Local News
Jewish National Fund holds successful online Negev Gala
By BERNIE BELLAN
It was more than two years in the making, but after the most prolonged break in the history of Negev Galas (and Dinners – which preceded the more recent Negev Galas), the Jewish National Fund was finally able to pull off what turned out to be a very successful event on Monday, May 31, albeit one that was held online.
Gala honouree Ted Lyons, who now has the distinction of being the only Winnipeg Negev Gala honouree to be honoured two consecutive years (he was originally to be honoured in 2020, but last year’s Gala was canceled entirely due to Covid ) was the recipient of numerous accolades during the event – from friends, dignitaries, and family members.
In a gesture that couldn’t have been more appropriate, the project for which this year’s gala was raising funds is known as “Bervin Canada House”, to be located in Sderot. The choice of Sderot is particularly timely, given what that community has just finished enduring – for the umpteenth time, as rockets began to pour down from Gaza beginning on May 10.
Here is how the project was described in an article which I wrote earlier about the Negev Gala: “The Bervin JNF Canada House of Excellence is to be built in Sderot, which is the community that has always been the most immediate target of missiles launched over the years from the Gaza Strip. This particular facility is intended to serve as an after-school education, empowerment, and enrichment centre for high school students from Sderot and its surroundings, who will be provided with the necessary tools and skills for personal and scholastic success’.”
The choice of Sderot as the location for this year’s project for JNF Canada (and, by the way, for the first time ever, all Negev Galas held across Canada in 2021 have earmarked funds for the Bervin project – hoping to raise $4 million altogether), was made long before Sderot found itself coming under incessant fire just a few weeks ago. (Incidentally, of that $4 million to be raised across Canada, over $1. 3 million has already been raised from Winnipeg donors, including $100,000 from Ted and Harriet Lyons themselves. If there were any more proof needed how much Winnipeg Jews punch above their weight, this is it.)
As for how the gala itself unfolded, there was the usual combination of speeches and entertainment, this year provided by famed Israeli singer David Broza, in conjunction with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
The fact that everything to do with the gala had been taped well in advance might have left anyone watching wondering why there was almost no reference at all to the recent war between Israel and Gaza, save for some remarks by David Greaves, Executive Director, JNF Manitoba-Saskatchewan, who referenced the recent fighting at the very end of the event.
In my report of the gala which follows, I took the liberty of changing the order of some of the remarks which were delivered by various individuals. Normally, the honouree is the last person (or persons) to be heard from at events of this sort, but in this case, I thought it fitting to begin with Ted Lyons’ explanation of why he and Harriet found the Bervin project to be so appealing.
Ted began with a story: “Twenty years ago I was lecturing in Korea and I was at the airport with a young Korean associate. Making small talk, I asked him about his family.
“He said he was married and had two children. I asked him, ‘Do they go to school? and he said ‘yes, they actually go to two schools. They go to a regular school Monday to Friday and they actually go to a second school two evenings and one weekend day a week’.’
“I said, ‘Why would you do that?’ and he said, ‘Well, there’s a lot of competition out there and I want to give my kids an extra advantage.’ I thought that made a lot of sense and wondered why we don’t do that in Canada.”
Ted said that in December 2019 he and Harriet were visiting Israel for their granddaughter’s bat mitzvah. They arrived two days early and JNF hosted them on a visit to the Upper Galilee and Sderot. In the Upper Galilee (in a place called Nof HaGalil) they visited an after hours school for 14-18 year-olds. Some of the students were finishing high school and were preparing to go into the army.
“We learned how the young people were being given extra training – in math, in physics, computers, and English. “ Ted explained. “These subjects are critical to be successful in industry, particularly in Israel, a ‘start-up nation’.
“The thinking is that urban children have access to extra education, but rural children do not. This school was an opportunity to give students additional training, to help them get into elite units in the army – and into university. In order to get those placements you need high marks. It made me think of my Korean colleague.
“In Sderot, a rural settlement, the JNF is going to build a facility like the one we saw in the Upper Galilee. Money is being raised for this project through all the Canadian JNF Galas.
“Out of necessity this new facility will also act as a bomb shelter – given the almost daily rocket attacks.
“We hope that everyone will give generously to make this worthwhile project a reality.”
Ted went on to say that “Harriet and I have had the opportunity to serve the community for many years. Harriet has taught tallis-weaving at the Shaarey Zedek for over 30 years and has helped many people – at home and in Israel, celebrate b’nai mitzvah, with a hand made tallis.
“She has helped the Humane Society for many years as one of the main photographers to help in the adoption process. She is also an established potter who has designed and crafted porcelain mezzuzot for rooms in the Simkin Centre and at Gray Academy.
“She is a staunch supporter of the Cancercare Challenge for Life, walking the 20 k every year since its inception 14 years ago.
Her group, ‘Nancy’s Nightingales’, has raised well over $100,000.
“Finally, she’s always been there for our children and our five grandchildren.
“I’ve had the honour to serve our synagogue, Jewish and radiology communities over the years. It’s been a real thrill to serve as president of many of the local and national organizations, and to have been honoured by Governor General Michaelle Jean as an Officer of the Order of Canada (in 2007).
“I served as Shaarey Zedek President 30 years after my late father, Reuven. It was a real honour and an opportunity I cherished.
“Israel is the gold standard in technology and innovation and has been an example to the rest of the world in handling the Covid crisis and vaccinating the population in the most efficient manner.
“Being the JNF honouree for the past two years has been a real treat for Harriet and me.”
The MC for the evening was Rabbi Matthew Leibl, who was gracious in speaking about Ted and, as is always the case when Rabbi Leibl hosts an event of this sort, occasionally quite funny.
He began by explaining how he first met Ted Lyon: “I first met Ted at my bar mitzvah – just a few years ago, on the bimah of the Shaarey Zedek. Ted was there in his capacity as a member of the board and the executive, and he was tasked with presenting me gifts. There I was, sweating in the first suit I ever wore.
“I remember standing there looking up at this tall, dark goateed figure who had both a calm and booming voice, telling me what a remarkable job I had done – one of the best he had seen, how I was an asset to the community and how I had a bright future.
“It seemed like it was a big morning – for him and for me. Years later we were sitting together on that bimah; I had started my work as a Torah reader and a bar mitzvah teacher, and Ted was again there in his capacity as a past president probably – and I said to him: ‘Ted, we were here together not that long ago for my bar mitzvah and you said such amazing, inspirational things. Do you remember that?’
“And he looked at me with that same calm, yet booming voice and said: ‘Matt, I did a lot of those.’ (Now, if you needed to be reminded that Ted Lyons has met an awful lot of different people during his life, Rabbi Leibl added one more amusing anecdote. He said that whenever he would meet Ted at the synagogue, Ted would greet him as “Matityahu”. Rabbi Leibl explained, however, that his Hebrew name is actually “Mordecai”, but every time they would run into each other, Ted would still greet him as “Matityahu”.)
Following Rabbi Leibl’s remarks were some from Michael Nozick, who’s been a lifelong friend of Ted Lyons, also a co-sponsor of the evening. Nozick said: “I’ve known Teddy for more than 70 years. We’ve always been besties. We grew up together. We went to grade school together. We were classmates.
“To me he’s always been Teddy – and he’ll never be Ted.
“Teddy will tell you that we ‘served time’ together in Cheder – and it’s true because we went to Hebrew night school together when we were 10 and 11. One day, on our way to night school, we got off the bus and we were confronted by two big guys – probably teenagers, brandishing big knives, and they demanded we turn over all our bus tickets and our money.
“Two of us took off like jackrabbits across the Crescent to the Shaarey Zedek – where night school was – and Teddy stayed. When he got back to us at class time, I asked him why he stayed and he said, ‘Well, robbery’s wrong and I wanted to explain to them that what they were doing was wrong, and I thought I could talk them out of it’.
“In the end Teddy gave them all his bus tickets and all his money – but it was the precursor of Teddy’s resolution –oriented leadership. Even then he was looking to make peace.
“Teddy’s curiosity is insatiable. Gadgets have always fascinated him. But, he’s not to be tinkered with. His dog once bit him – and he bit the dog back.
“With the computers and technology though, it was a new world for Teddy and it ultimately led him to the field of ultrasound, where he is a world leader.
“He’s a people person and a people lover, with incredible interpersonal skills which, together with his peaceful, quiet nature and curiosity about new frontiers make him a natural leader.
“He inherits his calm demeanour and comfort with leadership from his father (Reuven) – himself a doctor and a true mensch.
“Teddy’s contributions to the world are so great – and have been achieved with such humility, he will never be able to be truly measured.
“Teddy has not only led major organizations – in both our Jewish community and the general community, but has co-authored books and has written an almost uncountable number of articles, and even given many lectures at conferences all over the world. I have no idea where he finds the time.
“Teddy and Harriet have a profound love for Israel. They have led missions and returned often. Teddy has said to me: ‘This year’s Bervin Canada House project is special’.”
This year also saw a special presentation made to Winnipegger Patrick Elazar, who has been one of those unsung volunteers who has given so much of himself to so many different Jewish organizations since having arrived in Winnipeg in 1988 with his wife, Sherry Elazar Wolfe, and his family.
JNF Manitoba Saskatch-ewan President Nola Lazar said: “The Bernard M. Bloomfield Award is presented annually to a deserving volunteer for JNF. This year’s award is being given to Patrick Elazar. Patrick served in the IDF and helped establish Kibbutz Elazar. He has degrees in Middle East Economics and Agricultural Studies. Together with his family Patrick came to Winnipeg in 1988.
“Patrick is passionate about Israel. He volunteers regularly at Shalom Square, Limmud Winnipeg, and JNF Winnipeg.”
Longtime Winnipeg philanthropist and community leader Marjorie Blankstein added a personal memory of a young Teddy Lyons, saying: “You will always be Teddy to me. I remember you as the swimming instructor at a Gimli summer camp – always in your swim suit. You have made an invaluable contribution to your profession, also to the community.”
Manitoba Governor General Janice Filmon also spoke fondly of “Teddy” Lyons whom, she noted, she’s known since “grade school”: “Tonight’s honouree, Dr. Ted Lyons, has dedicated his career to the lives of others. As a pioneer in the field of ultrasound technology – through his own work or through the work of others he has taught, he has saved countless lives.”
As I noted in my earlier article about Ted Lyons, his being honoured as the Negev Gala Honouree for 2020-21 marks the first time that a physician has received that accolade. With all the other honours Ted has received over the years, however, he remains ever so humble and personable. It was two years in the making, but in the end, this year’s Negev Gala will go down as having had to overcome more obstacles than anyone could ever have imagined, yet proved to be one of the most successful ever.
Local News
Incident at Asper Campus Sept. 23 leads me to wonder: Are members of Winnipeg Police Service overreacting to threats of antisemitism?
By BERNIE BELLAN (Posted Sept. 23, 8:49 pm) I was coming out of the Asper Campus today around 5:30 pm when I saw a familiar figure – my second cousin Marty Green (son of the late Sid Green) standing on the sidewalk. Marty was walking around quietly. He seemed to be holding some kind of papers in his hand.
The leaflet that Marty Green was handing out
I called out to him, he came over and handed me a purple leaflet that had a drawing and some printing on it. I read what was on the leaflet and thought: “Okay, this is reasonable enough. Surely he’s entitled to express his opinion.”
Boy, was I wrong! In short order three police cars arrived on the scene. There must have been at least eight police there at one point, along with two cadets. Wow! All this for distributing leaflets?
I continued watching what ensued – but I’m not exactly sure what happened. All that I know is that at one point Marty was handcuffed with his hands behind his back and put into a police car. What the hell was going on? I wondered.
Had Marty said something to the police? I should note that, in all fairness, Marty has a track record of getting himself into trouble with the law.
But still, is it now a crime to hand out leaflets in a public space? I again wondered. I stayed around for about 1/2 hour, but I had to go somewhere else for a while. I did return though about 1/2 hour later and there was still one police car there. I saw two policemen engaged in conversation with Ruth Ashrafi, who’s Regional Director for B’nai Brith in Manitoba. I asked one of the policemen whether Marty had broken any laws.
His response was: “Read Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Subsection 2.”
I waited unit I got home to look up Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Subsection 2. Here’s the Google description of what that section of the criminal code is about: “Section 319(2) of the Canadian Criminal Code governs the wilful promotion of hatred. It is a criminal offence to intentionally promote hatred against an identifiable group through statements made outside of private conversation. [1, 2, 3]”
”You’ve got to be kidding,” I thought. A Jew handing out a leaflet that’s critical of what fanatic settlers are doing on the West Bank is guilty of a hate crime?
Surely there must be more to this than that.
So I called WPS and asked whether there was a report of an incident outside the Asper Campus between 5:30 and 6:30 this evening? The person answering the phone said there was an incident, but said they couldn’t provide any further information.
I did call the media line and left a message, asking someone to call me because I was interested in learning more about what had happened – and why so many police were at the scene for what, for all intents and purposes, seemed nothing more than one person handing out leaflets.
I was so perplexed by what I had seen that I also posed this question to Google: “Is it against the law to hand out leaflets outside the Asper Campus?” (I thought that maybe there was some new kind of bylaw that had been passed of which I was unaware.) Here’s the answer I got:
No, it is not against the law to hand out leaflets on a public sidewalk outside the Asper Campus. Under Canadian law, peaceful distribution of leaflets on public property is a constitutionally protected right under Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees freedom of expression. [1]
However, the legal landscape shifts significantly based on exactly where you are standing, what your leaflets say, and how you behave.
Where You Stand Matters
I • Public Sidewalks: If you are on the public city sidewalk outside the perimeter of the campus, you have the legal right to distribute pamphlets peacefully. A City of Winnipeg proposal in early 2026 (the Safe Access to Vulnerable Infrastructure Bylaw) attempted to ban “nuisance demonstrations” within 100 metres of community and cultural hubs, but after a major public outcry regarding Charter rights, the city councillor withdrew the proposed law. No such buffer zone exists today.
[1, 2, 3]
• Inside the Campus Property: The Asper Jewish Community Campus in Winnipeg’s Old Tuxedo neighbourhood is private property. Private property owners have the legal right to control or ban the distribution of materials on their premises. If you step onto campus property (such as their courtyard, parking lot, or inside buildings) to pass out leaflets, campus security can legally ask you to stop or leave. Refusing to do so can result in a fine under provincial trespassing laws. [1, 2]
Legal Limitations on Leafleting
While you can hand out leaflets on the public sidewalk, you must follow general laws regarding your conduct and the content of your message:
• No Obstruction: You cannot physically block or trap people, prevent them from entering the building, or obstruct pedestrian or vehicle traffic. [1]
• No Harassment or Intimidation: Leafleting must be peaceful. Loudly shouting, using unauthorized megaphones, or intimidating visitors can lead to police intervention or local noise violations. [1]
• Hate Speech Laws: The content of your leaflets cannot cross into criminal territory. Under Canada’s Criminal Code, distributing materials that promote hatred or contain antisemitic or defamatory statements against individuals can trigger police investigations and criminal charges. [1, 2]
Okay, with all that in mind, you be the judge. Do you think the leaflet Marty was handing out would constitute “hate speech?”
I’ve placed a call to Marty, asking him to call me to let me know what actually happened once the police came over to talk to him. At this point I know nothing more about the matter, but gee, is this what it’s come to: A citizen quietly handing out leaflets that I dare suggest have nothing at all to do with hate speech is apprehended by WPS?
And sure, I got an earful from one of the police who said to me that after what happened in Belleville you can’t be too careful these days, but come on, show a little common sense fellas – (and they were all men except for one female cadet).
(Updated Sept. 23 10:54 pm and amended Sept. 24 5:02 pm) I just got off the phone with Marty Green. He gave me a further clarification of what happened. Apparently he had been at the Campus on several other occasions – handing out the same leaflet. Marty said that he had received a lot of angry comments, but it wasn’t going to dissuade him from handing out the same leaflet as you’ve already seen. Until today though, the police hadn’t shown up.
This time they told him he was going to be charged with a hate crime and disturbing the peace. It was at that point he was handcuffed and put into a police car, he told me.
It seems though that, after some discussion among various officers who were there – and from what I could see it was two older, grey-haired police who seemed to be the ones in charge (Correction Sept. 24: Marty says it was two younger officers who arrested him, not the older guys) – the decision was taken to release Marty (Correction Sept. 24: Marty says: “They released me on an “‘undertaking’ that I wouldn’t go within 200m of 123 Doncaster, but I refused to sign the undertaking. So I didn’t agree to it. But I would be arrested immediately if I violated it. I’ll have to talk to my lawyer to see if I can challenge the undertaking (that’s why I refused to sign it). I was unable to contact a lawyer while I was in custody and was told that the hate crime charge would be dropped.”
The disturbing the peace charge, however, Marty was told, will still stand, and he can expect to have to make a court appearance at some point in the future. (He guessed it would be some time in December.)
Marty said that he thought there had been strong pressure put on the police to do something about his handing out leaflets, although when I asked him if he could give any specific names as to who might have exerted that pressure, he said he didn’t know.
I’ve deliberately avoided editorializing as I’ve been writing this, but my last word on what happened today is that if we can’t allow peaceful criticism of some aspects of Israeli policy – and I’m not talking about the kind of sloganeering we’re all so used to hearing and seeing from true haters of Israel, such as condemnation of Israeli “genocide,” “settler colonialism,” “apartheid”, and similar epithets, then we’re not the democratic Jewish community Winnipeg used to be.
I hope to have more on this story – which to me represents the kind of fissure that has developed within Jewish communities in so many parts of the world. So, keep checking back (and it’s not so that I can make any money by having you read this story. If you haven’t noticed yet, there are only two ads on this website. I maintain this website to provide an alternative point of view from the kind you’re going to get from all our established community organizations in Winnipeg.)
(Added Sept. 24): I have phoned the WPS media line twice now trying to get some understanding how an individual walking on a public sidewalk in front of the Asper Campus, handing out leaflets to anyone who was willing to take them – and not confronting or yelling at anyone, can be charged with “disturbing the peace,” let alone a “hate crime.” (At least the WPS officers who were going to charge Marty with a hate crime came to their senses on that one and dropped that charge.)
Look, I can understand people being on edge – especially with what happened in Belleville. I’m not naive or deliberately trying to downplay people’s nervousness. But heck, are we now at a point where anyone handing out leaflets in front of the Campus can be arrested? I realize members of the WPS are under tremendous pressure to “do something,” and I could tell by that comment from the young officer who told me to go read Section 319 Subsection 2 of the Criminal Code that members of the WPS have been given lessons about “hate crimes” and particular instruction to be on the watch for anything that might look like a potentially dangerous situation for members of the Jewish community, but come on fellas – use some common sense. Is that all it takes to get someone arrested: An individual or individuals say that they don’t feel “safe” – simply because someone is exercising his lawful right to hand out leaflets in front of the Campus?
If you want to comment on this story, I can withhold your name if you don’t want it published. Simply click on the button below that says : “Click to comment”
Comment received Sept. 26 from “Vika”: “You know too many fanatics like Marty Green coming to the Asper Campus. If you don’t know there is kids, our kids! And we want to keep them safe from the people like him. So we’re glad police was there very quick and they will continue to do this good job to protect Asper Campus from this crazy people.
Local News
Brian Glow: magician on a mission
By MYRON LOVE Anyone who has been to a sporting event in recent years is sure to be familiar with the hot dog and t-shirt launchers that propel hot dogs and t-shirts into crowds. What you probably don‘t know is that the launcher was invented right here in Winnipeg – by Brian Glow.
“I have always been an inventor,” says the son of Freda and the late Syd Glow. “I came up with the concept for the launcher in the early 1980s. It has many other uses in addition to sporting events. It can be used to spew out streamers or confetti. It can shoot out a guide rope from a ship to tie the vessel to a dock and fire out life-saving vests to swimmers or boaters in trouble.”
While few probably know about Glow’s avocation as an inventor, people all over the world will know him from his “day job” as one of North America’s most in-demand magicians.
Brian Glow has been making magic for almost all of his life. His resumé includes more than 10,000 corporate shows under his belt, including sales meetings, trade shows, banquets, annual general meetings, and award ceremonies. He has also performed and produced shows for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics and the Pan American Games.
Glow’s multi-award winning one-man “Comedy, Magic and Mindreading” production has become one of the favourite touring magical shows in North America. He has entertained in casinos, on television and film, and for corporate events and public spectacles in over 45 countries worldwide.
In a recent interview with Glow in his West St. Paul home, he recalled his first performance. “I was the entertainer for my eighth birthday party,” he recounts. “I have been in demand ever since.”
It was from the old Ed Sullivan show – which those of us of a certain age will well remember – that Glow was introduced to magic. “My family and I never missed an Ed Sullivan broadcast,” he says. “It was like a religion.”
As a magician, Glow was self-taught. “I learned my first magic tricks from reading books at the West Kildonan Library,” he recalls. “There were two books about magic at the library. One was called ‘Magic of the World,’ which was published in 1965. The other was Houdini’s ‘Biography of Magic for Kids.’ Those books were amazing teachers. I still use some of those same tricks today.”
“In our corporate shows,” he continues, ”we incorporate our sponsors’ products in the production. For example, if we are doing a show for an auto dealership or manufacturer, I make a car magically appear.”
Glow points out that while many people can do simple magic tricks, the key to taking it to the next level is the presentation.”That takes skill,” he says. “The presentation is what makes an act magical, amazing, fun.”
While Brian Glow truly is an amazing magician, what really separates him from his brethren is that he is also a man on a mission. That mission is to build his magic act as a framework around which he teaches children and teenagers how to counter bullying. And, over the past 40 years, he has brought his anti-bullying training to tens of thousands of children primarily living in remote – largely Indigenous – communities across the north – from Nunavut to Alaska, also northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Northwestern Ontario.
Why does he focus on those regions? He explains that in larger, more easily accessible centres, there are professionals – doctors, psychologists, social workers – who can provide counselilng for individuals who are being victimized by bullies. That help is simply not available in large swaths of our country.
When it comes to surviving bullying, Brian Glow speaks from his own personal experiences growing up. He notes that he has lost some friends to suicide because of the torments they suffered from bullies.
In his shows focusing around countering bullying, he intersperses magic with his own stories about experiencing bullying. Glow tries to provide strategies for standing down bullies and working on creating more positive self-images for victims of bullying, that include calling up audience members to engage in role playing among other techniques.
“Bullying involves an imbalance of power,” he explains. “One of the more effective ways of disarming a bully is to refuse to react to the insults. You have to try to keep calm and respond in an even voice. The bully wants to humiliate you. If he can’t, he will lose interest.”
Glow concedes that is not easy when someone is telling you that you are fat or ugly. “You have to keep at it to a make a difference,” he says.
He further points out that the exponential growth in social media over the past 25 years has made the bullying problem much worse. Social media can amplify your public humiliation,” Glow observes. “You can be left with a sense of worthlessness and really spiral down.”
He notes that he continues to stay abreast of the latest research related to bullying and learn new techniques in countering this pernicious practice.
Brian Glow may now be past what is still generally considered retirement age, but he has no intention currently of slowing down. In fact, he recently left on another two-month round of anti-bullying performances in the north – starting with northern Saskatchewan.
“I am a lucky man,” he concludes. “I have been able to spend my life doing what I love, also using magic to help others. And, I am still learning.”
One can certainly say that Brian Glow has lived a magical life.
Local News
Group of crocheters create a sea of anemones as part of third annual community commemoration of October 7
By MYRON LOVE On Wednesday, October 7, we will be commemorating the third anniversary of the horrific events of October 7, 2023 – when an estimated 1,200 of our Israeli brothers and sisters were slaughtered in a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel – with the third annual Walk for Israel.
The estimated 50-minute walk is scheduled to start at 5:30.
“Last year, we had about 2,000 members of the community and supporters turn out,” reports Judi Shuster, one of the walk organizers. “We would like to see as many or more people this year. It is such as empowering feeling, participating in this walk.”
She notes that the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews is contributing a large number of Israeli flags.
Shuster is also one of a group of 17 women who are adding something new to the commemoration. Over the past few months, the group members – including -Vanesa Harari, Tanya Chanas, Florencia Katz, Francyn Martini, Gail and Clara Garland, Claudia Griner, Faye Rosenberg Cohen, Judi Shuster, Patricia Lempert, Adriana Josebachvili, Valeria Senderowich, Tali Hassan, Orit Reuter, Kristin Gislason, Karyn Glass, and Michaela Kaplan – have crocheted 1,400 anemones (the original goal was 1,200) – to attach to a creative display that will be displayed throughout the month of October at the entrance to the Asper Campus.
Why anemones (kalaniot in Hebrew)? Florencia Katz, a member of the commemoration organizing committee, explains that kalaniot grow extensively throughout southern Israel and are the country’s national flower. During her visit to the site of the ill-fated Nova Festival in May, 2024, Katz notes that pictures of the victims with kalaniot in the background had been put up in the field.
Katz points out that it was Judi Shuster’s idea for the banner. Shuster had also seen the pictures at the Nova festival location.
“I contacted Florencia about this idea for crocheting the Kalaniot for the display and she was enthusiastic about it,” she says. “Originally, eight of us got together to plan this. We recruited a cross section of crocheters – Jewish and non-Jewish.”
“We had our first creative meeting on February 5,” Katz reports..
“We had the help of some other creative people with the background and design.”
She further points out that the October 7 date was ironed onto the piece of art.
The commemoration will conclude with a short gathering with anthems and prayers.
Readers who may want to participate in the Walk for Israel can register at www.jewishwinnipeg.org/october7.
