Local News
Fantasy Football enthusiast releases new book providing fresh perspectives on Fantasy Football
By MYRON LOVE Noah Lieberman has been playing Fantasy Football since he was 12 or 13 years old and he says that his ratings are in the 99th percentile worldwide. Three weeks ago, the recent graduate of the Asper School of Business released the quintessential book on the popular pasttime.
“Lieberman’s “If You Think You Know Fantasy Football… Think Again” became available through Amazon on July 26 and is now also on sale at Chapters at Polo Park and Indigo on Kenaston (where he will be having a book signing event on August 20).
For readers who are not familiar with Fantasy Football, this is a pasttime that puts the player in the position of owner or general manager of a fictional NFL (or CFL for some Canadian players) football team. A group of friends or co-workers get together to form a “league”.
Each player, Lieberman explains, puts a fixed amount of money – perhaps $20 – into the pot at the beginning of the season. Some groups also have trophies for the winning “team”. The players “draft” from the NFL rosters (or CFL if playing the Canadian game) before the NFL season begins in middle to late August. Points are tallied each week based on how the “drafted’ players do in real play. At the end of the season in December, the player with the highest number of points collects the all or most of the total monies in the pot.
Sometimes, second and third place finishers also receive a portion of the collected dollars, Lieberman adds.
“There are rules and stipulations as to how to draft,” he explains. “We play on platforms such as Yahoo.”
There are tens of millions of players in North America alone,” he reports.
Lieberman, a Gray Academy graduate, became involved when he was invited to join a Fantasy Football league by friends who were enthusiastic football fans.
The newly-minted author notes that there are already many books out there on how to win at Fantasy Football. In his book, however, the younger son of Jeff and Robyn Lieberman has taken a different approach. He delves into the social and psychological aspects of the competition – what goes on behind the scenes in fantasy sports.
According to the blurb about his book on the Amazon website, “whether you’re a seasoned pro, or you’ve never played before, ‘If You Think You Know Fantasy Football… Think Again’ will give you a fascinating perspective on one of the world’s fastest growing games. Noah Lieberman provides the perfect combination of theory and humor that makes complicated ideas seem simple, fun, and easy to learn. By the end, you’ll be ready to take on the world of fantasy sports.”
“When you are competing with family, friend and co-workers, there are social dilemmas that might arise,” Lieberman points out. “There are different ways you can win. There are those who want to win no matter the cost. The ideal is to compete in a healthy way while avoiding interpersonal conflict.”
For readers looking for tips on how to draft, Lieberman suggests trusting your gut. Of course, you have to do your research.
He further notes that the initial rounds are the easiest as that is when the star football players are selected. “The secret to success,” he suggests,” is finding those hidden gems that will give your team an advantage.”
Lieberman reports that he began working on the 242-page “If You Think You Know Fantasy Football… Think Again” in December, 2020, right after the regular NFL season wrapped up.
He notes that he is already working on a second book and has ideas for a few more.
He can be contacted at noahlieberman99@gmail.com.
Local News
Thank you to the community from the Chesed Shel Emes
We’re delighted to share a major milestone in our Capital Campaign, “Building on our Tradition.” Launched in November 2018, this campaign aimed to replace our outdated facility with a modern space tailored to our unique needs. Our new building is designed with ritual at its core, featuring ample preparation space, Shomer space, and storage, creating a warm and welcoming environment for our community during times of need.
We’re grateful to the nearly 1,000 generous donors who contributed over $4 million towards our new facility. A $750,000 mortgage will be retired in November 2025, completing this monumental project in just seven years.
We’re also thrilled to announce that our Chesed Shel Emes Endowment Fund has grown tenfold, from $15,000 to $150,000, thanks to you, the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba’s FundMatch program, and Million Dollar Match initiative in 2024. Our fund helps ensure that everyone can have a dignified Jewish funeral regardless of financial need.
As we look to the future, our goal remains to ensure the Chevra Kadisha continues to serve our community for generations to come. Our focus now shifts to replenishing our savings account and growing our JFM Endowment fund.
We’re deeply grateful for your support over the past several years.
It’s our privilege to serve our community with care and compassion.
With sincere appreciation,
Campaign cabinet: Hillel Kravetsky, Gerry Pritchard, Stuart Pudavick,
Jack Solomon, and Rena Boroditsky
Murray S. Greenfield, President
Local News
Winnipeg Beach Synagogue about to celebrate 75th anniversary
By BERNIE BELLAN (July 13) In 1950 a group of cottage owners at Winnipeg Beach took it upon themselves to relocate a one-room schoolhouse that was in the Beausejour area to Winnipeg Beach where it became the beach synagogue at the corner of Hazel and Grove.
There it stayed until 1998 when it was moved to its current location at Camp Massad.
On August 2nd members of the synagogue will be holding a 75th anniversary celebration.
As part of the celebration anyone who is a descendant or relative of any of the original members of the first executive committee (as seen in the photo here) is invited to attend the synagogue that morning.
If you are a relative please contact Abe Borzykowski at wpgbeachshule@shaw.ca or aborzykowski@shaw.ca to let Abe know you might be attending or for more information about the 75th anniversary celebration.
We will soon be publishing a story about the history of the beach synagogue, which is something I’ve been writing about for over 25 years.
Local News
Vickar Family cuts ribbon on new Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre
By MYRON LOVE In the words of Larry Vickar, the Shaarey Zedek’s successful Dor V’ Dor Campaign “is not only a renewal of the synagogue but truly a renewal movement of Jewish life in our community.”An integral part of that renewal movement was the creation of a daycare centre within the expanded synagogue. On Monday, June 23, Larry and Tova Vickar cut the ribbon, thereby officially opening the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre in the presence of 100 of their family members, friends and other supporters of the project.
The short program preceding the morning ribbon-cutting began with a continental breakfast followed by a welcome by both Fanny Levy, Shaarey Zedek’s Board President, and Executive Director Dr. Rena Secter Elbaze. In Elbaze’s remarks, she noted that Larry and Tova wanted their family (including son Stephen and family, who flew in from Florida) and friends at the event to celebrate the opening of the Tova Vickar and Family Childcare Centre, “not because of the accolades, but because, as Larry put it, he hopes that their investment in the congregation will inspire others to do the same.”
“When Larry and I spoke about what this gift meant to him and the message he wanted people to take away,” she continued, “I couldn’t help but connect it to the teachings of Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi whose book – Age-ing to Sage-ing – changes the whole way we look at the concept of ageing and basing it on our ancestral teachings.”
She explained that his concept of “Sage-ing” is based on three key ideas – Discover your meaning and purpose; accept our mortality and think about the legacy you want to leave.
“Larry spoke about these exact concepts when we met,” she said.
Elbaze also noted the presence of Shaarey Zedek’s newly-arrived senior Rabbi Carnie Rose, former Rabbi Alan Green, and area MLAs Mike Moroz and Carla Compton.
Larry Vickar expressed his great appreciation for all those in attendance. “Tova and I are deeply moved to stand here with you today for this important milestone in our community”, he said. “We are grateful to be surrounded by all of you, the people we care about, our family and friends… you who have touched our lives and played some part in our journey.”