Local News
Pillar of the community Abe Simkin passes
With the death of Abe Simkin last month in California, the last surviving member of his generation of the Simkin clan is now gone. You can read Mr. Simkin’s obituary elsewhere on this website at http://jewishpostandnews.ca/obituaries/520-abraham-abe-simkin, but we present here an excerpt from Abe Simkin’s life story as it appears in the Jewish Foundation’s Book of Life. This excerpt was written in 2012 when Mr. Simkin had just turned 90:
Abe Simkin was born in 1922 in Winnipeg to Samuel and Fanny Simkin (née Breslovsky). Abe’s parents arrived in Manitoba in 1908 after marrying in Russia in 1907, settling first in Winnipeg and then moving to a farm in Pine Ridge. Abe was the youngest of seven children, and is the only surviving member of his original family. Abe’s brothers were Jim, Saul, and Israel (Blackie). His sisters were Jen (Cohen) and Clara (Erlichman). A third sister, Esther Malka, died at the age of two. Life on the farm was difficult, but Samuel still managed to make a living from the challenging soil and despite poor economic conditions. Samuel and Fanny were driven by hard work, a commitment to Yiddishkeit, and an unwavering belief in the importance of family and Jewish education. Those values have served as a vital foundation for Abe throughout his life. In 1928 when Abe was still a young boy, the family moved from Pine Ridge to Stella Avenue and Samuel launched Simkin’s Fuel, the initial seed of what was to become a remarkably successful family business. As a child, Abe was an accomplished boy cantor in the Talmud Torah choir, once catching the ear of a prominent cantor from New York who offered to take Abe with him to train. (Samuel and Fanny turned down the offer.) Abe also played a lot of sports as a child, but his social life revolved around The Eagles Club. The young teens played sports together, but also debated the politics of the day, and performed acts of community service.
At one point, Abe’s brother Saul was looking for some office help. Abe had noticed the cute “Little Fannie Rosenberg” who delivered groceries for her parents, and he told Saul about her. Saul tracked her down at the store while she was scrubbing floors, and invited her to come and work for the Simkins. The rest, as they say, is history.
Meanwhile, Abe’s career was beginning to take shape. After success as a student at Talmud Torah, Aberdeen, and St. John’s Tech, Abe attended law school at the University of Manitoba. He was the Treasurer of UMSU and active in community affairs, including the Canadian Jewish Congress, Zionist and Israeli organizations, and interfaith and civil liberties activities. One favourite memory is how he successfully helped lobby against admission quotas at the medical school. He was active in Hillel as a founding Vice-President and was President of the Greater Winnipeg Youth Council and, in 1946 at the age of 24, he became the youngest ever electoral candidate for the Manitoba Legislature. Also in 1946, Abe attended the World Youth Conference in London as a member of the Canadian delegation. While he was away, his fiancée Fan lovingly typed out notes from one of Abe’s classmates so he wouldn’t fall too far behind in his studies. Abe graduated in 1945 and he and Fan were married in 1946.
Abe, who was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1971, launched a successful legal practice with Alex Cantor, QC, and Roy Matas under the name of Cantor, Matas & Simkin which later became Simkin, Cantor, Goltsman & Rosenberg, and then Simkin, Gallagher. A highlight of Abe’s legal career was his 25 years of idyllic partnership with the late Mr. Justice Roy Matas, an outstanding Manitoba jurist.
In 1968, Abe started to work with his brothers while still practising and pursuing his own business interests. Abe became president of BACM Industries, the family’s construction enterprise, which later merged into Genstar Ltd. Abe became active in numerous business ventures from real estate development to electronic data management to part ownership of the original Winnipeg Jets, and much more. He remains active in business today at the age of 90. Fan was always by his side offering support, advice, and good humour, while battling a series of health issues that reduced her mobility over the years. Fan also supported Abe through his long list of volunteer activities in the community: the JNF, Talmud Torah, Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate, MTC, WSO, the UJA, the Jewish Foundation, and many others, including Zionist and Israeli organizations. He’s always been philanthropic and generous with his time.
Abe and Fan raised three sons – Gary, Bernie, and Murray . There are 10 grandchildren and – so far – 10 great-grandchildren. To Abe and Fan, family was – and to Abe, still is – everything. The thrills and satisfaction of success in the business world were easily overshadowed by time spent with immediate and extended family, enjoying each other’s company, and sharing vacations and Jewish holidays together.
As a couple, Abe and Fan touched everyone around them with their generosity, enthusiasm, curiosity, stamina, and wit. From modest beginnings in Pine Ridge and Sandy Lake, Abe and Fan built a beautiful life together.
Together, they had a tremendous impact on those around them. Fan passed away in 2009 at the age of 84.
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.”
Local News
New Israeli restaurant opens in River Heights
By BERNIE BELLAN (July 6, 2025) It’s been a long time since our community has been able to welcome the opening of a restaurant that specializes in Israeli food.
That void is now filled with the opening of The Green Falafel, at 1833 Grant (corner of Centennial – next to the Subway), which opened its doors (to huge crowds) on Monday, July 7.
(owners Ariel & Elena Maudi second and third from left)
The restaurant is the fulfillment of a dream long held by the husband and wife team of Ariel and Eden Maudi, who have been living in Winnipeg the past 11 years.
Ariel, who was born in Israel and grew up in Beer Sheva, says that he worked in telecommunications in Ramat Gan for several years. He adds though that he had always dreamed of owning his own falafel stand in Israel, but life was difficult there and he decided to come to Canada as a tourist to see whether there were any opportunities here for him, Eden and their two young children.
Eden, who was born in Russia and moved to Israel with her family in 1996, stayed behind with the two kids, who were both pre-schoolers, while Ariel tested the waters in Canada first.
Ariel says he came to Canada as a tourist in 2013. His first stop was in Toronto, where he acquired his 1st class driver’s license. At the end of 2013 he moved to Winnipeg where he began working as a truck driver. Soon he found himself employed as a successful sales person at Vickar Nissan where, he says, he once achieved the status as the top car sales person in Canada. After working at Vickar Nissan for a number of years, Ariel began working as an installer for Bell MTS.
Meanwhile, Eden began working at a Walmart, later at the Costco on Regent.
But, when the opportunity to move into a space that had been previously occupied by another restaurant, but which had closed, became available, Ariel and Eden decided to open their own Israeli restaurant in an area that hadn’t seen Israeli food served since the controversial closure of Bermax Café in 2019.
The Maudis say that they will be serving a variety of Israeli dishes – all vegetarian, and that they will be fully kosher.
The “green” in Green Falafel, by the way, Ariel Maudi explains, comes from the cilantro and parsley that are added to the chickpeas. In addition, their pitas will be coming from Israel and will be baked fresh daily.
The Green Falafel is open from 10-8 Sunday – Thursday and 10-4 on Friday. (Closed Saturday).Delivery will be available through Uber Eats and DoorDash.
Call 204-557-7837 for information.