On March 6, 2008, I was surrounded by thousands of other Israeli and American teenagers in celebrating

After weeks of well organized meetings and preparations, a group of Jewish teens representing youth movements from all over Winnipeg put together a

[Editor’s note: This was written  on April 11th, 2010 by Sadie Silverstein while on March of the Living]

I am not sure how I can put a life changing experience into a shiort article, but I will try my best.

Editor's note: these poems were written after Sadie Silverstein wnet on th e March of the Living program]

On October 24^th, 140 people gathered at Balmoral Hall School for a day of inspired learning with four renowned lecturers from one of the world’s leading universities. The “Best of Hebrew U” event, organized by the Winnipeg chapter of Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University, brought in Professors Menachem Hofnung, Ein-Ya Gura, Michael Segal, and Abraham Fainsod to speak about a wide variety of topics

The Asper Foundation Human Rights & Holocaust Studies Program is a fantastic program. It gives students the opportunity to learn, grow, and also to enjoy seeing Washington. The program is far more than just a trip to Washington. It is a five month process that the students experience to learn about human rights and the Holocaust.

This was our last summer as campers at Camp Massad. We painted, acted, sang, went on an overnight, and much more.  We were counselors in training, and could not have imagined a better experience. 

B’nai Brith Camp is a summer sleep away camp that educates their campers in both wilderness skills and Judaism. BB Camp is located on Town Island in Lake of the Woods, which is just south of Kenora, Ontario. At camp, there are two sessions each summer. The first Session consists of four age groups. Habonim (age 7-8), Taste of BB (age 8-9), Kifrim (age 9-10) and Colchot (age 10-11). The second session consists of three age groups Ruach (age 11-12), Chavurah (age 12-13) and Abirut (age 13-14). There are other programs for older campers.

Eighty five year old Leo Weiss, a Holocaust survivor and teacher, is a man who spends much of his time retelling the miraculous story of his survival to teenagers like myself.  I had the privilege of hearing him speak at the B’nai Brith Manitoba Jewish Christian Roundtable on September 14, 2010 to an audience of 150 people in the Multi-Purpose room of the Asper Campus.

Zev Faintuch was awarded the  Mina Rosner Human Rights Award on September 22 which  is presented to the winning entry in the Mina Rosner Human Rights Essay Competition [ His winning essay is presented at the bottom of this article]. The ceremony took place yesterday at the Freeman Family Foundation Holocaust Education Centre of the Jewish Heritage Centre  at the Asper Campus.

A new year, a new beginning, a day of judgement and resolution. This is Rosh Hashanah, the day that calls us to reflect and repent.  Rosh Hashanah is a day of significance and for every prayer we say, and every food we eat, there are a multitude of explanations as to why we do so.

[Editor’s note; the following is a condensed version of  Amy Leiberman’s essay submission  to Bnai Brith’s essay competition this past last  June.]

From a young age, I understood the importance of volunteering, and helping others.  Their appreciation is what allows me to enjoy and desire to continue volunteering.

Many people who pass through or live their lives in Winnipeg often characterize it as cold, lifeless city that often falls short of the task of supporting a vibrant Jewish community. While this community is clearly unique in its history and spirit, I would be hard pressed to find a community in North America with a Jewish population this size

Continuing its exemplary commitment to community service, B’nai Brith Manitoba Region this spring  invited Gray Academy of Jewish Education grade 12 students to reflect upon the value and significance of their personal community service experiences in an essay writing contest.

Dena Stitz just completed Grade 10 at the Gray Academy of Jewish Education.

On Sunday, June 13th, around 25 volunteers headed out to Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba eager to take part in Camp Massad’s third annual “Volunteer Work Day”.  The volunteers helped out by gardening, raking leaves, cutting the grass, weed whacking, adding gravel to paths, cleaning cabins and moving kayaks and benches.

Zach Fleisher graduated from the Gray Academy of Jewish Education in May, 2010.

Since the advent of proportional and parliamentary democracy, various political parties and systems have relied on the strength of different ethnic groups and populations.

The Guests of War is a 563 page trilogy by the wonderful writer Kit Pearson. Girls in grades five to eight, ages 10 to 14, would be touched by this wonderful trilogy. It is quite a long book since it is a trilogy but you don’t even realize it. This book takes place in the 1940s but goes on for around 16 years until 1956.

The hard work finally paid off! After a successful bake sale, hours of planning and numerous e-mails, the Winnipeg NCSY youth movement was finally heading to Camp Chi in Wisconsin to join up with the other groups from the Midwest region.

In the small town of Selkirk, Manitoba, there is not much emphasis placed on studying the Holocaust. In the past few months, however, many Aboriginal students began learning about and discussing the Holocaust after being asked by B’nai Brith in Manitoba to hold a Yom Hashoah service in their school.

Just a few months ago, as I was looking at a map of regions of NCSY,  the youth movement of the Orthodox Union of North America.  I noticed that Winnipeg did not appear on the map. In an article I read about the great benefits that this youth movement had brought to Jewish communities. It made me think that, notwithstanding the wonderful opportunities for youth in our community, there was something missing.

A few weeks ago I had a pleasant surprise at school (however improbable that may seem). I walked into my Hebrew class, as always, but was greeted at the door not by my teacher as always, but by an Israeli woman I had never seen before. She was short, with curly brown hair and a friendly smile. She wore big red glasses and a colourful dress. And when I stepped into the room, I realized that the classroom had been completely transformed. All of the desks had been pushed to the center of the room, now covered by an enormous piece of white drawing paper. The same paper was also placed along the edge of the class, all the way around. I stood with the rest of the students at the front of the room, looking around at this strange new environment. 

Traditionally, people picture their children frolicking around and playing video games. Then there are those of us teenagers who spend large portions of our weekend talking about the economy, Iran and various other “adult” topics. We are called debaters, and that is what we did last weekend at the Gray Academy. Twenty-eight teams showed up from all over Canada to participate in the yearly Asper Cup. Although this year there was a twist, we were not only competing for the prestigious cup, we were partaking in the Oxford Cup. Top two teams from this tournament were to go on to Oxford University in England, although I am making it seem much easier than it really is.

Gray Academy student Six students in grades 11 and 12, who are all part of a student council, as well as their communications teacher, Revital Meiri arrived here from Danciger ...