“How to Share an Egg” by Bonny Reichert
Published by Appetite by Random House, 2025
Book Review by Julie Kirsh, former Sun Media News Research Director
Exclusive to The Jewish Post and News
Bonny Reichert writes with great compassion about her father, a Holocaust survivor. In reviewing children of survivor literature, much has been said about the need to compensate for the suffering of the Holocaust survivor. To upset parents after what they have been through, is to be avoided at all cost.
In my own survivor family, I learned that to ask questions of my parents about what happened during the war and even before the war was to cause pain. I learned not to ask, not to cause pain.
In 2015 Bonny Reichert and her family made a trip to Warsaw. The tomb of an ancestor called out to her father. The author’s great-grandfather was “a pillar of his community and a beloved scholar.” His namesake, the author’s father, was jubilant to find the headstone in the Warsaw cemetery. Afterwards the famished family found a deserted restaurant and revelled in a bowl of borscht garnished with fresh condiments. The description of this delicious meal is the reader’s introduction to the author’s moving memoir about food, love, hunger and survival. The author writes that in her family “food was connected to the meaning of life itself; an understanding woven into our very being.” The dining table was a very important place in the daily life of the family.
At age 5, the author noticed the blue-green numbers on her father’s arm. It was at this time that the father started to talk about his Holocaust experiences. By retelling his stories, the author’s father was reframing the horror into stories of bravery and triumph. In some ways, he was healing himself in the process of telling.
His daughter, the child of the survivor, tests her father’s Holocaust experience by putting a bare foot in the snow or trying to imagine unspeakable hunger. Trauma passed down the intergenerational chain has been explored in the children of the Holocaust survivors’ literature. Bonny Reichert absorbed her father’s trauma without understanding the origin of her own inherent sadness and dark feelings.
My high school years were spent going to movies, shopping and finding out about boys with my best friend, Linda. Her family, unlike my own, was a Canadian Jewish family who came to Toronto before the war. I considered Linda’s family normal and healthy. There were many aunts, uncles, cousins and even grandparents. Similarly, Cathy was the author’s best friend. In Cathy’s home there were no accents and no sad stories about tragedy and loss.
In her twenties, the author takes us through her engagement and marriage to the “right” guy. Turning down an opportunity to go to law school, staying at home with a baby, not dealing with depression was her life which she portrays poignantly in this memoir.
Most unexpectedly, she did not get the support that she needed from her father. He ignored her feelings. He saw her in the role of a traditional wife who had no outside aspirations other than to be a homemaker.
Therapy sessions helped her to take control of her life and become more aware of her authentic self. Her father was able to love her deeply and share the truths that he had learned through his Holocaust experience. However she came to understand that no one can define another person’s path. Taking journalism courses and having her voice published, helped the author’s sense of independence and self-esteem. In her late twenties, after divorcing her first husband, she married Michael, had two more children and balanced motherhood with her job as a magazine editor.
At age forty, the author enrolled in a culinary school. Conquering her unnamed fears, gave her an outlet for the energy trapped within. She learned that “being afraid is no way to live”.
In addition to exploring her personal psyche, the author writes about recreating lost recipes from before the war. The reader learns that Jews have been making cholent for many decades. Putterkuch or butter crumble cake was painstakingly recreated in her modern kitchen and taken to her father for his approval and insight into what he remembered about his mother and his childhood. Food became the trigger for buried memories.
In the final chapters of “How to Share an Egg,” the author goes on a fact finding mission to Berlin and Poland. She visited ghettos and concentration camps with a tour group.

Hedy Bohm is one of the Holocaust’s oldest survivors and was my mother’s best friend. She is the catalyst for persuading the author to conquer her lifelong fear of understanding the Holocaust survivor experience. At age eighty-four, she told her story in a German court of justice. For Hedy, this experience was validating, transforming her entire world view.
The author leaves us with food for thought. Fight the worst that history had to offer the Jews with beauty, happiness and continuation of life. Her father modelled resilience, courage and strength, allowing his daughter to choose her own response to life’s challenges.

From smoky bar-rooms in Texas to high-end casinos on the French Riviera, poker is booming across the world.

From underground games in China to Arctic villages where players bet with their ration supplies, the game has now spread across the planet’s different cultures, adapting to each one.

From online poker to a seat at an opulent casino table, the rules are simple but the strategy is deep… and that’s why it appeals to everyone.

How poker is conquering the world

In the US poker took off in the 19th century, spreading along the Mississippi River on gambling boats.

In China, variations like Dou Dizhu share poker’s competitive spirit. In Europe, poker thrives in plush casinos from London to Monaco.

Hollywood and TV have kept poker in the spotlight. From Casino Royale to Rain Man, big-screen showdowns have made the game even more glamorous.

The arrival of poker online games pushed the game even further. Today anyone with a phone can play against opponents worldwide.

Poker is about skill, risk and reading people. A strong hand isn’t always enough—you need nerve.

That’s why it remains an ultimate test of strategy and psychology. Whether played for pennies or millions, in dimly lit rooms or bright casinos, poker is a global game.

What type of player plays poker?

Poker appeals to no fixed type. Anyone can play.

Over the years, poker champions have come from every background. Old, young, rich, broke.

Men, women. Every nationality and every walk of life.

Doyle Brunson, the grizzled Texas road gambler, played through the Wild West days of poker and lived to write the book on it.

Johnny Chan, the Chinese-born master, dominated the 1980s, with his lucky orange always beside him.

Barbara Enright was the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table. Vanessa Selbst, a Yale-educated lawyer, crushed high-stakes tournaments for years.

Online prodigies like Viktor ‘Isildur1’ Blom took on the world’s best from his computer screen.

From Arctic truckers playing in frozen outposts to Saudi businessmen gambling behind closed doors, poker appeals to every type.

It’s not about where you’re from or what you look like. It’s about how you play.

That’s why poker remains the most democratic and cosmopolitan game in the world.

The rise of Jewish Poker

Players from the Jewish community have always been a force in poker. The culture values sharp thinking, debate and strategy – perfect skills for the game.

For centuries, Jewish communities have embraced card games, from Eastern Europe to New York’s Lower East Side. The appeal is clear: poker rewards intellect over luck, skill over status.

That’s why some of the greatest players in history have been Jewish.

Take Erik Seidel. A quiet, calculating master, Seidel has nine WSOP bracelets and over $40 million in earnings.

He first made his mark in the 1988 WSOP Main Event, losing heads-up to Johnny Chan in a hand made famous by the movie Rounders. Seidel kept evolving, mastering live and online poker alike.

Stu Ungar was another legend. A fearless, aggressive genius who won three WSOP Main Events.

Ungar was raised in a tough New York neighborhood as a prodigy at gin rummy before switching to poker. His natural talent was stellar but his self-destructive lifestyle cut his career short.

Barry Greenstein, dubbed the ‘The Robin Hood of Poker,’ made millions in high-stakes cash games. Then donated much of his winnings to charity. Greenstein’s calm, disciplined style made him a feared opponent on poker tables everywhere.

Or how about Vanessa Selbst, the highest-earning female player in history? She was a fierce competitor with an aggressive style. Selbst dominated tournaments and made history by winning three WSOP bracelets in her career.

These players and many other success stories show how Jewish culture, with its love of wit, argument and mental agility, has always found a natural home at the poker table.

Poker can be played by everyone

Jewish players like these have left a deep mark on poker.

The game rewards intelligence, strategy, and psychological insight – traits valued in Jewish culture. From Erik Seidel’s quiet precision to Stu Ungar’s raw talent, players from the community have shaped the game at every level.

Whether in smoky backrooms or high-stakes tournaments, they’ve benefited from their sharp minds and fearless play.

But poker belongs to no single group. It thrives in every culture.

In China, card games with poker-like strategy have existed for centuries. In Russia, cold, calculated players dominate the online scene.

In Brazil, an energetic new poker generation is making waves. From Arctic villages to African casinos, the game is adapting to the modern world.

Poker’s appeal is universal. It’s not about where you’re from, but how you play.

Bluffing, reading opponents, taking risks – these are human instincts.

That’s why poker will remain the world’s greatest card game. It speaks a language that everyone understands.

When people hear the word “gambling,” many of them instantly think about Canada — and for a good reason. Its revenue in the gambling sphere is expected to show an annual growth rate of 2.96% between 2025 and 2029. Canada is known as a safe space for those who want to play different online games and experience the excitement that comes with winning real money while facing minimum risks.

This country has introduced many regulations to make gambling on its territory a fair, government-controlled process. What’s particularly interesting is that every province has its own rules and patterns. Why? Because Canadians’ preferences differ based on where they live.

Discover how players’ habits change from region to region to understand the world of Canadian gambling better. 

Provinces with Large and Diversified Gambling Markets

Canada’s three largest provinces boast the most diverse gambling markets, offering a variety of options such as lotteries, sports betting, and online games of chance and skill. For those looking to explore exciting opportunities, new online casinos in Canada provide fresh and promising platforms across different regions. Informative online guides help players navigate the landscape by offering clear listings of available gambling providers, ensuring new players can make well-informed choices.

Let’s learn a bit more about them.

Ontario 

There is no doubt that Ontario hosts the most diverse gambling market in the entire country. It’s represented by two largest sectors with separate governing bodies:

• Land-based gambling. This sector is regulated by Gaming Corporation and is responsible for maintaining such popular casinos as Casino Niagara and the like.
• Online gambling. Another sector offers online games, which are closely supervised by iGaming Ontario.

Such a clear distinction between the two types of gambling allows for enforcing stricter quality and security standards for each. Their existence reflects the diverse preferences of Ontario residents.   

Quebec

The second biggest province in terms of gambling diversity is Quebec. Both online and land-based options are regulated by Loto-Québec, and you can find anything from blackjack to lotteries and sports betting there.

This province is known for its strong linguistic identity. It means that apart from the games in standard English, many options are available for French-speaking players, who tend to gravitate toward Quebec casinos for this reason. 

British Columbia

For years, the residents of British Columbia preferred land-based casinos, but now its online gambling market is expanding more and more. Both of these segments feature diverse games, from traditional options to crash games and the latest online releases. The British Columbia Lottery Corporation is responsible for them all.

Provinces with a Focus on Land-Based Gambling 

Now, it’s time to consider provinces that still show strong preferences toward land-based gambling. 

Alberta  

The residents of this province remain committed to land-based gambling. Some of their favorite pastimes include:

• Attending racetracks
• Visiting casinos
• Engaging in pull ticket events

Online casinos exist in Alberta, but they aren’t nearly as popular. 

Saskatchewan 

This region is also known for its focus on land-based casinos. The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority regulates establishments that offer players options such as roulette, poker, blackjack, and other games. Recently, online gaming began to gain an edge, but its popularity is still lacking in comparison.  

Atlantic Provinces 

Canada’s Atlantic Provinces include Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. All the residents here show a clear preference for land-based gambling, particularly for video lottery terminals, bingo, table games, and slot machines. Online gambling is undergoing development, but at a slow pace, since locals prefer to stick to their traditions. 

Balanced Land-Based and Online Gambling Markets

Some provinces have made it a point to develop their land-based and online gambling markets at the same time. We mentioned some of them above, but there is also Manitoba, with its excellent balanced gambling field. It’s held by these pillars: 

• Aseneskak Casino. This is a First Nations-operated casino that supports the Indigenous population. 
• Club Regent Casino. This land-based establishment appeals to those residents who love slot machines and poker rooms.
• Sand Hills Casino. People from western Manitoba tend to visit this casino.
• PlayNow. As an official online gambling platform in Canada, PlayNow is growing increasingly popular, with more people creating their accounts to engage in sports betting, poker, and other casino games. 

The reason why Manitoba has been successful at developing both branches of gambling is that its rural population lives too far from land-based casinos. To meet their needs, the province introduced the online market.   

Territories with Limited Gambling Access

As opposed to Manitoba, some Canadian provinces cannot afford to create land-based casinos for their rural populations at all, so online gambling is their only choice.  

Yukon 

In terms of land-based gambling, this region is mostly known for its lotteries and other small events. The vast majority of its people access online Canadian platforms to try their luck. 

Northwest Territories

Similar to Yukon residents, people who inhabit the Northwest territories mostly participate in stuff like charitable gambling and local-level lotteries. Those who want more diverse options can visit national gambling online websites.  

Nunavut 

If you’ve been wondering about Canada’s least developed gambling province, Nunavut is the one. Its people mostly have two options: to engage in government-run lotteries or to look for online options on general Canadian websites. Because of the lack of sufficient options, the interest in gambling is pretty low here.

Final Insights: How Gambling Differs by Region 

Canada has all kinds of people living on its territory. There are generations of doctors representing different fields, famous actors, countless teachers, and many other professionals. Their gambling interests differ based on what region they inhabit and what preferences they develop as a result. 

People in Alberta, Atlantic Provinces, and Saskatchewan prefer to stick to traditions and play in land-based casinos; those in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Manitoba are more eager to explore the opportunities in online gambling establishments. 

At the same time, the rural residents of regions like Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut have no choice but to turn to online gaming since there aren’t many land-based casinos in their vicinity. 

Whatever you’re looking for, Canada will have it. You just need to find a province and a casino that will cater to your unique needs.