Features
The late Tillie Goren believed she may have been able to influence the weather
By MYRON LOVE This story originally appeared in the March 25, 1992 issue of the JP&N. It recounts the incredible ability that the late Tillie Goren might have had to bring rain – and end droughts.
In the summer of 1990, Tillie Goren finally realized her goal of persuading Winnipeg City Council to name a street in north Winnipeg after Monty Hall.
Now she has set her sights much higher. She believes she can influence the weather.
In retrospect, she recalls occasions when she and her husband, Norm, were planning their annual April sidewalk sale outside their St. Vital shoe store; the day was overcast, Tillie wished for good weather and the clouds dissipated.
She also remembers a visit to her brother in Sacramento in 1986. It was pouring when she and Norm got off the plane. Her brother thanked her for bringing the rain and ending a drought in the area.
It has only been in the last year, however, with retirement, that it struck Goren she may have a certain gift and that she has been trying to test it out.
In a January interview, she said awareness came during a holiday in Orlando in January, 1991. It poured off and on for much of the time the Gorens were there. Goren had heard there had been a severe drought in Florida and this was the first good rain in a long time. In fact, she heard this was the worst period of rain in that area of Florida in living memory.
Her interest piqued, she continued to follow the situation until June, when the drought was declared over. When she came back home, Goren phoned her brother, Louis, in Sacramento. She had heard California had had a drought for five years and water was being rationed. “I asked Louis if they could use some rain there,” she says. “I was afraid to tell him about my feeling, but I had to connect with someone in California to be effective.”
Goren also read that the governor of California was going to be paying out $l00 million in drought aid. She phoned the governor’s office and spoke to an aide about helping the situation. She promised him three days of rain. As a result, the aide gave her carte blanche to call any time, and put her in contact with the Drought Centre. Goren called back several times last March. Every time she called, she says, it started raining within two days. They called it Miracle March in California. It was the largest rainfall the state had ever seen.
Goren was unable to get a letter of recognition from the governor’s office, but she did get a write-up in the Sacramento newspaper.
“I was on a roll,” she says. “I saw a story in the Free Press saying we need rain, so I contacted the reporter and asked who to call. I finally got hold of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Agency in Regina and told them my story. Being from Saskatchewan, I have a connection there, so I concentrated. Two weeks later, we had snow across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, then rain.”
She called Regina again in June to ask how it was going. The guy on the phone asked her if she knew it would rain this much. She said it was more than she expected, but she usually got lots of rain.
In September, she called Regina again to check on the harvest. The fellow on the phone said it had been dry over the summer, and some areas needed rain. He asked for her prediction.
“I’m not a psychic,” she says. “But off the top of my head I said there would be lots of rain and mostly cool days with some sunny periods. On September 9, I was out walking in the evening when black clouds formed overhead and it started to pour. It rained off and on for two weeks. In certain areas, there was a lot of rain.”
Goren next turned her attention to Israel, after reading in The Jewish Post & News about the desperate need for rain there. “I got personally involved because I’m Jewish and Israel needed help,” she says. “In October I read about the torrential rains, but the story said it wasn’t enough. That triggered my determination again. Two weeks later, there was snow in Jerusalem and 30 roads were closed because of flooding. I’m excited, but I can’t share it with anyone.” (This has been the worst winter for rain and snow in Israel’s history.)
It is not only rain that Goren feels she can influence. There were a couple of times last summer where she promised people very hot weather would cool down and it did, despite the predictions of the weather people.
To be successful, Goren says she has to have some personal connection with or feeling for the area she is trying to help. Then she concentrates or thinks about the need for the change in climate.
“It’s some inner feeling I can’t explain,” she says.
“I spoke to a rabbi in Winnipeg who told me anything is possible. He said I may have a gift and I should pursue this. I would like to be able to find someone to explain it to me.”
She thinks it may be a hereditary gift. Goren grew up on a farm on the Herzl colony near Lipton, in Saskatchewan.
She says her mother of blessed memory was able to deflect hail storms from the family farm. She recalls once when she was 10, her mother called her out to show her what she did when hail was predicted.
“She said a certain prayer three times, then chopped an axe into the ground. Black clouds overhead suddenly split, turned white and moved off in different directions. Once my dad came up to tell her not to deflect the clouds because they needed rain. The crops were flattened by hail.”
Goren was going to concentrate on California again this month. “I want to try for a more normal year there,” she says. After that, she is not sure what’s next. She has read that Australia is having a drought, but she is hesitant. “I could try it as a challenge,” she says, “but I really have to have a concentrate.”
Features
Famous Gambling Scandals and Controversies: Allyspin Casino Opinion
The gambling industry is full of scandals and controversies. There are various cases of fraud and manipulation schemes. That is why it is very important to pay attention to reliable gambling sites like Allyspin online casino, which follows the rules of responsible and safe gambling for its fans. Research shows that more than one trillion dollars are bet worldwide every year. That is why it is very important to be able to distinguish safe and reliable sites from fraudulent ones.
Casino Fraud and Money Laundering
Honest and secure gambling websites like Allyspin casino are careful not to fall victim to scammers. However, many sites are often targets for money laundering and fraud. Due to the large volume of transactions and cash flow, it is difficult to track all the directions of the flow of funds.
Among the largest scandals, the Crown Resorts in Australia stands out. An investigation showed that the casino was used to launder millions. Macau casino networks have also been involved in high-profile scandals. Thus, the region has faced close attention due to allegations of organized crime and laundering billions of dollars through betting. In addition, there are many money laundering cases in Las Vegas casinos.
There are many different methods of money laundering in online casinos. For example, fraudsters use chip dumping, cashing out winnings. Also, structuring is used by entering small amounts that are difficult to track over time.
Gambling Industry Reforms after Scandals
Sites like Allyspin casino do everything possible to prevent such scandals. Thus, the latest security measures and solutions are actively implemented:
Advanced fraud detection based on artificial intelligence. With the help of modern algorithms, monitoring of suspicious behavior when placing bets is simplified.
Strict identity verification protocols. Users need to confirm their identity before being able to withdraw funds.
Secure data using blockchain. Modern online casinos use cryptocurrency payments and blockchain in order to reduce the risks of unauthorized access to transactions.
Responsible gaming programs are also actively implemented. Online casinos offer the option of self-exclusion, as well as provide full support to players. All this allows you to minimize possible risks in the process of gambling and ensure the transparency of payment transactions.
The Future of Casino Security and Fraud Prevention
Large sites like Allyspin casino continue to expand, introducing enhanced security and fraud prevention tools. In the near future, such unique features will be available:
Fraud detection systems based on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Automation of processes helps to detect any fraudulent facts much faster compared to traditional methods.
Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency payments help not only simplify payments for users, but also reduce the risks of unauthorized transactions.
Biometric and multi-factor authentication. Thus, users undergo unambiguous identification, which reduces the risk of account use by fraudsters.
Cybersecurity plays an important role in online casino gambling. Modern sites implement the latest mechanisms to combat fraud, ensure fair gaming process and fully protect honest players.
Features
Canada Is Failing Its Students on Holocaust Education — Here’s What Must Change
By EMILY (surname withheld by request) We received the following article from a third-year Health Sciences student at Western University, who wrote that as “a Jewish student, I have seen firsthand how Holocaust education in Canada is falling short and how that failure is contributing to fear, misinformation, and rising antisemitism on campuses like mine.”
Despite curriculum requirements, Holocaust education in Canada is alarmingly inadequate. A recent survey found that nearly one in five young Canadians believe the Holocaust has been exaggerated. This highlights a dangerous gap in historical understanding, leaving students vulnerable to misinformation, denial, and rising antisemitism. If Canada is serious about combating hate, it must take Holocaust education far more seriously.
When asked whether Holocaust education in Canada is lacking, Professor Hernan Tessler-Mabe, historian and coordinator of Jewish Studies at Huron University, did not hesitate: “You are 100 percent correct.”
While most provinces claim to include Holocaust education in their curricula, the programming and implementation of curriculum tends to be inconsistent and inadequate. A student’s understanding of one of history’s greatest atrocities depends heavily on where they go to school, which teacher they have, and whether their school offers substantive instruction. The result is misinformation, denial, and rising antisemitism.
Avoiding Holocaust education allows dangerous myths and conspiracy theories to spread unchecked. Without an understanding of the Holocaust and the centuries of antisemitism that preceded it, students are ill-equipped to identify modern antisemitism in the world around them. This antisemitism manifests into everyday conversation, online spaces, and political discourse.
To address this crisis, Canada must act with urgency in three key areas. These include consulting experts, confronting difficult material, and properly training educators.
First, schools and provincial governments must consult those who specialize in Holocaust history and education. “It is the most important thing,” Dr. Tesler-Mabé, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Jewish Studies at Huron University says. He points out, “You cannot just throw it into a general history class and assume it will be taught well. You need people who understand both the history and how to teach it.”
Second, we must accept that the subject is deeply disturbing and cannot be made comfortable. Dr. Tesler-Mabé iterates, “We have to accept that parts of this will be traumatic or triggering.” “Obviously it depends on grade level, but if students do not feel disturbed by it, they will not understand it. That discomfort is part of the learning.”
Third, teachers must be prepared. Many educators may feel unequipped to teach this material and either gloss over it or skip it altogether. Training programs and partnerships are essential. In Ottawa, the Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES) works to connect schools with survivor testimonies and support resources, but broader reach and investment are needed.
Dr. Tesler-Mabé explains, “We have to teach the teachers, especially now that we are losing survivors. That raises a whole new concern. How do you teach something this heavy, this complex, without first hand testimony? Educators need the tools, the background, and the sensitivity to do it well.”
Some may argue that Canada already does enough in this area. After all, Holocaust education is present in some curricula, and many students visit Holocaust museums or hear from survivors. But occasional exposure is not enough. The widespread prevalence of Holocaust denial and the proliferation of antisemitic conspiracy theories underscore significant shortcomings in current systems designed to combat such misinformation. A 2022 report by UNESCO and the United Nations, in collaboration with the World Jewish Congress, found that 16.2% of Holocaust-related content on major social media platforms either denied or distorted fundamental facts about the Holocaust. A standardized, rigorous, and mandatory approach is the only way forward.
Holocaust education is not just about history, it is about safeguarding the future and combating antisemitism in modern manifestations. When students understand how propaganda, scapegoating, and dehumanization led to one of history’s darkest chapters, they are better equipped to recognize and reject hatred in all its forms. Without a solid foundation in Holocaust education, antisemitism continues to fester, not just in online spaces, but within universities, workplaces, and public discourse. We are already seeing the consequences of unchecked Holocaust denial and rising antisemitism, from bias in professional spaces to hostility on university campuses. As a Jewish student at Western University, I have seen fear take hold among my peers. Friends who once wore Stars of David or spoke openly about their heritage now hesitate to do so. I have also begun to question whether it is safe to express my identity. With the last generation of Holocaust survivors passing, the responsibility to preserve their stories and the lessons they teach rests with all of us. If we do not confront this crisis at its root, we risk allowing history to repeat itself in new and dangerous ways.
Canada is failing its students. In doing so, it is failing the promise of Never Again. The question is not whether we should strengthen Holocaust education, but why we have not already.
Features
Anna Kaplan one of Winnipeg’s youngest personal trainers
By MYRON LOVE It is always uplifting to read (or, from my perspective, to write) about people who have been able to reinvent themselves – and even more so when such an individual can use her own transformation to inspire others. Such is the case with Anna Kaplan, a young (21) personal trainer whose passion for physical fitness grew out of personal troubles as a teenager.
“I had a feeling of being excluded,” says the daughter of Kevin and Roxanne Kaplan. “I was afraid that I was missing out. I was losing friends. I had developed some bad habits and was at a real low point in my life – at rock bottom.”
At 18, Kaplan determined to change her life. She began working with a personal trainer and going to the gym. She also changed her dietary habits.
“Before long, I was feeling better mentally and physically,” she recalls.
Two years ago, wanting to help others struggling to improve their lives, Kaplan opened A Plus Fitness. On her Facebook page, she notes that “When you sign up for online training with A Plus Fitness, you’re not just getting a workout plan — you’re getting full access to our all-in-one training app designed to support your transformation every step of the way.”
Kaplan started A Plus Fitness strictly as an online business for which she developed her own app. “I started building my client base initially by contacting friends and acquaintances via a social media platform to see what interest there might be out there,” she says.
With demand for her services growing, about a year ago she began working with clients in person out of a gym on Portage Avenue. In just two years, she reports, business has grown to the point where she has had to hire a second trainer.
“I work with people ranging from 18 to 65 plus,” she says. “The number of clients has tripled in the last year and I have been able to help over 100 clients to get into shape and change their lives.”
The reviews have been outstanding with many giving the young fitness trainer a 5 out of 5 rating. Says one client: ”I’ve been training with Anna for a while now, and it’s been an amazing experience! She really takes the time to understand my goals and pushes me in the best way possible. Since working with her, I feel stronger, more motivated, and more confident in my workouts.”
Adds another: “Over the past year, A Plus Fitness has completely transformed my approach to working out, helping me tone my body and build strength in ways I never thought possible. Anna’s guidance and personalized training plans have made a huge difference in my progress, pushing me to achieve results faster than I expected.”
Kaplan feels good that among those she has been able to help have been her own mother, Roxanne Kaplan, who says that ”I’ve always had some sort of fitness routine in my life. I followed along with the fitness videos with the weights that were recommended – I’d go through phases but never stuck to it. With Anna’s coaching and sticking to her program, I see muscle definition that I’ve never had before. I feel better, more confident, and well rested.”
Kaplan further points out that, in additions to helping people through her business, she is also community minded. “I have helped with several fundraising events in the Jewish community,” she reports.
Most recently, she helped raise money for the Reid Bricker Mental Wellness Fund in memory of a relatively young member of our community who struggled with mental health for several years before committing suicide 10 years ago. The fund aims “to increase the availability of mental health supports and education across the province while ensuring that individuals and families facing mental health challenges receive the support they need when they need it the most.”
Next for Anna Kaplan and A Plus Fitness is to open her own location at some point in the next few years.
Readers can contact Anna at 204 391-5832 or mail her at admin@aplusfit.ca.
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