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Rady JCC about to launch J✡Fest Wpg – Culture Reimagined

This Fall, a brand new festival is coming to Winnipeg, unlike anything ever seen before.

The question is: Will you be there?

Launching October 26 and running for one week, JFest WPG is a first-of-its-kind celebration of Jewish culture and the arts – reimagined. 

The Rady JCC’s inaugural festival features an eclectic showcase of global Jewish art and culture, encompassing not merely the traditions of eastern Europe, but also Sephardic, Mizrachi and Israeli culture, and all manner of cross-cultural fusion.

Though strongly focused on music, this is a multidisciplinary festival, including visual arts, workshops, and kids’ programs.

JFest WPG is unlike any other festival the Rady has held before. We are reimagining culture and welcoming in a new generation of people of all faiths, backgrounds, and demographics.

An absolute highlight of our festival is a live performance of Israeli superstar musician Idan Raichel. He will be playing an intimate showcase of piano songs at one of our guest venues, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. Idan will realize his dream of getting up close to you, his audience, and present his songs in their original format of piano and voice.

This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Idan live, so be sure to grab your tickets before we sell out!


JFest WPG is proudly presented by The Asper Foundation with support from the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, and JNF Canada.

Below is a full breakdown of all our various programs and workshops. Registration is now open and will fill up quickly. If you want to be a part of this incredible movement, we suggest jumping on sooner rather than later! Early bird pricing is in effect until September 15, 2024.

And finally, Rady Members recieve 20% off the total cost of their registration. Sign up today. It pays to be a Member!


 
Glowing Embers: New Works by Manitoba Jewish Artists
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 26 | 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Gallery Viewing: Saturday, October 27 – Thursday, November 7 | Varying times
Rady JCC Adult Lounge | 123 Doncaster Street
Free (no registration required)

Glowing Embers brings together a collection of exciting and vibrant new works by both emerging and established Jewish Artists from Manitoba. The work runs from conceptual to realist and everything in between and highlights ideas of belonging, community, and home.

During the opening reception you will have the opportunity to appreciate the show, meet the artists and curators while enjoying some refreshments.Featured in this exhibition are the Rimon Art Collective (comprised of Mishelle Aminov, Yael Freifeld, Halley Ritter, Etel Shevelev, and Shan Pullan) and independent artists Elena El, and Joel Novak.


 
Idan Raichel: Piano & Songs
Sunday, October 27 | 7:30 p.m.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights | 85 Israel Asper Way
Early Bird Tickets: $45 | General Tickets: $50

For the first time ever in Winnipeg and direct from Israel, Idan Raichel brings his intimate piano songs performance to Winnipeg. In this concert, Idan will realize his dream of getting up close to you, his audience, and presents his songs in their original format of piano and voice.

Idan is an Israeli superstar producer, keyboardist, lyricist, composer and performer. He has become not only one of the most successful artists in Israel but also one of Israel’s leading music ambassadors abroad representing a world of hope in which artistic collaboration breaks down barriers between people of different backgrounds and beliefs.

This concert is presented by The Asper Foundation with support from The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba, the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, JNF Canada, the JCC Association of North America, and the Inn at the Forks.

Want to see Idan in action? Click here to see him performing live!

REGISTER HERE

Printmaking Workshop with Rimon Art Collective
Monday, October 28, 7:00 pm
Rady JCC Berney Theatre | 123 Doncaster Street
Early Bird Tickets: $10 | General Tickets: $12

In this fun, engaging, and collaborative workshop, the Rimon Art Collective will teach you some of the basics of the art of linocut printmaking. You will learn all the tools and materials needed as well as techniques. From there, you will then be guided through the process in creating a small piece on your own.

All works will be printed together on one large paper and displayed as a part of the Glowing Embers Art Exhibition, all in a celebration of community and connection through shared creativity. Beginners are welcome as no experience is necessary!

REGISTER HERE

The Secret Poetess of Terezin by Lenka Lichtenberg
Tuesday, October 29 | 7:30 p.m.
Rady JCC Berney Theatre | 123 Doncaster Street
Early Bird Tickets: $30 | General Tickets: $35

Juno award-winning Lenka Lichtenberg discovered two notebooks of poems written by her grandmother in the years 1942-1945 in Theresienstadt, a WWII concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. Through collaboration with esteemed Theatre Director Leah Cherniak, Lenka worked to transform these poems into this powerful solo show.

The Secret Poetess of Terezin features passionate stories of love received, embraced, rejected, and lost; of relationships evolving and dissolving under the pressure of monumental historical events. The songs, along with spoken word pieces, videos and visual projections, will offer you an immersive and intimate performing arts experience.

REGISTER HERE

Lady Muse & The Inspirations Play Amy Winehouse
Thursday, October 31 | 7:30 p.m.
Rady JCC Berney Theatre | 123 Doncaster Street
Early Bird Tickets: $25 | General Tickets: $30

Amy Winehouse’s music has touched so many people around the world and endured with such a vibrant life of its own, because it is music that was written in her own blood and reflects the truths of her complex and complicated life. 

You are invited to join the talented and glamorous Lady Muse as she and her fabulous band – The Inspirations – present the music of Amy Winehouse. Featuring special guests Sheena Rattai (Red Moon Road) and INGIA, this all-star cast will be sure to have you dancing in your seat as they revisit the songs of one the 21st century’s most iconic and celebrated singer-songwriters.

REGISTER HERE

Jennifer Hanson

An Evening of Burt Bacharach featuring
Jennifer Hanson & Larry Roy Ensemble
Saturday, November 2 | 8:00 p.m.
Rady JCC Berney Theatre | 123 Doncaster Street
Early Bird Tickets: $30 | General Tickets: $35

Burt Bacharach is one of the iconic composers of the 20th century, creating hit after hit for many of the best singers of his era, including Dionne Warwick and Karen Carpenter. Jennifer Hanson and Larry Roy have created a wonderful tribute to the late great composer, in a concert that will leave you wanting more. 

Jennifer has long been one of the most recognized vocalists in Manitoba, while Larry has been involved in every aspect of the music scene in Winnipeg as a guitarist and recording artist. The Jenn and Larry ensemble will feature vocalists Erin Propp and Karly Epp, trumpeter Richard Gillis, bassist Gilles Fournier, and drummer Daniel Roy.

REGISTER HERE

‘Yeladudes!’ KidFest
Sunday, November 3 | 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Rady JCC Gym & Berney Theatre | 123 Doncaster Street
Early Bird Tickets: $8 | General Tickets: $10

Get ready for an unforgettable day of excitement and creativity at our mini festival specifically designed for kids. Enjoy interactive games, arts and crafts, live performances, workshops, storytelling sessions, face painting, wall climbing, bouncers, and more.

On top of all this, indulge in delicious treats throughout the day. Don’t miss out on this fun-filled event for children of all ages! Special guest Rebecca Schoffer, Director of Jewish Family Life at the 92nd Street Y in New York, will be on there for a riveting performance as well. Rebecca is a musical and experiential educator, singer songwriter, and cantorial soloist.

REGISTER HERE

Questions about JFest WPG? Contact:
Laura Marjovsky
Director, JFest WPG
204.477.7539 | lmarjovsky@radyjcc.com
JFest WPG Staff:
Karla Berbrayer
Musical Producer, JFest WPG
Shira Newman
Art Exhibit Curator, JFest WPG
Amy Karlinsky
Visual Arts Advisor, JFest WPG
Natali Halberthal
Producer, ‘Yeladudes!’ KidFest

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Local News

Cheryl Hirsch Katz, Jewish Child and Family Service’s longest serving staffer, set to retire at end of the month

By MYRON LOVE “I loved working at Jewish Child and Family Service,” says Cheryl Hirsh Katz, who is due to retire at the end of June.  “I have always appreciated the warm and welcoming atmosphere here.  I feel that the people working here are my extended family. I am going to miss my colleagues”.
“I have derived great satisfaction over the years to have been able to help many people in our community of all ages through my work at JCFS,” she continues.
After 44 years at the agency, Katz, the longest-serving member of the staff, was given an appreciative send-off at the JCFS’s recent (June 23) Annual General Meeting at the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue.
The daughter of Art and Bess Hirsh, Cheryl grew up in Garden City. She attended Peretz School, then Jefferson Junior High and Garden City Collegiate.  She joined the staff of JCFS in 1981, shortly after receiving her Bachelor of Social Work degree. 
She earned an MSW in 1990.
“I chose to become a social worker,” she recalls, “because I always wanted to be able to help people.”
Katz was originally hired by JCFS to work with newcomers. After a couple of years, she was given responsibility for looking after the needs of older adults.
“I really enjoyed working in older adult services,” she says.  “That is where I spent the bulk of my time at JCFS.”
After ten years as a case worker, she was promoted to a supervisory role.  Later, she was also given responsibility for mental health and addictions programming and settlement services, while keeping the older adult files under her purview.
“As a supervisor, I wasn’t directly involved with individual clients,” she points out.  “I was more involved with programming.  Among the programs for seniors we organized were – for example – sessions on elder abuse, digital storytelling and memory loss.”
She notes that one of the trends she has seen over the last 44 years is that people are living longer and living in their homes longer. A lot more of our clients are living well into their 90s,” she observes.  “We have had to continually expand our staff and the services we provide in order to accommodate the growing demands of an aging population.”   
She also spoke of the mental health needs of seniors and aging Holocaust survivors.
She says that she has mixed feelings about leaving JCFS.  “After so many years working full time, I am going to have to create a new routine,” she comments.
She notes that, now that she is retired, she will have more time to spend with her parents – who are in their 90s.
And then, there are the two dogs to look after. “I will have time now to try new activities,” she says. “ I might learn to play mah-jong.”
She speaks about maybe doing some traveling – although her husband, Murray, is still working full time.
(She and Murray have one daughter, Farah.)
“Retirement may also include some volunteering,” she adds.
It is quite likely, she will be continuing her association with JCFS but in a volunteer capacity. 

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Local News

Gray Academy students shine in provincial, national debating competitions

Gray Academy student debaters with debating coach Andrew Kaplan (l-r):Nate Shenkarow, Maxim Moscalenkov, Este Lamai, Andrew Kaplan, Raya Braunstein, Noa Mednikov

By MYRON LOVE It has been another good year for Gray Academy’s high school students who participated in provincial and national debating competitions.  The best results were recorded by Grade 9 student Noa Mednikov, who finished fourth overall nationally, fourth in interpretive reading, and fifth in persuasive speaking  at the junior National Public Speaking Championship in early May in Vancouver.
 
Last October, in the Junior Provincial British Parliamentary Championship – which was held at St. John’s-Ravenscourt – Noa and her partner, Raya Braunstein, finished third as a team while Raya placed third in individual debating.
 
Their fellow Grade 9 student Maxim Moscalenkov tied for first in persuasive speaking in Vancouver, while the Gray Academy team of Gabe Tapper and Aaron Koplovich finished fifth. Aaron also finished fifth in his individual debate.
 
Earlier, in March, Maxim finished fifth in the Provincial Juniors debating competition, which was held at Balmoral Hall  He and his debate partner, Nate Shenkarow, finished seventh among the teams entered.   Last November, he and partner, Ethan Tenenbein, finished seventh in the Junior Prepared Tournament – just behind the Gray Academy team of Nate Shenkarow and Jack Kay.    
 
At the senior high level in that competition, the team of Jacob Tenenbein and Jonah Novoseller finished fourth and Jacob was recognized as fifth best in an individual capacity. Jonah and Jacob also paired up to win the Asper Cup, which was held at their home school.
 
Jacob represented Manitoba at the Junior National Speech Championship in Vancouver in May and, last October, he and Grade 12 Gray Academy students Julie Krozkin and Daniel Bokser represented Canada at an international debating tournament in Bermuda.
 
 Gray Academy’s debating program was introduced by Linda Martin in 2003.  She also led the debating teams at Balmoral Hall.  In 2011, Martin was succeeded by Gray Academy high school English teacher Andrew Kaplan.
“Andrew has done a wonderful job with the debating program” says Martin, who has a debating trophy at Gray Academy named in her honour, as well as a provincial trophy for best individual junior debater. “Over the years, Gray Academy students have done very well in many local, national and international competitions,” she adds.
About three weeks ago, this writer had the opportunity to sit down with Andrew Kaplan and six of the school’s top debaters while they discussed the benefits of learning how to debate.  According to Noah Strauss – who competed in the Junior Provincials at Balmoral Hall in March, public speaking leaves him with a feeling of accomplishment.    
“It’s a good skill set to have,” he observes. “It builds confidence.”
“A benefit of being able to debate is that you learn how to convince people that you know what you are talking about,” adds Maxim Moscolenkov.
Raya Braunstein notes that being able to debate is a skill that she expects to be helpful in many university courses which she may choose to take.
As Andrew Kaplan notes, the ability to express yourself has a great impact in whatever career you choose to pursue. 
He points out that debating is compulsory at Gray Academy for all Grade 7 and 8 students – and students can continue debating as an option in the higher grades
Of course, competitive debating is not for everyone.  For those students who opt to take that path, the journey begins with internal school debate competition – with the top debating teams and individuals qualifying for local tournaments and – potentially – beyond.
Andrew Kaplan reports that a small number of  high schools in Winnipeg and southern Manitoba have active debating programs – including St. Johns Ravenscourt, St. Paul’s High School, St. Mary’s Academy, Garden City and Maples Collegiates in the Seven Oaks School Division, St. Maurice (a Catholic School), as well as Morden Collegiate and Dasmesh, a Sikh private school.
Kaplan expresses his appreciation to the Asper Foundation and an endowment spearheaded by the Kives Family  for providing funding for the Gray Academy debating program – as well as the Andrew Slough Foundation – which was established by his friends in memory of the outstanding former Ravenscourt student debater and lawyer who passed away suddenly two years ago at the still young age of 38.    
I am confident that our Jewish community can look forward to the continued success of Gray Academy’s star debaters and to the continual emergence of future stars as the times goes by. 

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Antisemitism has crept into grade school in Canada

Antisemitism in Canada has moved beyond protests and politics; it is now entering classrooms and altering how Jewish children see themselves functioning within them.
A a university student I have observed the experience of my younger brother in grade eight as a Jewish student. Over the past few months, his school has been at the center of several deeply troubling incidents that have made him feel unsafe in our parks, community, and even his school. Swastikas were drawn around the community, in parks and ponds. Additionally, an older man, who claims to be a pro-Palestinian influencer, stood outside his predominantly Jewish school wearing a keffiyeh, filming a video which then circulated between students on TikTok. 
This same man later showed up to our local Jewish community center in keffiyeh to allegedly watch his son play basketball where my brother and many of his classmates go for their lessons, basketball games, and Jewish events. These moments made him and his peers feel watched and targeted just for being Jewish. Local political representatives condemned the incidents and raised awareness about antisemitism, but the fear among students didn’t go away. The feeling of being targeted for simply existing has been taught to my brother, something my parents had tried their hardest to escape from. 
Most recently, my brother was chosen to represent his school at a regional science fair. When one of the judges arrived wearing a keffiyeh, he froze. For many, including my brother after the incidents he has faced, the keffiyeh represents a political message. But even more so for my younger brother, it is tied to the fear and intimidation he had already experienced. He felt nervous, distracted, and unsure of how to act.
This is not about silencing political expression. It is about a child who came to share his ideas and left feeling uncertain and afraid. It is about the atmosphere forming in Canadian schools, where Jewish students are being made to feel targeted and unwelcome.
His school made an effort to address the incidents, but the impact is lasting. Posts on social media, much can be very vague at times about inclusion cannot fully undo the feeling of being singled out. A kind word from a teacher does not erase the fear that builds when threats are left unspoken but deeply felt.
I am writing this as a sister who watched her younger brother lose a moment that should have been filled with confidence and pride. He deserved to feel safe. So do all Jewish students in this country.
Moving forward, schools must take concrete steps to protect all students. Antisemitism cannot only be addressed when it becomes violent or overt. It must also be recognized when it appears as intimidation, symbolic targeting, or political messaging that creates fear among students. Children should never have to question whether they are safe in their own classrooms or community spaces.
Events that are meant to support and celebrate students must remain focused on them. Individuals who feel the need to bring political symbols or messages into school grounds or children’s events should not be welcomed in those spaces. Schools must make it clear that their environments exist to support learning, safety, and inclusion, not to host agendas that can intimidate or isolate students.
Administrators and educators must develop clear guidelines for identifying and responding to antisemitic behavior in all its forms. This includes strengthening security measures, offering ongoing staff training, and engaging directly with Jewish families to understand their concerns. Inclusion is not a one-time statement. It is a responsibility that must be reflected in everyday decisions and actions. No child should ever feel unsafe or unwelcome because of their identity.

The author is a Campus Media Fellow with HonestReporting Canada and Allied Voices for Israel who lives in Toronto.

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