Features
Being a foster parent is a rewarding experience,
say Fay and Avrom Charach
By Myron Love For the past eight years, Fay and Avrom Charach have been opening their home to Jewish children in our community who are in need of foster care.
“We had a child of our own at that time, but we were interested in adopting a second child,” Fay Charach recalls. “We approached Jewish Child and Family Service (JCFS) and while we were doing the paperwork, JCFS called and asked if we would consider taking in a newborn on a short-term basis, which turned out to be three months.”
Since then, Avrom and Fay have been foster parents to four other children – two of whom were also infants and two who were teenagers. They are currently fostering one of those babies.
“She was a premie, “ Fay notes. “She has been with us for 15 months now. We were excited to be able to celebrate her first birthday.”
Independent of JCFS, Fay and Avrom have also provided a home for a friend of their daughter. They welcomed her to their family four years ago when she was 17.
“Fay and Avrom are one of 11 welcoming foster families – not all of them Jewish – currently fostering for Jewish Child and Family Service,” reports Randee Pollock, the agency’s Adoption and Foster Care Coordinator.
“We currently have 14 children in foster care and two youth on extension of care,” she adds. “There was a time when we had as many as 30 children in care, but that number has steadily decreased due to children aging out of care, and the implementation of new strategies to collaborate more effectively with families.”
She points out that anyone interested in becoming a foster parent goes through a thorough assessment process that includes orientation, background security checks, contacting of references, a home inspection, and a home study. “Whenever possible, we try to place children with extended family members or with people whom they are acquainted with in their community.”
“We have to determine what arrangements the potential new foster parents are most comfortable with – be it taking in children for shorter periods of time or for an extended period. We also seek respite homes that can provide temporary or weekend care. JCFS ensures that foster parents receive a lot of support from the agency including advocacy and respite. Foster parents also receive financial support to help with the child’s maintenance.”
Of course, she notes, the ideal is to find a way for the children to either remain with their birth families with the support of JCFS or be reunited with them at some point in time. “If reunification isn’t successful or possible”, she says, “then we look for alternate long-term caregivers, ideally extended family members.”
“When situations arise with parents and their children that are too overwhelming and beyond their ability to cope, children may be deemed to be at risk and in need of a safer, more secure, more nurturing environment to ensure their safety and help them thrive. Foster care can provide that.”
As a Jewish agency, JCFS also ensures that Jewish children and youth in foster care, especially those who are living in non-Jewish homes, are integrated into the Jewish community, that they are able to observe and celebrate Jewish holidays, have an opportunity to attend Jewish day school and camps, and become involved in Jewish community activities such as BBYO and programs at the Rady Centre. JCFS also acknowledges, plans, and celebrates life cycle events such as Bar and Bat Mitzvahs for children in care.
Avrom Charach adds that JCFS will also pay for lessons for foster children. “For example, one of the teens we welcomed into our home liked to play piano.” he notes. “JCFS paid for piano lessons for her.”
A historical problem in foster care was that once children turned 18, they aged out of care and could no longer access the supports of the child welfare system – often unprepared for independence and sometimes with unfortunate outcomes. Pollock is happy to report that this has changed and supports beyond age 18 are now available for permanent wards. Young adults can remain in their foster homes, with JCFS support, until the age of 21 if they are attending school or a work program. By age 16, JCFS begins the process of preparing youth for independent living so that they are ready to live on their own.
“It is incumbent on us as a Jewish community to look after our children and youth to the best of our ability,” Pollock observes. “JCFS welcomes the opportunity to work with families who are interested in fostering. There is always a need.”
“I would think that most people in our community don’t realize that there are Jewish children in need,” Fay observes.
“Being foster parents is a lot of work,” adds Avrom, “but it is a truly rewarding experience.”
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.
