Local News
“Live from the Lot Concerts” return to Gwen Secter Centre

As a result of the pandemic time period, many organizations found ways to present outdoor series. Not to be left out of the loop, Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre, located at 1588 Main Street, pulled out all the stops to welcome back its senior population to live events in the post-pandemic period. In the summer of 2021, GSCLC constructed a tent with cement posts on the parking lot of its entrance, and took charge of presenting a concert series outdoors during the daytime hours.
Fast forward to the summer of 2023. GSCLC has once again raised the tent above its parking lot, with a concert series ready to launch on July 4th. All concerts will take place at 11:00 am, allowing for patrons to attend before the high heat of the afternoon. Performances are 1 hour.
The dates and schedule of events is as follows:
Thursday July 6 Ron Paley and Rosemarie Todaschuk. A Jazz Encounter with a Ukrainian and Jewish Flare.
Tuesday July 11 Jonathan Alexiuk Duo. Swinging Songs from the Fabulous Era of the 20s.
Thursday July 20 Jesse and Grace. Hits of the 1960s from the Mamas & the Papas to The Rolling Stones.
Tuesday July 25 Luminous String Quartet led by Karen Barg. From Bach to the Beatles.
Tuesday August 1 Jodie Borle Trio. Great American Songbook standards composed for screen and stage by such greats as Cole Porter and Irving Berlin.
Tuesday August 2 The Koulack Family Band. Folk music tunes in Yiddish, Spanish, English and French.
Tuesday August 8 Aaron Hutton Duo. Come Fly with Me: A Frank Sinatra Interlude.
Tuesday August 15 Duncan Cox Trio. Soft Folk Rock for a Summer Morning.
Tuesday August 22 Zachary Rushing Trio. Swinging with the Great American Songbook.
We are grateful to our sponsors New Horizons for Seniors and The Jewish National Fund.
LIVE FROM THE LOT is produced by Karla Berbrayer. Tickets to all events are $10 each and can be acquired by calling 204-339-1701 or email info@gwensecter.com
Local News
Thank you to the community from the Chesed Shel Emes

We’re delighted to share a major milestone in our Capital Campaign, “Building on our Tradition.” Launched in November 2018, this campaign aimed to replace our outdated facility with a modern space tailored to our unique needs. Our new building is designed with ritual at its core, featuring ample preparation space, Shomer space, and storage, creating a warm and welcoming environment for our community during times of need.
We’re grateful to the nearly 1,000 generous donors who contributed over $4 million towards our new facility. A $750,000 mortgage will be retired in November 2025, completing this monumental project in just seven years.
We’re also thrilled to announce that our Chesed Shel Emes Endowment Fund has grown tenfold, from $15,000 to $150,000, thanks to you, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba’s FundMatch program, and Million Dollar Match initiative in 2024. Our fund helps ensure that everyone can have a dignified Jewish funeral regardless of financial need.
As we look to the future, our goal remains to ensure the Chevra Kadisha continues to serve our community for generations to come. Our focus now shifts to replenishing our savings account and growing our JFM Endowment fund.
We’re deeply grateful for your support over the past several years.
It’s our privilege to serve our community with care and compassion.
With sincere appreciation,
Campaign cabinet: Hillel Kravetsky, Gerry Pritchard, Stuart Pudavick,
Jack Solomon, and Rena Boroditsky
Murray S. Greenfield, President
Local News
Winnipeg Beach Synagogue about to celebrate 75th anniversary

By BERNIE BELLAN (July 13) In 1950 a group of cottage owners at Winnipeg Beach took it upon themselves to relocate a one-room schoolhouse that was in the Beausejour area to Winnipeg Beach where it became the beach synagogue at the corner of Hazel and Grove.
There it stayed until 1998 when it was moved to its current location at Camp Massad.
On August 2nd members of the synagogue will be holding a 75th anniversary celebration.

As part of the celebration anyone who is a descendant or relative of any of the original members of the first executive committee (as seen in the photo here) is invited to attend the synagogue that morning.
If you are a relative please contact Abe Borzykowski at wpgbeachshule@shaw.ca or aborzykowski@shaw.ca to let Abe know you might be attending or for more information about the 75th anniversary celebration.
We will soon be publishing a story about the history of the beach synagogue, which is something I’ve been writing about for over 25 years.
Local News
Vickar Family cuts ribbon on new Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre

By MYRON LOVE In the words of Larry Vickar, the Shaarey Zedek’s successful Dor V’ Dor Campaign “is not only a renewal of the synagogue but truly a renewal movement of Jewish life in our community.”An integral part of that renewal movement was the creation of a daycare centre within the expanded synagogue. On Monday, June 23, Larry and Tova Vickar cut the ribbon, thereby officially opening the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre in the presence of 100 of their family members, friends and other supporters of the project.
The short program preceding the morning ribbon-cutting began with a continental breakfast followed by a welcome by both Fanny Levy, Shaarey Zedek’s Board President, and Executive Director Dr. Rena Secter Elbaze. In Elbaze’s remarks, she noted that Larry and Tova wanted their family (including son Stephen and family, who flew in from Florida) and friends at the event to celebrate the opening of the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre, “not because of the accolades, but because, as Larry put it, he hopes that their investment in the congregation will inspire others to do the same.”
“When Larry and I spoke about what this gift meant to him and the message he wanted people to take away,” she continued, “I couldn’t help but connect it to the teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi whose book – Age-ing to Sage-ing – changes the whole way we look at the concept of ageing and basing it on our ancestral teachings.”
She explained that his concept of “Sage-ing” is based on three key ideas – Discover your meaning and purpose; accept our mortality and think about the legacy you want to leave.
“Larry spoke about these exact concepts when we met,” she said.
Elbaze also noted the presence of Shaarey Zedek’s newly-arrived senior Rabbi Carnie Rose, former Rabbi Alan Green, and area MLAs Mike Moroz and Carla Compton.
Larry Vickar expressed his great appreciation for all those in attendance. “Tova and I are deeply moved to stand here with you today for this important milestone in our community”, he said. “We are grateful to be surrounded by all of you, the people we care about, our family and friends… you who have touched our lives and played some part in our journey.”