Features
Campus program gives Winnipeggers a virtual reality experience allowing them to share some of the same emotions Israelis attacked on October 7 felt
By BERNIE BELLAN It was advertised as “Through Their Eyes – October 7th Virtual Reality Journey.”
On September 16, a small number of Winnipeggers were able to participate in a virtual reality experience during which they were able to watch in 3D as different Israelis described what they went through on October 7 last year.
The event was sponsored by Winnipeg Friends of Israel and Bridges for Peace. It was held in the games room of the Rady JCC.
As readers no doubt recall, on October 7, 1200 Israelis (and non-Israelis) living in communities situated close to the Gaza Strip were murdered by what turned out to be over 6,000 Hamas terrorists who had managed to penetrate into Israel fairly easily in the early hours of October 7. As well, 220 individuals (not all of whom were Israeli) were abducted and taken to Gaza.
While almost anyone in the world with access to the internet would have been able to see footage of the atrocities carried out by Hamas – and fully understand the absolute terror that people were experiencing, for Israelis living near the Gaza Strip what was happening was all so terribly confusing. People could hear gunshots all around them – but where were they coming from and who was firing them, almost everyone who was there must have wondered?
And, once the realization that an attack was underway, how were you supposed to respond? Were you better off to try and hide in place or to try to make a run for it?
An Israeli production company that goes by the name of Atlantis-VR embarked upon an ambitious project whereby they wanted to interview some of the individuals who experienced that October 7 attack directly. But, rather than simply interviewing those individuals, Atlantis-VR wanted to show each of them in their own homes – in the exact places they were as the attack was taking place. Through virtual reality technology viewers are now able to see a 360° rendition of an entire room in which the interviewees in the presentation created by Atlantis-VR were situated at the time of the attack. At certain points you are also taken outside interviewees’ homes and see the same vistas that those individuals would have been able to see, including roads and fields with the Gaza Strip in the background.
As groups of six different individuals entered the games room in the Rady JCC on September 16 they were greeted by Daniel Zioni, one of the principals behind Atlantis-VR. There were six different sessions held on September 16, each lasting anywhere from 40 minutes to an hour (depending on how long it took each attendee to watch the presentation. In my case, for instance, I spent over an hour as I had so many questions during the course of watching the presentation that I continued to pepper Daniel with questions about what I had just seen after each segment. Poor Daniel – since each of us had donned the headset at different times and were watching the presentation at our own pace, he was constantly racing from participant to participant, adjusting headsets, turning on the next segment, and answering questions.)
After donning the virtual reality headsets, (which takes some getting used to, especially for older participants who had likely never experienced wearing a VR headset before), the first segment began for viewers. We watched as a woman by the name of Yasmin Margolis describe what had happened to her, her husband Sa’ar, and their two young daughters, when Hamas terrorists entered Kibbutz Kissufim, which is where they lived.
Sa’ar bravely left the family home, armed with his rifle, to take on the terrorists. Unfortunately, while his wife’s and daughters’ lives were spared, Sa’ar died that day fighting to protect his kibbutz.
The next segment is about the Marom family, who were living in Kibbutz Re’em. In their case, their house was set on fire by terrorists while they were inside. Still, they managed to escape through a window and were eventually rescued.
The third segment shows a family living in an apartment block in Sderot. The battle for Sderot actually lasted over two days, as IDF forces entered into protracted gun fights with terrorists who had been hiding throughout the city. During that time the Politi family holed themselves up in their apartment and even provided shelter – and food, for a boyfriend of one of their daughters – and his friend, who had found themselves stranded at a gas station where one of them had been working when the terrorists invaded. There was a moment of comic relief when the Politi husband and wife described what happened when they heard banging on their apartment door. The boyfriend shouted that it was him – and Mr. Politi opened the door. At that point, Mr. Polliti, noted, the boyfriend’s friend said: “I’m hungry – have you got anything to eat?”
The final segment of the VR presentation – and easily the most mesmerizing of the four segments, consists of an interview with Rami Davidian, who was a 58-year-old member of a moshav by the name of Patish in an area very close to where the Nova Music Festival was taking place. Davidian has become quite a national hero in Israel for what he did on October 7 – and for almost 48 hours non stop thereafter.
As he describes in his interview, he received a phone call from a friend who didn’t quite understand what was happening the morning of October 7, but whohad a daughter who had been attending the Nova Music Festival, which was the site of the murder of 370 young Israelis. The friend knew Rami lived close to where the festival was taking place and asked him whether he could go there to try to find his daughter. Of course, Rami had no idea what he was heading into – and, as he explains during the segment in which he tells his story, even as bullets and rocket propelled grenades began to be fired at his car, he continued on. He managed to find survivors of the massacre and transport them back to his home on the moshav, where his wife took care of them.
But then, he started to receive hundreds of messages from anxious parents who somehow had heard that Rami might be in a position to save their kids. He got back into his car and headed right back to the site of the festival – all the while being fired upon by terrorists. Somehow – and he says he doesn’t know how he survived, he managed to return to the site – over and over again, eventually incredibly helping to rescue 750 young Israelis.
The entire VR presentation is so vivid that I had only wished that more people could have seen it. I asked Daniel Zioni whether there were any plans to convert the four segments of the presentation into one video that, for instance, could be seen on Youtube? Granted, seeing it in VR makes more of an impact, but in terms of reaching a wider audience I wondered whether it might make sense to do what I had suggested. I was especially keen on seeing the segment with Rami Davidian turned into something that could be seen by a much wider audience. While Daniel didn’t give me a definitive answer, he did say that was something under consideration by Atlantis-VR.
In the meantime, if you would like to read more about Rami Davidian and his heroics, there are quite a few articles online that tell his story. Simply Google Rami Davidian.
Here’s a link to the Atlantis-VR website: www.atlantis-vr.com
Features
How To Earn Money with Cryptocurrency From Home
If you’re looking for new ways to make money from home, there’s a modern way to do it. Cryptocurrency has opened up new opportunities for making money online. With the right approach, you can generate income without leaving your house. Whether you want to invest, trade, or earn through other methods, there are various ways to profit from digital currencies. For instance, Canadian poker players take advantage of crypto-friendly platforms to play from home and cash out in Bitcoin or other digital currencies. These platforms provide customers various benefits and attractions that make online gambling a great way to earn money from home, while also having fun.
Understanding Cryptocurrency
Before diving into ways to make money, it is important to understand what cryptocurrency is. It is a digital form of money that operates on blockchain technology.
Unlike traditional currencies, it is decentralized and not controlled by any government or central bank. The most well-known cryptocurrency is Bitcoin, but there are thousands of others, including Ethereum, Litecoin, and Solana, and even plenty of meme coins to choose from.
Trading Cryptocurrency
One of the most popular ways to earn money with cryptocurrency is through trading. This involves buying and selling digital coins to take advantage of price changes.
Day Trading
Day trading is for those who want to make quick profits by buying and selling cryptocurrencies within the same day. It requires monitoring price charts and market trends. Since prices can be volatile, traders must act quickly to capitalize on short-term price movements.
Swing Trading
Unlike day trading, swing trading focuses on medium-term price trends. Traders hold onto their assets for days or even weeks, waiting for a better price before selling. This method requires patience and a good understanding of market trends.
Holding
HODLing is a long-term investment strategy. Investors buy cryptocurrencies and keep them for an extended period, expecting the value to rise over time. This method is ideal for those who believe in the long-term potential of digital currencies and prefer a hands-off approach.
Earning Through Staking
Staking allows cryptocurrency holders to earn passive income by participating in the network of a blockchain. By holding certain cryptocurrencies in digital wallets, users help validate transactions and secure the network. In return, they receive rewards in the form of additional coins. Some popular staking coins include Ethereum, Cardano, and Polkadot.
Mining Cryptocurrency
Mining is another way to generate income from home. It involves using computer power to validate transactions and add new blocks to the blockchain. Miners are rewarded with cryptocurrency for their efforts.
While Bitcoin mining requires expensive equipment and high electricity costs, other cryptocurrencies like Litecoin and Monero can still be mined using regular computers. Some mining pools allow individuals to combine their computing power with others to increase their chances of earning rewards.
Earning Through Airdrops and Forks
Airdrops occur when cryptocurrency projects distribute free tokens to wallet holders as part of a promotion. These giveaways help new projects attract attention. To receive airdrops, users often need to hold a specific cryptocurrency or complete simple tasks like signing up for a newsletter or following a project on social media.
Forks happen when a blockchain splits into two. If you hold a cryptocurrency that undergoes a fork, you may receive new coins based on the amount you already own. This provides an opportunity to make money without additional investment.
Participating in Play-to-Earn Games
The rise of blockchain gaming has created new opportunities for earning cryptocurrency from home, while also having a little fun. Some online games reward players with digital assets for completing tasks, winning battles, or progressing through levels. These assets can be sold or traded for real money.
Many play-to-earn games operate using NFTs, which allow players to own and trade in-game items. Popular games in this space include Axie Infinity, The Sandbox, and Gods Unchained.
Creating and Selling NFTs
Non-fungible tokens have created new earning possibilities for digital artists, musicians, and content creators. NFTs are unique digital assets stored on the blockchain, representing ownership of artwork, music, videos, and virtual collectibles.
Artists can create NFTs and sell them on marketplaces making them a great way to raise your income from home. Some NFTs have sold for thousands or even millions of dollars, making this a profitable option for those with creative skills.
Earning Crypto Through Affiliate Programs
Affiliate programs allow individuals to earn cryptocurrency by promoting products and services. Many crypto exchanges, wallets, and investment platforms offer referral programs where users receive rewards for bringing in new customers.
By sharing referral links on social media, blogs, or YouTube channels, users can generate a steady income stream. The more people who sign up using their link, the more they earn.
Crypto Lending and Yield Farming
Crypto lending allows investors to earn interest by lending their digital assets to others, of course, you will need to have a crypto to lend in the first place to make money through this method.
Yield farming is another way to earn passive income. It involves providing liquidity to decentralized finance platforms and earning rewards in return. This method can be profitable but carries risks, including market fluctuations and smart contract vulnerabilities.
Freelancing for Crypto Payments
Many online platforms and businesses pay freelancers in cryptocurrency for their work. Writers, developers, graphic designers, and marketers can find gigs that offer digital currency as payment.
There are plenty of websites out there that can help connect freelancers with clients who prefer paying in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.
By offering services in exchange for cryptocurrency, freelancers can avoid traditional banking fees and receive payments faster.
Features
Understanding different payment methods in online casinos
Payment methods have been a hot topic of conversation in the casino gaming world since the inception of online casinos. Before the internet changed the entire fabric of this industry, there were a relatively small number of ways to deposit money in a casino. Many land-based casinos have ATMs, others accept cheque payments as withdrawals and deposits, and others pay out larger amounts in cash or bank transfers.
Of course, Visa and Mastercard have been widely accepted in land-based and digital casinos for decades. But compared to the way the market is now, with a whole range of e-wallets and digital payment options, the number of possibilities has soared.
Today, we’ll review the popular payment methods, some of which experts believe could disrupt the industry, and other options that have started to connect with casino gaming audiences in Canada and further afield.
Prepayment vouchers
In the modern casino market, digital wallets and internet-based payment services have become dominant forces in casino gaming. Prepayment services have exploded in popularity over the last 25 years, and services and platforms such as Neosurf have been able to carve out a slice of this market for themselves.
As the Canadian market expands, prepayment options such as Skrill and Paysafecard have emerged as deposit options for gamers looking to deposit first and pay later. Neosurf is widely used in casino gaming, offering e-wallet and account functionality. Knowing where you can find the best Neosurf casinos is a good move, as dozens of highly reputable providers provide a facility for Neosurf customers to play casino games.
However, in a vast and competitive casino gaming market, casinos that simply focus on one type of payment method face an uphill challenge in an industry where scope of choice is becoming more of a selling point.
E-wallet payment options
While PayPal and Neteller might have been the first companies to highlight the potential for e-wallets to exist as payment methods in the online casino business, they have morphed into an entirely different market to that of 20 years ago.
Options such as Apple Pay and Google Pay have surged in popularity. While they work similarly to PayPal and Neteller, for the tens of millions of people who have added their debit card to their phone wallet, it’s a simple case of selecting either Apple Pay, Android or Google Pay, depending on the type of mobile device you use. Your card information syncs immediately to the site, and you can deposit within seconds.
It’s faster than entering your card details. It integrates the biometric face ID or your passcode, depending on which one you use on your mobile device. If you experience any issues, you can immediately freeze your Apple Pay card, meaning nobody can withdraw any funds.
Traditional methods
Millions of online casino gamers opt for traditional payment options. We’ve touched on some of these, including PayPal and Visa. However, despite the rise of e-wallet payment options and more contemporary types of payments such as cryptocurrency, there’s still a vast, dominant market for Visa and Mastercard – which are two of the oldest and most traditional payment methods still available in the casino gaming industry, both online and land-based.
Of all the key tips to use the internet safely, several high-profile anti-fraud campaigns focus on traditional payment options. While entering your card details, CVV number and expiry date into the wrong site can be disastrous, many stopgaps are in place, including suspicious transaction flagging from both Visa and your bank, which can stop criminals dead in their tracks.
That said, handing out such information is still not a good idea. This is why you should always research a casino before you use it. Once you ensure they have a watertight security system and have not been subjected to a data breach, you can deposit your funds with greater confidence. It also pays to keep updated with the latest cybersecurity news, including sophisticated phish-free phishing attacks, one of the latest emerging threats.
The future of payment methods in online casino gaming
Cryptocurrency and blockchain systems are the latest methods that have become popular in the online casino world, although they might not have the visibility or the same level of mass adoption that we have seen with other payment options over the last few years.
It does feel like there’s room for Bitcoin and altcoins to become players in the future. Not only do they have the appeal to branch into a broader market, but by utilizing and leveraging the power of the blockchain, users can deposit and withdraw their funds directly to their crypto wallet without having to enter their card details.
In the event of a cyberattack, a cryptocurrency casino’s main wallet is often targeted for funds, but criminals rarely try to extract databases of information.
The added convenience and potential security could be the two main pillars that bring cryptocurrency alongside some payment systems that have been present in the casino gaming world for decades. There are still other variables to consider here – most crucially, regulation. However, if these obstacles can be overcome, crypto could spearhead the growth of online casinos into the 2030s.
Final thoughts
You could find platforms with two dozen payment options, depending on the casino site you use. Many of the large providers offer as many payment options as possible. Other sites, such as niche casinos that don’t have the same market share, will only focus on cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP.
However, regardless of the payment options you encounter in an online casino, they will often fall into three categories: e-wallets, traditional payment systems or niche digital-specific payment options, such as cryptocurrency. We wouldn’t recommend seeking the niche options if you do not understand how they work.
Understand the mechanics of these payment systems and what drives the market. Once you know the payment option, whether cryptocurrency or Apple Pay, you can test the waters and experience how it works in the broader online casino gaming industry.
Features
Young Jewish Voices: How Gen Z Is Redefining Jewish Identity in Canada
Let’s be honest: if you ask five Jewish Gen Zers what being Jewish means to them, you’ll probably get five different answers — and maybe a TikTok link or two.
Welcome to Jewish identity in the 2020s: nuanced, layered, and often proudly paradoxical. For Canada’s youngest Jewish generation — born roughly between 1997 and 2012 — identity is less about rigid boxes and more about building bridges between heritage, values, and the world around them.
Gone are the days when being Jewish in Canada meant synagogue every Saturday, kugel on Sunday, and Hebrew school on Wednesday. Today’s Jewish youth are reshaping the narrative in their own voice — one meme, protest sign, and cultural remix at a time.
“Our obligation is not only to remember history, but to shape the future.”
— Jonathan Sacks
Let’s explore how Canada’s Gen Z Jews are doing exactly that — reshaping Jewish life, one fresh perspective at a time.
A Quick Look in the Rearview Mirror
To understand the shift, it helps to know what came before.
Jewish life in 20th-century Canada was often defined by close-knit communities, shared rituals, and survival stories passed from immigrant grandparents to their grandchildren. Synagogues were not just houses of worship but social hubs, schools, and safety nets. Identity was communal, tangible, and — in many ways — inherited.
Fast forward to today, and the landscape looks a little different. Synagogue membership among younger Jews is declining. According to a 2021 Environics study on Canadian Jewish demographics, only 32% of Jewish Canadians aged 18–29 say they attend synagogue even once a month. For many, spirituality has taken on new forms, and belonging doesn’t always come with a membership fee.
So, Who Exactly Is Gen Z?
Gen Z is the first generation to grow up entirely online — swiping before they could spell, livestreaming before they could drive.
In Canada, this cohort is incredibly diverse. According to Statistics Canada, 27.2% of Gen Z Canadians identify as visible minorities, and over half say religion plays a limited role in their daily life. And yet, paradoxically, Gen Z reports higher levels of personal spirituality and interest in social justice causes than older millennials.
For Jewish Gen Zers, that means Jewish identity might show up less in formal prayer and more in values: tikkun olam (repairing the world), social activism, or showing solidarity with marginalized groups.
Just ask Maya, a 21-year-old student at UBC, who says, “I feel the most Jewish when I’m volunteering at refugee clinics or showing up at climate marches. That’s what Judaism taught me — to speak up.”
Not Just Religion — A Whole Vibe
Jewish identity has never been just about religion — it’s a culture, a history, a humour, a challah on a Friday night. But Gen Z is pushing that even further.
Many describe their Jewishness more in terms of music playlists, Yiddish memes, tattoos with Hebrew phrases, or even stand-up comedy. They embrace Jewishness as an evolving identity, not a fixed checklist.
Take Noah, a 19-year-old from Montreal who grew up secular but started baking his own challah during the pandemic. “It started as a quarantine hobby,” he laughs. “Now it’s my Friday thing. I put on klezmer music, and it just feels… grounding. My way of being Jewish.”
Digital Judaism: From Torah to TikTok
The digital world has become a surprisingly fertile ground for Jewish connection. While older generations may raise an eyebrow, Jewish Gen Zers are flocking to podcasts, Instagram creators, and even TikTok rabbis for spiritual and cultural nourishment.
Pages like @HeyAlma or @JewishGirlTherapy have become gathering spaces for Jewish Gen Zers exploring identity with humour, self-reflection, and often a healthy dose of irreverence.
It’s a far cry from Hebrew school, but it’s real, meaningful connection. And isn’t that the point?
“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.”
— Nora Ephron
In an era when antisemitism has risen both globally and here at home, Jewish Gen Z isn’t shrinking. They’re storytelling, organizing, posting, and showing up.
Speaking of Antisemitism…
Let’s not sugar-coat it. In 2022, B’nai Brith Canada reported over 2,700 antisemitic incidents — the second-highest year on record. The majority happened online, where Gen Z spends most of their time.
For many young Jews, this means navigating identity with both pride and caution. Some keep things quiet at school or work. Others wear Magen David necklaces with intention, not just style.
Zara, a 22-year-old Jewish student in Toronto, puts it plainly: “It’s weird — I’ve never felt more proud to be Jewish and also more aware that it could make me a target.”
And yet, this generation isn’t backing down. From student-led Holocaust education campaigns to Jewish queer collectives, they’re building communities of resilience and connection.
Jewish, Queer, Mixed, and… Still Jewish
Another big shift? Gen Z’s embrace of intersectionality. This generation includes Jews of colour, converts, interfaith backgrounds, and LGBTQ+ identities — all claiming space and refusing to be boxed in.
Where older generations may have debated “Who is a Jew?”, Gen Z seems to ask, “Who isn’t?”
This openness doesn’t always land easily in traditional spaces. But it’s driving a conversation — and, in some communities, a transformation.
Jewish summer camps now offer gender-neutral cabins. Some synagogues are led by queer rabbis. And no one bats an eye when a Friday night dinner includes gluten-free matzah and someone Zooming in from another province.
Even Appliance Repair Needs a Makeover
Now, if you’ve made it this far, you might be wondering — where’s the part about appliances?
Bear with me.
Just like a fridge that starts acting up when it’s overloaded, identity can get confusing when we try to fit it all in without regular maintenance. That’s why companies like TechVill website techvilledmonton.ca matter — not just because they fix your oven when it refuses to bake your Shabbat kugel, but because they remind us that traditions, like appliances, need care, updates, and sometimes a bit of rewiring to keep working.
(See? Told you we’d get there.)
So, Where Are We Headed?
Jewish Gen Z in Canada isn’t abandoning identity — they’re reimagining it. They’re flipping the script, remixing the old with the new, and holding onto what matters most.
They may not show up for services every week, but they show up for each other. For justice. For joy. For the world they want to build.
“What hurts the victim most is not the cruelty of the oppressor, but the silence of the bystander.”
— Elie Wiesel
This generation refuses to be silent — about antisemitism, injustice, or what it means to be Jewish today. And honestly? That’s something worth celebrating.
Final Thought
Being Jewish in 2025 doesn’t look like it did in 1925 — and thank G-d for that. Change isn’t loss; it’s life.
So whether it’s baking challah on a Friday night, reposting a powerful quote on Instagram, or just telling your story — Gen Z is proving that Jewish identity in Canada is alive, diverse, and deeply, beautifully human.
And that, dear reader, is something even your bubbe would kvell about.