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Harry Prosen a psychiatric star wherever he goes
By GERRY POSNER It was not hard for me to jump on the Harry Prosen bandwagon for at least three reasons:
First, his last name is so very close to mine that I felt a kind of a brotherly connection to him. After all, Prosen and Posner have the same letters, just rearranged.
Second, Harry Prosen is likely the oldest Jewish graduate of the University of Manitoba Medical school still working in the area of psychiatry . He will be 91 in June and still counting.
Third, Prosen has serious credentials.
Prosen has had a long and illustrious career – and he did it in two countries, another remarkable achievement. Prosen can say that he has been actively involved in both clinical and teaching psychiatry for over 50 years.
From 1975 to 1987, Harry Prosen served as the Head of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba. And then, just like a hockey player exercising his option, he was picked up by the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, from 1987- 2003.
Over his entire career Prosen has been on the boards of many clinical and academic institutions, government and editorial boards in both countries, as well as serving as a consultant to many universities and other associations.
Moreover, in 1978-79, Prosen was President of the Canadian Psychiatric Association. His work at the Medical College in Wisconsin earned Harry the Distinguished Service Award. Significantly, students in the Medical Faulty in Wisconsin elected him to the Alpha Omega honorary medical society.
Not to be overlooked is that Prosen is a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Canada, the United Kingdom, the American College of Psychiatry and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. In short, a lightweight Prosen is not. Just how did all of this happen to the Saskatoon-born Prosen?
In fact, Prosen grew up in Calgary until he was 15, when his mother, the former Ruth Prosen, prevailed on his father to move to Winnipeg so she could be close to her sister, Laura Moser.
Thus, it came to pass that Harry Prosen grew up on Burrows and later Inkster Boulevard, attended St. John’s Tech High School and ultimately entered the University of Manitoba. Prosen had psychiatry in his mind and as he puts it, the path to becoming a psychiatrist was through Medicine, so that is why he entered that field. He had little in the way of Jewish trailblazers as the only other individual at the time who had gone the psychiatry route was Dr. John Matas. Harry’s initial studies were at the University of Manitoba. He then finished his residency at the University of Chicago and came under the tutelage of some notable researchers, including Heinz Kohut.
It would not ba a stretch to say that Harry Prosen was in large part responsible for building the Department of Psychiatry in Manitoba. And, even to this day, Harry still attends grand rounds in Winnipeg on a regular basis – virtually, as well as in Wisconsin. Still, even with all his achievements in Manitoba, when he tried to Zoom in recently to the Psych Health Centre, he was asked who he was and how to spell his name.
Prosen, who was once the President of the Jewish Child and Family Service in Winnipeg, and therapist for a number of professionals, faced a major decision when he was 57. He had an opportunity to start a new department in Milwaukee, and as Harry puts it, his wife, the former Yvonne Schussler, told him “ Harry, you are a builder, go where they want you to build. “ That is exactly what he did.
One area in which Prosen became significantly involved was working with primates. That came about due to his emphasis on inter-generational issues in families, having to do in particular with empathy and empathetic deficits. If you read any of his early work on non- verbal communications and variations in facial features under different circumstances, you could get a glimpse of how he soon became so interested in working with primates, particularly bonobos. Harry’s work with one particular bonobo named Brian received significant publicity as he essentially rehabilitated a very young, but disturbed bonobo and basically helped him to the point where he became an alpha male. The case was so unusual that there was an entire story about Harry and Brian in the Atlantic Monthly.
Sadly, Harry told me that Covid has negatively affected primates like Barry, who has now reverted to his original withdrawn state. Nonetheless, Harry’s serious commitment to primates is confirmed by the fact that he was the psychiatric consultant to the Bonobo Species Preservation Society (Who knew?) and he continues to work with one of the largest collections of captive bonobo primates in the world at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Find anyone else from Burrows Avenue who can make that statement.
In short, given all that Harry has done, is it any wonder that I wax more than prosaic about Prosen’s accomplishments?
Features
BOOK REVIEW: “Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege”
Reviewed by MURRAY BENDER “Thinking on your feet”—quickly defending a position in a coherent, persuasive manner—is a situation that many people find challenging and stressful. “If only I had said this.” or “Why didn’t I say that?” Hindsight is always 20-20.
Following the Hamas atrocities of October 7, 2023, it has become increasingly necessary for diaspora Jews to “think on their feet” as they unwittingly face a barrage of tough, sometimes hateful, questions about Jews and their Israeli homeland.
Why is Israel committing genocide in Gaza? Why doesn’t Israel return the land it has stolen from Palestinians? Why are Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian farmers? How is Israel different from apartheid South Africa? Why can’t I criticize Israel without being called antisemitic? Is it true that Jews control the world? The list of potential questions is nearly endless.
Engage or hide? This is the difficult choice that confronts Jews as they look to deal with anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli behaviour. Fortunately, author and journalist Melanie Phillips comes to the rescue with her practical and insightful book, Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege.
According to Phillips, the dilemma has no single answer. “People need to decide how to behave in accordance not just with the specific circumstances but also with their own attributes and limitations.”
Some regard engagement with their opponents as a sacred duty. “They believe it is a betrayal of the Jewish people not to uphold Israel’s case.” Ohers may be uncomfortable with such a direct approach, but “those who decide to keep their heads down and avoid any altercation may well find that this leaves them with a permanent sense of regret and even failure,” she says.
As a result, it’s probably a good idea to adopt some sort of balance. And that’s where Phillips’ 150-page handbook comes in.
She starts by providing context around the “crisis of legitimacy and acceptance” from which Jews are reeling post-October 7. On the basis of extensive conversations with Jews from across the U.S., Britain and Australia, the author found that many “were near stupefied by the terrifying hatred and irrationality that was unfolding around them.” Again and again, they asked: “What should we do? What can we do?”
In response, Phillips offers a pragmatic approach to help prepare for the inevitable conversations, including a number of key principles:
- Get smart rather than emotional
- Stop playing defence
- Find common ground
- Be positive and confident
- Keep physically safe
Based on these overarching criteria, she provides an extensive list of quick and clever retorts to a range of different situations, emphasizing that “it’s our duty to our children and grandchildren to fight for truth and justice.”
So, the next time it is necessary to “think on their feet,” diaspora Jews will be able to respond quickly and confidently to those difficult questions about themselves and Israel. And they can thank Melanie Phillips for coming to the rescue.
Fighting the Hate: A Handbook for Jews Under Siege by Melanie Phillips is available online from Amazon and Indigo.
Features
ESports Meets Casinos: Overview of Bet Sport Gaming
ESports has become part of the interactive entertainment of online casinos. In fact, many fans already have the opportunity to use Dragonia Casino Bet Sport options while watching the matches of their favorite teams. The hybrid entertainment model opens up many possibilities and increases audience engagement. When video games intersect with betting, it creates a unique collaboration where participants have the opportunity to get a completely new experience right in their own home. At the same time, you can continue to enjoy the usual viewing of familiar tournaments and competitions.
How ESports and Casinos Interconnect
ESports has become a multi-billion-dollar industry that attracts spectators. Traditional casinos are focused on luck. But now they are introducing additional methods of encouraging their customers. Among such options, eSports events deserve special attention. Such bet sport offers combine the usual excitement with an element of competition. The structure of the casino entertainment provides participants with the opportunity to test their skills and reveal their own hidden talents. There are several forms of integration of eSports mechanics into the structure of a classic online casino:
- Competitive betting. Online casinos provide the opportunity to bet on eSports tournaments, which is similar to the usual sports betting. In addition, the possibilities are significantly expanded compared to simple viewing platforms.
- Skill-based casino games. Games inspired by eSports encourage players to actively participate in what is happening on the screen. The games reward the player’s results with certain prizes.
- Interactive arenas. Some casinos broadcast eSports events in real time. This allows players to follow the games directly online, which creates a feeling of real participation in familiar entertainment.
- Cross-platform interaction. Online casinos are introducing eSports-style leaderboards and achievements to attract more participants.
Such innovations appeal to new participants. Cultural changes are part of the development of the infrastructure of the classic casino, and eSports fans find a new environment for entertainment and communication.
Growth of ESports Betting
Global eSports revenue in 2025 exceeded $1.5 billion. Each bet sport option has made a significant contribution to the development. Surveys show that over 60% of players will express interest in betting on eSports, which reflects the demand and the need to develop an updated infrastructure for participation.
ESports events attract 15-20% more new participants compared to conventional casinos. The eSports betting market will exceed $20 billion by 2027, according to analysts’ forecasts, which encourages new participants to more actively watch tournaments and participate in various types of activity.
Why Fans Choose ESports
Bet sport gambling is gaining popularity. This is due to several reasons. For example, large casinos in Las Vegas and Macau now host full-fledged eSports tournaments alongside traditional entertainment. Venues are also experimenting with separate fan zones where sports betting and classic gambling are available.
Some of the most popular eSports disciplines are League of Legends and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Some online casinos even introduce eSports mechanics into slots so that players can try something new.
In short, the intersection of eSports and casinos is a natural development of the industry. Competitive play and an optimized betting system create a comfortable environment for true fans who want to diversify their leisure time.
Features
Card Game Traditions: Complete Review from Casino Online Lolajack Experts
Card games have been around for centuries. They are constantly evolving and improving. For example, there are now many different formats of online games available. On sites like casino online Lolajack https://Lolajack.com/ca/, you can choose a title according to your preferences and skills. The traditions of card games date back to ancient times. To better show yourself, it is worth familiarizing yourself with these features. This way, you will gain experience, have a good time, and get acquainted with something completely new.
Roots of Card Games
Card games directly reflect cultural identity. They have a unique mathematical structure and thoughtful moves that make even professionals think. Depending on the tradition, the rules differ, but the basic principles always remain similar. Each game has a unique origin:
- Poker. It originated in the USA back in the 19th century. During its existence, many variations of gameplay have appeared. It combines risk, strategy, and psychology; therefore, it requires high skill from each player.
- Baccarat. This game has ancient origins. It appeared in the 15th century in Italy, after which it spread throughout Europe. Now it is the basis of any operator like casino online Lolajack.
- Rimmy and bridge. Card games require the cooperation of participants, so coordinated communication is important here.
- Blackjack. This is the perfect combination of skill and chance. The player needs to learn to make decisions quickly and monitor the circumstances.
Card games have their own origins and characteristics. Currently, they are an integral part of any online casino, offering a wide range of opportunities for participants.
Why Card Games Are So Popular
Experts from casino online Lolajack emphasize the importance of card games in many cultures. For example, poker remains the leader for a reason. There are more than 100 million active players worldwide who compete and work on their skills. Blackjack also does not lag behind the trends. The level of participation exceeds 40% of regular online casino users.
Every year, the level of online card games grows by 10%. This is possible due to digitalization and increased player awareness. In addition, seasonal events also increase the involvement of participants during peak periods.
Traditions of Card Games
Unique events attract the attention of fans. For example, the World Series of Poker attracts not only participants but also millions of viewers around the world. Sites such as casino online Lolajack also give participants the opportunity to try their hand and compete with professionals.
Baccarat is associated with high stakes. This is especially noticeable among the Asian audience, who like to put probability theory into practice. Blackjack also has an appeal among math lovers. The probabilities of the model and observations directly affect the decisions of players. Online casinos strive to ensure that participants have the opportunity to communicate and find an activity option according to their own preferences.
As a result, card games remain the true leaders of the gambling market. They not only entertain, but also develop attention, perseverance, and social skills. A large selection of various variations of classic games allows you to choose the version that suits your preferences. Developers do not lag behind trends and do everything possible to surprise fans.