Local News
Update from Jewish Federation
Following is a message received from Elaine Goldstine, CEO of the Winnipeg Jewish Federation re closures and changes in plans for various community organizations:
Dear Community Members,
The situation relating to COVID-19 is continually changing, with many communications being issued by companies and organizations regarding cancellations, closures and postponements.
All Federation events and programs including Yom Ha’atzmaut, PJ Library programs, PJ Our Way programs, Birthright’s May 2020 trip, March of the Living’s April 2020 trip, and Shoah Week (Holocaust Awareness Week) programs scheduled to take place from April 19-26 are cancelled. The annual Kavod Evening, scheduled for May 5, has been postponed until Thursday, September 10. Our office remains open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am-4:30 pm, however some staff will be working from home. All contact will be by appointment only.
We reached out to all the Winnipeg Jewish community organizations and asked them to provide us with status updates. As not all organizations replied to our request, this list may not be complete.
Asper Foundation
The May 2020 Asper International Program on Israeli Law & Society (Mishpatim) has been cancelled.
Asper Jewish Community Campus
Building hours have been amended to be 7:00 am-6:00 pm Monday through Friday and the building will be closed on weekends. Schmoozer’s will be operating during the week from 8:00 am-3:30 pm Monday-Thursday, and from 8:00 am-2:00 pm on Fridays.
Camp Massad
Camp Massad’s camper reunion booked for March 22 has been postponed.
Congregation Etz Chayim
The physical premises of Congregation Etz Chayim will be closed as of 5:00 pm today for at least the next two weeks, through Tuesday, March 31. This includes the cancellation of Shabbat and daily services as well as Wednesday services at Simkin Centre. Services at Simkin centre will not take place until further notice. Please note that Etz Chayim staff will remain accessible by phone and email on an ongoing basis.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Congregation Shaarey Zedek is closed for all services and programs. The reduced operating hours for the building will be 7:30 am-6:30 pm. Rabbis and lay clergy will be on-site for consultation. The general office will be open from 9:00 am-5:00 pm and Fridays to 3:00 pm. The Interfaith Yom Ha’shoah commemoration on April 19 has also been cancelled.
Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre
Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre has cancelled all programming until mid-May. Operating hours will be reduced in order to limit traffic and third-party services. They will be available by phone or email between 9 am-2 pm Monday-Friday. Meals on Wheels and catering are still available.
Gray Academy of Jewish Education
Gray Academy of Jewish Education is closed to students. Teaching and learning will now take place through distance education – “Gray Away”.
Jewish Child and Family Service
JCFS is open from 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Monday to Friday. All workshops and groups are postponed. All contact will be by appointment only. They will not be seeing walk-ins but are still reachable by phone and electronically.
Jewish Foundation of Manitoba
The 2020 Jewish Foundation of Manitoba Luncheon in support of the Women’s Endowment Fund originally scheduled for Thursday, May 7 has been cancelled.
Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada
The JHCWC AGM on April 2 is cancelled. The May 13 Kanee Lecture has been postponed.
Jewish National Fund
The 2020 Negev Gala originally scheduled to take place on May 26 has been postponed to October 27.
Rady JCC
The Rady JCC has closed its fitness facility for the foreseeable future. All memberships and ongoing payments will be frozen at no cost to our members. The facility will remain closed until a time that is deemed safe to reopen their doors. All programs and events have been cancelled until April 30.
The 48th Annual Rady JCC Ken Kronson Sports Dinner originally scheduled to take place Tuesday, May 12 has been cancelled.
Simkin Centre
The Simkin Puzzle Race on Sunday, April 26 and Simkin Brunch on Sunday, May 3 are both cancelled.
Winnipeg Jewish Theatre
WJT’s production of Narrow Bridge from March 26-April 5 has been cancelled.
If there are any events that are not part of this list that you have questions about, please contact the event organizer for an update as it may have been affected based on current circumstances.
Sincerely,
Elaine Goldstine
We also received this message from Becky Chisick, Executive Director of the Gwen Secter Centre:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many isolated seniors that are not able to leave their homes to purchase food. Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre would like to deliver a healthy meal to as many isolated seniors as possible.
We need your help! If you know of any isolated seniors (those who are living alone and/or have no one to assist them), please sent their contact information, in confidence, to Becky Chisick, Executive Director at becky@gwensecter.com
If you are interested in donating to this specific fund to help isolated seniors receive healthy meals, you can send an etransfer to becky@gwensecter.com (security word: seniors) or call Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre between 9 & 12 Monday to Friday, or donate online at www.gwensecter.com by clicking ”donate now”. Please note “seniors meals” in the message box. All donations over $10 will receive a tax receipt.
Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre is also a drop off location for Winnipeg Harvest. We have moved our bin to the front door. You can drop in the bin without entering the building. If you are in the south end of the city and wish to drop off for Winnipeg Harvest, The Rady JCC is also a drop off location. They have moved their bins to the front entrance. You do not have to pass security to access the bins.
Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre continues to take all necessary precautions, making everyone’s health and safety our number one priority.
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Local News
First year medical student Tim Rozovsky founds new association for local Jewish medical students
By MYRON LOVE In the face of a concerning surge in antisemitism over the past nearly three years, I am happy to report a good news story in that regard. Tim Rozovsky, the founder of the new Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba, reports that he and his fellow Jewish students enrolled in the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine are not experiencing any significant issues involving antisemitism.
Hopefully, the matter of the notorious Med school Valedictorian who used his podium to attack Israel was a one-off.
“My goal in forming the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba,” says the first year medical student, “was to create a safe, supportive environment for my fellow Jewish medical students.”
He reports that the current first year class at the school has eight Jewish students – an increase over more recent years – with maybe a dozen more in the other years.
For a new medical student, Rozovsky already has an impressive resume. He was born in Russia and grew up in Israel. After the completion of his army service in 2018, the then-22-year-old rejoined his parents, Dr. Katya and Alexander, who had moved to Winnipeg a few years before.
Prior to coming to Winnipeg, Rozovsky had completed a personal trainer program out of The Academic College at Wingate in Jerusalem. Some readers may know the young man from his work as a Master Personal Trainer at the Rady JCC.
Shortly after arriving here, he enrolled in a kinesiology program at the University of Winnipeg. He graduated with a BKin Honours in 2023 and did post graduate work at the University of Manitoba. Last fall, he received his MSc in Physiology and Pathophysiology – earning two gold medals, along with 32 awards and scholarships in the process.
Rozovsky says that it was his mother who inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Dr. Katya Rozovsky is an associate professor at the University of Manitoba and an attending radiologist, specializing in pediatric diagnostic imaging.
(Tim also adds that his wife, Irina Gelzin, whom he married about a year ago, is training to be a nurse.)
Insofar as the Jewish Medical Students’ Association of Manitoba is concerned, Rozovky reports that the group gets together multiple times a year. One of its programs was a joint Chanukah celebration with the Jewish Physicians Association of Manitoba.
There was also a joint program with the Christian Medical and Dental Students’ Association of Manitoba.
“More recently, we have been helping prospective Jewish medical students with their applications,” he says. “Hopefully we will be able to get together over the summer with the incoming Jewish students.”
As to his own future plans, Rozovsky notes that it is too early for him to be deciding on a specialty. “My goal,” he says, “is to work hard and get good grades and become the best doctor that I can be.”
Local News
Gray Academy to Represent Manitoba at National Reach for the Top Competition
By NOAH STRAUSS Posted June 6) Gray Academy’s Reach for the Top team is headed to Moncton, New Brunswick, to represent Manitoba at the National Reach for the Top tournament.
Reach for the Top is a Canadian school league that quizzes teenagers on a variety of different topics, from science and history to pop culture. Reach started out in 1961 in Vancouver, where a local CBC station broadcasted the new show; it eventually became a national broadcast starting in 1966. Alex Trebek, who famously hosted Jeopardy!, started out by hosting Reach for the Top.
Gray Academy’s very own team, made up of Grade 7 and 8 students, will travel to Moncton, New Brunswick, to compete as Team Manitoba. By winning the provincial Reach tournament, they secured their spot in the national competition.
Faculty members at Gray Academy are very supportive of the program. The Jewish Post spoke with three different staff members at the school. Coach and high school teacher Danielle Miller says she is excited for the trip; although she will not be accompanying the team herself, shehas coached them all year.
“This year we had over 20 students come to the club to join us, they practice twice a cycle at lunch,” Miller said. Due to the large turnout this year, two teams had to be formed. At lunch practices, students split into two teams of four where each player has a buzzer. The two teams compete to see who can answer the most questions correctly.
One of the two teams did exceptionally well at various tournaments throughout the year and will be traveling to nationals as the sole team representing Manitoba.
Co-coach Micah Doerksen described Reach as a great academic competition where young minds are tested on various topics through quick,fast-paced questions.
High school guidance counselor Lindsey Leipsic said, “We have athletes, non-athletes, we have students who are really involved and students who are not as involved at school, and we have quiet leaders, and we’ve seen friendships be built in Reach.” Some of her favorite memories of Reach involve seeing students from across Winnipeg come to Gray Academy and bond with one another. Lev Chisick, who is competing at nationals, agreed, saying, “Moncton is going to strengthen our school spirit and make us a better team.”
As the junior team makes their way to Moncton, the senior team will head to provincials. Later this week, students from the senior team will travel to Virden, Manitoba, to compete at the provincial level. The team qualified after placing high enough at their most recent tournament, which took place at St. Paul’s.
Confidence is high as the school heads into these final tournaments. When Nath Goldenberg, who is also competing at nationals, was asked what he is most looking forward to, his answer was short and sweet:“Winning.”
