Features
Saskatoon Jewish Arts Festival: establishing relationships
By GERRY POSNER I just had a first. My wife and I attended the first ever SASKATCHEWAN JEWISH ARTS FESTIVAL, held in Saskatoon from October 19- 23, 2022. It was a joy to be there.
Now this joy was certainly enhanced by the fact that the organizer, fund raiser, creator and curator of the event and the general head honcho was my nephew, Joel Bernbaum. He and the Festival producer, Malvina Rapko, were the ones that made this first ever festival reach fruition. In addition, my wife and I were able to be present for the involvement of my son Ari in the program, both at the Shabbat service on Friday night and at a panel discussion on Sunday afternoon. I say without reservation, the festival was a huge success.
To make this kind of event work, the key was to involve the broader Saskatoon community. Truth be told, there are few Jews in Saskatchewan. In Saskatoon, there are likely fewer than 200 family units. Thus, the challenge was to develop activities that would appeal to the wider Saskatoon population. And that is what the organizers did. All the events were well attended.
One might ask why have a Jewish Arts Festival at all and in fact I asked my nephew that very question. He was quite clear as to why. Because of both the pandemic and the declining Jewish population in Saskatoon, the Jewish community was unable to participate in Folkfest, the Saskatoon version of Folklrama. Hence, Joel and the committee planning the event felt there was an opportunity to reach out to show to the city of Saskatoon and beyond what the Jews of Saskatchewan were all about. At the same time this was an opportunity to show off the newly refurbished Agudas Israel Synagogue, originally built in the 1950s.
The festival featured Jewish artists and speakers, both from Saskatchewan and across Canada. There was a festival opening dance party on October 19 with DJ Butt Mitzvah and a lecture titled “Ukrainian Jewish Artists Across Three Centuries” at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada on October 20. As well, on October 20 there was a Jewish film night at the Broadway Theatre. As well, there was the production of the play “Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story.” The play was the only part of the festival where the guest had to pay. The play was produced by the Persephone Theatre at the suggestion of Bernbaum. He arranged to have the festival coincide with the running of the play.
By the time this article reaches print, the play will already have been shown in Winnipeg by the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre, so it is too late to give a shout out to the readers on the outstanding success of the Old Stock play which has been running for many years now across the country and in the US. What the play captured was the immigration issues faced by a Jewish couple back in 1908 (very relevant to the present day) and their story was brought to life by some familiar (but original) music and the superb performances of the five actors and musicians, particularly the multi-talented Ben Caplan.
The Friday night service, which had a much larger attendance at the synagogue than was ever the case in many years, was highlighted by the spectacular voice of Saskatoon-born and bred soprano Jardena Gertler- Jaffe. One of the prayers she chanted was a composition of the prayer “Mi Chamocha,” which Ari Posner created. I, of course, am biased, but it was a thrilling few minutes for my wife and me.
On Sunday afternoon, October 23, the festival concluded with a panel discussion on the relationship between music and prayer. The discussion was skillfully moderated by Joel Bernbaum and the panelists, including Ben Caplan, Jardena Gertler Jaffe, Ari Posner and the Rabbi of Agudas Israel, Claudio Jodorkofsky. There was a good sized crowd there, many of whom were not Jewish. I kept thinking as I watched the panel in action: What would this day have meant to my in-laws, Frank and Frances Bernbaum, long time residents of Saskatoon, who had two grandsons up there on stage participating in this Jewish event? The nachas for them would be never ending.
So I say Kippahs off to the Jewish community of Saskatoon. Stay tuned for the next festival, perhaps as early as next year or 2024.
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.
