Local News
Shalom Square winds up a very successful week…but where was the very first Israel pavilion located in 1970?
By BERNIE BELLAN It was another very successful run for the Israel pavilion – Shalom Square, during the first week of Folklorama, from Aug 6-13.
This year marked the 51st year in which audiences were able to attend Folklorama in person, with over 7,000 individuals having attended at least one of the 19 shows put on at Shalom Square from August 6-12.
Yet, something that I wrote in our August 2 issue has led me to wonder: Where was the first-ever Israel pavilion actually located – in 1970?
That question might not seem to be of earth-shaking importance, but then again, it’s the kind of question for which, so far, no one I’ve asked has come up with an unequivocal answer.
Still, I would hope the following story might lead to a resolution of somewhat of a mystery: Where was that first-ever Israel pavilion located – in 1970?
The argument was touched off by my writing in the August 2 issue that, prior to the Israel pavilion moving to the Asper Campus in 1997, its home had always been the old YMHA on Hargrave. (I simply assumed that was the case, but I hadn’t really thought to look into it prior to my writing that.)
Sure enough, one of our readers – Roz Greenfeld, sent me an email telling me that the Israel pavilion had been held in what was called “Council House” in the Golden Age Club on Pritchard and Salter (which was also the home for the National Council of Jewish Women, hence the name “Council House.”)
Here is what Roz wrote: “Good morning Bernie. As always glad to see my Jewish Post arrived this morning ! While I was reading about Shalom Square and the connection to the Jewish Post, there is one small error. Shalom Square started at the Golden Age club in 1970! It may have also been called the Council House! It was on Pritchard and Salter – a 2 floor walk up!!
“I know, because I was the representative for Shalom Square in 1971. (Ed. note: Roz would would have been Roz Bernstein back then.) Even back then, the Jewish Post had several articles and pictures about Shalom Square and Folklorama
“They did a great job !!
“Roz”
Roz’s email got me to wondering: She says that the Israel pavilion was located in the Golden Age Club in 1970, and that may well have been the case, but she also says that she didn’t represent Shalom Square until 1971. That does leave open the possibility that the very first Israel pavilion – in 1970, might have been located somewhere else altogether.
I tried to find any reference to some sort of Israel representation – of any sort, during that 1970 festival, by looking through Jewish Posts from 1970 but, unfortunately, wasn’t able to find anything.
So, I turned to two experts whose history with Folklorama goes back quite a long time: Avrom Charach, who’s served as president of Folklorama as well as having been a long-time volunteer at the Israel pavilion – also an ambassador, and who, along with his father, Barney, has been connected to Folklorama for the longest time; and Reeva Nepon, executive director of the Chai Folk Ensemble. (I figured that, since Chai has been a part of every Israel pavilion for as long as I can remember, that there might be some record of where Chai first danced in Folklorama.)
Now, here’s where the controversy really gets heated. While Reeva answered that she couldn’t find any archival material going back earlier than 1972 – and she sent me some picture from that year of Chai dancers, she did say she would try to go through her archives at a later date.
But Avrom Charach really muddied the waters, in response to the question: Where was the very first Israel pavilion? I also told Avrom that the Wikipedia article about Folklorama does not mention an Israel pavilion as being a part of that original 1970 celebration.
With regard to the question whether there was an Israel pavilion in 1970, Avrom wrote: “Folklorama certified that we were an original founding member in 1970, that Mary Kelekis and I used to speak about this, and that we had Jewish founders of the festival; the founders were all involved in pavilions.”
Avrom added: “I have spoken to some original dancers who said they performed in 1970. It was on the stage in the small gym at Hargrave – I was there but only remember Monte Hall cutting a ribbon to open the pavilion on night 1.”
Now, I had a couple of issues with Avrom’s response. First, why would the very first Israel pavilion have been at the Y – in 1970, only to move to the Golden Age Club (a much smaller venue) in 1971? Second, in an article in The Jewish Post in 1971, it was noted that Chai was to perform only one night during Folklorama in 1971. (The entertainment on the first night of Folklorama in 1971 was provided by none other than Rabbi Zalman Schachter as a raconteur and someone named Ted Nyder as a singer.) Chai performed only on the Monday night of the festival that year. Also, there were different entertainers every night of the festival, with none performing more than one evening. So, the notion that dancers from Chai remembered dancing at the Y in 1970 might also be attributable to foggy memories from whomever it was that Avrom contacted.
Yet, Avrom added this in a later email: “I will concede that as a four-year-old my memory could be of the NCJW building on Pritchard, but I do strongly remember being on my father’s shoulders and looking at a permanent raised stage. If Pritchard had that type of stage the location in my mind could be wrong.”
Thus, the issue where the first Israel pavilion was located remains unresolved. Also, while we’re pretty sure the Israel pavilion moved to the Y for the next 25 years in 1972, we’re not absolutely sure of that. If anyone could shed some light on the questions raised here, you can either email me at jewishp@mymts.net or call me at 204-694-3332.
Post script: Since this article first appeared in the August 16 issue of The Jewish Post & News, and thanks to responses from some readers of the paper, I was able to determine conclusively, not only where the Israel pavilion was held the first year of Folklorama – in 1970, also where it was held every year thereafter.
But, if you’ve read this far you’re going to have to wait until after the August 30 issue of the paper is published for answers. I owe it to readers of the paper to give them first dibs on the resolution of the mystery.
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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