Local News
Jewish synagogues react to rapid spread of Omicron variant – most put temporary end to in-person services
By BERNIE BELLAN With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant it comes as no surprise that many local synagogues have taken a proactive approach to dealing with the pandemic. For the time being, however, the Rady JCC is maintaining its existing schedule, although that may change quickly depending on possible new restrictions that may be issued by the provincial government.
The Shaarey Zedek, Etz Chayim and Temple Shalom congregations have all reverted to on-line services.
Shaarey Zedek
In a bulletin issued by the Shaarey Zedek on December 29, the following information was given:
As COVID-19 Omicron variant rapidly circulates in our province, it is with a heavy heart that we have decided to close the shul once again for the safety of the congregation, clergy, and staff. The closure will affect our operations in the following ways:
Prayer Services — In-person attendance is cancelled as of December 30, 2021. We will pivot back to online services only and offer online Aliyot and honours. We will communicate plans to re-open as soon as permissible.
Life Cycle and Related Events — In-house events will not be allowed in January 2022, however, our Rabbi may be available to attend some life cycle events virtually. We will revisit this approach in the coming weeks. Funerals will continue to be held graveside with clergy attendance, and in the shul when temperatures are below -27°C. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Facility Rentals — New bookings for in-house events in the short-term will not be scheduled, including private meetings, luncheons, parties, and other facility rentals.
Social-Cultural Programs, Events, and Adult Education — For the time being, all offerings will be planned for online participation only.
Gift Shop – The store is currently closed but can be opened for purchases by appointment.
Catering – Our catering team is available for take out orders.
Etz Chayim
In an email received from Etz Chayim Executive Director Jonathan Buchwald on December 30, in response to a question about what steps Etz Chayim may also have taken to deal with the rapid spread of the virus, Jonathan wrote: “For the months of November and December we had resumed in-person services.
“They were by registration only and we were limiting attendance to 50 people. Proof of full vaccination was required to attend.
“In the last few days since Omicron has taken over we have made the unfortunate decision to cancel in-person services for the first two Shabbatot in January (1 and 8), and most likely for the entire month until we see how what will happen with the variant.
“We will continue to hold on-line Shabbat morning and daily morning/evening services as we have throughout the pandemic.
“Our office will remain open through telephone and e-mail but will remain closed to the public for in-person business.
“Our takeout catering service is also available as it has been throughout.”
Temple Shalom
In response to a similar question whether Temple Shalom had also canceled in-person services which was posed to Rabbi Allan Finkel of Temple Shalom Congregation, Rabbi Finkel wrote: “Hi Bernie, we were the first to do so, as of last Friday evening. It may interest you to know that the Wpg Council Rabbis set up a WhatsApp group quite some time ago, and we keep each other up to date on our responses to COVID and we share protocols and synagogue implementations with each other as well. As a result, there is a high degree of consistency across the community, more confidence and less guesswork as we address these challenges.”
Adas Yeshurun-Herzlia
In contrast to the three other major Winnipeg congregations, the Adas Yeshurun-Herzlia congregation issued the following information within a bulletin sent to congregation members:
“At this point we will not be closing the synagogue. We will continue to follow the government guidelines. We have done everything to create the safest possible environments. This includes: vaccination mandate, masks at all time, social distancing, shortened service, no after service gathering, hand sanitizers, and a very responsible clientele.”
The bulletin further noted that “For all services singing will be held to a minimal amount.
Regarding Torah reading, Aliyot will be given out. The person called to the Torah will have a designated place to stand, which will be distanced from the Torah and reader. They will recite the blessings from the designated spot. Upon completion of their aliyah they will return to their seats.”
In response to a query sent to Rabbi Avrohom Altein of the Jewish Learning Centre, Rabbi Altein responded: “We definitely implement careful Covid protective procedures. Attendees to shul are limited and must wash hand on entry, wear masks, sit 2 metres apart and are vaccinated. When someone feels ills they are required to isolate until they confirm with a test that they are negative.
“But at the same time, we are doing our best to continue. We have a day school, a child care program, adult classes for men and women and programs for Israeli immigrants, and daily shul services, and a very active kitchen that provides kosher meals to many, many Winnipeggers. Of course, there are challenges along the way, but just as we need to continue living, so does Jewish life have to continue.”
No other Winnipeg congregations were contacted for this report.
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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