Winnipeg Negev Dinner
May 6, 2025
RBC Convention Centre | 375 York Ave, Winnipeg, MB
Join us in support of the Parenthood Home in Sderot, providing trauma care, family therapy, and PTSD research for southern Israel. Enjoy an exceptional performance by comedian Modi Rosenfeld and tributes to honourees Rabbi Yosef Benarroch and Al Benarroch.
This year’s Negev Dinner supports the Sderot Resilience Centre, providing essential mental health care and family therapy for communities in southern Israel facing ongoing trauma.
The new facility will offer critical emotional therapy, resilience programs, and emergency support, helping families and children cope with the lasting impact of conflict while strengthening community well-being.
Event Details:
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
RBC Convention Centre | 375 York Ave, Winnipeg, MB
VIP Reception: 5:00 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM
Empowering Families in the South with Mental Health Support
Parenthood Home for Family Therapy
Building Resilience in Sderot
The 2025 Winnipeg Negev Dinner supports the Parenthood Home, offering trauma care and PTSD support for families affected by October 7 and ongoing conflict.
Sderot is a developing community located less than a mile from the Gaza border. The population is expected to reach 50,000 in the next few years. As the city grows, so does the need for services, especially those in the mental health field. Suffering from ongoing security threats, residents struggle emotionally to cope with this reality. Most of them suffer from anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia, fear of noise, nightmares and bedwetting among children.
To assist residents in coping with the security situation and its implications, the Resilience Center in Sderot, established in 2008, provides residents free of charge emotional therapy, community resilience programs and prepares them for future emergencies. The Center also acts as an “emergency room” for emotional trauma victims in the event of an emergency.
Parents are particularly in need of guidance and assistance with various challenges they face as their child grows. To meet growing demands, Sderot is establishing a new and improved Resilience Complex. This new complex is being built, including the Parenthood Home for Family Therapy, which provides family therapy and professional guidance on appropriate responses to children. There will be a PTSD Research and Convention Center to promote community resilience and conduct research on trauma.
Honouring Rabbi Yosef Benarroch and Al Benarroch, featuring a special performance by comedian Modi Rosenfeld
Honouring
Rabbi Yosef Benarroch
A passionate Zionist, educator, and community leader with deep roots in Winnipeg and Israel.
Rabbi Yosef Benarroch was born in Spanish Morocco in 1957, and his family moved to Winnipeg in 1963. Yosef attended Talmud Torah Elementary School and graduated from Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate. He then acquired a degree in Phys Ed from the University of Manitoba. In 1982, Yosef went to Israel to study in a Yeshiva. After 10 years in Israel, he made Ali-yah, met his wife Elana, started a family, was ordained as a Rabbi and served in the IDF. Yosef has served as a Rabbi in Phoenix, Vancouver and Jerusalem. In 2010, Rabbi Benarroch and a partner started the first post-high school seminary for Sephardic women in Jerusalem. In 2016, he took the position of Rabbi at Winni-Peg’s Herzlia Synagogue. He and his wife, Elana, are big-time Zionists. They have seven amazing children and are blessed with 14 grandchildren.
Honouring
Al Benarroch
A passionate leader blending clinical expertise with Jewish values to strengthen families and community.
Al Benarroch holds a BA (Hons.) in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. Al began his career operating a private counselling practice for 10 years, working exclusively with Indigenous peoples. Al then joined Jewish Child and Family Service (JCFS) in 1999 as the Clinical Director, and in 2014, assumed the role of Executive Director. Al has recently been appointed president & CEO and continues moving the agency into new areas of growth and service expansion.
Al’s passion is in finding the interconnection between Judaism and clinical practice. Al has served on numerous community boards and committees both within the Jewish community and in the Family Service world. He is presently the board chair of the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre, an active member at Herzlia Synagogue and serves as the lay spiritual leader and cantor of the Chevrah Mishnayes Synagogue. Al is married to Brenlee Sucharov, the father of two adult daughters, Amber and Simone, and is raising his twin nieces, Miley and Macey Sucharov.
Featuring
Modi Rosenfeld
A globally acclaimed comedian known for his sharp wit, cultural insight, and crowd-pleasing performances across the comedy world.
Voted one of New York's top 10 comedians by The Hollywood Reporter, Modi is among the most in-demand performers today. He's been featured on HBO, CBS, NBC, and Comedy Central and praised by The New York Times and Time Out NY. Born in Tel Aviv and raised on Long Island, Modi left investment banking after one open-mic night revealed his true calling. Known for his quick wit and ability to read a room, he blends heritage and humour to captivate audiences worldwide.
His 2024 debut special, Know Your Audience, is now on YouTube. Modi has appeared in Crashing and When Jews Were Funny and starred in two feature films. In 2018, New York City declared June 26th "Mordechi Modi Rosenfeld Day" in his honour.
Be a Part of Our Mission to Create a Better World
Your generosity can take many forms, from direct cheques to the Israel Magen Fund of Canada to secure online donations.
Every contribution brings us closer to our goal of expanding access to vital mental health services for families in Sderot coping with trauma.
By supporting our work, you help provide critical therapy, family support, and PTSD research to strengthen resilience and healing for children and parents affected by ongoing conflict.
Become a
Corporate Sponsor
If you are interested in corporate sponsorship opportunities, request our Sponsorship Package document by contacting us at donate@imfoc.org or 204-947-0207. For personal sponsorship opportunities, fill out the donation form.
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Optional Ways To Give
Direct cheques to Israel Magen Fund of Canada, sent by mail to:
41 Alvin Ave, Toronto, ON M4T 2A7, or via eTransfer.
An eTransfer is fast, free, and easy to do. Use donate@imfoc.org as the contact email.
If you have any questions, please contact us.