(Posted March 13, 5:00 pm, updated March 14, 15, 16, 17) As governments, businesses, and organizations throughout the world assess just what steps are necessary to take in order to halt the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Jewish organizations in Winnipeg have also begun to adopt new measures in reaction to the extraordinarily swift spread of the pandemic.
(l-r): Kendall Hinds, Carly Kahan, Richard Pound, Samantha Kasloff
By REBECA KUROPATWA In early February, Fling Before the Ring, geared to newly engaged and married couples, and the community as a whole, was put on by the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg. The event was the brainchild of the Federation’s Madeline Lopez Ficher. It was held at the Audi Dealership with 14 couples in attendance. Of Lopez Ficher, the Federation’s engagement manager, Florencia Katz, said, “She was I think inspired a bit by the Shalom Baby Shower Event that we offer twice a year for new parents who just had babies...So, based on this concept, she came up with this idea and we started thinking of how to reach out to the young adult demographic who tend to be drawn to live stage events.
Arab Jewish Dialogue co-chairs Howard Morry (on left), and Ab Freig
By MYRON LOVE Fourteen years ago, Egyptian-born Winnipeg businessman Ab Freig and the late Harold Buchwald found themselves to be fellow members of the board of the Arthur V. Mauro Institute for Peace and Justice at St. Paul’s College, University of Manitoba. Freig at the time was also involved in the Peace Action Network through which he had learned of a number of dialogue groups in operation, a concept he thought might be of benefit in Winnipeg as well. He approached Buchwald and proposed that they start an Arab Jewish Dialogue group in Winnipeg – with Freig recruiting the other Arab members and Buchwald bringing in Jewish representation.
l-r): Jessica Cogan (Jewish Federation of Winnipeg Israel and Overseas Chair), Carrie Shenkarow (Jewish Federation Chair of Winnipeg’s March of the Living Committee) and Angela Orosz-Richt, the youngest remaining survivor of Auschwitz
By MYRON LOVE Angela Orosz-Richt is greatly concerned about the rising tide of Anti-Semitism in the world. “It seems that the world hasn’t learned anything from the Holocaust,” she said. “There are still a lot of people who believe that all Jews are rich and influential, that we control Hollywood and the media. The internet is full of garbage and we are seeing rising levels and Anti-Semitic attacks in Germany and France and even Brooklyn. “And it’s not just the old Anti-Semitism. The lies about Israel are outrageous.”
By REBECA KUROPATWA David Greaves has recently been appointed executive director of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Winnipeg, another positive step on his noteworthy journey in supporting Israel and the Jewish community. It was almost 20 years ago, in 2002, that Greaves founded the Israeli National Bobsleigh Team. That sparked his decision to become an Israeli citizen.
16-year-old Guy Rozin - just came back from playing for Israel in the Div. IIB Under 20 World Hockey Championship
By BERNIE BELLAN Elsewhere on this website you can read where I reported on the success that 17-year-old Michael Akbashev has had in the world of competitive judo (https://jewishpostandnews.ca/features/3111-two-years-ago-he-was-youth-ambassador-for-shalom-square-now-he-s-one-of-the-top-judokas-in-his-age-category-in-all-of-canada.) Since I had written about Michael last year, it wasn’t all that difficult for me to remember what I had written. But, when I decided to take a look at another young Israeli-born athlete whose story had been told in our paper, I was surprised to see that I, myself, had written the first story about Guy Rozin – three years ago to be exact, when Guy was 13 and when Guy and his family had just moved to Winnipeg from Israel – all so that Guy could further his hockey playing career.
By MYRON LOVE The recent merger of Wilder, Wilder and Langtrey with Pullan Frohlinger Kammerloch brings together some of our Jewish community’s most high profile legal practitioners.
With almost 70 years of experience, Gordon Pullan, QC has been practicing law longer than anyone else in Manitoba. (Only the late Harry Walsh was in practice longer.) He was honored by the Law Society of Manitoba as a senior member of the Bar with more than 50 years of practice almost 19 years ago. At 94, he is still working full time.
By MYRON LOVE A new era is about to begin for the Chesed Shel Emes, our community’s 90-year-old non-profit funeral home. At the beginning of March, the little house attached to the main chapel is scheduled to be demolished. The “house” is currently home to the office, the multi-purpose boardroom and – most importantly – the area where bodies are stored and tahara – ritual cleansing – is carried out.
By MYRON LOVE At a time in his life when most of his contemporaries have already retired - or are looking to transition to a more leisurely life- Joel Lazer is going against the grain and taking on more responsibility. As of the most recent Jewish Federation of Winnipeg Annual General Meeting in mid-December, Lazer has assumed the role of our community’s new president. At the same time, the co-founder in 1982 of Lazer Grant LLP continues to shoulder a full work load helping business clients to become more productive.
The last time internationally renowned journalist Caroline Glick appeared in Winnipeg was April, 2014, when Glick was the tenth guest speaker for that year’s Jewish Heritage Centre of Western Canada Sol and Florence Kanee Distinguished Lecture. Glick spoke before a packed audience that year and her returning to Winnipeg this coming May is sure to fill the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia Synagogue when Glick will be the third guest speaker in what has become one of the community’s most stimulating events: The Adas Yeshurn Herzlia Distinguished Lecturer Series.
By MYRON LOVE Since the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2005 designated January 27 – the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz – as the date for the annual commemoration of the Holocaust, communities around the world have been planning events on or around that date to continue to raise awareness of the greatest evil of the 20th century and remember the victims. The centerpiece of this year’s commemoration - in Winnipeg – of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz - was the story of Holocaust survivor Leo Lowy. Roughly 500 people gathered at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights on the afternoon of Sunday, January 26, to hear his story.
By BERNIE BELLAN
By MYRON LOVE
