Local News
JCFS AGM: Jewish Child & Family Service reports hugely expanded case load due to Covid
By BERNIE BELLAN Jewish Child & Family Service took on 66 new older adult cases during its 2020 fiscal year (which ended March 31, 2021). That compares with a usual average of 15 new cases a year.
The increase in caseload was a direct result of Covid, reported Al Benarroch, Executive Director of JCFS, during the Annual General Meeting of JCFS on June 24.
While Covid had a huge impact upon the day to day operations of JCFS – with staff working from home and contacting clients either by phone or over a computer, Al said that JCFS successfully met the challenges imposed by Covid.
Some other notable points made during Al’s presentation included:
• the creation of a new “concierge” position in September, filled by Danielle Tabacznik. As we reported back then, Danielle described her role as “reaching out to seniors in the Jewish community who may or may not be isolated and who may not be connected to services. I’ll be checking in with them to make sure they’re doing okay…to see whether they do need referrals to services. I’ll also be asking them whether they’re feeling isolated, what programs or services might help them.”
• a 40% increase in cases where addictions played a role
• the welcoming of 40 new families to Winnipeg’s Jewish community as part of JCFS’ settlement program, despite the difficulties Covid presented in terms of immigrating to Canada. (Altogether JCFS has welcomed 200 new families since the program began and continues to assist those families.)
• the launch of a feasibility study of a new addictions centre
• a tremendous response from the community in terms of donations. Al Benarroch said “We had our most successful fund raising year ever”.
In his treasurer’s report, Al Shpeller noted that JCFS ended the year with an $11,343 surplus. Revenues for the year were $3, 496,076 – up from $3,382,215 in 2019.
Expenses were also up: $3,340,943 in 2020, compared with $3,353,868 in 2019. Of the increased expenses, by far the largest component was in the area of family assistance, which saw an increase of $92,999 from 2019 to 2020.
With respect to the revenue situation, I had reported in our June 23 issue that JCFS will be receiving quite a large increase in allocation from the Jewish Federation as of Sept. 1.
I wrote that JCFS will be receiving an increase of $65,5300 from the Federation over what it had received in 2020.
I also wrote, however, that JCFS will be receiving an additional $256,681 as a result of “designated funds” received from donors who were able to specify where they wanted their donations to the Combined Jewish Appeal to be directed.
In response to that article, Al Benarroch wrote, saying that he wanted to correct some of the information I had reported.
Al wrote: “The monies you indicated (i.e. $256,000) coming from Federation are separate and apart from the Allocations process, which will provide $880,000 for our general operations and another $54,000 for Chaplaincy services.”
Of that $256,000, approximately $71,000 would have come to JCFS in the form of designated gifts from donors who has previously been designating that their CJA donations go to JCFS.
Still, that leaves a healthy increase of $185,000 in new designated allocations. Al explained that a good chunk of that $185,000 came from Jewish Federations of North America, which established a one-time program this past year to allot funds to help Jewish human service agencies throughout North America.
According to Al,” JFNA received some very large donations from several of their top supporters and foundations to help support Jewish human service agencies across the Federated communities in Canada and the USA. It was a 50% matching program to be applied to any new money received by Federations – up to a certain amount, based upon the size of each federation.
“New money” could be in the form of brand new CJA gifts or increases to previous CJA gifts. Each community was allotted a proportional amount of matching funds for their respective campaigns.”
As a result, JCFS received an additional $76,000 from that JFNA matching program, which was matched by donors. In addition, there were several new donations from donors that brought the total received in designated donations to $256,000.
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.”