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
March of the Living 2023 participants form Taste of Hope project to help honour the memory of Holocaust survivor Alex Buckman
By BERNIE BELLAN The March of the Living is an annual two-week international educational program that brings thousands of students and adults to Poland and Israel to study the Holocaust, Jewish history, and the rise of the State of Israel. Founded in 1988, it features a 3-kilometer silent walk from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).
Attendees on the march are accompanied by adults, some of whom themselves have been Holocaust survivors.
Following the week in Poland, participants travel to Israel to observe Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day), marking a journey from darkness to life.
For many years the coordinator of the march in Winnipeg was Roberta Malam, working on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. More recently Abby Flackman filled that role, and now the person in charge is Lindsey Kerr.
Since its inception 37 years ago the March of the Living has become a rite of passage for many young Winnipeg Jews who have been able to participate as an organized group from Winnipeg and combine visits to the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland with the subsequent trip to Israel.
Then – the Covid pandemic hit – in 2020, and the March of the Living was put on hold for two years – in 2020 and 2021.
In 2022, the March of the Living resumed, but there was no organized contingent from Winnipeg participating. (There may have been some Winnipeggers who did go on the march that year, but if there were any they would have been part of a general Canadian group since there was no Winnipeg coordinator that year.)
In 2023, however, once again a very large contingent of young Canadian Jews – 51 altogether, of whom approximately two-thirds were from Winnipeg, went on that year’s March of the Living. That particular march was memorable for many reasons, including the fact it was the last full march since 2019 and was to remain the last march to have an organized Winnipeg contingent in the past six years as the years 2024 and 2025 were interrupted by the war in Gaza. (There were smaller marches held in 2024 and 2025, but again there was no organized contingent from Winnipeg.)
Recently, we were contacted by one of the participants of that 2023 march, Ethan Levene, who asked us whether we’d be interested in running what turned out be a very poignant story about one particular aspect of that 2023 March of the Living.
Here is what Ethan wrote:
“In April 2023, the Coast to Coast Canadian delegation of March of the Living was privileged to travel with Holocaust survivor Alex Buckman (z”l). March of the Living is a Holocaust education trip that allows participants to visit and bear witness to the sites of the Holocaust. Unfortunately, while sharing his story in Poland, Alex passed away. However, the impact he left on us students was immeasurable.
“While speaking to us in Warsaw, Alex told us the story of his Aunt Becky’s gâteau à l’orange (orange cake). While in Ravensbruck concentration camp, his aunt managed to write down this recipe. After his parents’ murder, his Aunt Becky went on to raise Alex after surviving. In addition to sharing his story, Alex tasked us with baking the cake with family and friends.
“Out of this, a group of alumni from our trip have created this project: ‘A Taste of Hope.’ On February 1st, university students from over 5 universities across Canada will come together to bake the gâteau à l’orange and hear Alex’s story. Proceeds from the event and this fundraising page will support the World Federation of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants. Alex was heavily involved with this organization, whose mission is to both create community for Holocaust survivors and their descendants and educate about the Holocaust to help fight against antisemitism and all forms of bigotry and hate.
“Here is information from our fundraising page for the event – ‘A Taste of Hope’: Fundraising for A Taste of Hope.
Ethan added that “it’s completely student led, all by alumni from our 2023 trip attending university at these various locations across Canada; Winnipeg, London, Kingston, Montreal.”
He also added: “Follow us on instagram@tastehope.“
Here is a link to a CBC story about Alex Buckman: Alex Buckman story
In a subsequent email Ethan gave the names of Winnipeggers who are involved in A Taste of Hope: Ethan Levene (studies at McGill), Zahra Slutchuk, Alex Stoller (studies at Queens), Coby Samphir, Izzy Silver (studies at Waterloo).
He also added names of others who are involved in the project: Jessie Ages, Anneke Goodwin, Lilah Silver, Ella Pertman, Ellie Vogel, and Talia Cherun.
To find out more about March of the Living in Winnipeg go to: March of the Living
Local News
Young Researcher Eryn Kirshenbaum 2025 recipient of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences prestigious Dr. T. Edward Cuddy Award
By MYRON LOVE Fifth year University of Manitoba Faculty of Sciences Microbiology student Eryn Kirshenbaum is this year’s recipient of the Dr. T. Edward Cuddy Student Award in recognition of her excellence in research under the supervision of Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin, Assistant Professor of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba and Principle Investigator in Women’s Heart Health Research at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre.
When asked for her reaction to learning she was the 2025 recipient of the student award, Kirshenbaum says “I was so honoured, humbled and excited to have been nominated and then chosen as the recipient out of many well deserving students.”
Rabinovich-Nikitin, Kirshenbaum’s mentor, says “This is Eryn’s third year working in my lab and I am incredibly proud of her for winning the Dr. T. Edward Cuddy Research Award.” She adds: “It is a truly deserved honour. Since joining my laboratory in 2023, Eryn has shown an exceptional combination of technical skill, intellectual curiosity, and professional maturity, becoming an integral contributor to our research on women’s heart health, an area of growing scientific importance that demands both rigorous methodology and a strong understanding of sex-based differences in heart disease.
“Not only has Eryn provided invaluable experimental support, but she has also taken on a leadership role in training new students and has demonstrated a strong commitment to collaboration and mentorship.”
In return, Kirshenbaum notes that she has “learned a lot from Dr. Rabinovich-Nikitin. She is a great mentor and I look forward to learning and growing even more under her leadership”.
The T. Edward Cuddy Award is one of 12 awards presented annually by the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences in partnership with the University of Manitoba.
The 27th Annual Institute of Cardiovascular Naranjan Dhalla Awards were held on December 2nd and 3rd as part of a two-day conference comprised of a scientific forum and awards ceremony. The awards celebrate the leadership of individuals who have profoundly influenced the advancement of cardiovascular research, medicine and health education, including, in previous years, Nobel Prize winners and Gairdner Award Scholars. The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences Gold Medal was awarded to Dr. Stanley Nattel, Director of the Montreal Heart Institute for his outstanding contributions to advancements in cardiac arrythmias and patient care.
Eryn Kirshenbaum, the daughter of Barry and Kim Kirshenbaum, says she was always interested in understanding the functioning’s of the human body, in particular the heart, which has fit with her desire to pursue a career in medicine and possibly continued heart health research.
A graduate of the Hebrew Bilingual program at Brock Corydon Elementary School, Ecole River Heights, and Kelvin High School French Immersion, Eryn says that she has always been interested in science, particularly cardiology. She reports that she has assisted as co-author on 5 research papers, including one where she was the primary author, focusing on women’s heart health and how heart disease affects women differently than men. That paper also investigated the connection between disrupted circadian rhythms and heart disease, specifically related to individuals with irregular sleep patterns, such as shift workers.
Eryn notes that, in addition to her university studies and research activities, she works part time as a Medical First Responder with St. John Ambulance – an activity which complements her medical research. “With St. John Ambulance, I have had calls dealing with the early stages of heart attacks and strokes as well as basic first aid,” she notes.
Readers might also run into Eryn at many Jewish celebrations such as Yom Ha’atzmaut, where she helps her dad with the family entertainment business.
While her ultimate goal, she says, is to practice medicine, she adds that she is really enjoying doing research.
Local News
Young entrepreneur Noah Palansky and partner Jordan Davis are the first Winnipeggers to crack Forbes Magazine’s “top 30 Under 30” list
By MYRON LOVE From a very young age, Noah Palansky has demonstrated initiative and leadership. I first met and interviewed Palansky in 2011 at a low point in his life. His mother, Naomi Palansky, had sadly passed away at a young age. The then 12-year-old channeled his mourning into action. With his younger sister, Lexi, by his side – and the support of his father, Bruce – the preteen entered a team in the annual CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Challenge for Life. For the next few years, Palansky’s teams – under the banner, “Kids Count” – raised thousands of dollars for cancer researched.
Fast forward to 2019. Palansky was by then a young adult with a new initiative. The year before, he and a couple of friends had entered a potential business proposal in a competition sponsored by Winnipeg-based North Forge, Canada’s only start up incubator and fabrication lab, and won the top prize.
In that 2019 story, the young entrepreneur recalled how he came up with idea for his new business – TAIV (the AI stands for artificial intelligence). In the spring of 2018, he recounted, at the height of the Winnipeg Jets playoff run, he and his girlfriend were watching the game on a big screen while having drinks in a restaurant when an ad appeared onscreen promoting a rival restaurant and advertising the same drink he was imbibing – at a lower price.
“That ad gave me the germ of an idea,” he said in that earlier interview. “I immediately spoke to the restaurant manager and asked how he felt about the ad,” he recalls. “He was not pleased.”
That germ of an idea has developed into a highly successful new business venture. The idea that was put into practice has landed Palansky and his partner, Jordan Davis, on Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 list in the Marketing and Advertising category. The duo are the first Winnipeg-based entrepreneurs to have received this honour.
“It came as a complete surprise,” Palansky responds. “We had no advance notice that we were even being considered for this recognition.”
Since TAIV officially launched in 2021, the company – still based in Winnipeg – has grown to a workforce of about 80 – most of whom are based here. Palansky notes that TAIV also has sales offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
In the past four years, TAIV has built a presence in nearly 5,000 venues across the United States. The company works with brands like Coke, Pepsi, Netflix, T-Mobile, FanDuel, Fox, and United Airlines.
“The way this works,” Palansky explained to this writer in 2019, “ is that if you are in Boston Pizza, for example, watching a Jets game and a commercial comes on, our software will switch the commercial to an ad for Boston Pizza.
“We make a little box that sits between your cable box and the TV. Our box can detect when a commercial is coming on and switch the ad out for one promoting the restaurant or store the box is in.”
For larger enterprises, Palansky notes, TAIV produces a web app that allows the company to switch its own in-house ads for the ads that would be appearing on screen.
In a statement by North Force celebrating Palansky and Davis’ achievement, Palansky is quoted as saying that “the Forbes achievement offered a rare moment to pause and reflect.
“There are very few moments where a third party reaches out and says, ‘We’ve noticed what you did, and we think it’s awesome.’ This felt like one of those rare moments.”
The North Forge report also sees the recognition as a win for the community.
“I wish we had more Winnipeg entrepreneurs on the global stage because it’s really good for the local ecosystem,” Palansky is quoted as saying. “I’m trying to do what I can to help others get off the ground.”
Palansky and Davis are looking forward to going to Phoenix in April for the official presentation.
He adds that TAIV continues expanding across North America, strengthening partnerships, and onboarding advertisers as the network grows. For local venues or businesses interested in installing TAIV or exploring advertising opportunities, the company welcomes inquiries at hello@taiv.tv.