Local News
Mystery of why $725,000 donation to the Simkin Centre was made is likely solved
By BERNIE BELLAN
Readers of this website may recall our story posted a couple weeks ago in which we told about a $725,000 donation that was given to the Simkin Centre by something called the Myer and Corrine Geller Trust.
The donation – which was actually made out to the Sharon Home, was in the form of a $575,000 US cheque. It arrived in August of this year. The only information that the Simkin Centre had about the source of the cheque was that Myer Geller had graduated from St. John’s Tech in 1943, that he went to MIT, became a physicist, and that he was granted several patents.
With that scant information – and with the help of several other individuals, including several readers of this paper, especially Ed Feuer, and someone by the name of Christian Cassidy who read my story about the Gellers on our website and who went to extraordinary lengths to piece together the Geller family history on a blog known as “West End Dumplings”, we were able to amass quite a few details about Myer Geller and his family. Eventually we were led to the conclusion that Myer Geller’s mother, Sarah, must have been a resident of the Sharon Home until her death in 1984.
Based on information available on a variety of websites, including the Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada’s archives, Ancestry.ca, Truthfinder.com, Newspaper-archive.ca, and in the Winnipeg Henderson Directory of 1965, along with the St. John’s yearbook of 1943 (that was loaned to us by a reader who had it in his possession, but asked us not to reveal his name), along with information provided by Christian Cassidy, here is what we found:
Myer Geller was born in 1926 (which we reported in the Oct. 28 issue). His parents were Max and Sarah. Max Geller was born in 1887 and died in 1966. Sarah Geller (whose maiden name was Feldman) was born in 1893 and died in 1984. The Gellers were married in 1916 in Winnipeg.
The following is taken from Christian Cassidy’s blog, the “Western Dumpling”: “The earliest mention I can find of the Geller family comes in the 1921 Census of Canada. It shows Max Geller, 30, wife Sarah, 24, and eldest child, Rose, 3, renting a room at 689 Selkirk Avenue, the home of the Peck family.
“The census taker noted that the parents were Jewish and had emigrated from Russia, Sarah in 1912 and Max in 1913. Rose was born in Manitoba ca. 1918.
“Max’s profession is listed as a merchant of produce and eggs.”
The blog also noted that Frances Geller was born in 1922.
At the time that Myer Geller would have gone to St. John’s Tech the Geller family lived at 284 Bannerman Avenue.
Again, according to Christian Cassidy, “Max Geller’s entry in the 1942 Henderson Directory lists him as a travelling salesman. From 1943 to 1945, he is a produce manager. No place of work is ever given.
“In 1946, Max gets into the fur industry as an employee of Elias Reich and Co. fur manufactures located on the 6th floor of the Jacob Crowley Building. He worked there and for its successor, J. H. Hecht, until 1948.
“In 1949 and 1950, Max’s occupation is listed as a “tracker” – no explanation of the job title or a place of work was given.”
Both Rose and Frances Geller married and lived in Toronto. Rose married someone named Louis Lieberman, while Frances married someone named Edward Jordan. We were not able to find any further references to either of the sisters once they left Winnipeg, although we did confirm that Louis Lieberman has died.
We did learn though that Myer Geller did have an illustrious career. Following his graduation from St. John’s Tech, he went to the University of Manitoba, then the University of Minnesota, where he obtained a master’s degree in physics. Evidently he returned to Manitoba for at least a short while because we were able to learn that he crossed into the United States in 1949, became an American citizen in 1950, then went to MIT from 1951-55, from where he obtained his PhD in physics.
Myer Geller married Corrine Taper in 1954 in New York. The Gellers lived at various times in New York, Pennsylvania, and finally California. As we also noted in our Oct. 28 story, Myer Geller’s name was associated with 15 different patents.
We learned that for at least a period of his life Myer Geller worked for a branch of the US Navy known as NOSC (Naval Operations Support Centre). With the help of a genealogist friend of former Winnipeggers Carol and Chuck Faiman we also learned this about Myer Geller: “in 1960 or 1961 he moved from a job at Hughes Products to be a senior scientist at the Solid State Division of Electro-Optical Systems in Pasadena, CA.”
In 1966 the Gellers moved to San Diego, which is where they lived until they both died, Myer in 2016, and Corrine in 2019. They did not have any children.
Here is the final information we were able to learn about Myer Geller’s parents:
Max and Sarah Geller eventually moved to a small apartment at 206 Perth Avenue, although whether they lived somewhere else after Bannerman is not clear. The 1965 Henderson Directory lists his occupation as a parking lot attendant. Max died in 1966 in St. Boniface Hospital.
Now, at this point what I’m writing is pure speculation: Sarah Geller likely remained in Winnipeg. When she died in 1984 she was buried in Rosh Pina Cemetery alongside her husband. Her children all lived in different cities – a situation which is quite familiar to so many of us. We cannot absolutely confirm that Mrs. Geller remained in Winnipeg, but here is what we speculate: A woman who would have been 73 when her husband died, and with no visible means of support, living in a very modest apartment, would likely have been dependent upon her children for support.
And where did individuals in that position usually end up? The evidence would seem to point to the Sharon Home, at 146 Magnus Avenue. Here we have an elderly widow with at least one of her children earning what must have been a very good income. (The Myer and Corrine Geller Trust eventually donated over $7 million Cdn, altogether, of which the donation to the Sharon Home/Simkin Centre was only 11% of the total amount donated.)
The likelihood is that Sarah Geller ended her days at the Sharon Home; hence the huge donation made to the Sharon Home.
Although we are told that the Simkin Centre did do a search in order to try to determine the basis for the donation they received from the Geller Trust, until now there would have been very scant information upon which an investigation could have proceeded.
We are not certain whether it will be possible to find records that would prove Sarah Geller was a resident there, but according to Shelly Faintuch, daughter of the late Dr. Henry Faintuch, who was executive director of the Sharon Home for many years, her father kept meticulous records of all residents in the home. If those records still exist, they should answer the question whether Sarah Geller did indeed live in the Sharon Home. In the meantime though, we are told the Simkin Centre is preoccupied with other matters, i.e., dealing with the COVID pandemic, and so it is quite understandable that any search for records that might show that Sarah Geller lived at the Sharon Home will have to be put off until the emergency situation has abated.
By no means do we want to indicate that the mystery is conclusively solved; we merely want to show that the trail of evidence which has emerged has led in a direction that could reasonably lead one to conclude why Myer Geller would have wanted to make such a large donation to the Sharon Home.
Local News
Shalom Residences board announces hiring of Tamar Barr as new executive director
By BERNIE BELLAN The board of Shalom Residences, the agency that provides housing and support for adults in our community who have special needs, will soon have a new executive director, effective December 22.
Tamar Barr, whose name is well known in the Jewish community, is set to take over from Mike Goldberg, who will be leaving Shalom Residences after having served as executive director since the spring of 2022.
It was in March 2022 that the previous – and to that point, only executive director Shalom Residences had ever had, Nancy Hughes, retired from the position after 31 years at the helm. Mike is moving on to take a senior position elsewhere.
Shalom Residences maintains six different houses in Winnipeg on: Enniskillen Avenue (home to the very first Shalom Residence), Hartford Avenue and Seven Oaks Place – all three of which are in West Kildonan; McAdam and Cathedral Avenues – in the North End; Daffodil – in Garden City; and Oxford Street, in River Heights.
The smallest home has three residents and the largest one – five.
Twenty-nine adults live in those homes, while another nine live in supported independent living apartments, and three adults are supported in community outreach.
Tamar Barr is probably best known in the community for her many years at both the Rady JCC and its predecessor, the YMHA. Tamar served as program director at both the YMHA and the Rady JCC from 1990-2013 and was Assistant Executive Director at the Rady JCC from 2013-2021.
Since then Tamar has filled a variety of different roles, including working in donor relations at the University of Manitoba; project coordinator at the Mennnonite Heritage Centre Gallery; and Alternate Funeral Director for Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Tamr obtained her B.A. and Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Mantioba; and her Masters of Social Work from Yeshiva University in New York.
Tamar had this to say about her moving into the role of executive director of Shalom Residences: “Stepping into the role of Executive Director feels like a full-circle moment for me. Some of my most meaningful and formative experiences have been alongside people living with intellectual disabilities, whose strength and spirit continue to inspire me. I am honoured to join an organization rooted in Jewish values and dedicated to supporting individuals living dignified, connected and fulfilling lives in a community-based setting.
“I look forward to bringing my enthusiasm, experience and compassion to support and strengthen Shalom Residences important mission.”
In welcoming Tamar as Shalom Residences’ new executive director, the board of Shalom Residences said: “Shalom Residences Inc. is pleased to announce the hiring of Tamar Barr as our new executive director effective December 22, 2025.
“Tamar has a Masters degree in Social Work and brings a wealth of management experience in the non-profit sector and at the Rady JCC. She is looking forward to meeting our residents with intellectual disabilities, families and staff as she transitions into her new role with the kind assistance of our current executive director, Mike Goldberg.
“We wish to thank Mike for his outstanding contributions to Shalom Residences and wish him well in his new leadership role at Community Financial Services where he will be assisting individuals and families facing financial challenges.”
Local News
Canadian produced kosher wine now available in Winnipeg
By BERNIE BELLAN With the imposition last February of a ban on the sale of American liquor in Manitoba, the only type of kosher wines that were available here were from Israel, specifically wines produced by the Galil winery.
Since the latter part of September, however, kosher wines produced by a Canadian winery are now available in Manitoba liquor marts, also the Kenaston Wine Market.
The wines – a red and a white, are produced by a winery known as Tzafona Cellars – located in the Niagara region of Ontario.
On Tuesday, December 2, Rabbi Avraham Gislason, who is a a rabbi in Thornhill, as well as a Tzafona Cellars winemaker, spoke to a large crowd at the Jewish Learning Centre, where he not only explained how kosher wine differs from non-kosher wine, he brought along bottles of five different wines produced by Tzafona Cellars for members of the audience to taste.
So – what makes a wine kosher? you might ask. According to the internet, “A wine is kosher if it is made according to Jewish dietary laws… with strict supervision and handling by Sabbath-observant Jews from the crushing of the grapes to the bottling of the finished product. The winemaking process must use only kosher-certified ingredients, such as yeast and fining agents, and rabbinically-approved equipment.
Rabbi Gislason himself started Tzafona Cellars in 2014. According to the Tzafona website, Rabbi Gislason saw that the “soil, air, and microclimate of the Niagara Peninsula all come together to create an up-and-coming world class wine region, yielding a unique experience that cannot be recreated anywhere else in the world.”
While he appreciated the quality of the wines being produced in the Niagara region, there was one problem: None of the wines were kosher.
According to the Tzafona website, “Starting with the 2014 vintage, Tzafona began to produce kosher wines using the same techniques and high-quality grapes used in producing other premium non-kosher wines. Since then, Tzafona has continued to produce a variety of different wines, namely Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, and Chardonnay. We have produced award-winning Icewines in the Vidal, Riesling, and Gewurtzraminer varietals. Tzafona is the only kosher Icewine producer in North America. Their Cabernet Franc Icewine won a Gold Medal at the All Canadian Wine Championships in 2025.
In 2016 we began to produce a line of refreshing semi-sweet wines under our brand “Nava Blanc” and “Nava Ruby.” (It is the Nava Blanc and Nava Ruby wines that are now available in Manitoba). Both of these wines are Tzafona’s bestsellers here in Canada and the USA.
The process of getting Tzafona wines approved in Manitoba was set in motion by Winnipeg marketing specialist Marsha Friedman, who for many years has worked as a marketing consultant and sales agent for businesses looking to offer premium kosher foods to their customers.
Her business, Excellence & Kosher, focuses on identifying unmet needs in the market. “I see a need and I try to fill it,” Marsha says.
“We also ensure that the most needed Kosher food products for the stores that carry Kosher are available, including Canadian Kosher wine,” she adds.
Marsha explains that she approached Tzafona—the only truly Canadian kosher wine company—some time ago with the idea of opening the Manitoba market for them and introducing their wines to local consumers.
Afterward, she contacted tManitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MBLL), which agreed to begin carrying two Tzafona wines: Nava Ruby (Red) and Nava Blanc (White).
Since that initial success in making Tzafona wines available for purchase in Manitoba, Marsha says that she and her daughter Shira have been making similar progress in Alberta and hope to expand into the British Columbia market as well.
For more information about Tzafona Wines, including the addresses of stores in Winnipeg and throughout Manitoba that carry their products, please visit the MBLL Liquor Marts website:
https://www.liquormarts.ca/liquormarts
Go to “Find a Product” and type “Tzafona.” Both wines will appear. Select the wine you’re interested in, then click “Store Inventory.” A list of all MBLL Liquor Marts that carry that product will be displayed.
Marsha adds that “We are hoping to have more listings of Tzafona wines available for Pesach this year, and we will be presenting them to MBLL for their approval.
“L’Chaim!”
Local News
Thanks to a Grant from the Asper Foundation the Gwen Secter Centre will Soon Begin Offering Free Kosher Shabbat Meals to Jewish Seniors
By BERNIE BELLAN In these increasingly difficult times – when so many families are finding it difficult to make ends meet, one group in society in particular is being hard hit by escalating food prices: seniors.
As food prices continue to rise, many seniors are struggling to afford many food items that they had always enjoyed previously. And, when it comes to Jewish seniors who might want to continue to remain kosher, the struggle is even more difficult – as the price of kosher meat and chicken has gone up even faster than the price of nonkosher meat and chicken.
Now, in an attempt to provide a modicum of comfort to some of those Jewish seniors, the Gwen Secter Centre, with support from the Asper Foundation, is about to begin providing kosher Shabbat meals for up to 50 Jewish seniors on a weekly basis.
Here is how Becky Chisick, executive director of the Gwen Secter Centre, describes what is going to be called the “Mitzvah Meal Program” will work: “We will be launching a new food security program supported by The Asper Foundation. Food security is a going concern is our community, especially with seniors living on a fixed income. The Mitzvah Meal program will ensure no one in the Jewish community is unable to celebrate Shabbat and other important Jewish holidays throughout the year. This program will transform the lives of so many seniors.
“Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre will be working closely with Jewish Child and Family Services to identify those who qualify for the program. There are many seniors that are not able to access Kosher Meals on Wheels (which is already a subsidized program thanks to the Jewish Federation), due to financial restrictions. The Mitzvah Meal Program, Supported by The Asper Foundation, has different criteria than the Kosher Meals on Wheels program.
“During the pandemic, we quickly realized how many seniors were not able to celebrate Shabbat due to lack of resources and finances. The Mitzvah Meal program will provide up to 50 individual low-income seniors with a healthy and fresh Shabbat (meat) meal, including chicken soup, challah bun, full entree of chicken, starch and vegetables, and dessert. In addition, they will receive special holiday foods and tools, so everyone is able to celebrate Shabbat and other Jewish holidays. For example: latkes and sufganiyot for Chanukkah, hamantaschen for Purim, etc. Those that are able to light candles at their residence will also get Shabbat and Chanukkah candles.”
Becky added, however, that “We still require close to $10,000 to ensure we can accommodate the max for a year and I plan to apply to The Jewish Foundation for the support.”
We contacted Anita Wortzman, president of the Asper Foundation, to ask her how the Asper Foundation became involved in this program. Anita responded: “The Asper Foundation is thrilled to support Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre and their new Mitzvah Meal Program. We believe that seniors in our community should be treated with the dignity, comfort and connection that Shabbat and the Jewish holidays bring. The long-term work of Gwen Secter Living Centre in delivering kosher meals on wheels, makes this a wonderful extension of that service to the Jewish community.”
As to how recipients of the “Mitzvah Meals” are chosen, we received this response from Alexis Wenzowski, Chief Operating Officer of JCFS: “Our priority will be ensuring that low-income seniors, those experiencing social isolation, and those facing mobility or transportation challenges are referred into the Gwen Secter program in a timely and effective manner.
“We have shared information about the Gwen Secter Food Security for Seniors Program across our Mental Health and Addictions, Settlement and Integration, and Older Adult Services teams. These program areas collectively serve some of the most marginalized and isolated seniors in our community, many of whom face complex barriers to accessing nutritious kosher food. We foresee there to be many referrals from these JCFS (programs into the Gwen Secter initiative. We are grateful and excited there will now be a formalized cooked meal Shabbat program for food insecure seniors.”
Alexis added this note about the number of individuals within our Jewish community who seek assistance from JCFS as a result of financial pressures: “JCFS is keenly aware that financial stressors and the cost-of-living crisis is impacting everyone. Food insecurity continues to be a significant and growing concern across our community, as it is in all communities. In the past year alone, our Asper Empowerment Program supported 179 unique households, with 7,542 kg of food security supports. An additional 122 households received employment and financial supports — including interest-free loans, grants, gift cards, and budgeting guidance — underscoring the breadth of need we are seeing. People are struggling.”
As noted, however, while Becky Chisick stated that the Asper Foundation funding will help to get the program going, the Jewish Foundation is being approached to provide additional funding in order to guarantee that the program can continue for at least one year. In the meantime though, if you would be interested in making a donation to help fund the program, Becky encourages you to make your contribution to the Gwen Secter Centre, stipulating that you want the money to go to the Mitzvah Meal Program.
One more note: While there are already some volunteer drivers in place once the program begins, more are still needed. To volunteer as a driver, contact Vanessa Ordiz at the Gwen Secter Centre: vanessa@gwensecter.com or phone 204-339-1701. Volunteers will be provided quarterly tax receipts for their service.
At the same time, by volunteering as a driver, it will allow for meaningful connections between clients and volunteers. For many clients this may be the only person they connect with that day.