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Ryla Braemer: Serving as director of Camp Massad paved the way for her eventually moving into senior positions with CIJA and more recently, the United Jewish Federation of Toronto
By GERRY POSNER When you are instilled with Judaism, it can take many different forms in life. With Ryla Braemer, her Judaism came through her schools and, even more so, her camp. Her feeling for her faith, her connection to her history, her passion for causes, all come from a firm foundation rooted in Winnipeg.
It all began on Lincrest Avenue in Garden City where Ryla, a sibling to two brothers, Avi and Sam, grew up, the daughter of Leah (formerly Chisvin) and Joel Braemer. Ryla was a student at Talmud Torah and later, a graduate of Joseph Wolinsky Collegiate. What really propelled Ryla though were her years at Camp Massad, where she went from being a long-time camper to a member of the staff and finally, to camp director in 2003 and 2004.
Ryla had already moved to Toronto in 2002 when she became Massad’s director. She had also studied for a year at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem – in 2001. Still, she returned to Winnipeg to complete her B.A. in Psychology at the University of Winnipeg in 2003.
A few years later, Ryla met her husband, Yacov Fruchter, in Toronto, and it was not long thereafter that she was married to the former Montrealer and former president of Hillel Montreal.
Ryla finished her formal education with an M.Ed. in Adult Education and Community Development from OISE at the University of Toronto in 2009.
Now, three children later, Ryla is very much involved in her role as a mother and yet, at the same time, she is also a full time employee of the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.
From 2009-2015 Ryla was Associate Director, Issues Education & Manager, Advocacy Education Centre for the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, better known as CIJA. This national organization is not-for–profit and non-partisan, dedicated to improving the quality of Jewish life in Canada through advocacy and education. It has a broad reach and a forceful impact across the country.
Her position led Ryla to her initial involvement with the United Jewish Federation of Greater Toronto. She was asked to be the director of what was called Israel Engagement, whose purpose is to cultivate significant relationships between Diaspora and Israel Jews.
To do that job Ryla had to manage a large team in Toronto, including six professional staff plus over 100 lay people… no small job as anyone who has worked in community affairs would attest. This assignment went from July 2016 to March 2018.
Subsequently, she was invited to become the director of what was known as Strategic Volunteer Engagement for the Federation, which she did from March 2019 to June 2021. That’s a fancy title, but what it meant was that Ryla was in charge of creating the vision, creation, and implementation of volunteerism as a way to engage. The group that Ryla headed, consisting of 2 paid staff and a committee of 5 volunteers, had to move volunteerism from engagement to something beyond that.
It meant developing strategic relationships with social service agencies, food banks, camps and day-schools – again, not an easy ask or task.
From June 2021 right up to the present, Ryla Braemer has been the Vice- President of Community Mobilization and Volunteerism for the UJA. What does that mean? For starters, Ryla leads a team of 10 professionals called the Genesis team. They were responsible for creating and implementing a plan for the pandemic and after. Ryla was instrumental in having 14,000 volunteers give over 60 000 hours of their time (You read that right!) to help support thousands of people in the GTA (as the Greater Toronto is called), including 2400 Ukrainian newcomers. It is a big assignment, but one which Ryla embraces.
And, not to be forgotten in the mix is husband Yacov Fruchter, not exactly an unknown name to many in Winnipeg, or at least in Winnipeg Beach. Yacov has been an integral part of the Toronto Jewish community and now serves as the Director of Community Building and Spiritual Engagement at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue in Toronto. But, if you ever go the shul in Winnipeg Beach in the summer, you will likely see Yacov and Ryla there as well.
In 2019, Ryla, who grew up at the beach, together with Yacov, purchased a cottage of their own. They make the trek back to Manitoba each summer now as they want their children to have the authentic experience of a summer at Winnipeg Beach. And, of course Ryla uses that time to reconnect with her Camp Massad network.
In essence, in Ryla Braemer you have a very dedicated community professional whose origins and indeed present day sentiments are very much rooted in Winnipeg.
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.
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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.
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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.