic to Cats,” from the 2016 musical “The Theory of Relativity,” and “Suppertime,” from the 1967 musical, “You’re a Good man, Charlie Brown.”
The former Gray Academy student is currently enrolled at the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Faculty of Music in the Choral program. Yale says that he is hoping to get into the performance track in the fall with the goal of earning a degree in Classical Voice Performance en route to pursuing a career in musical theatre.
As reported previously, Gregory Hyman is a multi-faceted artist who can do it all. The 18-year-old son of Hartley and Rishona Hyman is a singer/songwriter/musician (guitar) who records and performs under the stage name, GMH. His versatility shone through once again in his eighth Music Festival, in which he registered first-place finishes for vocal performances in both “Popular and Contemporary Music” and “TV and Movie Music “categories.
Gregory notes that he was also recommended to compete in the provincial finals in June. The St. John’s-Ravenscourt student (and soon-to be) graduate continues to be busy on stage. In January, he headlined a sold out solo show at Sidestage on Osborne featuring some of his new material. In March, he released an album of his newest songs. Readers can check out his latest compositions on any of the music streaming platforms as well as his own social media (thegmh) on Instagram.
Gregory also continues to host his own podcast: “Talk and Rock with GMH – now in its fifth season – in which he interviews various people in the music business across Canada.
While Gregory says that a musical career is his “dream,” he reports that he is hedging his bets and considering different potential career opportunities. Come September, he will be enrolled at the University of Manitoba in a University One program, which will allow him to select from a variety of courses that can count toward a degree.
Sixteen-year-old Alex Schaeffer won first place this year in the “Musicals Prior to 1965, 16 Years and Under” category with “Try Me” from “She Loves Me,” and was runner-up in the “Musicals 1965 to 1999, 16 Years and Under” category with “On My Own,” from “Les Misérables.” For the son of Marc Schaeffer and Kae Sasaki, this was his fifth year competing in the festival.
The Grant Park High School student made his big stage debut three years ago as Kurt von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” followed by playing Michael Hobbs in “Elf the Musical” this past winter at the Royal MTC.
Alex recently performed in Grant Park High School’s production of “Something Rotten!” This summer Schaeffer can be seen again at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, where he will be appearing in a production staged by Rem Lezar Theatre.
Rounding out the voice winners is Lyla Chisick. The daughter of Daniel and Baillee was competing in her second music festival. This year, she scored Gold performances in the “Vocal Solo,” “Manitoba Composers,” and “TV/Movie Musical, 12 and under” categories.
Lyla reports that she began taking voice lessons from Jessica Kos-Whicher three years ago. She says she regularly takes part in the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue Family Service and has sung at several community events. Lyla adds that she is already looking forward to next year’s music festival.
Nate Kravetsky and Juliet Eskin competed in the festival as musicians rather than singers. Juliet, 16, plays the viola, and is also is the violist in the Assiniboine String Quartet. In this, her fifth go-round at the festival, Juliet, the daughter of the musically talented Kelly Robinon and Josh Eskin, had first place finishes in the “Viola Solo, level 8,” “Baroque or Classical Concerto,” and “Romantic Composers” categories.
Juliet originally took up the violin – adding the viola a couple of years after. She also just finished performing in the Grant Park High School production of “Something Rotten!”
Nate Kravetsky is currently in Grade 5 level piano. He studies with Erica Schultz and has been taking lessons from her since age 5.
Nate competed in three categories at the Winnipeg music festival: “Baroque,” “Sonata,” and “Contemporary/own choice.”
His own choice selection was the theme from his favourite video game, “Hollow Knight.”
Nate, who is in Grade 7 at Gray Academy, is also preoccupied preparing for his upcoming bar mitzvah.
We look forward to the continued musical success off Yale, Gregory, Alex, Nate, Juliet and Lyla, and what new talent may be unveiled at next year’s Winnipeg Music festival.
.