Features
We Must Not Be Silent!
By Dr. SOLLY DREMAN (formerly of Winnipeg, now of Jerusalem, where for years he was a Professor of Psychology at Ben Gurion University of the Negev)
The recent scandalous valedictorian speech at the Max Rady College of Medicine by Gem Newman should not be forgotten or forgiven, nor should we as Jews be silent. Newman’s address was a biased, prejudiced condemnation of Israel and, by association, of the Jewish people at large. In labelling Israelis as colonialists he ignored the fact that the Jewish people have been indigeneous to that region of the Middle East for over 3700 years and his claim that the Jews are colonizers and have unjustifiably displaced the Palestinian people and are divesting them of their homeland is false.
There have always been Jews living in that area since Abraham moved his family from Mesopotamia and the First and Second Temples were built, dating back over 3000 years. Arabs began to populate the area only later when economic, industrial, and technological advances occurred and, in 1948, when the State of Israel was declared, five Arab armies invaded the country with the intent to exterminate all Jews and take it over. Numerous conflicts have taken place since with the latest being the barbaric attack on October 7th by Hamas when they invaded the Gaza Envelope brutally raping, killing through decapitating, torturing and burning alive approximately 1200 men, women and children and abducting 252 people including women, children and the elderly with Hamas promising to continue to do so.
The overwhelming negative response by many fellow Jews – both in Israel and in the Diaspora to Newman’s provocative address provides a platform for a firm but essential message: “We must not remain silent.” The protest occurring in academia today and the reluctance of senior academic administrators to react forcefully to curtail the protests either condoning or promoting violence against Jews, nor to condemn the antisemitic nature of these protests, is disturbing. To the best of my knowledge, few senior academic administrators have acted forcefully against such demonstrations nor taken actions against the blatant antisemitic nature of the majority of these protests.
I alerted Ernest Rady recently to Newman’s speech and, to his credit, he immediately wrote a strong letter of objection, which reflected his own pain and disappointment, to both the Dean of the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Peter Nickerson, and to the President of the University of Manitoba, Michael Benarroch. Rady pointed out that, paradoxically, the medical school, which is named after his father Max, had had admission quotas for Jews for years.
Dean Nickerson responded immediately to Rady’s letter, with President Benarroch also responding – after being bombarded by numerous responses to Newman’s inciteful remarks.
As a Jew and a former Winnipeger who made Aliyah to Israeli in 1964, I am deeply disturbed by the current situation and the negative reaction of the international community at large. Newman’s address in an academic setting provides a platform for addressing some of my concerns and particularly with the concern that we not remain silent. As a Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology and former Brigade Psychologist of the Jerusalem Brigade in the Yom Kippur War I have been intimately involved with some of the mainstreams of Israeli life, such as war and terrorism, death and dying, post traumatic stress, immigration, and family crisis. Israel today is faced with a crisis for its very survival and the maintenance of a home in time of crisis for the Jewish people. If we do not fight for this right and for our homeland there is a danger we will not survive either as a nation nor as a people. Relevant to this concern is what is occurring in academia today internationally and our need to be active and address these concerns. In this light we should be mindful of what occurred in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s when Jews were barred from academic studies and Jewish faculty were fired en masse – a prelude to the Holocaust.
Hence, it is imperative that we as concerned Jews not be silent today and speak out loudly and clearly about events like the Newman valedictorian address. It is my opinion that we should only reconsider future funding of academic institutions if they take firm steps against antisemitism, such as the president of the University of Manitoba suggested , when he wrote of promoting the idea of education for students, faculty and staff regarding antisemitism. As for Gem Newman, who has taken the Hippocratic Oath to devote his life to treating patients regardless of nationality, race or ethnic origin, he and his kind should not be licensed to practice medicine unless an apology is rendered by him for his speech – which he has stubbornly and smugly refused to do to date.
In closing I want to state that my concern is deep and genuine and I pray that the uncertainty that is facing us today as Jews, Israelis, Winnipegers and citizens of the world at large will be surmounted. This will require patience and the willingness of all parties involved not only to speak, but to listen carefully.
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.
