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Jewish Federation of Winnipeg reports a surplus for the 2022-23 fiscal year

At the Jewish Federation AGM December 6 (l-r) Winnipeg Police Service Chief Danny Smyth, Jewish Federation CEO Jeff Lieberman; WPS Superintendent Dave Dalal, Jewish Federation outgoing President Gustav Zentner

By BERNIE BELLAN At its Annual General Meeting, held December 6, the Jewish Federation reported a surplus of $110,916 for the 2022-23 fiscal year (which ended August 31). That compares with a deficit of $257,145 for the previous fiscal year.
However, a major factor in the Federation’s showing a surplus was a major reduction in the total amount allocated to the Federation’s beneficiary agencies – down almost $300,000 from 2021-22 to 2022-23.
A second major factor in the Federation’s showing a healthy surplus this past fiscal year was the much higher return received on investments – up from $98,253 in 2021-22 to $193,265 in 2022-23.
According to outgoing JFW President Gustavo Zentner, the surplus money will be used to offset some of the costs resulting from the recent emergency funding campaign for Israel (which is still ongoing).

In his remarks to the audience, Zentner noted specific areas in which the Federation had accomplished a great deal, including:

  • • increased relationships with government agencies and other communities in Winnipeg
  • • a better definition of our community’s relationship with Israel
  • • more support for youth
  • • a strengthening of relationships from within – including beneficiary agencies and Federation staff
  • • the development of a strategic planning initiative under the stewardship of Carol Duboff, which began in 2022, and which has given the Federation a framework for the next 6 years
  • • rededication of efforts to strengthen the Jewish community
  • • a new vision for the Federation
  • • streamlining of the allocations process (to beneficiary agencies)
  • • the creation by the Province of Jewish Heritage Month

In addition to those accomplishments, Zenter also noted that the total cost of the Federation’s Combined Jewish Appeal’2022-23 campaign came to only 11% of the total amount raised – which was well below the industry average of 20%.
Further accomplishments

• PJ Library delivered its one hundred thousandth book in Winnipeg to a reader in 2023.
• March of the Living was back – after a three-year hiatus. Thirty-one students from Winnipeg participated, as well as Winnipeg Police Services Chief Danny Smyth (who later told me that not only did he participate in this year’s March of the Living, he took along several other Chiefs of Police from other cities in Canada as well). The Federation subvented the cost for each student by $2,000US.
• The CJA raised more than $200,000 for Ukraine in 2022-23.

In his own remarks, Federation CEO Jeff Lieberman acknowledged the presence of WPS Chief Smyth, along with Superintendent Dave Dalal, who were in attendance at the AGM.
Lieberman said: “We extend our gratitude to Danny Smyth and Dave Dalal for their dedication and support and for insuring the safety of our community. Your officers have been here at the building (the Asper Campus) day and night.”
Chief Smyth said: “We don’t get into places where people want us to be there…It’s been a very difficult time…I was taken aback by the amount of antisemitism I’ve observed – in the world and right here…The challenge for us is we really saw a lot of hateful things, but our hate crime laws are not sufficient; they’re just too narrowly focused…One of the things we try to do is just be there…We recognize the real fear and anxiety that’s going on in the (Jewish) community…We’ve always had a strong relationship with the Jewish community. We’re here to serve and protect you.
“I had the opportunity this year to participate in the March of the Living. I happened to be in Tel Aviv when Israel celebrated its 75th anniversary. We’re here for you now and in the future.”

Two final pieces of business included the recognition of Federation staff who had achieved milestones in terms of years of service and the installation of Paula Parks as incoming president for the Federation.

Incoming Federation President Paula Parks and Gustavo Zentner
The Zentner family (l-r): Fanny, Gustavo, Abby, and Emma

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First year medical student Tim Rozovsky founds new association for local Jewish medical students

By MYRON LOVE In the face of a concerning surge in antisemitism over the past nearly three years, I am happy to report a good news story in that regard.  Tim Rozovsky, the founder of the new Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba, reports that he and his fellow Jewish students enrolled in the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine are not experiencing any significant issues involving antisemitism.
Hopefully, the matter of the notorious Med school Valedictorian who used his podium to attack Israel was a one-off.
“My goal in forming the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba,” says the first year medical student, “was to create a safe, supportive environment for my fellow Jewish medical students.”
He reports that the current first year class at the school has eight Jewish students – an increase over more recent years – with maybe a dozen more in the other years.
For a new medical student, Rozovsky already has an impressive resume. He was born in Russia and grew up in Israel. After the completion of his army service in 2018, the then-22-year-old rejoined his parents, Dr. Katya and Alexander, who had moved to Winnipeg a few years before.  
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, Rozovsky had completed a personal trainer program out of The Academic College at Wingate in Jerusalem. Some readers may know the young man from his work as a Master Personal Trainer at the Rady JCC.
Shortly after arriving here, he enrolled in a kinesiology program at the University of Winnipeg. He graduated with a BKin Honours in 2023 and did post graduate work at the University of Manitoba. Last fall, he received his MSc in Physiology and Pathophysiology  – earning two gold medals, along with 32 awards and scholarships in the process.
Rozovsky says that it was his mother who inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Dr. Katya Rozovsky is an associate professor at the University of Manitoba and an attending radiologist, specializing in pediatric diagnostic imaging. 
(Tim also adds that his wife, Irina Gelzin, whom he married about a year ago, is training to be a nurse.)
Insofar as the  Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba is concerned, Rozovky reports that the group gets together multiple times a year. One of its programs was a joint Chanukah celebration with the Jewish Physicians Association of Manitoba.
There was also a joint program with the Christian Medical and Dental Students’ Association of Manitoba.
“More recently, we have been helping prospective Jewish medical students with their applications,” he says. “Hopefully we will be able to get together over the summer with the incoming Jewish students.”
As to his own future plans, Rozovsky notes that it is too early for him to be deciding on a specialty.  “My goal,” he says, “is to work hard and get good grades and become the best doctor that I can be.”

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Gray Academy to Represent Manitoba at National Reach for the Top Competition

Gray Academy staff (l-r): Daniele Miller, Lindsey Leipsic, Nick Maier

By NOAH STRAUSS Posted June 6) Gray Academy’s Reach for the Top team is headed to Moncton, New Brunswick, to represent Manitoba at the National Reach for the Top tournament.
Reach for the Top is a Canadian school league that quizzes teenagers on a variety of different topics, from science and history to pop culture. Reach started out in 1961 in Vancouver, where a local CBC station broadcasted the new show; it eventually became a national broadcast starting in 1966. Alex Trebek, who famously hosted Jeopardy!, started out by hosting Reach for the Top.
Gray Academy’s very own team, made up of Grade 7 and 8 students, will travel to Moncton, New Brunswick, to compete as Team Manitoba. By winning the provincial Reach tournament, they secured their spot in the national competition.
Faculty members at Gray Academy are very supportive of the program. The Jewish Post spoke with three different staff members at the school. Coach and high school teacher Danielle Miller says she is excited for the trip; although she will not be accompanying the team herself, shehas coached them all year.
“This year we had over 20 students come to the club to join us, they practice twice a cycle at lunch,” Miller said. Due to the large turnout this year, two teams had to be formed. At lunch practices, students split into two teams of four where each player has a buzzer. The two teams compete to see who can answer the most questions correctly.
One of the two teams did exceptionally well at various tournaments throughout the year and will be traveling to nationals as the sole team representing Manitoba.
Co-coach Micah Doerksen described Reach as a great academic competition where young minds are tested on various topics through quick,fast-paced questions.
High school guidance counselor Lindsey Leipsic said, “We have athletes, non-athletes, we have students who are really involved and students who are not as involved at school, and we have quiet leaders, and we’ve seen friendships be built in Reach.” Some of her favorite memories of Reach involve seeing students from across Winnipeg come to Gray Academy and bond with one another. Lev Chisick, who is competing at nationals, agreed, saying, “Moncton is going to strengthen our school spirit and make us a better team.”
As the junior team makes their way to Moncton, the senior team will head to provincials. Later this week, students from the senior team will travel to Virden, Manitoba, to compete at the provincial level. The team qualified after placing high enough at their most recent tournament, which took place at St. Paul’s.
Confidence is high as the school heads into these final tournaments. When Nath Goldenberg, who is also competing at nationals, was asked what he is most looking forward to, his answer was short and sweet:“Winning.”

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