Local News
“Rainy River Girl” new account of growing up Jewish in non-Jewish environment
By MYRON LOVE In the first half of the last century, virtually every town and village in North America was home to at least one (and often several) Jewish families – be it the general store owner – or doctor – or, in the case of Toby Gershfield, the dentist.
In her memoir, “Rainy River Girl”, co-written by Gershfield and her, son, James, the daughter of the late Dr. Nathan and Sophie Helman (and granddaughter of the esteemed Rabbi Israel Kahanovitch – western Canada’s foremost rabbi in the interwar years and beyond) recounts her early life in Rainy River, Ontario – a small community about a two hour drive southeast of Winnipeg in the Lake of the Woods area.
For those of us of a certain age – myself included – “Rainy River Girl” brings back memories of growing up Jewish in rural communities where there were few if any other Jewish families. My father’s family, the Kanees, were most closely identified with Melville, Saskatchewan. MY grandparents also operated businesses in several other Saskatchewan communities and I spent my early years in the small town of Shoal Lake in Western Manitoba. We moved into Winnipeg in the mid-1950s just before I turned seven.
In “Rainy River Girl”, Toby Gershfield – who recently turned 91, begins by outlining her family’s origins in Poland and Lithuania, how her parents met, and their decision that her father should become a dentist. She further writes about the history of Rainy River. Then she proceeds to paint vivid pictures of the town and its people in the 1930s, her father’s dental office, the family home, her mother trying to encourage her to learn to play a musical instrument (piano), her father teaching her some Hebrew, her early schooling, and the challenges of a Jewish family trying to keep kosher and follow the traditions in such an alien environment.
She also has a chapter of anecdotes stemming from living with her illustrious zaida. In 19040, when she was 7, her parents sent her to Winnipeg for a year to get some proper Jewish schooling (at the Talmud Torah).
Finally, she writes about the family moving back to Winnipeg , her father enlisting in the Canadian dental corps in 1942 and going off to war in Europe, and his dental practice back in Winnipeg postwar.
“Rainy River Girl” is published by Scribal Scion Publishers, the publishing company that James Gershfield founded in Teaneck, new Jersey, just two years ago. His mother’s memoirs are the fifth book that Scribal Scion has published – the others being Ashkenazi and Sephardi versions of “The Illuminated Omer Counting Book”, “How Jewish laws and Customs Develop Over Time” and, most recently, Rabbi Shawn Zell’s “Meaningful Mourning” (see last issue of the Jewish Post).
James Gershfield has come rather late in life to publishing. Gershfield was born and raised in Manhattan where his father, Winnipeg-born Rabbi Edward Gershfield, was Professor of Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS (the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in Manhattan). Rabbi Gershfield received his ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1958. He followed that up with two MAs from Columbia and a P.hd from Oxford.
Rabbi Gershfield taught at JTS for four decades. He was also an expert in Jewish divorce, and administered and wrote thousands of Gittin during his career at JTS. Rabbi Gershfield passed away in 2019.
James Gershfield is a graduate of Yeshiva University High School and Columbia University, where he majored in computer science. For most of his career, he was a software developer. A couple of years ago, he decided to change direction and founded Scribal Scion Publishing LLC, a small publishing company dedicated to publishing – under the Scribal Scion imprint – Jewish books that inspire and comfort. Genres include memoir, biography, religion, and comfort for mourners.
Gershfield notes that he is particularly interested in books that bring together Ashkenazi and Sephardi traditions.
“I have always enjoyed books,” Gershfield says. “And with modern technology, it is not difficult to set up a publishing company. The challenge for a small publisher is marketing our books. I hope to grow not only by focusing on Jewish themes but also expanding into self-help and related books via other imprints within the company.”
He reports that he began working with his mother on her memoirs a couple of years ago – after she moved to New Jersey.
He says that his next project is a biography of his father – which is scheduled to be released at the end of this month. Readers who may be interested in buying “Rainy River Girl” can go to Amazon.com. Information about the company can be obtained at scribalscionpublishing.com.
Local News
The Jewish Post Ltd. launches new website for food lovers
By BERNIE BELLAN Three months ago I wrote a story about something my daughter, Shira, had started doing on social media that had proved to be wildly successful – much to her own surprise. That story was titled: Local foodie finds fame by trying foods on Facebook Marketplace
What Shira was doing was going on to Facebook Marketplace and trying different foods that she was able to buy from local vendors. She often didn’t know what the heck it was she was ordering, but each time she would get a new food she would film herself reacting to that food.
The results have been consistently entertaining – often hilarious, to the point where Shira now has over 10,300 followers on Instagram, as well as on Facebook, TikTok, and Youtube. (You can find her Instagram page at Winnipeg Marketplace Food Finds.)
I suggested to Shira that she ought to parlay the success she’s found by posting on social media into a further venture: creating a website that would give wider exposure to the food vendors whose food Shira liked the most.
As a result, Shira and I teamed up with the marvellous web designer whose name is Mario Lacunza who is responsible for the design of jewishpostandnews.ca -to create a brand new website called Winnipeg Marketplace Food Finds.
On that website you will find pictures of some of the most popular foods Shira has tried from Marketplace, along with links to the original Instagram posts where she reviewed those foods – and links that will take you directly to the vendors’ Facebook pages.
There are so many brilliantly creative people selling food on Marketplace and Shira’s social media posts have brought many of them a lot of new business. Our hope is that our new website will bring them even more business.
The website will also offer stories about food from a variety of sources. So, take a look at the new site and be amazed at the originality of the foods being produced on Facebook Marketplace.
Local News
UNVEILING for the headstone of Dr. Velimir Kon (Sept. 18, 1950-June 27, 2025)
A true mensch and person of many talents and profoundness, Dr. Velimir (Shlomo) Kon is deeply missed and loved by his family and friends.
Known for his warmth, kindness, integrity and love of learning and teaching, Velimir continues to inspire all who knew him and his memory warms our hearts and souls. Velimir is deeply missed.
You are invited to helps us remember and honour our beloved husband and father who passed away almost a year ago.
We, Branka, Deborah and Lea Kon, wish to inform our relatives and friends of the unveiling of a headstone dedicated to his loving memory on FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2026 at 11:00am at the HEBREW SICK CEMETERY (2605 McPhillips Street) followed by lunch at the Chabad Lubavitch of Winnipeg – Jewish Learning Centre (1845 Mathers Avenue). Please come say a l’chaim in his honour.
In Memoriam
1st Yahrzeit
In loving memory of Dr. Velimir (Shlomo) Kon who passed away June 27, 2025, 12 Days in Tammuz.
⁃ Forever and deeply loved and missed by his wife of over 50 years, Branka, and daughters Deborah and Lea Kon. Velimir brought joy to our lives with his boundless kindness and gentleness, irrepressible humour, great intellect and love of people, tikun olam and Judaism.
Not a day goes by that we do not mention Velimir and feel his presence with us. Our lives are not the same without him and we deeply miss and cherish him. We can never forget his presence that was larger than life, yet also his humility and thoughtfulness.
A gentleman to the very core, Velimir was respected as a scientist, academic, professor, researcher, and later as a teacher and mentor. He always endeavoured to make every place he worked and lived at better and was able to bridge many cultures. He was Abraham of his generation and made many personal sacrifices; giving up status, position and privilege in order for his family to have a better and peaceful future.
May his memory always be a blessing. He left us at only 74 years young and we wish we had had more time together. Indeed, to know him was to love him.
Local News
Younger Jewish talents continue to shine in their respective categories at annual Winnipeg Music Festival
By MYRON LOVE A number of younger members of our community were repeat stars at the most recent (108th annual) Winnipeg Music Festival – which takes place annually in March. Among the repeat Jewish singers and musicians in the ranks of high achievers this year were” Yale Rayburn-Vander Hout, Gregory Hyman, Alex Schaeffer, Juliet Eskin, Noah Kravetsky, and Lyla Chisick.
Vocalist Yale Rayburn-Vander Hout, the oldest of this year’s group of Jewish repeat winners, was competing in his fifth straight festival, where he continued to build on his accomplishments in previous festivals. This year, the 20-year-old son of Samantha and Peter finished first in two musical theatre categories – songs from musical theatre productions between 1965 and 1999, and shows from the past 26 years. Yale sang “I’m Allergic to Cats,” from the 2016 musical “The Theory of Relativity,” and “Suppertime,” from the 1967 musical, “You’re a Good man, Charlie Brown.”
The former Gray Academy student is currently enrolled at the University of Manitoba’s Desautels Faculty of Music in the Choral program. Yale says that he is hoping to get into the performance track in the fall with the goal of earning a degree in Classical Voice Performance en route to pursuing a career in musical theatre.
As reported previously, Gregory Hyman is a multi-faceted artist who can do it all. The 18-year-old son of Hartley and Rishona Hyman is a singer/songwriter/musician (guitar) who records and performs under the stage name, GMH. His versatility shone through once again in his eighth Music Festival, in which he registered first-place finishes for vocal performances in both “Popular and Contemporary Music” and “TV and Movie Music “categories.
Gregory notes that he was also recommended to compete in the provincial finals in June. The St. John’s-Ravenscourt student (and soon-to be) graduate continues to be busy on stage. In January, he headlined a sold out solo show at Sidestage on Osborne featuring some of his new material. In March, he released an album of his newest songs. Readers can check out his latest compositions on any of the music streaming platforms as well as his own social media (thegmh) on Instagram.
Gregory also continues to host his own podcast: “Talk and Rock with GMH – now in its fifth season – in which he interviews various people in the music business across Canada.
While Gregory says that a musical career is his “dream,” he reports that he is hedging his bets and considering different potential career opportunities. Come September, he will be enrolled at the University of Manitoba in a University One program, which will allow him to select from a variety of courses that can count toward a degree.
Sixteen-year-old Alex Schaeffer won first place this year in the “Musicals Prior to 1965, 16 Years and Under” category with “Try Me” from “She Loves Me,” and was runner-up in the “Musicals 1965 to 1999, 16 Years and Under” category with “On My Own,” from “Les Misérables.” For the son of Marc Schaeffer and Kae Sasaki, this was his fifth year competing in the festival.
The Grant Park High School student made his big stage debut three years ago as Kurt von Trapp in “The Sound of Music,” followed by playing Michael Hobbs in “Elf the Musical” this past winter at the Royal MTC.
Alex recently performed in Grant Park High School’s production of “Something Rotten!” This summer Schaeffer can be seen again at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, where he will be appearing in a production staged by Rem Lezar Theatre.
Rounding out the voice winners is Lyla Chisick. The daughter of Daniel and Baillee was competing in her second music festival. This year, she scored Gold performances in the “Vocal Solo,” “Manitoba Composers,” and “TV/Movie Musical, 12 and under” categories.
Lyla reports that she began taking voice lessons from Jessica Kos-Whicher three years ago. She says she regularly takes part in the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue Family Service and has sung at several community events. Lyla adds that she is already looking forward to next year’s music festival.
Nate Kravetsky and Juliet Eskin competed in the festival as musicians rather than singers. Juliet, 16, plays the viola, and is also is the violist in the Assiniboine String Quartet. In this, her fifth go-round at the festival, Juliet, the daughter of the musically talented Kelly Robinon and Josh Eskin, had first place finishes in the “Viola Solo, level 8,” “Baroque or Classical Concerto,” and “Romantic Composers” categories.
Juliet originally took up the violin – adding the viola a couple of years after. She also just finished performing in the Grant Park High School production of “Something Rotten!”
Nate Kravetsky is currently in Grade 5 level piano. He studies with Erica Schultz and has been taking lessons from her since age 5.
Nate competed in three categories at the Winnipeg music festival: “Baroque,” “Sonata,” and “Contemporary/own choice.”
His own choice selection was the theme from his favourite video game, “Hollow Knight.”
Nate, who is in Grade 7 at Gray Academy, is also preoccupied preparing for his upcoming bar mitzvah.
We look forward to the continued musical success off Yale, Gregory, Alex, Nate, Juliet and Lyla, and what new talent may be unveiled at next year’s Winnipeg Music festival.
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