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Winnipeg’s Ari Glikman just back from his time in Israel amidst Covid-19
By REBECA KUROPATWA
When Ari Glikman (22) decided to take some time off his studies at the University of Manitoba to go to learn in Israel for a semester at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Covid-19 was not yet on the world’s radar.
“My plan before was to stay for the summer – volunteer, help out, and travel,” said Glikman. “I also wanted to travel to some of the neighbouring countries, and then Europe a little. That didn’t happen, because of Covid-19.”
As he boarded the plane at the beginning of January 2020, few people were wearing face masks. He started his semester at the Hebrew U in class, before Israel, in March 2020, entered its first Covid-19 lockdown.
Once the lockdown began, the majority of the international students decided to return home. But Glikman was determined to stay. His Winnipeg-based parents were okay with that, especially as they have family living in Ashdod.
“I was living in Jerusalem at the time, at the student dormitories,” said Glikman. “I wasn’t with my Ashdod family then. And, during most of that period I couldn’t go see them because it was restricted to go see people or travel.
“Luckily the student housing there is in a good neighbourhood. At the beginning, there was like a 500 metre area of leaving and we couldn’t do anything. But, after it got expanded a little we were pretty close to the Old City and Jerusalem…So, if you have to be stuck somewhere, Jerusalem is a great place to be stuck.
“Sometimes I’d walk through the Old City. And, because it’s such a touristy place and the airport was closed, sometimes I felt like I had the Old City all to myself. For example, at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, that’s normally always packed with people, I was able to sit in that square and be the only person there…because, the people that go there are usually tourists…unlike the Kotel, that often has Israelis there. But, even the Kotel was definitely less packed than it would normally be.”
While traveling out of the country was not an option, Glikman was able to spend more time travelling within Israel, and discovered many things and places he otherwise would not have.
Even Glikman’s plan to volunteer with MDA had nearly been cancelled, due to Covid-19. But, as Israel had restricted high school students from volunteering for MDA, the need for volunteers grew to the point that Glikman was called to join a group of volunteers from Australia and South Africa.
After the 10-day training, Glikman was stationed in Ashdod, where he was able to stay with his family while volunteering full-time for MDA.
“It was 40 hours a week, five days a week and I usually got night shifts,” said Glikman. “It was 11pm-to-7am. And when there were no calls at the station, I’d just be there, waiting for a call. But, if there was a call, I’d normally be the second guy on the ambulance – it was the driver and then me. Usually, there are three or four people in the ambulance, but, because of the volunteer shortage when I was doing it, it’d just be two or, occasionally, three of us. You get set for an ambulance and you’d hop on and get going with someone.”
As far as how Israeli society is coping with Covid-19, Glikman reflected that just having been living life in Israel helped prepare people to manage crisis situations well – in some sense giving them an advantage in coping with pandemic stress. But still, this sensibility is applicable more to short-term crisis situations. So, the seemingly lengthy duration of Covid-19 is now causing some compliance fatigue among Israelis.
“People are getting tired and you are fighting an enemy you can’t even see,” said Glikman. “It’s very difficult. It’s really hard for a lot of businesses, for example. My family, the people I was living with in Ashdod -they have a little factory. And, it’s really hard because, sometimes, it’s allowed to be open and sometimes it’s not…so, there is no consistency.
“There’s a lot of frustration and everybody’s pointing fingers at everybody else. But also, I think it helps when people come together. I don’t know. I definitely saw that at the beginning and throughout as well – neighbours helping neighbours, friends helping friends…making sure everyone is getting through it together.”
Glikman expressed his thanks for the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba (JFM) and the Joel M Weinstein Memorial Scholarship, and the scholarship he got from the Canadian Friends of Hebrew University (CFHU), when he graduated from the Gray Academy for Jewish Education, for the financial backing and help in making his Israel dream come true.
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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.
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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.
