Local News
Jerry Cohen: better the second time around
By GERRY POSNER Cohen, Shell, Margolis, Diamond, Coodin, Slayen, Bloomfield, Simkin and many more family names all were in attendance on Thursday, August 18, 2022 at the Etz Chaim Synagogue for the second Bar Mitzvah of Jerry Cohen. In truth, the Bar Mitzvah was to have taken place last year in Cohen’s 83rd year, but Covid interfered with the event at that time so the simcha was postponed a year. But even with a year’s delay, the joy of the moment was everywhere, Covid or not. What was present was happily, not Covid, but Kavod.
Cohen of course is not the first person to have a go at a second Bar Mitzvah. One can recall not that long ago, the late Mel Neumann and Lou Cogan also had their respective second Bars. And no doubt there have been many others. The inspiration for Cohen occurred 17 years ago when Cohen was a mere 66. His uncle, Abe Simkin, chanted a Haftorah at his then second Bar (Abe would live long enough to try for a third if he wanted to do so), also at Etz Chaim and that memory stayed with Jerry.
Now Cohen is not exactly a stranger to the synagogue; his Jewish roots were and are strong. He was after all, a graduate of the Peretz School, a kind of a disciple of the late Rabbi Zalman Schachter and, later in his life, the principal of Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate. Yet, this was a big step to take and it was one that gave Cohen pause. He planned the event carefully. One of the reasons for the careful planning was that there were many people who wanted to be present for this major moment for Jerry, not the least of whom was Jerry’s sister, Saralyn Greenblatt who, along with her husband Jim, came from Israel to Winnipeg with their children and grandchildren, consisting of 23 out of a 24 possible relatives. Perhaps that was not a surprise given that family has played a large role in Jerry Cohen’s 83 years.
As it turned out, there were about 140 people who gathered at the former Rosh Pina Synagogue to hear Jerry read from the Torah, chant the Haftorah and then give a D’var Torah. My sources (and there were many) all confirmed that, on each count, Jerry was not just on key musically, but that he hit the right note in everything he did and said. Moreover, he managed to find a way to include all of his children, their spouses, grandchildren, and a collection of in-laws into becoming integral parts of the service, which was held on a Thursday morning. In addition to those in the building who watched Jerry in person, there were countless others who were glued to the screen as the service was available on Zoom. All that was missing were the advertisers.
Because the service was on a Thursday and, as a result on Zoom, although I was unable to see it live, I was able to watch it after the fact. It was clear to me, what a wonderful simcha this was. One of the significant moments for me was being able to watch Cantor Tracy Kasner, a former student of Jerry’s bless – in a musical way, her former principal.
Later the Rabbi, Kliel Rose, also another former student, gave his blessings to the Bar Mitzvah boy. At one point- after the chanting of the Haftorah, Jerry threw out candy to the congregation, which was a reverse of the usual tradition. And, what about the conclusion, when Canadian Klezmer legends, Shayla Fink and Kinzy Posen, broke out into Simmon Tov, Mazel Tov from the bimah, to the delight of everyone gathered for this big day. Most of all, what stood out was the message Jerry delivered in his D’var Torah arising from his Torah portion and Haftorah, emphasizing the need to listen to each other and also to take joy and happiness from what is around us, even in these times of turmoil.
The synagogue service was not the only part of the celebrations as, at the kiddish later, Kinzey and Shayla entertained the guests. Some of their music included Cohen descendants singing along with them, including 11 grandkids who performed a special tribute to Jerry. In that respect for sure, “the willingness to get up on stage gene” is very much alive in the next generation of the Cohen Mishpacha. The festivities continued with a gathering on Thursday night plus a kosher Shabbat dinner at the Convention Centre on Friday August 20 for the family and out of town guests.
For Cohen, it was a meaningful reaffirmation of his Judaism allowing him to reflect on his place and time and to do it with many of his family and friends. I say a hearty Mazel Tov to Jerry Cohen and indeed his whole family for making the effort to create such a significant moment for all of them. Cohen admits with all of that behind him now, he can truthfully say he was better on his second Bar Mitzvah than the first. Of course, he did receive lots of cuff links for presents at his first Bar Mitzvah, but greater fulfillment from the second one. A couple of Cohen’s old friends even presented fountain pens to him to honour the occasion. I expect Jerry to use the pens to write his thank you notes.
Kudos to Cohen!
Local News
Nakba exhbit at CMHR – you can see it right here and make your own assessment
By BERNIE BELLAN (Posted June 26, updated July 19) The Nakba exhibit at the Canadian Exhibit for Human Rights opened to the public June 27. The morning before the exhibit was set to open to the public, (it had a private opening for invited guests the evening of June 26) we received a press release from the CMHR. That press release gave a very detailed description of what was in the exhibit, along with photos (supplied by Annie Kierans of the CMHR).
There is also a link right at the beginning of the press release that will allow you to watch the same videos that anyone attending the exhibit can watch. We reprinted what was sent to us without making one edit. We leave it to you to form your own opinion as to whether the exhibit is fair in its presentation, and whether it is lacking “context” – which is an accusation that has been levelled at the exhibit’s organizers by some representatives of Jewish organizations.
We have received many emails in reaction to the exhibit. If you have an opinion and would like to see it published on this website, you can send it to jewishp@mymts.net, but please indicate whether you would be willing to have it published on this website.
Here is what we received the morning of June 26:
Winnipeg, MB — June 26, 2026 — The Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) will open a new exhibit tomorrow that explores human rights violations related to the ongoing forced displacement of Palestinian Canadians.
Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present will be on display in the Rights Today gallery on Level 5 until 2028. Featuring personal stories told through artifacts and video testimonies, the exhibit presents Palestinian Canadians reflecting on their ongoing struggle for human rights. The small exhibit reveals enduring patterns of loss and resilience, helping visitors understand more about this contemporary human rights story.
Palestinian Canadian stories are now included alongside many other stories of forced displacement and human rights violations featured in the Museum’s galleries. Each of these stories contribute to our visitors understanding of human rights and help the Museum fulfill its mandate to foster reflection and dialogue.
Exhibition highlights
Personal stories and artifacts: Experience firsthand accounts from Palestinian Canadians sharing their journeys of displacement and memory through a series of five artifacts. Cases display artifacts like property deeds, house keys, and a traditional Palestinian embroidered dress, accompanied by short videos that deepen understanding of the impacts of displacement.
Powerful artworks: In her painting Bound Together in Gaza, Malak Mattar, a Gazan artist, captures the struggles and resilience of her generation shaped by conflict. Her work pays homage to Guernica, Picasso’s powerful masterpiece depicting civilian suffering during war.
Curfews and Closures, by Rajie Cook, bears witness to life under military occupation during the 2000–2005 Palestinian uprising, when curfews and closures were expanded and further limited basic rights and freedoms.
Cultural heritage: Discover traditional Palestinian embroidery called tatreez. Tatreez motifs and colours are tied to place, family history and regional identity. Patterns are associated with particular towns, villages or areas of Palestine. In this way, tatreez is a form of storytelling: a way of preserving memory, sustaining identity and expressing resilience across displacement and exile.
Poetry and reflection: Engage with Mahmoud Darwish’s evocative verses, inspiring personal reflection on exile, voice, and responsibility. Visitors can take a card containing Darwish’s poem and add a personal note, fostering ongoing dialogue beyond the exhibit.
Contemporary context: Witness striking images of current events in Gaza and the West Bank, connecting past displacement to ongoing struggles.
Quotes:
“No force can silence the truth we carry. Growing up in Canada, my children lived the Nakba through our stories. And now we watch it happen again, live, on our phones. When I see the images coming out of Gaza, I am not watching the news. I am watching my history repeat itself.” -Fouad Sahyoun, a Palestinian Canadian featured in the exhibit
“We developed this exhibit with a clear awareness that Palestinian Canadian voices have too often been marginalized, silenced or spoken over — and that anti-Palestinian racism affects whose stories are heard and whose suffering is recognized. That is why we intentionally centred Palestinian Canadian voices throughout the exhibit.” -Isabelle Masson, Curator of Palestine Uprooted
“Human rights matter precisely when they are inconvenient, when the question of who deserves the dignity of having their rights recognized is genuinely contested. These are the moments where having a national museum for human rights is most important.
There are people who believe this exhibit should not exist in its current form. There are people who believe it should have existed sooner. There are people who will visit this exhibit and feel that it does not say enough, and others who will feel it says too much.
We have listened to every one of these voices. We have reflected. And we have renewed our resolve to continue the difficult, sometimes contested, and often controversial work of building understanding about human rights. We are a museum grounded in Canada’s human rights framework, whose mandate requires us to bear witness to the full complexity of the human story. We are proud to open this exhibit because the story it tells will help achieve that mandate, and because this story belongs in the collective memory of Canadians.”
- – Isha Khan, CEO
Local News
A photo that’s being circulated on the internet about me
For those of you not familiar with nutjob Michael Kalo – the psycho who created the notorious “$hitler’s List” years ago and the same psycho who went after Ben Carr, well – now he’s obviously taken a strong disliking to the stance I’ve taken on the Nakba exhibit at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. (You can read elsewhere on this website how I simply posted the entire exhibit as it is – and asked readers to form their own opinions.)
Kalo likes to send out emails to various individual using phony names – such as Frank Ostrowski. When people ask me (or asked Ben Carr) why we don’t take action against him, my answer is: What’s the use? He only basks in the attention.
So Michael – enjoy the attention you’re receiving. I know how much of an embarrassment you are to your wonderfully talented daughters.
Local News
Ami Hassan returning as owner of Falafel Place
By BERNIE BELLAN In a surprise move – and after more than a six-year absence as owner of Falafel Place (Corydon at Wilton) the legendary Ami Hassan has decided to return as owner of one of Winnipeg’s most famous eateries.
Long known for his sometimes irreverent attitude to his customers, e.g., “If you’re finished, get out!”, Ami decided to return to running Falafel Place after having retired years ago (or so he thought) from running the Corydon Avenue restaurant.
We asked Ami whether he’ll be sending a special invitation to Julia Roberts to come visit him at Falafel Place. He asked again: “Who’s Julia Roberts?” (Just kidding – he really does know how Julia Roberts is.) Read the story how Ami told her to leave the restaurant and come back later at Julia Roberts turned away from Falafel Place
Ami did note that when customers saw him inside the restaurant one recent day as he was getting it ready for the reopening Monday, August 10, over 20 of them came in asking him if he was open already.
We asked Ami whether the menu will be the same as it was when he last ran the place and he said everything will be the same.
Falafel Place will be open 7 days a week from 7 am – 2 pm. Remember, if you’re finished – get out!
