Local News
Sharon Graham winner of the 2020 Switzer-Cooperstock Prize in Western Canadian Jewish History
By MARTIN ZEILIG
The Winnipeg Jewish Orphanage housed children from 1917 until 1948, and for a long portion of its existence it was served by an untrained social worker, Pearl Finkelstein (later Silver), Sharon Graham, PhD, writes in her paper, “Pearl Finkelstein, Unknown Hero: the Winnipeg Jewish Orphanage and Social Work in the Winnipeg Jewish community in the 1930s”.
Finkelstein is an unknown hero because “I could not find any information about her work as the social worker in the many Orphanage documents that are held by the archives of the Jewish Heritage Centre,” according to Dr. Graham.
Dr. Graham’s 25 page (intensively researched) paper was the winner of the 2020 Switzer-Cooperstock Prize in Western Canadian Jewish History. The Switzer-Cooperstock comes with a $6,000 award. It was established by the Switzer family in memory of their parents and grandparents. This year, the public presentation will be presented online on October 15th, 2020 at 7 pm.
Graham worked on her PhD at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Graduate Studies, Department of History.
The title of her dissertation was “Building Canadian Jewish Citizens out of the abandoned children of Western Canada: The Winnipeg Jewish Orphanage, 1917-1948.” Graham was awarded the U of M’s 2019 Faculty of Graduate Studies Research Completion Scholarship for her dissertation.
This article is based on excerpts from her prize winning essay, as well as a recent email interview she did with The Jewish Post & News.
“I researched the history of the Orphanage for my doctoral dissertation, and in my research I came across Finkelstein (her later married name was Silver), and my interest was piqued,” Graham said.
“Miss Finkelstein had volunteered with the Jewish Orphanage as a young woman, and was hired to succeed the Orphanage’s first social worker, Bertha Koyle. Unlike Koyle, who had worked at the Orphanage as a nurse, Finkelstein had not worked professionally within a child care setting. But instead of searching for a trained social worker, the Board and Superintendent of the Orphanage chose a woman who had grown up within the Jewish community of Manitoba and who intimately knew the families she served. By doing so the Jewish community gained a worker who was emotionally invested in protecting her community’s children and families from illness and distress.”
Pearl Finkelstein (Silver) worked very hard without much historical recognition, Graham, who noted that Finkelstein died at age 95 in 1991, emphasized.
“As a working woman, she was able to use her experience as a dedicated volunteer to transition into a new career as a social worker,” she said.
“This career became her life for many years, and it is undeniable that she was able to help many Winnipeggers. When reading her notes, I was struck by how friendly her tone was to her clients, and how willing she was to see their virtues instead of their flaws. Finkelstein tended not to deliver lectures. Instead she dedicated herself to her clients’ difficulties, and was willing to listen to their needs. Finkelstein chose a life of service, similar to the choice made by Jane Wisdom, and both women stated that they were glad they had done so.”
Because of her choice, the Orphanage children were found jobs, foster homes or boarding homes, and had a softer launch into the world, Graham observed.
“Families who needed the Orphanage temporarily for child care were given help in finding new homes, jobs or medical care in order to be able to bring their children home,” she said.
“The history of the Winnipeg Jewish community often focuses on the men who established institutions and ran them, but the women who often fundraised, planned and ran the institutions as paid staff can sometimes remain anonymous. The extent of Pearl Finkelstein’s work was unaccounted for in official histories, but the Jewish Orphanage Children’s Records revealed just how much work she did to help Winnipeg families and children during the Depression.”
Graham noted that she’s submitted a proposal to turn her dissertation into a book to a publisher.
“I’d be honoured to bring the history of the Winnipeg Jewish Orphanage, including Finkelstein’s pioneering role, to a larger audience,” she said.
She also labelled the JHC a wonderful resource for the Winnipeg community.
“I’m grateful for all their help, especially when I was researching my dissertation,” she said. “I also want to thank the prize committee and the Switzer family for this generous award. I look forward to presenting this essay to the community.”
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.”