Local News
Friends of Israel hold “Honour Israel Night”
By BERNIE BELLAN Friends of Israel is a Christian non-evangelical organization dedicated to providing support for the State of Israel. Founded in 1938 by a group of concerned Christians in Philadelphia who had just witnessed the Nazi savagery of Kristallnacht, FOI actually predated the founding of the State of Israel by 10 years.
On September 22 FOI held what was called “Honour Israel Night” at a small church in west St. James. The event had been much postponed as a result of Covid – and the fact that the evening marked the 74th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel might have seemed a little odd to attendees – considering that Yom Ha’atsmaut fell this year on May 6. Still, as organizer John Plantz noted in remarks made to attendees, “better late than never.”
The small basement hall of New Life Sanctuary Church was packed with individuals who were either there because they support FOI or because, as was the case with representatives of Canadian Friends of Magen David Adom, they have a special relationship with FOI. It wasn’t quite the setting that the Victoria Inn provided the last time FOI held an Honour Israel Night, which was in October 2018, but it was a “haimesh” (not an “Amish”) atmosphere.
Also, similar to that FOI event four years ago, this most recent evening also marked the donation of an ambulance scooter to Canadian Magen David Adom – this time through the combined efforts of Larry and Tove Vickar, along with FOI. (The cost of an ambulance scooter is $40,000, we were told, of which Larry and Tove contributed half.) By the way, the ambulance scooter that was donated in 2018 was donated by Helen Atnikov, who passed last year. And, speaking of ambulances donated to CMDA, we would be remiss not to mention again the incredible generosity of Ida and Saul Alpern who have donated not one, but two ambulances to CMDA.
One further note: FOI worldwide has now donated six ambulances and six ambulance scooters to Magen David Adom.
The evening was a somewhat odd outpouring of love and affection for the Jewish people who, we were reminded several times, are God’s “chosen people” and to whom the land of Israel was promised in the Bible. (Not that I needed to reiterate that point, but in all honesty, I’m not entirely comfortable hearing that we have a “God-given right” to Israel. Over to you, Myron, for a fierce rebuttal.)
What the evening also included was a speech by Rady JCC executive director Rob Berkowits – who told me beforehand that he wasn’t quite sure why he was asked to be the special guest speaker.
But, Rob proved to be an eloquent speaker after all. He wove together his own initial familiarity with Israel when he was an evening student at the Rosh Pina many moons ago when the Jewish National Fund would hold an annual quiz for students, testing their knowledge about Israel. Rob told the audience that he always “aced” those tests and a certificate he won for finishing first one year was proudly hung on his bedroom wall.
Rob also told of his father, Alex – who was a Holocaust survivor, and Alex’s own love for Israel. “When there was a story about Israel on the news,” Rob said, “my father would tell me, my brother and my two sisters, to immediately keep quiet.”
In 2011 Rob became executive director of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan branch of the JNF. He had already been to Israel several times before, but he related that “the more I learned about Israel, the more I fell in love with Israel.”
In 2015 Rob moved over to the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba where, he explained, “I was tasked to grow the assets of the Foundation” which, at the time he joined, were $100 million. Four years later, Rob had helped grow those assets by an additional $20 million, he said.
As part of his duties, Rob noted, “I worked with specific donors to show them specific opportunities” where a donation to the Foundation could have immediate and practical effects. One time, Rob continued, “I took one donor to Israel. He had never been before.” That donor was so impressed with what he saw on that trip that he “funded a synagogue” in an Israeli town.
Following Rob’s remarks, there were speeches by other officials from Friends of Israel. I have to admit I was confused though, when two of those individuals related that they found out later in life that they were Jewish – and they now refer to themselves as “Jews.” I don’t want to get into this whole paradox of “Jews who accept Jesus as their saviour,” but suffice to say that it’s not an easy concept to wrap your head around.
Still, when audience members were asked to pick up the Israeli flags that had been placed in the centre pieces on each table and wave them, it was something to see.
I’m not sure how well this evening would have gone over with critics of Israel – of whom many are readers of this paper. But – thanks for the cake, John (Plantz). It was delicious.
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.
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