Features
Honorary Doctorate fitting cap to cantorial career of Herschel Fox
By MYRON LOVE Many readers of a certain age will no doubt have fond memories of Herschel Fox. In the 55-plus years since he left Winnipeg, he has built a notable career as both a chazzan and an entertainer – and he says that he has loved every minute of it.
On February 2, the former Winnipegger was recognized with a most fitting tribute to his role in Jewish congregational life in the form of an honorary Doctor of Music Degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary. The presentation was supposed to have taken place in New York itself, he notes, but, because of ongoing Covid restrictions, the award ceremony took place virtually.
For the ebullient Fox, his life has been a ball. In addition to his cantorial duties, the long time Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue chazzan has been able to pursue a second career – building on his experience as a performer in live Yiddish theatre – entertaining in live shows with his wife, Judy – a cantor in her own right at the Synagogue for the Performing Arts in L.A. – as well as making recordings in Yiddish and Hebrew.
Fox points out that there only two cantors in North America who have been at it longer than he has. The son of Holocaust survivors, he was drawn to the Jewish liturgy at the age of 7 when the Talmud Torah bocher was accepted into the illustrious Cantor Benjamin Brownstone’s choir.
“I loved the synagogue and I loved Yiddishkeit,” he recalls.
For five years, post bar-mitzvah, he helped lead Yom Tov services at the Talmud Torah and, at the age of 19, was hired for his first cantorial gig, leading Yom Tov services in North Battleford.
He was studying social work at the University of Manitoba when – in 1970 – he received the opportunity of a lifetime in the form of an invitation to study with David Kusevitsky, one of the world’s leading chazzans, in New York.
I learned a lot from Cantor Kusevitsky,” Fox notes. “He was one of the finest people I have ever met. He never had a bad word to say about anybody.”
In 1971, he began a seven-year run as the chazzan at a shul in Greenwich, Connecticut.
In 1978, he opted for a career change, throwing himself into performing. He was hired to be the MC for Yiddish shows at an outdoor co-op theatre in the Bronx.
“We were getting 10,000-12,000 people per show,” he recalls. “There were a lot of apartment blocks in the neighbourhood and up to 90% of the people were Jewish.”
Fox’s great strengths as a chazzan and entertainer are his strong memory and amazing ability to mimic the voices and singing style of other chazzanim and Yiddish performers – past and present – as he demonstrated repeatedly during the course of our interview.
During one of the shows, the well-known (at that time) Yiddish comedian Shimen Dzigan was in the audience. Dzigan and his comedy partner, Yisroel Shumacher, were the Yiddish world’s equivalent of Abbot and Costello, Fox explains.
Dzigan was so impressed with the young Fox’s stage presence that he offered him a starring role in an upcoming Yiddish theatre production – opposite noted Yiddish stage star Miriam Kressyn. Over the next couple of years, he appeared – on and off Broadway – with many great entertainers such as Jan Peerce (another former Winnipegger with whom he became good friend), Molly Picon and Mickey Katz, the father of Joel Gray. He also had his own Yiddish radio show.
Throughout this period, Fox served as a chazzan during Yom Tov for a congregation in Great Neck. New York.
In 1980, he married Judy, a professional singer n her own right and aspiring Chazan. The next year, they followed the path of many New York-based performers before them and made the move to Los Angeles.
“We wanted to settle down and start a family,” he recalls. “We were fortunate to both be offered positions and have been at our respective synagogues ever since.”
Over the years, Herschel and Judy have returned to Winnipeg from time to time to perform at community functions, see family and reconnect with some of Herschel’s old friends.
Now 76, Herschel Fox has been semi-retired for the past five years or so. “I still lead services maybe once a month,” he says. “I do the occasional funeral and make shivah calls.
“These last two years have been tough with all of the Covid rules,” he adds.
“Looking back, I feel that I have been very lucky to be able to get up every morning and do what I love to do,” concludes. “I have enjoyed every second of it.”
Herschel and Judy have been blessed with two daughters, Shira and Shayna. Older daughter Shira is carrying on the family trade as a cantorial soloist at The Open Temple – Re-enchanting Judaism in Venice, California.
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.
