J-PEG ( the young adult leadership division of the Jewish Federation) organized a Vodka and Latka event in the evening of December 4, 2010 to recognize philanthropic community members as well as JPEG members who have volunteered on a variety of committees through out the years to engage community and build JPEG.  The event was held at the home of Mr. Paul Leinburd, proprietor of Crown Cap.
 
“ It was an opportunity for our senior leaders in our community to thank our JPEG group for all of their hard work and their financial support towards making our Jewish community welcoming, engaging and dynamic.  It was an opportunity to motivate JPEG in continuing to create dynamic initiatives that will encourage both active members and new members towards creating a Winnipeg community that will in years to come be as active and engaging or even more so that it already is,” said Samantha Loxton., Director pf Leadership Development for the  Jewish Federation of Winnipeg

Between 60 – 70 JPEG members attended the event, in addition to the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg CEO- Bob Freedman, President of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg  Mr. Ben Cohen, Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg  Mr. Israel Ludwig and Committee Member of Grow Winnipeg – Mr. Brian Scharfstein.

Attendees enjoyed the dynamite musical talents of Duo vocalist Flo Oramasionwu (www.flosoul.com) accompanied by Frank B playing the guitar.

Cohen thanked those in attendance  noted that  each person's contribution to the community both philanthropically as well through donation of time and effort positively impacts and shapes the future of our Jewish community.

Mr. Brian Scharfstein spoke on behalf of the Jewish Community as well as the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. He talked about the idea of re-incarnating the Jewish Chamber of Commerce and its benefits to both our Jewish community as well as the larger Winnipeg community. Future plans our being made to create a strong partnership between both the Jewish and Winnipeg Chambers of Commerce in the new year
 
The event was organized by a committee made up of Val Benevet – J-PEG Executive Board Member, Mr. Ryan Paul, JPEG Executive Board Member, Caitlin Mc Carton, committee member and past graduate of J-PEG’s Leadership Development course and Krista Zipper new member to JPEG and currently enrolled in the Club Fed 2010-2011 course.

When asked by the Winnipeg Jewish Review what was the bigger hit--the vodka or the lotka, Loxton responded “ Actually it was both.  Lisa Odwak’s latkes with – all three kinds and the dipping sauces were hard to resist, coupled with the amazing martinis that were served. There were no complaints from the crowd.”

Loxton said the event was very successful and added:

“The group that attended this event consisted of a mix representative pool of JPEG: local Winnipeggers, Israeli immigrants, Argentinean immigrants, between 25-45 years of age.  It was well received by the community and we got great feedback from those that attended and there is interest to have a 2nd annual event bigger and better next year."