Features
Taking a look inside the mausoleums at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery
By BERNIE BELLAN I’m sure that I’m not alone in saying that I’ve long had an abiding curiosity about the two mausoleums that are located in the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery, both of which are situated not too far from Main Street.
Recently I was invited to attend the cemetery and to see what was actually inside those two mausoleums. The occasion was supposed to be a visit to the cemetery that was to be led by Rabbi Yitchok Charytan of the Chabad Lubavitch movement. Rabbi Charytan has been conducting online classes with seven participants, the subject of which has been the study of “Tanya,” a book of the Kabbalah.The classes came about as a result of a suggestion from financial planner Royle Derbitsky, who had been visited in his office by Rabbi Charytan. When Rabbi Charytan began discussing Jewish mysticism with Royle, Royle asked him whether he would consider offering regular online classes about the subject.
Subsequently, earlier this year Rabbi Charytan did begin offering classes through Microsoft Teams. During one of the classes, according to Royle, Rabbi Charytan brought up the name of Rabbi Shmuel Twersky (also known as Avraham). Rabbi Twersky, also known as the “Makarover Rabbi,” was a leading rabbi in Winnipeg who arrived here in 1927. He was considered a great “tzaddik” (righteous man).
Rabbi Charytan’s online classes have had seven regular participants, Royle told me, of whom four showed up at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 8, to see for themselves what lay inside the mausoleum. In addition to Royle, present were: Marianne Dordick, Roz Olin, and Debbie Stern. (The other members of the class are: Elliot Saunders, Earl Ashkin, and Judy Rodkin.)
Rabbi Charytan though, was unable to attend, Royle explained to the others, as he was ill that day, but Royle did read from notes that Rabbi Charytan had prepared.
While I was able to see inside – and enter into, the Twersky mausoleum, which also contained the coffin of Rabbi Twersky’s wife, Richel, I was also able to see inside and enter into the other smaller mausoleum, which contains the coffin of another rabbi, whose name was Eliyahu Grubert.
I had many questions circulating in my mind, however, including: Why these two mausoleums and no others?
Upon returning from the cemetery I began to do some research into that particular question. Within our own Jewish Post & News archives (which are accessible on our website: jewishpostandnews.ca, and which are available to anyone free of charge), I discovered quite a few references to Rabbi Twersky.
Among the most pertinent was an article written in 2012 by Myron Love, in which Myron described a tour to the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery in October of that year that was conducted by Penny Roseman. Penny had been responsible for compiling a digital archive of all headstones in all Jewish cemeteries either in Winnipeg or nearby.
Myron’s article noted that Roseman began the tour with stops at the mausoleums (miniature houses) of Rabbis Eliyahu Grubert and Shmuel Abba Twersky (and his wife, Richel), which were erected in 1917 and 1947 respectively. Roseman noted that these are the only Jewish mausoleums in western Canada. The coffins inside are enclosed in concrete, which is acceptable, Roseman pointed out, because concrete is “of the earth”.
Yet, Myron’s use of the word “acceptable” led me to wonder: Why are there only two mausoleums at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery if mausoleums are “acceptable?” Surely, I thought, if a Jewish coffin can be housed aboveground in a mausoleum, wouldn’t others have wanted to build mausoleums for their loved ones at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery? After all, a mausoleum certainly commands attention and, since so many headstones are also designed to command attention, wouldn’t one think there would be many more mausoleums that would have been built there? (Of course, at a certain point, space limitations would have entered into the conversation, but that didn’t emerge as a problem for the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery until quite recently.)
Upon further reading, however, it seems quite clear that mausoleums are not considered acceptable by either Conservative or Reform Jews and, according to an entry on Wikipedia, Orthodox Jews allow the construction of mausoleums only under certain conditions.
Here is what the Wikipedia entry about Jewish mausoleums says: “Most mausoleums place remains above ground inside a mausoleum crypt. Because Scripture and Jewish tradition dictate burial of the deceased in the ground, mausoleums are not commonly used by the Jewish faithful. Instead, Jewish cemetery monuments are placed over the earthen deceased.
“While earth burial is traditional, the three movements of Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaism disagree over this sensitive issue. The Orthodox movement of Judaism allows no cremations or interments but mandates below-ground burial only (emphasis mine). They refer to various phrases of the Bible to determine their position. In Genesis 3:19, God says dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return. Also, Ecclesiastes 12:7 states The dust returns to the dust as it was, but the spirit returns to God who gave it. To orthodox Jews, this means that they must be buried in the ground so they may return to dust.
“For this reason, the only Jewish mausoleum that Orthodox Jews allow is a mausoleum that extends underground,” (Emphasis mine) the Wikipedia article continues. “This is easier when Jewish monuments are built on a hillside, making Jewish cemetery monuments an entrance to the underground.”
In neither of the two mausoleums at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery, however, are the graves buried underground. While I suppose one can accept the rationalization that coffins enclosed in concrete are “of the earth,” then why just two mausoleums and not many more, I wonder?
Uncategorized
Volatility, Hit Frequency, and RTP: Why the Number Casinos Advertise Is the Least Useful One
The return to player percentage looks clean as a casino data point. It gives players a neat number, usually around 94% to 97% for many online slots, and that number feels easy to compare. A 96.5% game appears better than a 95.2% game. The problem starts when players treat RTP as a forecast for their next 50 spins or one evening.
You may find the RTP listed on slot pages on a leading online casino in Ontario, but the number only tells part of the story. Two games can share the same RTP and create different sessions: one may return small wins often, while the other may drain a balance before one bonus round changes everything.
The RTP Trap
Return to player (RTP) measures the theoretical share of total wagers a game returns across a very large number of rounds. In plain terms, a 96% RTP slot returns about $96 for every $100 wagered in the long run. That does not mean one player who deposits $100 should expect $96 back.
The trap sits in the word “theoretical.” RTP comes from the game’s math model. It works across huge samples, not personal sessions. A player can finish far above that percentage, far below it, or with nothing left after a short run of poor results.
Is it useless then? No, RTP can still help. It gives a baseline cost of play. Lower-RTP games cost more on average than higher-RTP games. Still, once a game passes a reasonable threshold, the next question matters more: how does it distribute that return?
Hit Frequency: The Number That Shapes Session Feel
Hit frequency tells you how often a game produces a winning outcome. This often misleads players because any win can count. A spin that returns $0.10 on a $1 bet may still count as a hit, even though the player lost $0.90 in real terms.
A game can feel active because symbols connect often, sounds play, and the screen keeps celebrating small returns. The balance may still fall. In many modern slots, “win” does not always mean profit on the spin.
Hit frequency answers one practical question: how much silence can you tolerate? Some players dislike long dry spells. Others accept quieter sessions because they chase bonus rounds or larger payouts.
The educational site Get Gambling Facts gives a useful distinction: RTP concerns the percentage of money returned over time, while hit frequency concerns how often a machine stops on a winning combination.
Volatility: The Risk Label Players Need More Often
Volatility, also called variance, describes how unevenly a game pays. Low-volatility games tend to return smaller amounts more often. High-volatility games hold more value in rare events: bonus rounds, premium symbols, multipliers, or jackpots.
Here is where RTP becomes less useful on its own:
- A 96% low-volatility slot may give modest returns and longer play from the same balance.
- A 96% high-volatility slot may burn through funds quickly unless the player hits a strong feature.
- A progressive jackpot game may look exciting, but it often places more value on rare top prizes.
The same RTP can hide very different risk profiles. Players who ignore volatility often blame the casino or the game when the session follows its math design.
Why the Same RTP Can Feel So Different
Picture two slots with 96% RTP. Slot A pays small wins on many spins, has a modest top prize, and rarely creates dramatic balance swings. Slot B pays less often but offers a large max win and volatile bonus rounds. The advertised return matches, but the experience does not.
Slot A may suit a player who wants a slower bankroll drop and more regular feedback. Slot B suits someone who accepts sharper losses in exchange for a shot at a heavier payout.
A Better Way to Read a Slot Page
Most slot pages give players more clues than they notice. The trick is to read the details together rather than chase the highest percentage.
Start with RTP. If two games look similar, the higher number has better long-term value. Then check volatility. If the game uses terms such as high, very high, or extreme variance, lower your bet size or expect shorter sessions. Next, look at the paytable. A huge max win usually means the game saves a lot of its value for rare outcomes.
A sensible pre-play check looks like this:
- RTP: What is the average long-term return?
- Volatility: How rough can the session become?
- Hit frequency: How often will the game show any wins?
- Paytable: Where does most value sit?
To Conclude
Casinos advertise RTP because it looks objective, tidy, and easy to rank. Players should read it, but they should not give it more authority than it deserves. For long sessions, volatility may matter more than a small RTP difference. For comfort, hit frequency may explain the feel better than the payback rate.
Features
They Deserve the Very Best”: The Doctors Bringing Specialist Care to Holocaust Survivors at Home
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.
