Obituaries
MENORAH WALDMAN
It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Menorah Waldman on Wednesday, November 18, at the age of 95. Menorah lived a full and rich life, filled with family, friends, music, theatre, literature, Yiddishkeit and so much more.
Menorah leaves behind an extended clan of family and friends to celebrate her life and mourn her passing — her son Dovid and daughter Yona (Cam); grandchildren Louise (David), Sarah (Shawn), Marin (Sam), Charlotte (Jason) and Ryder; great-grandchildren Riel, Aliyah, Eva, Cassady and Cleo; and daughter-in-law Diane. The matriarch of the Waldman clan, she is also mourned by her nephews and nieces, her great-nieces and -nephews and many cousins. She also leaves her oldest and dearest friend, Jeanette. A sign of Menorah’s warm and welcoming nature was that her door was always open to everyone, and so the friends of all her kids and relations grew to know and love her too. She was predeceased by her parents Charles and Sarah Gorvich, her son Aili; grandson Cassady; husband Bert; nieces Shira and Carol; and most of her long-time friends.
The only child of Charles and Sarah Gorvich, Menorah grew up in the North End, attending Machray and St. John’s before going to university, a privilege at the time. She remained an active intellectual all her life and an especially avid reader, usually juggling several books at once.
She and Bert married in August 1945 and several years later, bought their first house on Lansdowne east of Main. They moved to Woodcrest Drive in a new and growing section of Garden City in 1963, where, together, they continued to raise their three children Aili, Dovid and Yona, while supporting and working for many community organizations, including Habonim and Chevra Mishnayes Synagogue. Menorah was an active member of the North End Yiddish Folk Choir, Pioneer Women/Na’amat and other organizations. Her commitment to community was lifelong – she volunteered with the Fringe Festival, WSO, PTE, Jewish Child and Family Services and the Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre, where she also served as Chair of the Board for a number of years.
A feminist before the word existed, Menorah worked most of her life, retiring in her 60s to take up a new career as a certified fitness instructor, an accreditation she maintained until age 89. She regularly taught aquafit, aerobics and weight classes to seniors and others, in addition to swimming almost daily. She taught at the downtown Y, at the North End Centennial Pool, at Heidelberg Villa on Edmonton, and Lions’ Place on Portage. We believe she was the oldest contract employee of the City of Winnipeg! She also began swimming competitively at the Masters Level in her 70s, participating in many Manitoba Seniors’ Games and winning dozens of medals over the years.
Menorah leaves behind a rich legacy of activism. She was a lifelong socialist – in her youth she helped build the Habonim camp at Sandy Hook (Camp Massad). She knocked on doors for progressive candidates, marching against war, sexism and racism and cheerfully walking in Pride parades in support of beloved family and friends. She remained politically active and engaged up until the onset of dementia in her early 90s.
Menorah’s funeral was held graveside on November 19 at the Rosh Pina Memorial Park, with Rabbi Kliel Rose officiating. The family is grateful for his warm and compassionate service. The five mourners/pallbearers were family Dovid, Robbie and Louise Waldman, Phil Spevack and Diane Zack. A Zoom shiva was held on November 20 with more than 30 participants, including, appropriately, children running around in the background, which was exactly as Menorah would have wished.
Her family would like to express its gratitude to the staff and volunteers at the Simkin Centre for their compassionate and loving care, in particular to the staff on Simkin 1.
If you choose, donations in her memory can be made to the Spiritual Care Fund at the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre or to Gwen Secter Creative Living Centre.
Obituaries
ALAN JEFFREY RAPPAPORT
With much love and sadness, we mourn the passing of Alan Jeffrey Rappaport who died at the age of 72 on July 1, 2025.
Alan was predeceased by his parents – Sidney and Elaine Rappaport. He is survived by his former wife, Lynnie and their children Amy (Josh Bloomfield) and Lissie (Tamir Bourlas), grandchildren Aiden, Olivia, Shai and Aviya, his sister Bonny Leszcz (Molyn), brother Eppy (Ellen), brother Danny (Marcy), and many nieces, nephews and niblings.
Alan was born in Brooklyn, NY. He lived in Pennsylvania and California before moving to Winnipeg at the age of 14 when his father accepted a position as head rabbi at the Rosh Pina Synagogue. He earned an accounting degree at the University of Manitoba and became a Certified Chartered Accountant. An entrepreneur at heart, he went on to become co-owner of Omnitsky Kosher with his brother Eppy.
Alan was a gifted athlete. He had a sharp intellect (particularly with numbers). He played a great game of pool, poker and golf. He was well loved for his sense of adventure. He knew how to live large and did so in the first part of his life.
Alan had a significant stroke at the age of 48 when he lost the use of his left side. The latter part of his life was marked by adjusting to disability. He learned to live with less and appreciate ordinary everyday delights – a riveting murder mystery, a corned beef sandwich, a Blue Jays game.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Simkin Centre for the care he received in his final years.
If desired, memorial donations can be made to: Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre or Bruce Oake Recovery Centre.
Obituaries
JACOB (JACK) KLEIMAN FEBRUARY 8, 1927 – AUGUST 19, 2024
It was with great sorrow that we announced the passing of Jacob (Jack) Kleiman (Jacob ben Moishe) on Monday August 19, 2024 (16, Av) in his 98th year.
He was predeceased by his parents, Maurice and Rose Kleiman, his brother, Harvey, and his sisters, Florence (the late Louis Selby), Betty (the late Joseph Gilfix) and Ruth (the late Ben Aisenstat). He is survived by his sister Ann of Bethesda, U.S.A. (the late Harold Eist). He will be missed by his many nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grand-nieces, great-grandnephews, and great-grandnieces.
Jack’s maternal grandparents were among the pioneer families established in the then Hirsch Colony (founded 1892) by the Jewish Colonization Association in the Southeast corner of Saskatchewan. Jack and his late brother Harvey lived and farmed on the same land purchased by their parents in the area.
In later years he and his brother developed many business interests: initially farm implement and automotive sales and later oil exploration companies including Poplar Developments Ltd., drilling locally. They were well known in the surrounding community and were generous supporters of local charitable initiatives such as the Estevan General Hospital.
Jack and his brother were the last Jewish farmers in the Hirsch area and over the years were the subject of many literary articles and television interviews. Jack and his brother helped to maintain the Jewish cemetery in the Hirsch area until it was taken over as a historical site by the province. Due to advancing age, the family farm was sold in 2016 and both retired to Calgary to be nearer to family. This marked the closing of one chapter of Jewish history in Canada.
Jack was a talented mechanic who remained married to the land and devoted to his family. He was ever of good spirit. Although frail in body, Jack remained active mentally and involved in life until the end being always interested in the happenings of his extended family.
It is hard to adequately sum up a long life marked by both hard work, dedication to family, and good humour. The entire family remember him and honour him with love, affection, and good memories.
The family wishes to thank the many friends and neighbours in the Estevan area who provided help and support during his last years and especially to his dedicated care givers in Calgary.
The funeral was held in Calgary on August 22, 2024, at the Chevra Kadisha Chapel with interment at the 37th Street Jewish Cemetery.
The unveiling will take place on July 27, 2025 at 11:30 AM at the same location. Donations may be made in Jack’s memory to the charity of your choice.
Obituaries
EDITH LANDY
June 30, 1920 – July 2, 2025
After a long and fulfilling life, our Mother passed on July 2, 2025. Born in Winnipeg, she grew up as part of a large extended family.
Mother was predeceased by her parents, Joseph Mayer Freiden and Rivka (nee Fordman), our father, David Landy, and her sisters Syma Katz and Jennie Rich. Edith is survived by her five children and their families: Laurie Landy and Nora Spinks, Barbara and Paul Livingston, Bob and Rhonda Landy, Mark Landy and Jenifer, and Martin Landy, her grandchildren Saralyn, Adam, Alex, Joshua, Ethan, Caitlin, David, Alicia, Lily, and six great-grandchildren, her cousins Norma Chernick and Shlomo Mayman and her many friends and relatives.
Mom grew up as part of a large extended family in the North End of Winnipeg, guided by her father’s values of service, community and the importance of family. She entered the School of Nursing at the Winnipeg General Hospital, now the Health Sciences Centre. She progressed from general duty nurse to nursing supervisor and served as the Assistant Director of Nursing for 15 years until her retirement in 1983. Over the course of her five-decade nursing career, she raised five children, managed a household, cared for many extended family members and remained actively involved in the community.
Community was a foundation of Mom’s life. Mom was very proud of her volunteering at the Winnipeg International Children’s Festival, Winnipeg Folk Fest and other community events. She and David were patrons of the arts, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Manitoba Opera. In 2024, she was recognized as the longest continuous subscriber to the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
The North Centennial Seniors Association played an important role in our parents’ later years. She ran her kitchen crew, supervised Hot Dog Day and provided food for many bus trips. Mom’s legacy was the Grandma Grandpa Swim Club, which she established, raised funds for, and built into a strong organization.
After a long and remarkable life of service and giving care, Mom accepted the need to receive care. The Family would like to thank Melita and Nelissa for their care and dedication, as well as the staff of the Simkin Centre, especially on Weinberg 2.
We cannot put into words how much she will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Joseph Freiden Scholarship for Jewish Studies at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba.
A service was held July 4, 2025, at Chesed Shel Emes – Winnipeg.