Local News
Groups pitch in to help less fortunate Winnipeggers
Various groups contributed to making this holiday season somewhat more pleasant for those among us who are less fortunate. B’nai Brith, in conjunction with Jewish Child & Family Service and the Chabad Lubavtich, provided 60 bags containing food and Chanukah-related items for different Winnipeg Jewish families.
Winnipeg Friends of Israel provided food bags containing only Israeli products – this year for Willow Place, which is a women’s shelter. Read more about the great work that was the result of dedicated volunteers devoting hours of their time to worthy causes.
Winnipeg Friends of Israel “double mitzvah” project
Submitted by Yolanda Papini-Pollock of Winnipeg Friends of Israel
The custom of giving during special holidays is as old as the Jewish people themselves. Donating to the less fortunate during festive times is a time-honoured mitzvah that has been practised by Jews around the world for millennium.
Following in this tradition of hesed (acts of loving kindness), Winnipeg Friends of Israel (WFI) has been reaching out to local communities—non-Jewish as well as Jewish—and providing food baskets for the disadvantaged and marginalized in our city, but with a Zionist twist.
As an Israel advocacy organization, WFI launched The Double Mitzvah Project to help those in need while simultaneously supporting Israel’s economy and thereby peacefully fighting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, an inherently antisemitic campaign that targets only Israel for censure—not only economically but culturally and academically as well—with a view to eroding world support and ultimately eliminating the Jewish state.
The Double Mitzvah Project was established four years ago and has gained the support of many members in our community who have been encouraged by WFI to buy Israeli goods whenever and wherever possible as way to protest the BDS movement.
In the past, the donations of Israeli products made through WFI’s Double Mitzvah Project have been delivered to the Indian Metis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg, the House of Peace, the Indigenous Women’s Healing Centre, the Calvary Temple, and to Jewish Child and Family Service.
The beneficiaries always receive a clear message that the food was donated by those who love and support Israel.
This year, the food will be donated to Willow Place, a family violence agency supporting transformation, healing, and healthy relationships. The organization operates an emergency shelter for women and their children who are leaving family violence situations.
For photos and more information on Winnipeg Friends of Israel’s Double Mitzvah Project, please check WFI’s Facebook page.
B’nai Brith’s “De-Light-Ful Wishes for Chanukah”
Submitted by Adriana Glikman of B’nai Brith
B’nai Brith volunteers and donors worked to make Chanukah very special for some 60 recipients of gift bags this year.
The Chanukah program, called “De-Light-Ful Wishes for Chanukah” is done in conjunction with Jewish Child & Family Service.
Chabad Lubavitch of Winnipeg contributed menorahs, candles and latkes. The challahs and latkes were made by Alla Golinkin of Grandma Alla’s Kitchen. (Chabad will be selling latkes and sufganiot through Dec.27.)
This year we counted on the generous support of many organizations and private donors who helped to make this program possible and increase the delivery of our Chanukah food bags to 60 different recipients in the community. Plus we had the best crew of volunteers who helped with the packing and deliveries!
Some of the organizations that helped were: B’nai Brith Yachad Couples Unit, BBYO chapters, Chabad and Joy Café Bar.
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.”