Local News
Jewish Child and Family Service offers counselling in these stressful times
By BERNIE BELLAN Jewish and Child Family Sevice is a multi-faceted organization providing services to individuals in a host of different areas.
One of the areas in which the expertise of JCFS staff is proving to be most effective in these extraordinarily difficult times – even as we begin to ease up on the incredibly stringent restrictions under which most of us have been living, is in the area of counselling.
Recently I spoke with Shelley Levit, who is Supervisor of Counselling Services at JCFS and who herself is a professional counsellor.
I began our phone conversation by asking Shelley how the counselling staff has been adapting to the changed environment – from being able to see clients in person to having to speak to them over the phone or perhaps on a computer.
Shelley explained: “We’ve been busy – working remotely. We’re trying to develop new and creative ways to connect with clients to try to meet their needs.
“In that vein,” she added, “what we’re doing is offering three free counselling sessions to individuals – in both the Jewish and general communities because our counselling program is the only program in the agency that’s being offered to the general community as well as the Jewish community.
Shelley continued: “That’s because it’s operated on a fee for service basis – on a sliding scale, so people pay anywhere from $10-95 per session.
“It’s clinical counselling that we’re talking about. This would be similar to going to a private therapist. Offering counselling on a sliding scale basis is something that you don’t see often, other than with a few other agencies in the city.
“It’s something that’s usually in high demand,” Shelley observed, “but right now we have to get the word out about these services.
“A lot of people think that because we’re a Jewish agency,” she said, “they can’t access these services – and that’s not so. People say it’s the best hidden secret once they get to our services and they experience them for themselves, and they say: ‘Wow!’
“We have a shorter wait list than services offered by other agencies that offer them on a sliding scale,” Shelley noted, “but it’s still not as well known as it should be what we can provide for people who could well use our services.
“So, what we’re offering right now is offering three free counselling sessions. People are struggling financially right now. We’ve seen a lot of that. They’ve lost their jobs, or they’ve had a decrease in their income for various reasons, and more people are feeling anxious and stressed and could really benefit from our services.”
I said to Shelley that we’re living in extraordinarily difficult times, but I wondered what kind of clients JCFS usually sees for psychological counselling?
She answered: “Normally we get couples coming in for marriage counselling; we deal with issues of anxiety, loss, and bereavement; parenting – all sorts of issues.”
Shelley added that people are still dealing with the same sorts of issues but problems have become hugely magnified as a result of the stressful conditions which most of us are experiencing.
“People who would normally not experience anxiety, for instance, now find that they’re feeling anxious,” she said..
She went on to cite domestic violence as a particular issue that’s reared its ugly head. “There are more parenting type issues – you’re stuck home with your kids. People are getting stressed and overwhelmed.”
How it works, Shelley explained, “is that someone will call JCFS (204-477-7430) and speak to an intake worker who will take some basic information. Based on that they’ll be assigned to one of our therapists and then the therapist will call them and set up an appointment.
“All our counsellors have graduate degrees – masters of social work, educational psychology, marriage and family therapy and masters in counselling psychology. They’re all quite experienced.
“We can see them over Zoom or on a phone call.”
In some ways the workload for JCFS counsellors has actually decreased in recent times, much as the need has increased. “Some people don’t have a computer,” Shelly noted, “or they’re just not comfortable doing it that way” (remotely).
“We want to make it clear that we are open for business – and we’ll do it virtually – and it can be just as effective (as doing it in person). There’s a lot of research on virtual counselling.”
“Even as we begin to reopen services,” Shelley says, “we’re not going to get back to normal. We’re going to be in a ‘new normal’. When that takes place we will begin offering groups again – mental health support groups, bereavement groups, and parenting groups.”
She adds though that “We can’t have a large number of people when we do start to ease up on the restrictions that are going to be gradually lifted.
“So, right now we’re developing online support groups, webinars – that’s what we’re working on at the moment.”
I mentioned that our news service (Jewish Telegraphic Agency) has been sending us a lot of material about what people are doing in lieu of holding a shiva. I wondered whether JCFS is doing anything for people in that situation?
“There are a lot of bereavement issues,” Shelley noted. “The funeral is small, they can’t have a shiva; usually we have rituals that provide us with comfort and support. All that’s missing at this point.
“In terms of bereavement- the loss of a loved one is excruciatingly difficult at the best of times. It is markedly more so during the challenging times we are currently faced with. Families who have lost a loved one, are unable to engage in the various mourning rituals that typically provide comfort and support. Funerals, sitting shiva, visits from family and friends are key elements in our healing journey. Physical distancing and the inability to gather in large groups interferes with this.
“We are currently in discussion about how to best meet the needs of grieving individuals and families now that we are unable to offer our bereavement support groups. We would ideally be able to work with Winnipeg synagogues in this endeavour.
“Also, a group for anxiety. We’re not just talking about people who may have an anxiety disorder. We have clients like that in normal times; right now we’re hearing from people who don’t normally experience anxiety.”
As far as the billing goes for counselling sessions,” Shelley explained at the end of our conversation, “people give a credit card number prior to each session. A lot of times it’s the minimum fee of $10 that we charge.”
The number for JCFS again: 204-477-7430
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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