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15-year-old Mitchell Brown’s Holocaust poem

15-year-old Mitchell Brown

Introduction: We received a call from subscriber Joe Brown in Toronto, who was very proud of his 15-year-old grandson Mitchell, for having composed a Holocaust-themed poem. Joe sent us the poem and, although I said to him that I wasn’t sure we had enough space to print it in its entirety in the newspaper, I assured Joe we would post it to our website.
But, I told Joe I wanted to know more about Mitchell, so he contacted Mitchell and asked him to get in touch with me.

When I spoke with Mitchell, I asked him to describe how he had come to write his poem. What follows is the explanation Mitchell sent us.
“My name is Mitchell Brown and I’ve always had a passion for writing. Through my schooling, my teachers have encouraged me to begin to share my writing with other readers and use my words to spread meaning. So, I decided to take a plain old school assignment in history class and share powerful emotions and words on a very serious and difficult topic. The result was my Holocaust poem titled “A Mothers Nightmare in Auschwitz Death Camp.” I decided to make this poem a reflective piece to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust. I feel so disappointed when peers my age have little knowledge of the tragedies of the Holocaust, and I feel that it is the job of the youth to have a voice and spread awareness on important topics such as the Holocaust. I’ve learned throughout my writing the most powerful tool to spread messages and share emotions is through words. My poem follows a mother and her two children as they enter Auschwitz death camp, a common narrative that too many innocent Jewish families underwent. The poem captures the emotions and thoughts that this family experienced.”

“A Mother’s Nightmare in Auschwitz Death Camp”

By Mitchell Brown 
 
Hilda felt confusion 
Where are we she wondered 
Why are we here she pondered  
She and her two boys exited the cattle car  
Why are we being grouped up 
 
A menacing building appeared in front of Hilda 
A large factory she thought as big as a city 
A huge city 
With the words Arbeit Macht frei 
She knows that means work sets you free 
Am I working 
Why do I need to be set free 
She asked questions  
She thought the worse 
Her heart was pounding  
The ground she stood on felt rock hard like stone 
Scared and numb she felt 
Cold and anxious  
 
Screams so loud  
It looked like a place from a nightmare 
What they are creating in this factory  
Smog coming from the building  
Deep earthy stench pumping out of the building ahead of her 
Clouds of burnt smog 
Hilda had never smelt this type of smog before 
It confused her and her children 
 
Large hoards of people were being pushed 
Separated like cattle at a farm 
Nazi soldiers yelling with authority  
Humans everywhere 
 
She felt like an animal 
What is this smog why is it so cloudy  
The smog smelt as burned as a campfire 
Why does it smell like that 
Hilda’s young boys hated the stench 
It must be smog from a factory my children 
 
We are here to help out at this factory  
Hilda repeated to her children 
Natural intuition

Something isn’t right here 
 
Why are my children here 
Tattoos 
Scary strong Nazi men 
Giving tattoos  
Numbers 
Are we humans 
Why am I number 
Why are my children a different number than me 
 
I want them to know my name 
Not a number 
I feel so scared 
I want to be a human 
 
Is this a factory  
What are they making 
Are they burning something 
Why am I labeled with a number 
93102 
What does this mean 
 
If so what 
What are they burning 
Getting nervous and her heart is thudding  
Calm down Hilda 
Take a deep breath 
You will be back home soon 
In your warm comfortable safe town soon 
 
Come now boys don’t be scared 
Hilda calmed her children 
With her soft Mothers voice 
You will be safe in my arms 
 
Soldiers were separating family taking kids away from parents 
Like robots systematically dismantling families with no remorse 
Like water and oil 
Children and parents apart far apart  
 
The boys are gone 
Where did they go 
A soldier took all the children  
Where are my children 
Her throat was pulsing   
 
Hilda cried  
Hilda was grabbed by a soldier 
She shouted to the soldier 
Where are my children 
No response 
 
Hilda never seen her two children ever again 
 
Four weeks later 
Skinny and weak 
Hungry and scared 
Dirty and sore 
Soldiers are moving us like farm animals 
Hordes of crowds 
Numbers all have numbers 
All in pajamas 
 
Nazis said we are going to bathe 
Hilda needed it she was weak and dirty 
A crowd of 700 people were shoved into a dark cold room with no windows or light 
Shower time shouted a German soldier 
All naked 
 
She and 700 other frail and malnourished numbered people were here 
Door locked 
No escape she thought 
All had numbers on their wrist  
Why are we numbers 
A shower with numbers 
Strange and unknown 
 
Scratch marks on the walls of this shower room 
Hilda was crammed 
Where is the water for this shower  
Why are we all naked and packed like sardines  
I’m scared 
Help me god please 
Crammed into this dark cold terrifying room 
She felt numb and fearful 
Desensitized and anesthetized 
 
All she could think about was her children she had not seen them for 4 weeks 
Their gentle smile 
Where are they 
She questioned 
Where did they take the children 
I love them 
I want sympathy 
Relief and reassurance 
 
Her last thought in her mind was her two beautiful children 
There short brown hair and green eyes  
Their tender and humane skin  
They’re comforting and cheerful voices 
 
I can’t escape this 
 
Thud 
A mechanism clicked and vents above opened  
People were screaming in terror 
Scratching on the walls for freedom like nails on a chalkboard 
I want to be a human again 
This isn’t a shower 
Good night my dearest children she thought 
I’ll see you guys soon 
I love you 
 
Auschwitz Death Camp is responsible for 1.1 million deaths out of the 11 million victims of the Holocaust. 
We must never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust. 
We vow never again. 
 
Good night my dearest children she thought
I’ll see you guys soon
I love you

Auschwitz Death Camp is responsible for 1.1 million deaths out of the 11 million victims of the Holocaust.
We must never forget the atrocities of the Holocaust.
We vow never again.
­

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Famous Gambling Scandals and Controversies: Allyspin Casino Opinion

The gambling industry is full of scandals and controversies. There are various cases of fraud and manipulation schemes. That is why it is very important to pay attention to reliable gambling sites like Allyspin online casino, which follows the rules of responsible and safe gambling for its fans. Research shows that more than one trillion dollars are bet worldwide every year. That is why it is very important to be able to distinguish safe and reliable sites from fraudulent ones.
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Sites like Allyspin casino do everything possible to prevent such scandals. Thus, the latest security measures and solutions are actively implemented:
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Responsible gaming programs are also actively implemented. Online casinos offer the option of self-exclusion, as well as provide full support to players. All this allows you to minimize possible risks in the process of gambling and ensure the transparency of payment transactions.
The Future of Casino Security and Fraud Prevention
Large sites like Allyspin casino continue to expand, introducing enhanced security and fraud prevention tools. In the near future, such unique features will be available:
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Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency payments help not only simplify payments for users, but also reduce the risks of unauthorized transactions.
Biometric and multi-factor authentication. Thus, users undergo unambiguous identification, which reduces the risk of account use by fraudsters.
Cybersecurity plays an important role in online casino gambling. Modern sites implement the latest mechanisms to combat fraud, ensure fair gaming process and fully protect honest players.

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Canada Is Failing Its Students on Holocaust Education — Here’s What Must Change

By EMILY (surname withheld by request) We received the following article from a third-year Health Sciences student at Western University, who wrote that as “a Jewish student, I have seen firsthand how Holocaust education in Canada is falling short and how that failure is contributing to fear, misinformation, and rising antisemitism on campuses like mine.”

Despite curriculum requirements, Holocaust education in Canada is alarmingly inadequate. A recent survey found that nearly one in five young Canadians believe the Holocaust has been exaggerated. This highlights a dangerous gap in historical understanding, leaving students vulnerable to misinformation, denial, and rising antisemitism. If Canada is serious about combating hate, it must take Holocaust education far more seriously.

When asked whether Holocaust education in Canada is lacking, Professor Hernan Tessler-Mabe, historian and coordinator of Jewish Studies at Huron University, did not hesitate: “You are 100 percent correct.”

While most provinces claim to include Holocaust education in their curricula, the programming and implementation of curriculum tends to be inconsistent and inadequate. A student’s understanding of one of history’s greatest atrocities depends heavily on where they go to school, which teacher they have, and whether their school offers substantive instruction. The result is misinformation, denial, and rising antisemitism.

Avoiding Holocaust education allows dangerous myths and conspiracy theories to spread unchecked. Without an understanding of the Holocaust and the centuries of antisemitism that preceded it, students are ill-equipped to identify modern antisemitism in the world around them. This antisemitism manifests into everyday conversation, online spaces, and political discourse.

To address this crisis, Canada must act with urgency in three key areas. These include consulting experts, confronting difficult material, and properly training educators.

First, schools and provincial governments must consult those who specialize in Holocaust history and education. “It is the most important thing,” Dr. Tesler-Mabé, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Jewish Studies at Huron University says. He points out, “You cannot just throw it into a general history class and assume it will be taught well. You need people who understand both the history and how to teach it.”

Second, we must accept that the subject is deeply disturbing and cannot be made comfortable. Dr. Tesler-Mabé iterates, “We have to accept that parts of this will be traumatic or triggering.” “Obviously it depends on grade level, but if students do not feel disturbed by it, they will not understand it. That discomfort is part of the learning.”

Third, teachers must be prepared. Many educators may feel unequipped to teach this material and either gloss over it or skip it altogether. Training programs and partnerships are essential. In Ottawa, the Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES) works to connect schools with survivor testimonies and support resources, but broader reach and investment are needed.

Dr. Tesler-Mabé explains, “We have to teach the teachers, especially now that we are losing survivors. That raises a whole new concern. How do you teach something this heavy, this complex, without first hand testimony? Educators need the tools, the background, and the sensitivity to do it well.”

Some may argue that Canada already does enough in this area. After all, Holocaust education is present in some curricula, and many students visit Holocaust museums or hear from survivors. But occasional exposure is not enough. The widespread prevalence of Holocaust denial and the proliferation of antisemitic conspiracy theories underscore significant shortcomings in current systems designed to combat such misinformation. A 2022 report by UNESCO and the United Nations, in collaboration with the World Jewish Congress, found that 16.2% of Holocaust-related content on major social media platforms either denied or distorted fundamental facts about the Holocaust. A standardized, rigorous, and mandatory approach is the only way forward.

Holocaust education is not just about history, it is about safeguarding the future and combating antisemitism in modern manifestations. When students understand how propaganda, scapegoating, and dehumanization led to one of history’s darkest chapters, they are better equipped to recognize and reject hatred in all its forms. Without a solid foundation in Holocaust education, antisemitism continues to fester, not just in online spaces, but within universities, workplaces, and public discourse. We are already seeing the consequences of unchecked Holocaust denial and rising antisemitism, from bias in professional spaces to hostility on university campuses. As a Jewish student at Western University, I have seen fear take hold among my peers. Friends who once wore Stars of David or spoke openly about their heritage now hesitate to do so. I have also begun to question whether it is safe to express my identity. With the last generation of Holocaust survivors passing, the responsibility to preserve their stories and the lessons they teach rests with all of us. If we do not confront this crisis at its root, we risk allowing history to repeat itself in new and dangerous ways.

Canada is failing its students. In doing so, it is failing the promise of Never Again. The question is not whether we should strengthen Holocaust education, but why we have not already.

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Anna Kaplan one of Winnipeg’s youngest personal trainers

By MYRON LOVE It is always uplifting to read (or, from my perspective, to write) about people who have been able to reinvent themselves – and even more so when such an individual can use her own transformation to inspire others.  Such is the case with Anna Kaplan, a young (21) personal trainer whose passion for physical fitness grew out of personal troubles as a teenager.
“I had a feeling of being excluded,” says the daughter of Kevin and Roxanne Kaplan. “I was afraid that I was missing out. I was losing friends.  I had developed some bad habits and was at a real low point in my life – at rock bottom.”
At 18, Kaplan determined to change her life. She began working with a personal trainer and going to the gym. She also changed her dietary habits.
“Before long, I was feeling better mentally and physically,” she recalls.
Two years ago, wanting to help others struggling to improve their lives, Kaplan opened A Plus Fitness. On her Facebook page, she notes that “When you sign up for online training with A Plus Fitness, you’re not just getting a workout plan — you’re getting full access to our all-in-one training app designed to support your transformation every step of the way.”
Kaplan started A Plus Fitness strictly as an online business for which she developed her own app.  “I started building my client base initially by contacting friends and acquaintances via a social media platform to see what interest there might be out there,” she says.
With demand for her services growing, about a year ago she began working with clients in person out of a gym on Portage Avenue.  In just two years, she reports, business has grown to the point where she has had to hire a second trainer.
“I work with people ranging from 18 to 65 plus,” she says.  “The number of clients has tripled in the last year and I have been able to help over 100 clients to get into shape and change their lives.”
The reviews have been outstanding with many giving the young fitness trainer a 5 out of 5 rating.  Says one client: ”I’ve been training with Anna for a while now, and it’s been an amazing experience! She really takes the time to understand my goals and pushes me in the best way possible. Since working with her, I feel stronger, more motivated, and more confident in my workouts.”
Adds another: “Over the past year, A Plus Fitness has completely transformed my approach to working out, helping me tone my body and build strength in ways I never thought possible. Anna’s guidance and personalized training plans have made a huge difference in my progress, pushing me to achieve results faster than I expected.”
 
Kaplan feels good that among those she has been able to help have been her own mother, Roxanne Kaplan, who says that ”I’ve always had some sort of fitness routine in my life. I followed along with the fitness videos with the weights that were recommended – I’d go through phases but never stuck to it. With Anna’s coaching and sticking to her program, I see muscle definition that I’ve never had before. I feel better, more confident, and well rested.”
 
Kaplan further points out that, in additions to helping people through her business, she is also community minded.  “I have helped with several fundraising events in the Jewish community,” she reports.
 
Most recently, she helped raise money for the Reid Bricker Mental Wellness Fund in memory of a relatively young member of our community who struggled with mental health for several years before committing suicide 10 years ago. The fund aims “to increase the availability of mental health supports and education across the province while ensuring that individuals and families facing mental health challenges receive the support they need when they need it the most.”
 
Next for Anna Kaplan and A Plus Fitness is to open her own location at some point in the next few years.
 
Readers can contact Anna at 204 391-5832 or mail her at admin@aplusfit.ca

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