Local News
The passing of Harvey Rosen marks the end of an era
By BERNIE BELLAN and MYRON LOVE Harvey Rosen, The Jewish Post & News’ longest-serving columnist, passed away last week.
In December 2018 Harvey Rosen wrote his last column for this newspaper. There was nothing, though, in that column to indicate that, after 42 years of writing a regular column, Harvey was retiring.
But, unfortunately the signs that Harvey was in failing health were apparent and so, while I attempted to contact Harvey to see how he was doing after he sent that column, but stopped sending anything else, to ask him whether he was going to be sending another column, to my chagrin, there was no response.
I saw Harvey one more time, in May 2019, when he and Ernie Nairn were inducted as the first two members of the Rady JCC Sportswriters Hall of Fame. He was basking in the moment.
I asked the other long-time columnist for this paper, Myron Love, who had been writing longer for this paper: him or Harvey? Myron said that he had started writing for us in 1982, but Harvey had begun in 1976, so Harvey still has Myron beaten by two years – to date.
I wondered though, how Harvey had ever begun to write a regular sports column for The Jewish Post. As I pored through our archives trying to find an answer to that question, all that I could find was a column by Sid Bursten, the then-managing director of The Jewish Post, in the September 2, 1976 issue, announcing the hiring of several new staff writers, including Harvey as a sports writer.
Harvey’s first-ever column, which did not yet have the name “The Sporting Touch” attached to it, appeared one week later, in the September 9, 1976 issue. There was no introduction – nothing to indicate why Harvey was interested in writing a sports column – or even who he was. But that column contained all the trademark Harvey Rosen “shtick,” especially his use of Yiddish phrases – and what anyone who read his column on a regular basis would come to recognize: some of the corniest lines imaginable.
Yet, he was extraordinarily prolific – combing the world for stories about Jewish athletes. Here is how Harvey’s good friend, Myron Love, who was a teacher the same time as Harvey, described his career, in a piece Myron wrote for us in March 2019:
“For more than 40 years, popular Jewish Post & News sports columnist Harvey Rosen has been a fixture at Winnipeg sporting events. Over the years, he has rarely missed a CFL football game or professional hockey game here. He has been in attendance for every major sports banquet or local Hall of Fame induction. He has been, in his own words, ‘where the action is.’
“But no more.
“Rosen has been cutting back on his sports coverage for a few years now. For years, a stringer covering the Bombers and the Jets for Canadian Press, he stopped going to the football games after the local team moved to its new home near the University of Manitoba and quit the hockey coverage a couple of years ago.
“And, at the end of December, he wrote his last column for the JP&N.
“ ‘I thought that it was time,’ he says. “ “ ‘You can’t go on forever.’
“Rosen’s career as a sports writer began serendipitously with The Jewish Post (before the paper became The Jewish Post & News). In 1976, the then Post editor, Sid Bursten, got the idea of starting a sports column.
“ ‘My wife at the time, Judy, was a close friend of Brenda Barrie, Sid’s wife,’ Rosen recalls. ‘Judy suggested to Brenda that I write the column.’
“Rosen was an ideal choice. He was always enthusiastic about sports. Growing up in the north end, he had played hockey and fastball as a kid.
“As a junior high school teacher – a profession he pursued for 33 years – the lifelong north ender coached softball and led his teams to numerous city championships.
“His column in the Post caught the eye of an editor at the Canadian Press, which hired Harvey as its reporter in Winnipeg. He started with the World Hockey Association (for those readers old enough to remember those glory days for our city and professional hockey) and continued through the coming of the NHL to Winnipeg, the original Jets’ traumatic departure, the Moose and the return of the Jets.
“There were many hectic times and long evenings, Harvey recalls. He would often visit both dressing rooms for comments after a game, then have to hurry home and type up the column the same evening.
“ ‘I became quite friendly with several of the professional athletes I covered,’ he says. ‘I have met many wonderful people.’
“Both as a teacher and a sports writer, Harvey Rosen brought a positive approach to his work and those he worked with. ‘In the classroom, I always looked for reasons to compliment and encourage my students,’ he notes. ‘I approached athletes the same way. Authentic compliments help to boost individuals’ confidence and morale I believe.’
“But it was not only professional athletes that Rosen was able to hang out with. His columns also put the spotlight on local Jewish amateur athletes – both younger individuals and seniors – in a wide variety of sports. He notes that Y Sports Dinner committee members, such as Ernie Nairn and the late Ken Kronson, regularly sought his input when seeking nominees for the Jewish Athlete of the Year award.
“And, for many readers, their favourite Rosen columns were those in which he highlighted the Jewish athletes in professional sports such as major league baseball, the NFL and the NHL.
“How did he do it? By scouring the weekly and monthly football, baseball, hockey, and other sports publications to which he subscribed.
“ ‘Sometimes, you can tell by the name,’ he points out. ‘But then you get a name like Mike Camalleri (Jewish mother). If I suspected that a player was Jewish, I would contact the player to confirm it.’
“Rosen is receiving some well-earned official recognition of his own these days. He reports that True North (the Jets parent company) invited him to supper and a game in January and that he is going to be honoured at the next Rady JCC Sports Dinner.
“ ‘I am going to miss the writing,’ he says.
“He might not be entirely finished though. He suggests that he may still submit stories from time to time.”
Alas, Harvey never did submit another story. But I doubt there will ever be another Jewish sportswriter quite like Harvey Rosen.
Local News
March of the Living 2023 participants form Taste of Hope project to help honour the memory of Holocaust survivor Alex Buckman
By BERNIE BELLAN The March of the Living is an annual two-week international educational program that brings thousands of students and adults to Poland and Israel to study the Holocaust, Jewish history, and the rise of the State of Israel. Founded in 1988, it features a 3-kilometer silent walk from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).
Attendees on the march are accompanied by adults, some of whom themselves have been Holocaust survivors.
Following the week in Poland, participants travel to Israel to observe Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) and celebrate Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day), marking a journey from darkness to life.
For many years the coordinator of the march in Winnipeg was Roberta Malam, working on behalf of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. More recently Abby Flackman filled that role, and now the person in charge is Lindsey Kerr.
Since its inception 37 years ago the March of the Living has become a rite of passage for many young Winnipeg Jews who have been able to participate as an organized group from Winnipeg and combine visits to the death camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland with the subsequent trip to Israel.
Then – the Covid pandemic hit – in 2020, and the March of the Living was put on hold for two years – in 2020 and 2021.
In 2022, the March of the Living resumed, but there was no organized contingent from Winnipeg participating. (There may have been some Winnipeggers who did go on the march that year, but if there were any they would have been part of a general Canadian group since there was no Winnipeg coordinator that year.)
In 2023, however, once again a very large contingent of young Canadian Jews – 51 altogether, of whom approximately two-thirds were from Winnipeg, went on that year’s March of the Living. That particular march was memorable for many reasons, including the fact it was the last full march since 2019 and was to remain the last march to have an organized Winnipeg contingent in the past six years as the years 2024 and 2025 were interrupted by the war in Gaza. (There were smaller marches held in 2024 and 2025, but again there was no organized contingent from Winnipeg.)
Recently, we were contacted by one of the participants of that 2023 march, Ethan Levene, who asked us whether we’d be interested in running what turned out be a very poignant story about one particular aspect of that 2023 March of the Living.
Here is what Ethan wrote:
“In April 2023, the Coast to Coast Canadian delegation of March of the Living was privileged to travel with Holocaust survivor Alex Buckman (z”l). March of the Living is a Holocaust education trip that allows participants to visit and bear witness to the sites of the Holocaust. Unfortunately, while sharing his story in Poland, Alex passed away. However, the impact he left on us students was immeasurable.
“While speaking to us in Warsaw, Alex told us the story of his Aunt Becky’s gâteau à l’orange (orange cake). While in Ravensbruck concentration camp, his aunt managed to write down this recipe. After his parents’ murder, his Aunt Becky went on to raise Alex after surviving. In addition to sharing his story, Alex tasked us with baking the cake with family and friends.
“Out of this, a group of alumni from our trip have created this project: ‘A Taste of Hope.’ On February 1st, university students from over 5 universities across Canada will come together to bake the gâteau à l’orange and hear Alex’s story. Proceeds from the event and this fundraising page will support the World Federation of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Descendants. Alex was heavily involved with this organization, whose mission is to both create community for Holocaust survivors and their descendants and educate about the Holocaust to help fight against antisemitism and all forms of bigotry and hate.
“Here is information from our fundraising page for the event – ‘A Taste of Hope’: Fundraising for A Taste of Hope.
Ethan added that “it’s completely student led, all by alumni from our 2023 trip attending university at these various locations across Canada; Winnipeg, London, Kingston, Montreal.”
He also added: “Follow us on instagram@tastehope.“
Here is a link to a CBC story about Alex Buckman: Alex Buckman story
In a subsequent email Ethan gave the names of Winnipeggers who are involved in A Taste of Hope: Ethan Levene (studies at McGill), Zahra Slutchuk, Alex Stoller (studies at Queens), Coby Samphir, Izzy Silver (studies at Waterloo).
He also added names of others who are involved in the project: Jessie Ages, Anneke Goodwin, Lilah Silver, Ella Pertman, Ellie Vogel, and Talia Cherun.
To find out more about March of the Living in Winnipeg go to: March of the Living
Local News
Young Researcher Eryn Kirshenbaum 2025 recipient of the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences prestigious Dr. T. Edward Cuddy Award
By MYRON LOVE Fifth year University of Manitoba Faculty of Sciences Microbiology student Eryn Kirshenbaum is this year’s recipient of the Dr. T. Edward Cuddy Student Award in recognition of her excellence in research under the supervision of Dr. Inna Rabinovich-Nikitin, Assistant Professor of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba and Principle Investigator in Women’s Heart Health Research at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences at the St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre.
When asked for her reaction to learning she was the 2025 recipient of the student award, Kirshenbaum says “I was so honoured, humbled and excited to have been nominated and then chosen as the recipient out of many well deserving students.”
Rabinovich-Nikitin, Kirshenbaum’s mentor, says “This is Eryn’s third year working in my lab and I am incredibly proud of her for winning the Dr. T. Edward Cuddy Research Award.” She adds: “It is a truly deserved honour. Since joining my laboratory in 2023, Eryn has shown an exceptional combination of technical skill, intellectual curiosity, and professional maturity, becoming an integral contributor to our research on women’s heart health, an area of growing scientific importance that demands both rigorous methodology and a strong understanding of sex-based differences in heart disease.
“Not only has Eryn provided invaluable experimental support, but she has also taken on a leadership role in training new students and has demonstrated a strong commitment to collaboration and mentorship.”
In return, Kirshenbaum notes that she has “learned a lot from Dr. Rabinovich-Nikitin. She is a great mentor and I look forward to learning and growing even more under her leadership”.
The T. Edward Cuddy Award is one of 12 awards presented annually by the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences in partnership with the University of Manitoba.
The 27th Annual Institute of Cardiovascular Naranjan Dhalla Awards were held on December 2nd and 3rd as part of a two-day conference comprised of a scientific forum and awards ceremony. The awards celebrate the leadership of individuals who have profoundly influenced the advancement of cardiovascular research, medicine and health education, including, in previous years, Nobel Prize winners and Gairdner Award Scholars. The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences Gold Medal was awarded to Dr. Stanley Nattel, Director of the Montreal Heart Institute for his outstanding contributions to advancements in cardiac arrythmias and patient care.
Eryn Kirshenbaum, the daughter of Barry and Kim Kirshenbaum, says she was always interested in understanding the functioning’s of the human body, in particular the heart, which has fit with her desire to pursue a career in medicine and possibly continued heart health research.
A graduate of the Hebrew Bilingual program at Brock Corydon Elementary School, Ecole River Heights, and Kelvin High School French Immersion, Eryn says that she has always been interested in science, particularly cardiology. She reports that she has assisted as co-author on 5 research papers, including one where she was the primary author, focusing on women’s heart health and how heart disease affects women differently than men. That paper also investigated the connection between disrupted circadian rhythms and heart disease, specifically related to individuals with irregular sleep patterns, such as shift workers.
Eryn notes that, in addition to her university studies and research activities, she works part time as a Medical First Responder with St. John Ambulance – an activity which complements her medical research. “With St. John Ambulance, I have had calls dealing with the early stages of heart attacks and strokes as well as basic first aid,” she notes.
Readers might also run into Eryn at many Jewish celebrations such as Yom Ha’atzmaut, where she helps her dad with the family entertainment business.
While her ultimate goal, she says, is to practice medicine, she adds that she is really enjoying doing research.
Local News
Young entrepreneur Noah Palansky and partner Jordan Davis are the first Winnipeggers to crack Forbes Magazine’s “top 30 Under 30” list
By MYRON LOVE From a very young age, Noah Palansky has demonstrated initiative and leadership. I first met and interviewed Palansky in 2011 at a low point in his life. His mother, Naomi Palansky, had sadly passed away at a young age. The then 12-year-old channeled his mourning into action. With his younger sister, Lexi, by his side – and the support of his father, Bruce – the preteen entered a team in the annual CancerCare Manitoba Foundation Challenge for Life. For the next few years, Palansky’s teams – under the banner, “Kids Count” – raised thousands of dollars for cancer researched.
Fast forward to 2019. Palansky was by then a young adult with a new initiative. The year before, he and a couple of friends had entered a potential business proposal in a competition sponsored by Winnipeg-based North Forge, Canada’s only start up incubator and fabrication lab, and won the top prize.
In that 2019 story, the young entrepreneur recalled how he came up with idea for his new business – TAIV (the AI stands for artificial intelligence). In the spring of 2018, he recounted, at the height of the Winnipeg Jets playoff run, he and his girlfriend were watching the game on a big screen while having drinks in a restaurant when an ad appeared onscreen promoting a rival restaurant and advertising the same drink he was imbibing – at a lower price.
“That ad gave me the germ of an idea,” he said in that earlier interview. “I immediately spoke to the restaurant manager and asked how he felt about the ad,” he recalls. “He was not pleased.”
That germ of an idea has developed into a highly successful new business venture. The idea that was put into practice has landed Palansky and his partner, Jordan Davis, on Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 list in the Marketing and Advertising category. The duo are the first Winnipeg-based entrepreneurs to have received this honour.
“It came as a complete surprise,” Palansky responds. “We had no advance notice that we were even being considered for this recognition.”
Since TAIV officially launched in 2021, the company – still based in Winnipeg – has grown to a workforce of about 80 – most of whom are based here. Palansky notes that TAIV also has sales offices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
In the past four years, TAIV has built a presence in nearly 5,000 venues across the United States. The company works with brands like Coke, Pepsi, Netflix, T-Mobile, FanDuel, Fox, and United Airlines.
“The way this works,” Palansky explained to this writer in 2019, “ is that if you are in Boston Pizza, for example, watching a Jets game and a commercial comes on, our software will switch the commercial to an ad for Boston Pizza.
“We make a little box that sits between your cable box and the TV. Our box can detect when a commercial is coming on and switch the ad out for one promoting the restaurant or store the box is in.”
For larger enterprises, Palansky notes, TAIV produces a web app that allows the company to switch its own in-house ads for the ads that would be appearing on screen.
In a statement by North Force celebrating Palansky and Davis’ achievement, Palansky is quoted as saying that “the Forbes achievement offered a rare moment to pause and reflect.
“There are very few moments where a third party reaches out and says, ‘We’ve noticed what you did, and we think it’s awesome.’ This felt like one of those rare moments.”
The North Forge report also sees the recognition as a win for the community.
“I wish we had more Winnipeg entrepreneurs on the global stage because it’s really good for the local ecosystem,” Palansky is quoted as saying. “I’m trying to do what I can to help others get off the ground.”
Palansky and Davis are looking forward to going to Phoenix in April for the official presentation.
He adds that TAIV continues expanding across North America, strengthening partnerships, and onboarding advertisers as the network grows. For local venues or businesses interested in installing TAIV or exploring advertising opportunities, the company welcomes inquiries at hello@taiv.tv.