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Jewish Federation to provide emergency assistance for organizations – but why?
By BERNIE BELLAN A story in the Monday, April 27 issue of the Free Press says that the Jewish Federation has launched an emergency fund for organizations that have taken a financial hit as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But there are many questions raised by what the Jewish Federation is doing, foremost among which is: Why?
As well, without any clear goals in mind, just what is the game plan for the Federation?
The Free Press article says that “About 30 Jewish organizations that have taken a financial hit because of the novel coronavirus will be able to access a relief fund set up by the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg.”
Thirty Jewish organizations have taken a financial hit? Are there even that many in Winnipeg? I sure don’t see it, unless you count organizations that maintain chapters here, such as Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women, etc.
But Jewish organizations that maintain offices and might have been affected financially by the coronavirus? Thirty? Come on.
We’ve contacted several organizations, including the major synagogues in Winnipeg, and none of the ones which responded (three out of four) said they they had asked for any financial help. On top of that, the Jewish Foundation has been sending out cheques to various organizations that didn’t even ask for them.
Here is an excerpt from the text of an email sent by the Jewish Foundation to various Winnipeg Jewish organizations:
“…To offer our support during this critical time, emergency funding has now been distributed to every one of our Jewish community organizations.”
Again, one might ask: Why send out cheques when you haven’t even been asked for them?
As for Jewish organizations needing help, there are two in unique situations: The Rady JCC and the Gwen Secter Centre.
The Rady JCC has taken a huge financial hit as a result of the cancellation of programs. Rob Berkowits, Executive Director of the Rady JCC, told me weeks ago that in the first few days following the closure of the Rady JCC, staff in the finance department had processed 1900 refunds, including refunds for memberships, programs, and the day camps. On top of that the cancellation of the sports dinner will also be a heavy financial blow to the Rady JCC.
The Gwen Secter Centre is in a different situation from every other organization. With a minuscule staff it has been turning out a huge number of meals for seniors who have found themselves confined to their homes – and were unable to access Meals on Wheels (which stopped taking new applicants shortly after the province went into lockdown mode).
So, when we read on another website that Joel Lazer, President of the Jewish Federation, says that “At the moment there is no goal (for this emergency funding campaign). We know there will be needs. We just don’t know how much…Almost no one has a need for funding today…” – one wonders: Just what prompted this emergency campaign – and how much will it cut into the upcoming Combined Jewish Appeal campaign?
We posed some questions to Elaine Goldstine, CEO of the Jewish Federation. Following are the questions and Elaine’s answers:
JP&N: Why do any organizations need emergency funding at this point – other than perhaps Gwen Secter, which is providing meals gratis to seniors?
Elaine: Though we cannot know with certainty the course of this pandemic, it is clear that the needs will evolve and grow in the coming weeks and months. Once we begin receiving applications for funding, we will have a good sense of what the financial needs of our community are and will be able to set a goal. Even after the pandemic is over, there may be after effects that are hard to forecast. We are helping them prepare for all possible scenarios by raising money .
JP&N: Shouldn’t all the other organizations have sufficient funding from allocations they received for the 2019-20 year?
Elaine: We are still sending allocations cheques, but with regard to their specific situation you would have to ask the agencies. Some agencies have had additional expenses due to COVID-19 but may not have applied for new funds yet.
(Ed. note: So, they may have had additional expenses, but they haven’t applied for funds. Then, how do you know they have additional expenses?)
JP&N: I can see synagogues being in trouble meeting expenses such as general upkeep. Are those the organizations that are being helped?
Elaine: All Jewish organizations in Winnipeg are eligible to receive funds from this campaign, including synagogues. All funds raised will remain in Winnipeg.
(Ed. note: It is not clear whether any synagogues asked for any help. I heard from three of them – Shaarey Zedek, Temple Shalom, and Adas Yeshurun-Herzlia. None of them had asked for help nor did they say they needed financial assistance. Despite several emails sent to Jonathan Buchwald, Executive Director of Etz Chayim Congregation, I did not receive a response.)
Later, in a phone conversation I had with Elaine Goldstine, I asked her whether any Israel-based organizations would be eligible for this emergency financial assistance. She said they would, “so long as the money remained in Canada”. I can think of only two organizations that might qualify: The Jewish National Fund and Canadian Associates of Ben Gurion University. But what help would they need other than paying rent, perhaps? I suppose the JNF is in a bad spot as a result of the cancellation of the Negev Gala, so maybe they’re in need of help, but other than payroll for staff and rent for the office, what expenses would they incur? The money they raise is intended to go to Israel, so the impact of the cancellation of the Negev Gala will be felt most strongly in Israel, not in Winnipeg.
The organizations that are housed at the Asper Campus may be in a bit of a bind when it comes to paying rent to the campus. I can see BB Camp and Camp Massad being in that situation with the summer camp programs likely canceled. But, other than that, it will be staff personnel that will be affected by the cancellation of programs – and they will all be eligible for government assistance of different sorts. And we have heard that the Asper Campus is showing flexibility with its tenants.
Again, this emergency funding seems to have been put together without much planning aforethought. Yes, there are Jewish organizations all over North America that are bleeding heavily as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. (See article elsewhere on this website at jewishpostandnews.ca/final/8-features/422-jewish-nonprofits-are-struggling-how-should-donors-try-to-rescue-them .)
But, here in Winnipeg that doesn’t seem to be the case. Other than the Rady JCC, which laid off 160 staff in the middle of March (then brought back 30 to staff the day care at the campus), there isn’t a single Jewish organization that’s laid off any staff.
So – where’s the emergency? The Jewish Federation and the Jewish Foundation both want to be seen as pro active – and one can understand their motivation. But, if they hadn’t been asked for financial assistance, then why offer it?
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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.”
Local News
Gray Academy to Represent Manitoba at National Reach for the Top Competition
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.”
