Local News
Rady JCC says good bye to Assistant Executive Director Tamar Barr
By BERNIE BELLAN In a message emailed to Rady JCC members on July 16, recipients of the email were informed that long time Rady JCC Program Director and, more recently, Assistant Executive Director Tamar Barr had left the Rady JCC.
Tamar’s departure actually occurred in October 2020 when she was laid off from her position as a result of financial pressures imposed upon the centre by Covid and the drastic scaling back of programs.
While the message announcing Tamar’s departure was fulsome in its praise of Tamar, it left unanswered questions about who might fill Tamar’s very large shoes. The message seemed to be definitive in closing the door on any possible return by Tamar Barr to the Rady JCC. (Read the adjoining interview with Rady JCC Executive Director Rob Berkowits elsewhere on this page.)
Following are excerpts from the farewell message of July 16:
“After nearly two and a half decades, Rady JCC Assistant Executive Director Tamar Barr is leaving to explore new interests and opportunities outside of the Rady community. Her departure will no doubt be felt throughout the Rady and larger community as she leaves behind an incredibly strong and storied legacy.
“Tamar joined the Rady family 24 years ago, when then Executive Director Robert Yaffe and Rady President Barry Steinfeld (z’’l) hired her as the new Cultural & Adult Director. At the time, the Asper Jewish Community Campus was just about to open and the Rady was on the cusp of something amazing. Rady membership was climbing fast, and program participation was on the rise. Yaffe and Steinfeld needed a visionary who could help lead the Rady into the new millennium, expanding its reach and breadth of programming.
“Shortly after assuming her role, Tamar’s broad skill set shone, and her responsibilities grew. She was promoted to Rady’s Program Director and began supervising and creating new programming in more areas, including children, families, inclusion, and older adults.
“One of Tamar’s fondest memories was being inspired by Izzy Asper (z’’l) and working with The Asper Foundation from the ground floor up to realize his vision for the Rady. Izzy used to tell Tamar his dream was for the Rady to be like the 92nd Street Y in New York City, well-known for its diverse speaker series and its rich arts and cultural programming. Tamar worked determinedly alongside The Asper Foundation and many others to realize Izzy’s vision. And she was successful.
“Over the years, Tamar was instrumental in establishing, launching, and coordinating various programming that have touched the lives of tens of thousands of people. This included but is certainly not limited in any way to the Izzy Asper Jazz Performances, the Winnipeg International Jewish Film Festival, Music ‘N’ Mavens, Mameloshen, and Tarbut.
“In 2013, Tamar’s work ethic and track record made her Rady Executive Director Gayle Waxman’s obvious choice to become Rady’s Assistant Executive Director. While Tamar knew that diverse and rich programming was stitched into the fabric of Rady, her new role allowed her to take on even more organizational projects, including sourcing and securing new sustainable funding streams through various grants of all kinds. The additional dollars allowed Rady to offer even more to our great community.
“As if she was not already doing enough by now, Tamar added even more to her growing portfolio. She began creating new outreach and engagement programming and opportunities to underserved groups, as well as cultivating and encouraging community partnerships. These newly formed relationships laid the foundation for what Rady continues to build on today.”
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.”