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Retiring Temple Shalom administrator most proud of putting Reform congregation “on the map”
By MYRON LOVE
In her eight years as Temple Shalom’s administrator, Ruthie Maman – who is retiring at the end of the year – says that the highlight of her tenure at Winnipeg’s Reform congregation was bringing the synagogue into the Jewish mainstream in Winnipeg. mainstream in Winnipeg.
“When I came to Temple Shalom,” she recalls, “I knew very little about the congregation or Reform Judaism. Everyone I talked to outside of the congregation put us down. As the administrator, I intended to make sure that Temple Shalom was accepted as an integral part of the Jewish community. I made sure that our events and programs became widely known within the larger Jewish community.”
She says that the turning point came when Temple Shalom was included in community-wide programs with the other synagogues – in particular the by-now annual joint Shavuot study and seudah
“We went to the first Shavuot event at the Shaarey Zedek in 2014,” she recalls. “The next year, the program was hosted by the Adas Yeshurun Herzlia. I felt that if the Herzlia could host the event, so could Temple Shalom. In 2016, we made sure that it was our turn. It went very well. We had 120 people participating from all the synagogues. We made sure that all the food was kosher so that Herzlia members would be comfortable participating. We also arranged for a separate service downstairs with a mehitza for the Herzlia members.
“We will be hosting again next Shavuot.”
For Ruthie Maman, Temple Shalom was the most recent on a long and winding career path that took her at a young age to Israel and, later in life, back to Winnipeg. The daughter of the late George and Molly Soudack was introduced to the Jewish homeland at the age of 15 when she went on a North America-wide United Synagogue Youth-sponsored visit to Israel. (She was a member of the former Rosh Pina Synagogue’s USY chapter.) At the age of 17, she made aliyah – her older sister, Pneena Sageev – had made aliyah earlier – as part of a Nahal group.
“I was part of the Nahal group,” she says. “Nahal was my IDF service on the Syrian border north of Lake Kinneret. Our settlement was called Korazim.
(Nahal brings together groups of young people to start new agricultural communities near Israel’s borders – creating “facts on the ground” in the words of Israel’s founding father and first Prime Minister David Ben Gurion – who aimed to create Jewish communities in all parts of the land of Israel.)
“I served my time in the IDF,” she says. “I got married. We lived first in an agricultural community near the Syrian border. We later moved to Ramat Yishai in the Jezreel Valley.”
After her four children had reached school age, Ruthie Maman went back to school herself. She enrolled in a teacher’s college in her area which was affiliated with Haifa University. She taught for several years at the school in Ramat Yishai. “I taught ESL, drama, civics and even sex education,” she recalls.
In 1996, after 36 years in Israel, she returned to Winnipeg. It was a low point in her life. Newly single, she was having difficulty making ends meet in Israel.
“I had kept in touch with friends in Winnipeg over the years,” she says. “They told me about an opening for a Hebrew teacher at Ramah School.
“My kids were all out of the army by then,” she adds. “They understood my situation.”
(One of her daughters, Shirit Pais, and her family, now also live in Winnipeg, while her other daughter lives in Toronto.)
Maman subsequently taught he middle grades at Gray Academy until 2011.
“On my return to Winnipeg, I found the community to be warm and accepting,” she observes.
Maman was introduced to Temple Shalom in 2005 by her sister teacher, Sherry Wolfe Elazar. “I hadn’t been affiliated with a synagogue for many years,” she recalls. “Sherri invited me to Temple Shalom for her daughter’s bat mitzvah. Then, she invited me to the Temple for the High Holidays. I was very impressed.”
She subsequently became a member and, as she always had a love of singing, she soon joined the choir. She also became a Torah reader and a teacher of conversational Hebrew.
“When I learned that the congregation was looking for an administrator – having just retired from teaching, I applied,” Maman says. “It was a perfect fit for me.”
She feels confident about Temple Shalom’s future – and is especially enthusiastic about newly-appointed Rabbi Allan Finkel.
As to her own immediate future, she intends to remain actively involved in the life of the congregation – going back to teaching conversational Hebrew and the proper way to chant the Torah and singing in the choir.
“I may start going to the Gwen Secter, too,” she says.
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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.
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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.
