Features
Former Winnipegger Eileen Sever finds previously unknown cousin in Ukraine
By GERRY POSNER
Many of us who have roots in Canada can trace our origins to Eastern Europe. It does not matter which country our ancestors started from in Europe – the story is the same in one way or another. One venturous soul makes his or her way and gradually, the rest follow, sometimes over a period of years.
And often, for a variety of reasons, one sibling chooses to remain behind in the old country. The contact between those in America and those back in Russia, for example, is not easy, but it exists until it doesn’t. War, Communist regimes and ultimately the passage of the older generations usually triggered the end of the letters. With the end of that minimum contact, the names of the family that stayed behind are lost and thus a family relationship is over -unless and until…
Eileen Sever, a former Winnipeg resident living in Los Angeles and a descendant of the Donner family, recently was able to re-establish a family relationship that had been lost for over 115 years. It only happened because of two key parts – a diary and technology. Eileen, whose cousins include Shell relatives in Winnipeg and about whom a story was written in 2019 in the Jewish Post & News, made the happy discovery of a branch in Russia that had almost been forgotten.
The story began long ago and it revolves around Eileen’s grandfather, Elisha, and his twin sister, Tanya Donner. The pogroms were in full force and the Donner family decided to move out of Nikolaev in Ukraine. The family was a large one – 17 children, of whom 11 made it into adulthood. Of the 11 children, 10 were ready to leave Ukraine, but Tanya, already married by 1904 and living in what is known as Kherson with children, could not depart with the family. The way Eileen tells it is that, in 1904, her great- grandfather Aaron Donner, the man who had fathered all of these 17 children, went to Kherson to say goodbye to his daughter Tanya and her family. He recorded his trip in his diary – all in Yiddish. That was a good move, genealogically speaking.
Sadly, like so many other families, the details of the Donner (sometimes spelled Doner) family history were not discussed much in the family once they arrived in Canada. The grandparents had died at a time when Eileen and her cousins were too young to inquire about their origins. There were no pictures or letters of the Kherson relatives either. In short, it was as if the family left behind had vanished. This is a story familiar to many Jewish families.
Now, Eileen as it turned out, was well positioned to delve into a genealogical pursuit of her family. In 1998, after retirement, she began a 20 year stint at the Los Angeles Public Library, History and Genealogy Department. As a hobby, she started to collect family history. She recalled seeing the diary of her great-grandfather as a youngster and she wondered whatever had happened to that diary. Well, one of her cousins, former Winnipegger Arthur Donner, had in fact located it and had it translated from Yiddish into readable English. And, there was the story relating to Elisha’s sister Tanya left behind in Ukraine and the farewell visit by the great-grandfather, Aaron. Her married name as revealed by the diary was Yablonsky.
It could have ended there. However, a group of people working with Eileen in the Genealogy Department decided to have a DNA test completed for them by Ancestry.com and their results were then uploaded or at least delivered to MyHeritage.com, headquartered in Israel. Eileen was skeptical about this whole process but, lo and behold, it turned out a cousin was discovered in Poland. Eileen still remained dubious, but reluctantly emailed this supposed cousin, asking if the cousin was a Yablonsky. The answer came almost immediately. This supposed Polish relative, whose name, it turned out, was Sasha, was a grandchild of Tanya Yablonsky.
Tanya, though separated from her family in Canada, had still managed to survive – and continue to have children. Ultimately, Tanya had over 200 descendants. Only one person did not make it through the wars, the Gulag and indeed the Russian revolution. The family was spread out through St. Petersburg, Moscow, Kiev, Israel and, as Eileen was to discover: Poland. It turned out that Tanya lived until 1959 and Sasha had memories of sitting on his great-grandmother’s lap, listening to her tell him about her father, Aaron Donner. Sasha even provided Eileen with a family tree and, with the facility of Facebook, Eileen was able to connect with various branches of that side of the family. The diary is now being translated into Russian.
What is one to make of this story? To me it is all about the value of keeping a diary and as well, the beauty of DNA testing. There are many critics of the public access to DNA results, but in this case, what can be said for sure, is that the family ties were never “Severed” (sorry, I couldn’t resist) – all due to Aaron Donner’s diary and DNA.
Features
The Popularity of Simpler Slot Games in 2026: Review From Casino Online CrazyTower Experts
Online casinos now fill their libraries with numerous video slots that have dozens of functions, long bonus rounds, complex mechanics, and so on. Interestingly, despite this huge range of modern options, many Canadian visitors at sites like Casino Online CrazyTower here https://crazytower.com/ca/ no longer want complicated gameplay that requires constant attention and long explanations.
Simpler slots now attract a wider audience because they save time and create faster sessions. So, let’s figure out why this change happened and reasons for the popularity of simpler machines.
Why Many Players Are Returning to Basic Gameplay
Modern websites like Casino Online CrazyTower pushed complex video slots for years, but many people now prefer classic formats again. Simple gameplay has fewer interruptions and is simpler in terms of budgeting, which is important when you gamble for fun.
These are a few potential reasons explain why simpler slots became popular again in 2026:
- Faster rounds. Symbols appear quickly, and rounds continue without long animations or extended bonus sequences.
- Easier controls. Most classic slots have simple menus and familiar layouts that don’t confuse new visitors.
- Smaller feature lists. Simple slots usually have standard wilds, scatters, and multipliers instead of dozens of random mechanics.
- Better session flow. People spend more time on gameplay instead of reading explanations about symbols and special functions.
- Lower visual pressure. Simpler slots use calmer designs and shorter effects that don’t overload attention.
Classic gameplay also suits mobile devices better because shorter rounds work well on smaller screens. Plus, many visitors now prefer games that start instantly and explain their mechanics within seconds.
Features That Make Simpler Slots Appealing
Simple machines at Casino Online CrazyTower and similar websites continue to attract attention because they have a high gameplay speed. Many classic titles also replicate older casino machines that people already know from physical casinos.
However, these aren’t the only factors that attract gamblers. So, check out this list:
- Short bonus rounds. Free spins and multipliers finish quickly instead of interrupting gameplay for several minutes.
- Common and standard paylines. Traditional layouts help people understand payouts without long explanations.
- Faster loading times. Simpler graphics reduce waiting time on phones, tablets, and older computers.
- Stable gameplay pace. Long cutscenes and constant pop-up notifications don’t interrupt the session.
- Traditional themes. Fruit symbols, bars, sevens, and classic casino designs still attract large audiences.
- Smaller menus. Important information appears immediately without complicated tabs or hidden sections.
Modern video slots often contain too many mechanics in a single game. Developers now combine expanding reels, random modifiers, mission systems, tournaments, and multiple bonus levels in one title. Many visitors lose interest because gameplay turns repetitive and overloaded with constant interruptions.
Compare this to a session when you get results immediately and aren’t interrupted. These still have free spins and even mini risk games, but not as loaded as innovative titles.
Conclusion
Simple slots usually create better replay value because people understand the mechanics immediately. Common and standard gameplay doesn’t cause frustration and allows faster decisions during casino sessions.
Many classic slots also function better during short breaks because rounds finish quickly without long bonus interruptions. That’s why simpler slots became popular again at many casinos, including Casino Online CrazyTower and such.
Features
Football: Which team from Israel could we see in the European Cup next year?
With Europe’s club competitions heading into another summer of drama, Israeli football is on the table. The domestic season is done, trophies picked up and now a new batch of clubs can now try their luck against continental competition.
What are the prospects of these teams in Europe next year and who are they? It all starts with Hapoel Be’er Sheva’s title, Maccabi Tel Aviv’s cup win and the competition of the best Israel football teams against each other, as fans look to Champions League on Wincomparator to see what teams are in contention.
How Israel’s clubs qualify for Europe: The 2026-2027 spots
Qualification to join the European elite hinges on the 2025-26 Israeli Premier League table and the Israel State Cup. Israel will have one Champions League spot, one Europa League spot, and two Europa Conference League spots in 2026-27.
That means the league winner gets into the Champions League, the State Cup winner goes on to Europa League qualifying. The next eligible league’s finishers take the Conference League slots. It’s a good model as it provides a tangible reward for consistency at home, while at the same time demonstrating the importance of each playoff game. A top three finish can help a club’s summer, bring in better players and provide fans with a European tour before the next season’s start.
The Champion’s quest: Israel’s hope for the Champions League
Meet the 2025-26 Premier League winner: Hapoel Be’er Sheva
Hapoel Be’er Sheva have qualified for Israel’s Champions League after their Israeli Premier League title win with 79 points scored in 36 games. Ran Kozuch’s side closed the gap on the three-point lead but also showed significant strength in the attacking phase to secure a win in a crucial championship round with Beitar Jerusalem.
Their challenge also comes as their reward. Hapoel Be’er Sheva are only expected to begin in the second round of the Champions League, not the league round. To get to the main competition they need to pass through the first round of the other national champions in two-legged ties, and their seeding, fitness and sharpness in early-season competition could be a game breaker.
While the club has experience in Europe and a rabid Turner Stadium following, the path is tough. It takes one bad outing to wipe out a year’s worth of work. However, as long as the bedrock remains the same and they are able to put some depth into the team, the champions have the balance to fight.
Battling in the Conference League: Israel’s other European contenders
The State Cup winner and league runners-up
Maccabi Tel Aviv go to Europe after the Israel State Cup final 2-1 win against Hapoel Be’er Sheva at Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem. That win denied Be’er Sheva a home double, and also meant that Maccabi got into the Europa League qualifying, where they were put in the second qualifying round thanks to access-list rebalancing.
The Conference League qualifiers are Beitar Jerusalem who finished second in the league with 76 points, and Hapoel Tel Aviv who finished fourth with 60 points. The importance of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s cup victory lies in the fact that it unlocked the rest of the way in the league. Beitar’s season was particularly impressive as they scored 78 goals and lost just four matches. On the other hand, Hapoel Tel Aviv managed to remain above Maccabi Haifa in the final table standing, earning them a well-deserved European berth.
The Europa Conference League is no consolation prize for these clubs. It’s a realistic platform. Although there are still a few hurdles to navigate, Israeli sides consider this competition to be the most realistic one for European football in the autumn.
A look at past successes and future hopes
This group has reason for belief, based on recent history. Israeli teams can make significant nights in Europe, and Maccabi Haifa did just that, when they made it into the Champions League group stage in 2022-23, and then impressively took out Juventus 2-0 in Haifa.
There is significant monetary and sporting worth in qualification. A UEFA cup can make a difference to a club, as can better attendance, TV coverage and recruitment opportunities. The early storylines will be the draw for Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the Champions League, as well as Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa league and the two Conference League routes — Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv. They all have tricky paths to follow, but all four provide Israeli football with a realistic European presence next summer.
Features
At one time one entire block of McAdam Ave. was almost totally Jewish
This story originally appeared in a November 2014 issue of The Jewish Post & News:
1994 McAdam Ave. reunion (names inside story)By GERRY POSNER (This story first appeared in November 2014.)
Once upon a time when life was simpler and gentler, there was a street in the north end of Winnipeg which was like all other streets in the city except in one significant way. Everyone, but for one family, living on McAdam east of Main Street was Jewish.
