Features
Connecting two sisters through their great-great-grandsons
By GERRY POSNER I am guessing there are two women somewhere who had a moment of joy recently. The two women I speak of are my grandmother, Anna Shulman, and her sister, Minnie Wolfe. They are, of course, long gone. But recently, on a cold day in Waterloo, Ontario, they came to life – if only for a couple hours.
By a matter of luck or perhaps by some other force not visible to me, the two women have been close to one another for several months now. As it turns out, both of these women, born as Minnie and Anna Markovitz in Belarus (then White Russia) in the early 1880s, have great-great-grandsons studying in Waterloo. Zachary Posner is at Wilfred Laurier University and his cousin, Jeremy Chizewer, is at the University of Waterloo.
How did this happen? It was not an accident. Last summer, I chatted by phone with a cousin of mine, a woman who is five months older than me. I have known her for over 75 years. This woman is Linda Chizewer, grandmother to Jeremy. The connection is Linda’s grandmother, Minnie Markovitz Wolf, who was a sister to my grandmother, Anna Markovitz Shulman. To look at it another way, my mother, Rhea Shulman Posner, was a first cousin to Ruth Wolf Silverstein, the mother of Linda. With all of that, what was important was that some four generations removed from the original sisters in the old country, later in Iowa City, Iowa and Chicago, Illinois, their respective great-great-grandsons reunited in Waterloo, Ontario in Canada. I did not realize this turn of events was feasible until my cousin Linda mentioned her grandson would be doing advanced mathematics at the U of Waterloo the next year and I added that my grandson would be at Laurier. It was then a plan was hatched.
My wife and I drove to Waterloo, about an hour away from Toronto in early February. The fact that we met in Waterloo was in itself a telling sign. Both of these sisters had relatives in common who lived in Waterloo, only it was Waterloo, Iowa. How coincidental was that fact. After a visit with Zac, now 18, at his dorm, off we went to meet his cousin, a young man of 22, as in Jeremy Chizewer. He had turned down Stanford, Princeton, and other big named colleges to continue in his field of advanced mathematics because of the prominence of the department at Waterloo. I thought he might have selected this university in Waterloo because he could meet his Canadian cousin, but that would be a stretch, even for me.
Zac is in the business program at Laurier. Over a sushi lunch ( something the two sisters Minnie and Anna, could not possibly have envisioned, not even knowing what sushi was) we reviewed the family history and the two women who started the story. In fact, we added another generation as in the mother of these two women: Dina Leah Markovitz. That my sister and Jeremy’s grandmother are both named Linda, named in fact for Dina Leah, is no fluke.
So what to make of this reunion? Initially I thought this time with two boys meeting would only be a satisfying time for me, but I was wrong. The two boys seemed to grasp the historical significance of this rather rare connection of descendants four times removed. And, they hit it off as well. My Baba Anna Shulman and her sister Minnie would have savoured this moment as would have my mother and her first cousin Ruth – with whom she was very close. They were not physically present to do so. My cousin Linda was overjoyed at the meeting as was I ,and so we made up for the absent generations.
One of my sons likes to chide me about searching out family and trying to get answers to all of my questions about our family ancestry. He says even if I had all the answers, how would any of that advance his career? All true, and yet this meeting of descendants of generations past made me sleep better that night.
Features
Basketball: How has Israel become one of the best basketball countries in Europe in the last few years?
When the Israeli Deni Avdija became the first Israeli to be drafted as the highest in NBA history in 2020, then emerged as a key NBA wing in Portland, it was not so much the breakthrough it appeared to be, but a portent. Israeli basketball has been decades in the making, and in recent years its clubs have made Europe take notice.
This is why Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Tel Aviv, and the national basketball team of Israel are now the subject of any serious discussion of European basketball. It is only natural that fans and bettors reading form, depth of the roster, and momentum would look at our Euroleague predictions and then evaluate how Israeli teams would fit into the continental picture.
A rich history: The Maccabi Tel Aviv mythos
The contemporary narrative dates back to before Avdija. Maccabi Tel Aviv won its maiden European Cup in 1977 beating Mobilgirgi Varese and providing a nation under pressure with a sporting icon. Tal Brody’s declaration “We are on the map” became not just a quote, it became a declaration of Jewish confidence, Israeli strength and basketball dream.
Maccabi turned out to be the team of the nation since it bore Israeli identity past the borders. Maccabi has been a cultural ambassador before globalization transformed elite lists into multinational conundrums. Its yellow jerseys were the symbol of excellence, rebellion, and identification for the Israeli people at home and the Jewish communities abroad.
The six European championships in the club provided a benchmark that influenced the Winner League and Israeli basketball. Children were not just spectators of Maccabi, they dreamed of Europe as something accessible. Coaches studied in the continental competition. Sponsors and broadcasters realized that basketball had the potential to be the most exportable Israel team sport.
The modern pillars of Israeli basketball’s success
The recent ascendancy of Israel is no magic. It is the result of history, astute recruiting, youth-building and pressure-tested league culture. The nation has made its size its strength: clubs find talent at a young age and enclose the potential with foreign professionals.
Nurturing homegrown talent: The Deni Avdija effect
The most obvious example is that of Avdija. He was a high-ranking contributor in the system of Maccabi Tel Aviv and was chosen as a teenager and was picked number 9 by Washington in the 2020 NBA Draft. His career was a reminder that an Israeli prospect could be more than a local star; he could be a lottery pick with two-way NBA potential.
Israeli NBA player Omri Casspi had already opened that door, and Avdija opened it even further to the next generation. Their achievements drifted the expectations of the youthful players in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Holon, Herzliya, etc. An Israeli teenager is now able to envision a path between youth leagues and the Winner League, and the EuroLeague and the NBA minutes.
It is that dream that has been followed by investment. Israeli clubs put more emphasis on skills training, strength training, analytics as well as international youth tournaments. The success of the national program in the face of the best of Europe in terms of age has also helped.
A global approach: The role of international and naturalized stars
The other pillar is the openness of Israel to the global talent. The Winner League has been an important destination, not a stopover, of American guards and forwards. Most come in with NCAA or G league experience and become leaders due to the fact that the league requires scoring, speed and tactical flexibility.
It is enriched with naturalized players and Jewish players, who could use the Law of Return. Through historic personalities like Brody, current imports who can bond both professionally and personally with Israel have provided teams with uncharacteristic diversity in their roster. The outcome is a mixture of Israeli competitiveness, American shot making, Balkan toughness and European spacing.
Making waves in Europe: Israel’s modern Euroleague footprint
Even in tricky seasons, Maccabi Tel Aviv is the flagship. Currently, Maccabi is out of the automatic playoff spot with a loss record in the EuroLeague, whilst Hapoel Tel Aviv has shot up to the playoff discussion. That juxtaposition speaks volumes: Israel is no longer the lone, iconic club. Its ecology has expanded.
Nevertheless, it is true that the reputation of Maccabi in the EuroLeague does count. Europe Menora Mivtachim Arena is one of the most fearsome in the continent when the team is stable: loud, emotional, and tactical. Recent security and travel realities have upset the usual home-court equation but the name of the club is still a potent brand.
It is the reason why there is an interesting betting discussion within Israeli teams. The name Maccabi has a historical impact, but analysts also need to quantify the present defensive performance, injuries, substitution of venues and guards, and fatigue in the schedule. The emergence of Hapoel has provided another Israeli point of reference and markets have to regard the nation as a multi-club force.
What’s next? The future of Israeli basketball on the world stage
Sustainability is the second test. The Israeli national basketball team desires more serious EuroBasket performances and a future world cup. It requires Avdija fit and powerful, more domestic big men, and guards capable of playing elite defense to get there.
The pipeline is an optimistic one. Israeli schools are more professional, teams are bolder with young talents, and the Winner League is a test ground where potential talents have to contend with older, tougher imports each week. Not all talents will turn into Avdija, yet additional players ought to be prepared to participate in EuroCup, EuroLeague, and even NBA.
To the Jewish in the Canadian diaspora, the call is not only sporting but it is also emotional. Israeli basketball brings pride, drama and a common language to the continents. To the European fan, it provides tempo, creativity and unpredictability. To analysts, it provides a sign that a small nation, with memory, ambition and adaptation, can rise to become a true basketball power. Israel ceases to be the unexpected guest on the table of Europe. It is a part of it, season after season.
Features
In recent years, we have been looking for something more than a house in Israel – we have been looking for a home
For many Jewish families in the diaspora, Israel has always been more than a destination. It is the land of tefillah, memory, family history and belonging. But in recent years, many families have begun asking a practical question too: should Israel also become a place where we have a home?
Not necessarily immediate aliyah. Sometimes it begins with a future option, something good to have just in case, or simply roots with a stronger connection to Eretz Yisroel.
But what does it mean?
A Jewish home is shaped not only by what is inside the front door, but by what surrounds it: neighbours, synagogues, schools, parks, local services, safe streets and the rhythm of Jewish life. For observant families, these are not small details. They are the things that turn a house into a place of belonging.
This is not a new idea. It is a need that has helped shape Jewish communities in Israel before. The Savyonim idea is rooted in the story of Savyon, the Israeli community established in the 1950s by South African Jews who wanted to create a green, safe and community-minded environment in Israel. It was a diaspora dream translated into life in the Jewish homeland.
That idea feels relevant again today. Many Jewish families abroad are now making plans around where they can feel connected in the years ahead.
Recent figures point in the same direction. Reports based on Israel’s Ministry of Finance data showed that foreign residents bought around 1,900 homes in Israel in 2024, about 50% more than the previous year, with Jerusalem emerging as the most popular place to buy. In January 2026, foreign residents still purchased 146 homes, broadly similar to January 2025, even as the wider housing market remained cautious.
For Lior David, International Sales & Marketing Manager at Africa Israel Residences, part of the continued interest may lie in the fact that today’s residential projects are increasingly built around the wider needs of Jewish families abroad: not only buying a property in Israel, but finding a setting that can support community, continuity and everyday Jewish life. That idea is reflected in Savyonim, the company’s residential concept, which places the surrounding environment at the heart of choosing a home.
This can be seen in Savyoney Givat Shmuel, where the surrounding environment includes synagogues, parks, educational institutions, local commerce, playgrounds and transport links, and in Savyoney Ramat Sharet in Jerusalem, located in one of the city’s established green neighbourhoods.
For families abroad, these things matter. Jerusalem and Givat Shmuel are never just another location. They are home to strong Jewish communities, established religious life and surroundings that allow a family to imagine not only buying property, but building a Jewish home in Israel.
Together, these projects reflect a broader understanding: that for many Jews in the diaspora, the decision to create a home in Israel is not only practical, but rooted in identity, continuity and community. The Savyonim story began with a Zionist community from abroad that succeeded in building a real home in Israel; today, that same vision continues in a contemporary form.
Features
When a Personal Loan Can Be a Smarter Option Than Carrying Credit Card Debt
A lot of people keep credit card debt longer than they planned because the monthly minimum looks manageable, but that is the trap. The payment feels small enough to live with, but much of it goes to interest when the balance is high. That means the debt can drag on for years, even if you keep paying on time.
A personal loan can be a smarter option when you already know the debt will not be gone quickly. Instead of carrying a revolving balance with a high rate and no firm payoff date, you move the debt into a fixed loan with regular payments and a clear endpoint. That does not solve every debt problem, but in the right situation, it can reduce interest costs and make repayment more realistic.
The Core Difference Between These Two Types of Debt
Credit cards are flexible, so you can borrow, repay, and borrow again without applying every time. That flexibility is useful for day-to-day spending, emergencies, and short-term borrowing. It becomes expensive when a large balance sits there month after month.
A personal loan is structured. You borrow one amount upfront, then repay it over a set term, often between one and five years. The payment usually stays the same each month. That structure matters because it forces steady progress.
When a Personal Loan Usually Makes More Sense
A personal loan tends to be the better choice when the debt is already turning into a medium-term problem rather than a short-term one. That often means you are no longer using the card for convenience. You are using it as borrowed money and paying a high price for that access.
It can be a smart move in cases like these:
- You are carrying a balance for several months and do not see a realistic way to clear it soon
- Your card interest rate is much higher than the loan rate you qualify for
- You have debt across two or three cards and want one payment instead of several
- You need a fixed monthly amount so you can build a proper budget
- You want a firm payoff date instead of open-ended repayment
The Biggest Practical Advantage Is Predictability
If your monthly budget is already tight, uncertainty makes everything harder. Credit card minimum payments can rise as rates change or balances grow. Multiple cards also mean multiple due dates, different limits, and a higher chance of missing one payment.
A personal loan can make life simpler. You know the payment amount, the term, and the month the debt should be gone. That makes it easier to plan around rent, groceries, utilities, childcare, and other fixed costs. For many households, that predictability is just as valuable as the interest savings.
When you are comparing offers, a reputable financial institution like, for example, Innovation Federal Credit Union can explain the full cost of borrowing, not just the headline rate. That matters because the real question is not whether the payment looks fine today. The real question is whether the loan will make your debt cheaper, easier to manage, and less likely to come back.
Where People Make Mistakes
Paying off a card with a loan helps only if the card balance stays low afterwards. If the card fills up again, you end up with both the loan and new revolving debt. That is usually worse than the original problem.
Another mistake is focusing only on the monthly payment. A longer loan term can make the payment feel easier, but it may also increase the total amount of interest paid over time. A smaller payment is not automatically a better deal.
Before signing anything, check these points carefully:
- The loan interest rate
- Any origination or administration fees
- The total amount you will repay over the full term
- Whether you can make extra payments without penalty
- Whether the monthly payment truly fits your budget
- What you will do with the credit cards after the balance is paid off
When a Personal Loan Is Not the Better Option
If your credit is weak, the loan rate may not be much better than your card rate. In that case, the savings may be too small to justify the switch. If fees are high, the benefit can shrink even more.
It also may not help if the real issue is cash flow. If your income is not covering regular monthly bills, replacing card debt with a loan does not solve the shortage. The payment may look neater, but the pressure remains. In that case, the better step may be a hard review of spending, extra income, or professional debt advice.
A credit card can still be a better tool when you can pay off purchases quickly and in full. Used that way, a card can be convenient and cost nothing in interest. The problem starts when short-term borrowing quietly becomes long-term debt.
How to Decide
Pull together the numbers for every card you carry. Write down the balance, the interest rate, the minimum payment, and how much you usually pay each month. Then compare that with the full cost of a personal loan offer.
Look at these questions:
- How much interest will I pay if I keep the debt on my cards
- How much interest and fees will I pay with the loan
- How long will each option take to clear
- Can I manage the loan payment even in a tight month
- Am I ready to stop using the paid-off cards for routine spending
If the loan gives you a lower total cost, a clear payoff schedule, and a payment you can genuinely handle, it may be the smarter move.
A Good Loan Strategy Includes a Behaviour Plan
If you use a personal loan to clear card balances, decide in advance what happens next. Some people keep one card open for emergencies and put the others away. Others lower their limits or remove saved card details from shopping apps. Small changes like that can prevent the old pattern from restarting.
Set up automatic payments if possible. Put the loan due date just after payday. Build even a small emergency fund alongside repayment so an unexpected car repair or vet bill does not go straight back on the card. Those steps may sound basic, but they often make the difference between lasting progress and another round of debt.
To Sum Up
A personal loan can be a smarter option than carrying credit card debt when the debt is already lingering, the loan rate is meaningfully lower, and the monthly payment fits your budget without strain. The real advantage is not only lower interest. It is structure, clarity, and a realistic path to being done with the debt.
That said, a loan works best when it is paired with changed habits. If the card balance returns after the transfer, the loan will not have solved much.