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Former Winnipegger Hilda Chasia Smith to release book of meditations and poems
By BERNIE BELLAN
When I was contacted recently by Hilda Smith (née Szternfeld), who told me that she had recently published a book of meditations and “inspirations” titled “Chasia’s Enchantment – Meditations • Poems • Inspirations” (Chasia being her Hebrew name – the Ch is pronounced as in Chanukah), I thought to myself: “Now Hilda, I know that you’re a very spiritual person – with quite a reputation for bringing enlightenment to others, but I’m a hard ass who is on the opposite end of the scale.”
Frankly, I’m the odd one out in my family. My son is also a very spiritual person. In fact, he changed his name from Jordan Bellan to “Jitendradas Love-life”. Now, if that isn’t an example of someone who has found enlightenment, I don’t know what could be more convincing.
Then there’s my wife, Meachelle, who spends a part of every day meditating. We even have one room in our house set aside for meditation. (Our dog also meditates with her. Well, she does lie down beside Meachelle and seems to be lost deep in thought – but who am I to judge?)
So, when Hilda asked me if I would write something about her book, I said “sure”. After all, in our last issue I wrote about Dr. Tamar Rubin’s book of poetry. Maybe it’s about time I exposed myself more to my feminine side – as Hilda says we all have in her book.
Now, lest you think that the rest of this article is going to be written in a similarly irreverent manner – you’re wrong. I took my task seriously. I actually scanned all of Hilda’s meditations; I even listened to the ones that anyone who buys the book can hear simply by scanning a QR code that is printed beside each meditation.
Do I understand what Hilda is talking about in her book? Not totally. But I can see that she has a profound understanding of a great many traditions, especially Judaism and yoga (also Indigenous traditions to a certain extent).
Her poetry is quite accessible – and can be read at many levels. Listening to Hilda actually reading her meditations and her poems, which is possible – again, by scanning the QR codes at the tops of certain pages, adds an entirely different component to the written words.
Hilda is really a lovely person, as anyone who’s ever met her can readily attest. Some of her poetry has actually been featured on the pages of this paper, as she notes in her afterword.
Here is some other information about Hilda Smith, taken from “Chasia’s Enchantment”: “Hilda Szternfeld Smith was born in Winnipeg to survivors of the Holocaust. Her middle name Chasia was given in remembrance of her aunt, Chasia Goszer, who died in the Holocaust. Chasia was a self-realized child, filled with wonder and curiosity, which led her to express a true love of the arts, music and education.
“She has taught Hebrew, Yiddish, French and English languages, charm school, music, art, meditation and yoga. She holds degrees from the University of Manitoba, the University of Calgary, Chopra Center University, California, and Pranayama Centers International, founded by Swami Vignananada.
“She was part of the Women’s Writing Project at the University of Calgary…and her poetry has been published in the Winnipeg Jewish Post and the Calgary Jewish Star and her paintings have been represented by galleries in Calgary and Winnipeg.”
Quite the resumé, eh? As if that weren’t enough, here’s what Rabbi Alan Green has to say about Hilda in the foreword to “Chasia’s Enchantment”: “Hilda Chasia Smith exemplifies all the spiritual qualities of a limitless soul – great intelligence, love, and compassion in all of her words and actions. The atmosphere Hilda generates is like heaven on Earth, as if a goddess from Above chose to walk and teach among us. One would do very well to learn meditation and spirituality from Hilda Chasia Smith.”
So, with all that in mind, what could I possibly write that would do justice to Hilda’s book? How’s this? The book is divided into meditations and inspirations that draw upon a very wide body of sources. For instance, Hilda refers to Kabbalistic influences to a large extent. Two of her meditations, “Shalom” and “Sleep, Derekh the Way” draw upon her Jewish upbringing.
Her “inspirations” run the gamut from Jewish-inspired to Hindu-derived. As well as being fluent in Hebrew, Yiddish and French, Hilda is also familiar with Sanskrit.
Here’s an excerpt from an “inspiration” titled “Life Lesson”, which shows the Hebrew and Hindu influences:
The power of our authenticity
lifts spirit, sense of being.
Remember all the storms of life subdued
simply with a shift of mood.
Vedic words Satya, truth; Prema love
blending energies above
Kehttter, crown,
unification’s call.
Tifereht, beauty of it all,
and below to now bestow.
Malchut, foundation deep,
life’s learning, oh the letting go.
“Chasia’s Enchantment” will be released on January 28, which happens to coincide with Tu B’Shvat, while the preceding day, January 27, is International Holocaust Survivors Day.
The book is already generating a huge amount of buzz, as evidenced by a Google search for the title, which leads to quite a number of results – in many different languages.
But, as the publicist for the book noted in an email sent to me, “ ‘Chasia’s Enchantment’ is strongly relevant to Winnipeggers, since she was born in Winnipeg, and to the Jewish community all across the country and beyond.”
“Chasia’s Enchantment” was published by Durvile and UpRoute Books. . The book can be purchased through Amazon.ca, from the publisher’s website at durvile.com or at bookstores across Canada.
On Wednesday, February 3, at 8 pm Winnipeg time Hilda will be launching her book via Zoom through Owlsnestbooks. To register for the Zoom session, go either to durvile.com or send an email to info@durvile.com.
Post script: I sent a draft of this article to Hilda for her to look over. Not to my surprise Hilda wasn’t entirely happy with what I had written. We spent some time talking over the phone, during which Hilda said that it would be misleading to give readers the impression that her book would only have an impact on those who are already into meditation.
Then, she sent me this note: Please open for more about this brand new groundbreaking book because of what it contains – beautiful original poetry, art music and guided meditations that are inspired by things never put together before based on Yoga, meditation, Kabbalah, Torah, Judaism, Vedic teachings, pranayama (breath work) reminders, for enhancing body, mind and spirit towards all that fulfills us truly word by word, breath by breath, heartbeat by heartbeat, towards integrated inner peace, love and equanimity, motivating self love and love for others and the world. There are a few poems in Hebrew, Yiddish, French as well with translation amongst the many English poems of love, insights and inspiration for enhancing total wellbeing. What the book is based on are universal teachings for the whole world regardless of faith, because the unity is love! The paintings and music, the meditations in the book have a guided sound link and video link. The audiobook is soothing and uplifting.! The reviews by rabbis,a psychologist, a visual artist, a theatre artist, a hypnotherapist, a cantor in the book are testimonials to its timeliness and timelessness !
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Volatility, Hit Frequency, and RTP: Why the Number Casinos Advertise Is the Least Useful One
The return to player percentage looks clean as a casino data point. It gives players a neat number, usually around 94% to 97% for many online slots, and that number feels easy to compare. A 96.5% game appears better than a 95.2% game. The problem starts when players treat RTP as a forecast for their next 50 spins or one evening.
You may find the RTP listed on slot pages on a leading online casino in Ontario, but the number only tells part of the story. Two games can share the same RTP and create different sessions: one may return small wins often, while the other may drain a balance before one bonus round changes everything.
The RTP Trap
Return to player (RTP) measures the theoretical share of total wagers a game returns across a very large number of rounds. In plain terms, a 96% RTP slot returns about $96 for every $100 wagered in the long run. That does not mean one player who deposits $100 should expect $96 back.
The trap sits in the word “theoretical.” RTP comes from the game’s math model. It works across huge samples, not personal sessions. A player can finish far above that percentage, far below it, or with nothing left after a short run of poor results.
Is it useless then? No, RTP can still help. It gives a baseline cost of play. Lower-RTP games cost more on average than higher-RTP games. Still, once a game passes a reasonable threshold, the next question matters more: how does it distribute that return?
Hit Frequency: The Number That Shapes Session Feel
Hit frequency tells you how often a game produces a winning outcome. This often misleads players because any win can count. A spin that returns $0.10 on a $1 bet may still count as a hit, even though the player lost $0.90 in real terms.
A game can feel active because symbols connect often, sounds play, and the screen keeps celebrating small returns. The balance may still fall. In many modern slots, “win” does not always mean profit on the spin.
Hit frequency answers one practical question: how much silence can you tolerate? Some players dislike long dry spells. Others accept quieter sessions because they chase bonus rounds or larger payouts.
The educational site Get Gambling Facts gives a useful distinction: RTP concerns the percentage of money returned over time, while hit frequency concerns how often a machine stops on a winning combination.
Volatility: The Risk Label Players Need More Often
Volatility, also called variance, describes how unevenly a game pays. Low-volatility games tend to return smaller amounts more often. High-volatility games hold more value in rare events: bonus rounds, premium symbols, multipliers, or jackpots.
Here is where RTP becomes less useful on its own:
- A 96% low-volatility slot may give modest returns and longer play from the same balance.
- A 96% high-volatility slot may burn through funds quickly unless the player hits a strong feature.
- A progressive jackpot game may look exciting, but it often places more value on rare top prizes.
The same RTP can hide very different risk profiles. Players who ignore volatility often blame the casino or the game when the session follows its math design.
Why the Same RTP Can Feel So Different
Picture two slots with 96% RTP. Slot A pays small wins on many spins, has a modest top prize, and rarely creates dramatic balance swings. Slot B pays less often but offers a large max win and volatile bonus rounds. The advertised return matches, but the experience does not.
Slot A may suit a player who wants a slower bankroll drop and more regular feedback. Slot B suits someone who accepts sharper losses in exchange for a shot at a heavier payout.
A Better Way to Read a Slot Page
Most slot pages give players more clues than they notice. The trick is to read the details together rather than chase the highest percentage.
Start with RTP. If two games look similar, the higher number has better long-term value. Then check volatility. If the game uses terms such as high, very high, or extreme variance, lower your bet size or expect shorter sessions. Next, look at the paytable. A huge max win usually means the game saves a lot of its value for rare outcomes.
A sensible pre-play check looks like this:
- RTP: What is the average long-term return?
- Volatility: How rough can the session become?
- Hit frequency: How often will the game show any wins?
- Paytable: Where does most value sit?
To Conclude
Casinos advertise RTP because it looks objective, tidy, and easy to rank. Players should read it, but they should not give it more authority than it deserves. For long sessions, volatility may matter more than a small RTP difference. For comfort, hit frequency may explain the feel better than the payback rate.
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The Popularity of Simpler Slot Games in 2026: Review From Casino Online CrazyTower Experts
Online casinos now fill their libraries with numerous video slots that have dozens of functions, long bonus rounds, complex mechanics, and so on. Interestingly, despite this huge range of modern options, many Canadian visitors at sites like Casino Online CrazyTower here https://crazytower.com/ca/ no longer want complicated gameplay that requires constant attention and long explanations.
Simpler slots now attract a wider audience because they save time and create faster sessions. So, let’s figure out why this change happened and reasons for the popularity of simpler machines.
Why Many Players Are Returning to Basic Gameplay
Modern websites like Casino Online CrazyTower pushed complex video slots for years, but many people now prefer classic formats again. Simple gameplay has fewer interruptions and is simpler in terms of budgeting, which is important when you gamble for fun.
These are a few potential reasons explain why simpler slots became popular again in 2026:
- Faster rounds. Symbols appear quickly, and rounds continue without long animations or extended bonus sequences.
- Easier controls. Most classic slots have simple menus and familiar layouts that don’t confuse new visitors.
- Smaller feature lists. Simple slots usually have standard wilds, scatters, and multipliers instead of dozens of random mechanics.
- Better session flow. People spend more time on gameplay instead of reading explanations about symbols and special functions.
- Lower visual pressure. Simpler slots use calmer designs and shorter effects that don’t overload attention.
Classic gameplay also suits mobile devices better because shorter rounds work well on smaller screens. Plus, many visitors now prefer games that start instantly and explain their mechanics within seconds.
Features That Make Simpler Slots Appealing
Simple machines at Casino Online CrazyTower and similar websites continue to attract attention because they have a high gameplay speed. Many classic titles also replicate older casino machines that people already know from physical casinos.
However, these aren’t the only factors that attract gamblers. So, check out this list:
- Short bonus rounds. Free spins and multipliers finish quickly instead of interrupting gameplay for several minutes.
- Common and standard paylines. Traditional layouts help people understand payouts without long explanations.
- Faster loading times. Simpler graphics reduce waiting time on phones, tablets, and older computers.
- Stable gameplay pace. Long cutscenes and constant pop-up notifications don’t interrupt the session.
- Traditional themes. Fruit symbols, bars, sevens, and classic casino designs still attract large audiences.
- Smaller menus. Important information appears immediately without complicated tabs or hidden sections.
Modern video slots often contain too many mechanics in a single game. Developers now combine expanding reels, random modifiers, mission systems, tournaments, and multiple bonus levels in one title. Many visitors lose interest because gameplay turns repetitive and overloaded with constant interruptions.
Compare this to a session when you get results immediately and aren’t interrupted. These still have free spins and even mini risk games, but not as loaded as innovative titles.
Conclusion
Simple slots usually create better replay value because people understand the mechanics immediately. Common and standard gameplay doesn’t cause frustration and allows faster decisions during casino sessions.
Many classic slots also function better during short breaks because rounds finish quickly without long bonus interruptions. That’s why simpler slots became popular again at many casinos, including Casino Online CrazyTower and such.
