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Celebration has many different outfits but she always wears the same beautiful dancing shoes.
Mary Anne Radmacher

It’s hard to wrap our heads around how different the world looks today compared to just a month ago, and we continue to do our best to be there for those in need, ensuring that no one gets left behind. Our community needs you now more than ever.

These have been trying times. The coronavirus has changed our lives in a way we never imagined. But there is an upside to all of this.

These are extraordinary and difficult times and the Rady JCC has had to lay off staff due to the fact that it has closed down its operation as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

As all Israeli schools have been ordered closed as a means to fight the spread of the COVID-19, Boys Town Jerusalem shut its classroom and dormitory doors.

The worldwide community is grasping for ways to react to the ever-growing threat of the novel coronavirus outbreak (also referred to as COVID-19). Everyday, the news becomes more grave, while uncertainty and disruptions to everyday life become more severe.

This is an excerpt from a longer paper presented by Howard Morry to the Arab Jewish Dialogue (AJD). Howard and Ab Freig, co chairs of the AJD, recently made a presentation on the conflict to the Friends of Israel. The thoughts expressed here are Howard’s alone.

At Winnipeg Limmud on March 1, Elsa Hategan delivered two intensely affecting presentations: “Hearts of Hate: A Former Neo-Nazi’s Journey from Hate to Hope” and “Remember Your Name: A Journey into Time, Memory, and Epigenetics.”

TORONTO, CANADA – CHW is pleased to announce that the 2020 CHW Annual Campaign, Home Is Where The Heart Is, begins on March 1, 2020, in support of CHW projects. This pillar of CHW’s fundraising efforts provides $1.5 million in support of Children, Healthcare, and Women in Israel and Canada.

Angela Orosz-Richt (“Angie”) recounted the astounding story of her mother Vera Bein’s survival before a crowd of 400 people at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, which included a remarkably large  number of young people. Jessica Cogan, Israel and Overseas chair and Carrie Shenkarow the March of the Living Chair at the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg

Dear Community Members, 

In early March we will celebrate the holiday of Purim. Although it is a fun and lighthearted holiday filled with numerous community celebrations and festive treats, it carries with it an important message.

David Greaves, who has recently been appointed the executive director of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Manitoba and Saskatchewan region is excited to announce that Israeli singer/songwriter, David Broza, accompanied by members of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), will be this year's featured entertainment for the JNF Gala honouring Ted Lyons on October 27 , 2020.

In 2017, two leading research institutions, St. Boniface Hospital and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev established a collaborative partnership to look at the prevention and treatment of chronic health issues with a focus on cardiac disease, neurodegenerative disorders, and food sciences.

The U.S. “Peace to Prosperity” plan presented by President Donald Trump last week proposes unprecedented criteria for the formation of a Palestinian state. 

[Editor's note: Below is an email that was sent out by the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba]

Dear Friends,

The Board of Directors of the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba (JFM) is very happy to announce the appointment of John Diamond as its new Chief Executive Officer. He will begin his new role on Monday, February 10, 2020.

Toronto, ON – Opera.ca, the national association for opera in Canada, is proud to honour an outstanding opera company board member, Elba Haid, Chair of Manitoba Opera’s (MO) Board of Trustees, as the 2020 recipient of the Opera.ca National Opera Directors Recognition Award.

In December 2019, 27 year old Hadera Short founded a new Israeli dance group called Kadima Dance Company for dancers who are 18 or older who wish to engage in Israeli dance. 

‘Synagogues in Washington Heights were smeared with antisemitic epithets, vandalized, set afire… Mobs of hoodlums have been harassing Jews… Jewish cemeteries in Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island were desecrated…”

Winnipeg, MB - January 13, 2020 – The University of Manitoba’s Robson Hall Law School is pleased to announce that its locally founded international law program – celebrating its tenth anniversary and one of Canada’s largest international programs - will now be supported annually by The Asper Foundation which is located in Winnipeg, Canada.

At a time when FACEBOOK founder Mark Zuckerberg conducts campaigns which stress “education for peace” around the world, it came as a surprise that FACEBOOK would offer generous matching grants to UNRWA.

This is the time of year when we look back at the months that have passed and plan for the future. For Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 2019 was an amazing year, and we expect that 2020 will see even greater things!

Joel Lazer of Lazer Grant LLP,  the new President of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg,  says that one of the things he would like to accomplish  as President is "to make the community more cohesive." He adds "I think there room for improvement in sharing information, resources and acting  together for the common good of the community, which is living with Jewish values."

https://www.change.org/p/politicians-of-kenora-stop-the-development-of-town-island

The University of Manitoba has appointed a demonstrated bridge-builder and a committed leader in community engagement, a sought-after global economic outlook expert, and a proud Manitoban, Dr. Michael Benarroch, as its 12th president and vice-chancellor.

As you are certainly aware, in recent weeks a series of troubling incidents has occurred on your respective campuses. While the events in question were distinct, they all shared a common impulse by a groups on your campuses who believe that they, and they alone, are able to set standards for free speech—in these particular cases, involving the debate about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and how Jewish students and other Israel supporters are treated as part of the university community.

At the Third Annual Theatre Awards ("The Evies") held at the West End Cultural Centre on November 5, Mariam Bernstein was chosen outstanding lead actress for her performance as Dr. Ruth Westheimer in last season's Winnipeg Jewish Theatre production of " Dr. Ruth."

Winnipeg Friends of Israel (WFI) together with Bridges for Peace (BFP) sponsored “The Face of Antisemitism on Campus” with Daniel Koren, Executive Director of Hasbara Fellowships Canada, on November 26 at Temple Shalom.

[Editor's note: Below is the press release dated Dec 4, 2012 that dealt with the formation of the  Babs Asper Centre for Cultural Arts at the Rady JCC in memory of Ruth “Babs” Asper.]

Marjorie Blankstein, the daughter of Rose & Max Rady , the namesake of the Rady JCC was president of the Winnipeg Jewish community Council [WJCC] in 1986-1987.

The Winnipeg Jewish Review wishes the RADY JCC/YMHA a hearty Mazal Tov on its 100th Anniversary. It seems an appropriate time to review some of the history of this venerable institution, that is a cornerstone of our community.

Gil Hoffman, Chief Political Correspondent and Analyst For the Jerusalem Post  told a crowd of some 75 people at Adas Yeshurun Herzlia synagogue that in his estimation there would not be third elections in Israel.

On October 29, The Canadian Friends of Hebrew University partnered with the Duvdevan Foundation to present "Meet the Real Fauda Soldiers," an evening to hear inspiring stories as told by front line combat soldiers of the Duvdevan Unit.

Over 600 people attended the Gala evening organized by The Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in honour of prominent community leaders Hope and Howard Morry on Wednesday, October 23rd, at the Winnipeg Convention Centre.

Marty Morantz is the new  MP  for  the Charleswood-St James-Assiniboia-Headingley riding, and is also the only Jewish  MP in the Conservative Party.

(Dr. Rafael Medoff is founding director of The David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, and the author of The Jews Should Keep Quiet: Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, and the Holocaust, which has just been published by the Jewish Publication Society / University of Nebraska Press.)

This is an interview I did with two friends of mine who are both survivors and who found each other and are married for over 60 years. They have contributed much to Holocaust education but did not wish to be named in  this interview.

Persistent mouth sores at age three. At age eight severe nausea started. And when their youngest son Benji was 12, the bleeding began. As each symptom showed up, they were given seemingly sound reasons such as a stomach virus or puberty, but local parents Jessica and Joel Cogan were naturally left worried.

I subscribe to The Heretic.  It is authored by Pascal Finette, a member of the Singularity University team.

Canada allows Spousal Sponsorships for married, common-law and conjugal partners, including same sex partners.  An eligible common-law partnership requires a couple to live together for at least one year in a conjugal relationship.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER AS A CIVILIAN WORKER FOR 2-3 WEEKS ON AN ISRAELI ARMY SUPPLY BASE, CONTACT SAREL CANADA. Free accommodation, kosher meals, trips, events. Cost: airfare, $100.00 registration, weekend expenses. www.sarelcanada.org

Jacob was a belligerent troublemaker from the minute he walked into his Boys Town Jerusalem seventh-grade class at the start of the school year. The reason for the wiry youngster’s behavior soon became clear: the situation at home for Jacob and his family, Ethiopian immigrants to Israel, was catastrophic.

This is a letter written to a friend of ours by her mother:
 
On October 21, 1941, my parents, uncle and I found ourselves travelling on a train to an unknown destination. We are dressed in our finest clothes and each had only one small suitcas

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We received an email from Dr. Haskel J. Greenfield, Distinguished Professor at the University of Manitoba indicating that below is a list of courses that are being offered within the Judaic Studies Program at the University of Manitoba for this upcoming academic year.

Near the end of Israel's recent election campaign, Benjamin Netanyahu made a pledge to annex the Jordan Valley (with the exception of Arab villages and cities) right after the elections. The Jordan Valley, the strip of territory in the West Bank that runs alongside the Jordan River ( which is territory Israel captured during the Six-Day War in 1967 and since has controlled), comprises some  25% of the West Bank.

There is a popular proposition that bearing a grudge, failing to forgive those who have done you an injury, does oneself serious damage. The theory is that the negative emotions that you have stored up inside is hurting you.

A very special charitable event , entitled the "Race for Arielle", in memory of Arielle Kraut put on by Arielle’s family was held on July 24th, 2019 at the Gimli Motorsport Park.

Lauren Isaacs, Toronto director of Herut Canada, spoke on “The State of Jewish Hate: How Jewish Progressive Activists Fuel Modern Antisemitism” at the River Heights Community Centre on July 18 to an appreciative audience of 30 – 40 people.

This past week was Pride Week in the Jewish community, organized by the Rady Jewish Community Centre.

At last I was on the plane to Israel. Was this really happening? I had waited so long for this day and here I was, after 32 years, finally returning.

Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (CABGU), Manitoba chapter, is delighted to announce a Gala Dinner honouring Hope and Howard Morry and featuring Guest Speaker Professor Alan Dershowitz.

The Board of Trustees of The Asper Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Leonard Asper as Chair of The Asper Foundation.

For the week or so before Yom HaAzmaut – Israel’s Independence Day – the skies over Beer Sheva are filled with military aircraft practicing for the air show, an annual highly looked-forward-to event. My house is a seven-minute car ride from Israel’s largest airbase, so we heard planes taking off and landing all the time.

A big name in Manitoba’s independent brokerage community, Peter Leipsic, is making a return to the scene as a senior partner at a new brokerage called Dimensions Insurance Management Inc.

How cool would it have been to have fled Egypt in cars that drive themselves - equipped with GPS and likely carrying drones to take out the enemy closing in on foot.

Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (CABGU), Manitoba chapter, is delighted to announce a Gala Dinner honouring Hope and Howard Morry and featuring Guest Speaker Professor Alan Dershowitz.

A large controversy has erupted surrounding Lex Rofeberg, who was scheduled to speak at Shabbat Across Winnipeg at Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on the subject of Digital Judaism.

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Sound too outlandish for you? Too ridiculous and well beyond benign? Really? Even in a day when there are people out there claiming all sorts of bizarre and outrageous denials - like The Holocaust never happened?

Winston Churchill, stated quote and the Jews, held up to universal hatred, where pillaged, maltreated, and finally expelled from the realm. Exception was made for certain physicians without whose skills purses of consequences might have lacked due attention.”

Elba Haid, President & CEO of Real Care Inc., a Manitoba homecare services provider, has committed to helping Heart and Stroke raise $1 million in Manitoba to save women’s lives. As the founding member of this $1 million initiative, Elba has pledged $100,000 towards reaching this goal.

Curtis Moffat, formerly CEO of Pioneer Building , who is now a partner at Alair homes says that every custom home Alair builds, including the HSC Lottery Home on 1757 Grosvenor in North River Heights is "a labour of love."

We must not forget the bombing of the Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1994, a centre much like the one in which we are holding this event this evening.

Dear Friends,

Shalom U’vracha! The month of Elul initiates our spiritual preparations for the New Year.

Dr Michael Boroditsky had a unique, challenging and rewarding experience when he volunteered in northern Nigeria for 6 weeks this past spring.

TORONTO – B’nai Brith Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Ran Ukashi to the position of National Director of the League for Human Rights.

We are certainly living in tumultuous times these days with a “reality star “taking over, as the head of one of the world’s most powerful nations.

Over 300 people attended the grand opening celebration of the Vickar Ford dealership, an event which was held on a beautiful summer evening on  July 11.

Adas Yeshurun Herzlia is proud to announce that Dara Horn will be the featured lecturer at the first annual Adas Yeshurun Presents event on May 6th.

[Editor's note: Award Winning Author and Acclaimed Lecturer Dara Horn will be speaking at Adas Yeshurun Herzlia Synagogue on May 6, 2018. Dara Horn's The Rescuer was published by Tablet magazine and is a Kindle bestseller]

Most Jewish tourists go to Jamaica to soak up the sun and enjoy the pristine Caribbean water, not to find any cemeteries.
 

[David Bedein is the founder, Israel Resource News Agency & Director,
Center for Near East Policy Research, Philadelphia & Jerusalem]

US President Donald Trump passionately works for renewal of peace talks between Israel and Palestinian Authority.

In that context, President Trump is preparing to release his “deal of the century” after the Israeli elections on April 9th.

What can we expect from the Trump “Deal of the Century?”

No one knows details of that Middle East peace proposal that

he will reveal after the Israeli elections on April 9th.

What we do know from sources in the US, the PLO, & Israel is that the Palestinian Authority, run by the Palestine Liberation Organization, will not be replaced and will continue to function.

That means that PLO policies will persist.

What we know is that the Trump plan does change the status of 5,000,000 descendants of Arab refugees from the 1948 war who live in 59 “temporary” UNRWA refugee camps where they have been living for the past 70 years under the illusion of the “right of return” to villages lost in 1948 even if they no longer exist.

What we know is that the Trump plan does not introduce a peace education program to replace the new PA war curriculum in all PA schools which espouse a “right of return by force of arms” program in all PA and UNRWA schools.

What we know is that the Trump Plan does not veto he unprecedented law on the books of the Palestinian Authority which provides a handsome gratuity to anyone who murders a Jew, and to the family of anyone who kills a Jew.

What we know is that US President Donald Trump’s senior Middle East adviser, son-in-law Jared Kushner, told Sky News the Trump plan will call for a united Palestinian leadership and promote ‘broad economic impact’ for the Palestinian Authority, which will also benefit israeli business community.

The mistake of the 25-year-long Middle East peace process has been that little attention was paid to the necessary legislation and education for peace from the Palestinian Authority. which works under the PLO, which remains a terrorist organization. What about the economic incentives that Trump may offer?

There can be only one response to the notion that “economics is the answer: which is that Israel  was not founded as a “nation of profits”.

Here's what strikes me as being important about President Donald Trump's declaration of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and his instructions to prepare to move the US Embassy to Jerusalem:

I have recently been to two Palestinian refugee camps run by the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency [UNWRA] near Bethlehem. My visit has unfortunately have left me with the impression that the Palestinians as a whole are far from giving up on the right of return to their 1948 homes and villages in Israel.