Perspectives, the Magazine of Aish UK - Issue 6 - January 2019

The magazine of

A journey to

jewish uganda In conversation with

sir mick davis The kosher

Aish UK is a member of the Jewish Futures family of organisations and Olami

cheeseburger?

food special:

new york deli

ISSUE 6 | Shvat 5779 | January 2019

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Beyond the money… the Journey starts here

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A letter From the In this issue of Perspectives, the magazine of Aish UK, we are travelling the world.

Having been scattered across all four corners of the earth for more than two millennia, the Jewish people would certainly be a worthy case study for being the world’s global people. Even remote communities have maintained strong networks before the advent of the internet and have, amazingly, retained a strong sense of identity, despite the threat of global homogeneity.

Venturing deep into Eastern Uganda, Rabbi Shimshon Nadel takes us on his recent journey to meet with the Abayudaya, or Children of Judah. Their story began some 100 years ago when their charismatic tribal leader converted himself, his family and the entire tribe to Judaism. A century later, some 2,500 of their descendants still practice Judaism with passion.

Writer, Shira Druion, shares an exclusive interview with Dorel Abramowitz, the Director of Development for the Sderot Municipality in Israel. In this article, they discuss what life is like living ‘under fire’ and how the community has shown tremendous resilience not just to stand against terrorism but a determination to see their community grow and thrive.

Community rabbi and JRoots educator, Raphy Garson, takes us into the heart of Belmonte, Portugal. There, we discover a hidden community of Jewish conversos who, for hundreds of years, hid their practice of Judaism to save their own lives.

Now, they have emerged from centurieslong hiding to finally reveal their true identity.

In an exclusive interview with Perspectives, CEO of the Conservative Party, Sir Mick Davis, shares his hopes and fears about the state and fate of British Jewry.

On our journey, we will meet Dr Shadman Zaman, a Bangladeshi national who describes himself as a ‘Stateless Zionist’ seeking to break down the barriers between his home country and Israel.

editor

Executive director Rabbi Daniel Rowe

Executive editor

As the first person from his homeland to visit Israel, he describes his experiences in advocating Israel’s existence and his own journey through conversion to Judaism.

Rabbi Ari Kayser

Editor Michelle Shalom

With Holocaust Memorial Day around the corner, we include a feature section in its honour. Having myself recently returned from a trip to Poland with a group of young students, it is clear now, perhaps more than ever before, how important it is to pass on the messages of the Holocaust. We go to Poland not because we think we can get a sense of what six million means, but to tell the story of one person, to paint the picture and hear the testimony of one individual.

design Emily Theodore

Contributors Rabbi Eli Birnbaum Micaela Blitz Sir Mick Davis Shira Druion Ilana Epstein Rabbi Moshe Friedman Rebbetzin Shalvie Friedman Rabbi Raphy Garson Rabbi Gideon Goldwater Rabbi Gil Student B. Gordon Rabbi Ari Kayser Rabbi Shimshon Nadel Aryeh Sampson Shanni Solomon Ben Thwaites Dr Shadman Zaman

Check out the Jewish education section which, as always, aims to discuss topics that are relevant, informative and purposeful.

Will we soon be able to eat a ‘Kosher Cheeseburger’? How does the Torah understand the world’s ‘Refugee Crisis’?

What is the ‘Festival of Trees’ all about?

Food expert and Director of Ta’am, Ilana Epstein, takes us on a journey to her home town of New York to discover the flavours of the New York deli.

Check out our new ‘Community’ section featuring one outstanding individual from the community and one organisation doing a fantastic job getting people back into work. For kids, have a look at our new comic strip and Tu B’shvat themed colouring pages!

Trustees Jeremy Newman (Chairman) Adrian Cohen Simon Fine Daniel Green Anthony Moshal Jacqueline Rashbass

We would love to hear from you! If you have any questions, suggestions on how we can improve or topics you’d like to see covered, please be in touch. Look out for our next magazine coming out before Pesach.

Thoughts? Contact us at perspectives@aish.org.uk

Blessings to all of our readers,

Want to advertise with us? advertising@aish.org.uk

Rabbi Ari Kayser Executive Editor

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WORLD

6 A journey to the heart of africa RABBI SHIMSHON NADEL 12 LIVING UNDER FIRE: LIFE IN SDEROT SHIRA DRUION 16 crypto-judaism: the enigma of belmonte Rabbi raphy garson

22 WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT COLUMBUS WAS A JEW? B. gordon

EDUCATION

41 THE STRANGE FESTIVAL OF TREES Rabbi ari kayser 42 THE REFUGEE CRISIS Rabbi eli birnbaum

46 NOAh: rebuilding from destruction

rebbetzin shalvie friedman

50 WHEN the IRRATIONAL BECOMES RATIONAL rabbi gideon goldwater

52 THE KOSHER CHEESBURGER? ben thwaites

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Exiled from bangladesh 30 DR SHADMAN ZAMAN

26 A SICILIAN MOB IN JEWISH GREECE rabbi gil student

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FEATURE

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IN CONVERSATION WITH 34 Sir mick davis

56 “THE LONG NIGHT” ERNSt BORNSTEIN

58 OUR legacy

Business insight: 82 Work avenue micaela blitz

Personal perspectives: 84 michelle barnet Interviewed by micaela blitz

RABBI ARI KAYSER

FOOD 60

72 There is no substitute for time with your kids shanni solomon

KIDS 78 FEATURE COMIC & COLOURING PAGE

CHANUKAH PARTY 86 helping the homeless 88

74 Anger management

AISH VISITS POLAND 90

76 The psychological benefit of religion

GENESIS ON DEMAND 92

aryeh sampson

@AISH

FAMILY & WELLBEING

New york deli ilana epstein

COMMUNITY

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL

rabbi moshe friedman

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A

j o u r n e y T o

t h e

H e a r t o f

a f r i c a One rabbi’s visit with The abayudaya of eastern uganda RABBI SHIMSHON NADEL When not travelling to Jewish communities in the far-flung corners of the world, Shimshon HaKohen Nadel lives and teaches in Jerusalem, where he serves as rabbi of Har Nof’s Kehilat Zichron Yosef.

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T R AV E L · W O R L D I first learned about the Jews of Uganda almost 20 years ago. An aspiring musician interested in the roots of all sorts of Jewish folk music, I stumbled on some of their recordings. (Later, a CD of their music, released in 2003, was nominated for ‘Best Traditional World Music album’ at the 47th Grammy Awards.) To my ears, their music was original and exotic, yet familiar. Tefillot and Jewish texts set to East African musical motifs, harmonies and rhythms.

Hebrew, Luganda, and Lugwere were sewn and sung together seamlessly. I was instantly smitten.

I fell in love with their music and their story. And I began to research this community’s fascinating history.

The journey of Uganda’s Jews to Judaism began 100 years ago. Semei Lwakirenzi Kakungulu (1869-1928), a charismatic tribal leader, warlord and statesman was converted to Christianity by British missionaries and given an area in Eastern Uganda to govern and establish British rule. After studying the Bible, he found the truth in the Five Books of Moses. According to one tradition, he may also have learned about Judaism from a Jewish traveler, Yosef, doing business in Uganda.

With time, Kakungulu became disillusioned with both the British and their religion. In 1919, in an act of both political and spiritual rebellion, he converted himself, his family, and his tribe to Judaism, founding the Abayudaya (lit. ‘Children of Judah’).

A century later, their descendants, numbering around 2,500, are still practicing Judaism and living in eight villages outside the city of Mbale in Eastern Uganda, near the border with Kenya.

Today the community boasts several Jewish primary schools and a Jewish secondary school, named after Kakungulu.

Over the past two decades, many members of the Abayudaya subsequently converted to Conservative Judaism. But one group, practicing

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W O R L D · T R AV E L

“THIS IS A COMMUNITY THAT HAS STRUGGLED AND SACRIFICED TO PRESERVE THEIR CONNECTION TO JUDAISM.”

Orthodox

Judaism,

wanted

an

really any infrastructure. Just fields,

The trek to Nasenyi was not easy. But

Orthodox conversion. After a number

dirt roads, and simple one-room

it was worth it. It involved doctor’s

of visits by rabbis from Israel, in 2016

homes made from brick or mud huts

visits, immunisations, antimalarials,

a Beit Din was convened and Kahal

with thatched roofs. Calves, goats,

flights through Africa, and the long

Kadosh She’erit Yisrael converted to

and chickens roam the landscape,

7+ hour drive through the Ugandan

Orthodox Judaism.

as do barefooted children carrying

countryside from Entebbe to Mbale.

jerrycans filled with water, drawn

Leaving Entebbe Airport, we passed

Last year, Moshe, a student of mine

from the well. In the air is a stillness.

the Old Terminal where one of Israel’s

originally from Uganda currently living

A calm. A simple beauty. To some

boldest operations on foreign soil

with his family in New Jersey, came

Westerners, the village and its

took place. It now serves as a military

to Jerusalem to study in yeshiva. I

residents might appear to be lacking.

airport, signs along the roadway warn

surprised him with my knowledge

drivers that this site is protected by

of his community’s history and

Uganda’s Special Forces Command

their music. He connected me with

and

members of Kahal Kadosh She’erit

prohibited. My driver warned me that

Yisrael. I began communicating with

if we stop, we can be detained and

them online, even teaching Torah and

my camera confiscated - or worse.

answering their halachic inquiries.

(Having spent part of the previous

They invited me to spend a week in

day visiting a Jewish inmate in an

their community and teach. But I

Ethiopian prison, I had no desire to

ended up learning much more than

see the inside of a Ugandan prison!)

photography

is

strictly

I could ever teach.

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But the people who live here are

Seeing

Having recently moved from the

some of the happiest, most content

meaningful for me. Ever since I was

nearby village of Putti, Kahal Kadosh

people I have ever met. You can see it

a child I have been captivated by

She’erit Yisrael makes its home today

on their faces and in their eyes. For the

the courage, heroism, and sheer

in Nasenyi, a small rural village just

first time in my life I really understood

brilliance of Operation Thunderbolt/

outside Mbale. In Nasenyi there is

the Mishnah, “Who is rich? He who is

Jonathan. It is a story that is seared into

no electricity, no running water or

happy with his lot” (Avot 4:1).

our collective memory as Jews, and

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Old

Terminal

was

T R AV E L · W O R L D

“FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I REALLY UNDERSTOOD THE MISHNAH: ‘WHO IS RICH? HE WHO IS HAPPY WITH HIS LOT’”

resonates with anyone who believes

Marom, a Jewish student group that

associated the Nile with Biblical

in Israel’s right to defend herself and

services the needs of the members of

Egypt, I was surprised to learn that

protect her citizens - even on foreign

the Abayudaya living and studying in

one of its main tributaries, the White

soil. It’s no wonder that this mission is

the country’s capital.

Nile, originates in Uganda, flowing

the subject of at least six feature films, and countless documentaries.

North. Like the river, history here runs Kampala is also home to a Chabad

deeper than I thought I knew.

House. Yes, there is even a Chabad As we passed the Old Terminal, we

in Uganda! Rabbi Moshe Raskin,

Finally we arrived in Nasenyi. I spent

said a little prayer for Yoni Netanyahu,

together with his wife Yocheved,

time getting to know the members of

brother of Prime Minister Bibi

nourish the hungry bodies and souls

the community, and was impressed

Netanyahu, who made the ultimate

of Israeli backpackers, tourists, and

by the community’s leadership and

sacrifice, giving his life in order to save

organisation despite not having a

Jewish lives while leading this daring

rabbi. We prayed together, sang

operation.

together, and studied together. Their weekday prayers would put most

The Old Terminal also serves as a

synagogues to shame. While most

reminder of Idi Amin and his cruel

of us rush through Pesukei D’zimra,

reign over Uganda. During the

the verses of song and praise which

regime, Judaism was outlawed and

begin our daily morning prayers,

synagogues destroyed. At the time,

Kahal Kadosh She’erit Yisrael actually

the Abayudaya went underground

sings them every single day!

and practiced their religion in secret. This is a community that has

businesspeople passing through.

I gave classes, teaching about

struggled and sacrificed to preserve

They supplied me with food for the

Shabbat, Tefillah, and Israel, and was

their connection to Judaism.

week (and probably enough food for

inspired by their passion. They hung

two weeks!).

on every word and drank it up with

An hour drive from Entebbe and we

thirst. This community has a deep

reached the capital city, Kampala. In

Heading East to Jinja, we crossed

love for the Torah of Israel, the People

Kampala, we met with members of

over the Nile River. Having always

of Israel, and the Land of Israel.

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W O R L D · T R AV E L I taught and sang with the children of the community, whose bright smiles are a bright hope for the future. I visited the Hadassah Primary School where students taught me some of their songs, and I taught them some of my own. The children appreciated the Israeli snack foods like Bamba and Bissli and the chocolate wafers I brought with me.

Teaching them to make berachot was just a ruse to be able to share with them a taste of Israel.

Members

of

the

community

also

deeply

appreciated the tefillin, tallitot, tzitzit, siddurim and the Jewish books I brought with me, gifts from members of my synagogue in Jerusalem. I explained how the tefillin and tzitzit represent our deep bond with Hashem and serve as a constant reminder of that intimate relationship. My hope is that they will also serve as a reminder of the deep bond between their community and mine in Jerusalem.

Having recently moved to Nasenyi, Kahal Kadosh She’erit Yisrael prays in a makeshift synagogue and has plans to build a permanent Beit Knesset. They are also going through agricultural training so they can develop the plot of land next to the synagogue, and sell its produce commercially to support the community.

Following a Birthright trip to Israel in August, the Abayudaya are getting more and more media attention, in Israel and abroad. Currently, they are looking for greater recognition from the State of Israel and seeking greater acceptance in the Jewish world.

In the meantime, they continue to pray and study and serve Hashem with a passion and a joy that is unrivaled.

I arrived curious and left inspired. My life forever changed.

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“MY HOPE IS THAT [THE TEFILLIN AND TZITZIT] WILL ALSO SERVE AS A REMINDER OF THE DEEP BOND BETWEEN THEIR COMMUNITY AND MINE IN JERUSALEM.”

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WORLD · ISRAEL

L I V I N G U N D E R F I R E L I F E I N S D E R O T

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ISRAEL · WORLD

SHIRA DRUION obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Education and Psychology.

She then trained as a Speech and Drama teacher through the Trinity College of London. She has been an educator for the past 15 years, teaching students from nursery to university where she lectured on writing and communication skills.

She now teaches English and runs her own drama company called Dramatix where she teaches a broad age group of students. She also works for Chazak where she is the editor of YALLA Community Magazine and is responsible for PR/Marketing and events for young professionals. For more info on Dramatix classes in North West London, contact Shira at shiradru@hotmail.com or on 07587400516.

SHIRA DRUION TALKS TO DOREL ABRAMOWITZ

Sderot is a former development town in the Southern District of Israel. It is a city of 27,000 resilient people committed to building the State of Israel and the Jewish nation, which they do with vigour. The city, infamously referred to as the

How do you deal with the constant missiles and terror?

“Bomb Shelter Capital of the World”, continues to be a place of tremendous growth, despite the constant threat of terror.

Since ‘Operation Protective Edge’ at the end of 2014, we

Located less than a mile from the Gaza Strip, Sderot has

have had three years of full quiet. In the last year however,

been a major target of Qassam rockets attacks from Hamas.

we had numerous rocket attacks which took us back to

Dorel Abramowitz, Director of Development for the Sderot

the years of 2003-2014 when we had rockets on a weekly

Municipality says, “We used to say that life in Sderot is 99%

and sometimes daily basis. During November 2018, we had

heaven and 1% hell, meaning most of the time it’s a wonderful

almost 300 rockets in 24 hours. It is impossible to live under

place to live. Sderot is a growing city, has excellent schools

those kinds of perilous conditions and when that happens,

and is generally a great place to live. Obviously when rockets

we call the Israeli government to do whatever they can to

are storming down that is not the case. Since Operation

make the Hamas regime understand it is not worthwhile for

Protective Edge it has mostly been very quiet but once in a

them to fire rockets at civilians in Sderot and the surrounding

while we get reminders from our neighbours in Gaza.”

region.

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WORLD · ISRAEL

Has the situation affected you personally?

My good friend, Shmuel Ohayon, is a married and a father of two children. He is Director of Operations in the Sderot

I work in Sderot but don’t actually live there. During the last

playground and a local resident who has lived there since

attack, I was in my car which is the scariest situation to find

he was five years old when his parents made Aliyah from

oneself in during a missile attack. I was stopped at the traffic

Morocco 55 years ago. He says, “I love Sderot and I have

lights at the entrance of Sderot when I heard the ‘red colour’

never thought about leaving. This is my home! My family,

alert go off. I got out of the car and lay down on the floor

friends and everything is here. Sderot is a charming place,

for 10 minutes until I could find a bomb shelter. Above me I

the Qassam rockets will not break my spirit.”

could hear the Iron Dome system intercepting the Qassam rockets. It was obviously not a great experience to be outside during one of those attacks but on the other hand I have to say that I did feel a sense of pride that we have a

Do you feel the government is supportive of your situation and that they do what they can to help?

system like the Iron Dome to assist us during attacks.

Yes, we believe the government does a lot to protect us. We

How do people cope with the threat to life on a day to day basis?

are not aware of all of the action they take but we are sure that the IDF does everything in their power to protect us.

It is obviously more complex

The situation has affected all

than straightforward as the

those living here. The effect of

government has many factors

living with this level of terror

to consider when dealing

can cause people to suffer

with Hamas and sometimes

with PTSD symptoms such as

we have a feeling that political

anxiety, lack of self-confidence

agendas stop the government

and fear of loud noises. We

from defeating Hamas. In the

have a system in place to

last debacle, it seemed like we

deal with these issues which

were begging for a ceasefire

includes a team of therapists

instead of giving back a

to support those suffering from

powerful response.

the effects of PTSD. I would say

How can Jews in the UK help our brothers and sisters in Sderot?

that this is the most significant effect of the last 15 years of terror because all Sderot kids are born into this reality.

You can definitely help! I can think of several ways: The truth is people love Sderot and want to bring up

You can help with trying to advocate positively for

their children here because it is an exceptionally warm

Israel and the IDF by simply explaining that this is a war

community. It is peaceful, quiet, very friendly and so diverse!

between terrorists and innocent people on the Israeli

There is a place here for all types. I think that lots of residents

side.

understand that in many ways they need to set an example

•

By supporting Sderot with PTSD treatments. We built a

as proud Zionists who are standing at the forefront for the

new resilience centre which is safe and fully protected

entire State of Israel. It is that responsibility and position

from bombs. The project has been half sponsored by

that gives them strength and motivation to stay and to live

the Ministry of Defence, but we need try to raise funds

in Sderot, despite the challenges they encounter along the

to match the government contributions.

•

way.

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•

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We also hope to expand the treatment we can offer

ISRAEL · WORLD and to provide many more hours than we give right now. But we need more funds in order to be able to achieve those goals. Come to visit us to show solidarity and support.

Would you leave Sderot and move to a “safer” part of Israel?

ABOUT DOREL

The people in Sderot love the city and most of them would not consider leaving. In the ‘bad years’ before Protective Edge, one third of Sderot residents left. By 2012, we were

Dorel Abramovitz was born in Rishon LeZion

fewer than 20,000 residents which was dramatically less

in 1972. After graduating high school, he

than the 24,000 residents in 2003. But we are very happy

joined a Hesder yeshiva and subsequently

and proud that in the last five years, many new people have

served in an infantry fighting unit during his

moved to Sderot and the plan is to more than double the

military service in the Israel Defense Forces in

population over the next five years to 50,000 people. Five

the Givati Brigade.

new neighbourhoods are currently being built – the dream is possible!

After graduating college, Dorel worked as an

Are you angry at the people of Gaza?

educator for many years both in Israel and the United States; he was a shaliach in Silver Spring, Maryland for three years teaching

No, we do not hate the Arabs that live in Gaza as tragically

Hebrew and Judaism, and since his return

they are under the horrible regime that controls and

to Israel fifteen years ago has been involved

oppresses them. I am sure they wish they had a normal and

in education and various projects aimed at

successful life. However they basically support Hamas and

benefitting various sectors of Israeli society.

I’m not sure they are great fans of Israel. They know very

His work includes development of large-

well that under Israel they would be much safer and that

scale educational programs, fund raising,

Israel would encourage them to succeed and to become

public relations and spokesmanship.

more developed in comparison to their lives under Hamas rule. The truth is that Gaza is a complicated issue and I do

In the past, Dorel was part of a team that

not believe there is anyone out there that could provide a

established and developed pre-military

magical solution to the problem.

preparatory academies in in Kiryat Malachi and Katzrin, and served as the Israel Director for fundraising for The Jerusalem College of Technology - Lev Academic Center for five years.

He is presently the Director of External Affairs of the Hesder Yeshiva in Itamar, but his main work is as Director for fundraising for the Municipality of Sderot, working closely with Mayor Alon Davidi. Thus, he combines his love of education with finding ways for improving the lives of others.

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WORLD · JEWISH HISTORY

C R Y P T O J U D A I S M T he E ni gma o f B e l mo n t e

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JEWISH HISTORY · WORLD

Neatly tucked into the hills of Portugal is the village of Belmonte.

For many this remote quaint town is famous simply for being the birthplace

france

of Pedro Álvares Cabral, the navigator and military commander who discovered the land of “Vera Cruz”, now known to us as Brazil, the fifth largest

portugal

belmonte

country on earth!

However this small town of 6,500 residents holds a much larger draw for

spain

Jewish tourists worldwide. In order to understand why that is the case, a brief introduction is in order.

morocco

A watershed moment for the Jews of Spain, Iberia and Mallorca began in 1391, with a wave of pogroms that lasted a year and saw a hundred thousand Jews murdered. When the dust finally settled, roughly one third of Spanish Jews had been forcibly converted, one third murdered and one third remained Jewish.

Many survivors who fled or hid found shelter in Portugal, including the grandfather of Don Yitzchak Abarbanel. The result of 1391 was utter chaos and devastation to one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. The scale of the riots was unprecedented and created many years of suffering.

This new population of converts were given many names such as conversos

RABBI RAPHY GARSON was raised in Gibraltar. After studying at the Mir Yeshiva, he married his wife Deborah and attended Kings College, graduating with a degree in Computer Science & Management. They then moved back to Israel where he obtained rabbinic ordination from the former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu and the Israeli Rabbinate. In 2005 they returned to the UK to become the Senior Rabbi & Rebbetzin of Ohr Yisrael in Borehamwood and Elstree where he is also the Director of the Hertfordshire Learning Experience.

Raphy works for JRoots as an educator and guide in Poland, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. In addition he also leads thousands of nonJewish students to Poland every year on the HET ‘Lessons from Auschwitz Project’.

or anusim - the forced ones. Marranos was the pejorative used by some. One source of the term derives from the Arabic muharram meaning “forbidden”.

In this context the word means a “swine” or “pig”. However, as applied to Crypto-Jews, the term marrano may also derive from the Spanish verb marrar meaning “to deviate” or “to err”, in the sense that they deviated from their newly adopted faith by secretly continuing to practice Judaism.

The “New Christians” could not revert to Judaism. Once baptised they were Christians - forever. If they reverted it was heresy and punishable by death.

Jewish law dealt with this very differently. The Talmudic premise that “even if a Jew sins they are still a Jew” was sensitively applied by the Rabbis to these groups, at least within the first generation.

With the passage of time hatred was focused on these New Christians who had very quickly risen the ranks in all areas of society. The Riot in Toledo in 1449 was predominantly targeted against conversos. During this time a “Judgment-Statute” was approved, prohibiting access of these false converts to municipal positions. In order to justify the attacks they were branded false Christians who practice Judaism in secret.

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WORLD · JEWISH HISTORY In 1449 it was ethnicity that mattered, not religion. Limpieza

Initially life was good for the Jews in Portugal. However

de sangre or cleaning “unclean blood” became a crazed

within five years it became a disaster. The new King Manuel

passion of the soon to be established inquisition.

the First, was on the cusp of his great conquest and needed the Jews. However his bride to be, the daughter of the

The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 by the

King and Queen of Spain, made the removal of the Jews

Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of

of Portugal a prerequisite to the marriage. Thus began

Castile. Their goal was to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in

the mass conversion of thousands, coupled with many

their kingdoms. Originally it was used to identify heretics

events of suffering, pain and brutal separations of parents

amongst those who converted from Judaism to Catholicism.

and children. The Lisbon Easter Slaughter of April 1506 is hardly discussed in historical

The Inquisition came to a head

“THEY WERE GIVEN THREE MONTHS TO LEAVE ALL BEHIND, OR KEEP THEIR ASSETS AND CONVERT.”

with the signing of the royal decree on the 31st of March 1492. The decree was brutally honest. Jews must be expelled so that the conversos would no longer have the assistance or inspiration of their

accounts and the Portuguese only recognised it in 2008, when a memorial was erected at the site where it took place.

For those who did not leave Portugal, their forced conversion

Jewish brethren. Conversos would therefore become good

was tempered with one concession by the King. He

Christians.

proclaimed that there was to be no Inquisition established for 20 years. However it did indeed create 20 years of secret

They were given three months to leave all behind, or keep

Judaism.

their assets and convert. By the 31st of July 1492 (the Hebrew date of the 9th of Av) there was to be no more Judaism in

When the Jews expelled from Spain crossed over the

Spain.

border in the area of Marvão, many made their way to the local villages in the mountains. It was in these areas that

Historians debate how many Jews made the journey out

they restarted their lives, hiding under the shadow of the

of Spain; it ranges from 150,000 - 400,000. Many headed

Portuguese inquisition. One such village where they settled

towards areas of Morocco and the Ottoman Empire, to

was Belmonte.

Turkey and Greece. An estimated 120,000 made the shorter journey across the border into Portugal.

For many of the conversos the pressure and ongoing fear of the Inquisition eventually wore them down and all hidden practices were eventually stopped. As each subsequent

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JEWISH HISTORY · WORLD generation was born, less was known to their descendants of a once rich, vibrant and active Judaism. Belmonte’s conversos decided to risk persecution and even death and continued to practice Judaism in secret. For centuries, these so-called marranos led a clandestine existence.

Living among Christians, the Crypto-Jews in this mountainous town close to the Spanish border protected themselves by giving the appearance of externally being good Christians.

Prayers and traditions were practiced at home under maximum secrecy behind closed doors and windows. Even the food was affected as they prepared alheira, the heavily seasoned sausages that are still very popular throughout

History tells us they preserved some mourning customs, like

many parts of Portugal.

the Tahara, the washing of the corpse and the burning of a light during the first seven days of mourning, the Shivah.

By adapting their kosher cooking, they gave the impression that they ate pork. However the recipe involved using “only”

They performed their own marriage ceremony, by making a

rabbit and chicken.

declaration in Portuguese which said: “Em nome de Deus de Abrahao, Isaac e Jacob, eu vos uno. Cumpri vos a Sua bencao”

Many traditions and “Jew-ish” customs developed which

which translates to “In the name of the God of Abraham,

alluded to a Judaism of the past. The Belmonte marranos

Isaac and Jacob I commend you to His benediction”.

maintained their identity by marrying within themselves, which very often led to serious medical issues of close

All of this dedication to maintain their Jewish roots was done,

family members intermarrying with each other.

without Jewish schools, without synagogues, without Jewish books – and at risk of being caught at any moment. Being

They adhered to the belief in a single God who would redeem

caught often meant being burnt alive.

his people at the end of days. Some Jewish observances like Shabbat and Jewish holidays were kept. Many lit candles on

In Belmonte, it was mainly the mothers who passed on

Friday night where they could not be seen from the outside,

the knowledge, habits and religiousness from generation

or placed them in a closet or vase. Some observed Passover

to generation. And it was for this reason that women in

and Yom Kippur a day or two before or after the Jewish

general were persecuted in far greater numbers during the

calendar date to confuse the spies of the Inquisition.

Inquisition. It is and always has been the Jewish Woman, with her intuition, foresight, compassion and leadership that was able to maintain Jewish continuity under the most horrific regimes.

“the Crypto-Jews protected themselves by giving the appearance of externally being good Christians.”

A YouTube video telling their story relates that they were ‘discovered’ in 1917 by Samuel Schwartz, a Galician mining engineer. When he asked them if they were Jews – as he too was a Jew – they did not believe him. They thought they were the only remaining Jews in the world. In fact they only believed Schwartz was a Jew when he recited the Shema Yisrael and they recognised the name of God “Adonai”. Even in 1917 a palpable fear existed and the word “Jew” was not

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uttered in public. They emerged from secrecy because of

Here the candle of Jewish light was never

increased openness across Portugal after the 1974 transition

extinguished. For a period of 500 years, from

to democracy from António Salazar’s dictatorship.

1492 [when the one synagogue in Belmonte was destroyed] until 1996 [when it was reopened],

On a recent JRoots journey we met Shavei Israel’s emissary

in the homes of this village the Jewish

in Portugal, Rabbi Salas, who oversaw the running of the

commandments were secretly performed, the

local synagogue Bet Eliahu which was inaugurated on the

tradition was transmitted from parent to child

4th December 1996, exactly 500 years after the edict of

in hushed tones, the Sabbath was sanctified

expulsion. This edict was never carried out, instead all Jews

in hiding while Sunday was celebrated before

in Portugal were forcibly baptised in 1497.

the eyes of the neighbors. They made blessings over the challah and the wine and mumbled

Rabbi Salas left Belmonte this year as the community has

words of Hebrew prayers in the darkness. Here

dwindled to about 40 Jews. However, his work and love to

the Jewish soul was never lost. Here the Jewish

these hidden Jews has left its mark. Many have made Aliyah

soul remains forever…From the midst of the

because of his input and many are more committed.

past will rise the future. From the bleak darkness of the Middle Ages shall emerge the light of this

I remember the first time I visited the Synagogue being

synagogue.”

deeply moved by the sign at the entrance: Belmonte’s Jews embody the indomitable spirit of the Jewish “Here in this place, the chain of our tradition has

People. Queen Isabela and King Ferdinand are surely turning

not been severed…As a result of government

in their graves. They tried to kill Judaism throughout the

decrees, the Jewish residents of this village, like

Iberian Peninsula – they didn’t succeed – and many are now

other Jews throughout Spain and Portugal, were

coming home.

forced to publicly deny their Jewish religion. But they maintained their Judaism in their homes.

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[

]

@wisdom Term 2 Applications Now Open ÂŁ50 per term

contact yp@aish.org.uk

Questions, answers and everything in between.

What is Judaism’s next chapter, and is humanity still part of the story?

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W h a t

i s

t h e

e v i d e n c e

t h a t

c o l u m b u s w a s

a

j e w ?

On February 15, 1493 Christopher Columbus sent out a letter to the European world revealing for the first time his discovery of America. His finding was the first step into a new world, which would become the symbol of religious tolerance and freedom. The real identity of Christopher Columbus sheds new light on the poignancy of this historical period, especially for the Jews.

B. GORDON To gain a better understanding of Columbus’s legacy, it’s Columbus lived during the time of the inquisition during

B. Gordon is a freelance writer, columnist, and copywriter. Her work appears on national and international online and print publications.

which Anusim, Jews who practiced their faith in secret, were

This article appears on

important to note the historical background of his life.

under constant threat of arrest and tortuous death. Tens of thousands of secret Jews were tortured during the Spanish Inquisition, many dying a martyr’s death.

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JEWISH HISTORY · WORLD

“columbus was, in fact, a secret jew whose voyage to the indies had another altogether different objective than he claimed.”

Columbus’ identity has been shrouded in mystery and

Another revelation is in the mysterious monogram found on

debated for some time. The Italians claimed that Columbus

his the letters, written right to left. To quote Semitic linguist

was born in Lugano, Italy to Domenico Colombo, a tower

Maurice David, who discovered the meaning of the symbols,

sentinel. The Spaniards claim that he was born on Spanish

“On all of these... intimate letters the attentive reader can

soil to a father with a different name and trade. Recently,

plainly see at the left top corner a little monogram which

as reported by Charles Garcia of CNN, Spanish scholars

is... in fact, nothing more…. than an old Hebrew greeting….

Jose Erugo, Otero Sanchez and Nicholas Dias Perez have

frequently used among religious Jews all over the world even

concluded that Columbus was, in fact, a secret Jew whose

to this day”. The symbol he was referring to were the Hebrew

voyage to the Indies had another altogether different

letters bet and heh, which we know to stand for b’ezrat

objective than he claimed.

Hashem, or with God’s help. Not surprisingly, Columbus’ letter to the King and Queen was the only one of his 13 letters

The content of Columbus’ personal letters and diary

studied that did not contain this symbol.

entries prove most revealing. One telling difference between Columbus’ personal writings and those of his

Three of the wishes in Columbus’ will and testament also

contemporaries was the language it was written in, namely

lend a number of telling clues to his identity. One request in

one unrecognisable to most native Spaniards. Linguistics

his will was that one-tenth of his income be given as charity

professor Estelle Irizarry, after analysing the language of

to provide dowry for poor girls, a commonly practiced

hundreds of similar letters concluded that it was written in

Jewish custom that stretches far back. He also requested to

Castilan Spanish or Ladino, a Jewish version of the Spanish

have money given to a certain Jew who lived near the Jewish

language, analogous to what the Yiddish language is to

quarter of Lisbon.

German.

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Another particularly telltale note in his will seemed to

rebuild the Jews’ holy Temple. According to Dr. Gerhard Falk,

be somewhat of a hidden signature, a triangular form of

author of a Man’s Ascent to Reason, he brought a Hebrew

dots and letters that resembled inscriptions found on

interpreter with him, with the hope of locating the ten lost

gravestones of Jewish cemeteries in Spain. Columbus even

tribes. ( Hence, the popular lyric reads: “In 1492, Columbus

instructed his children to maintain this mysterious symbol

sailed the ocean blue. His interpreter was lou, he was a Jew

for perpetuity. The hidden signature, when translated, was

and that is true.”)

actually a prayer in lieu of the standard Hebrew kaddish, which was forbidden in Spain. This ploy allowed Columbus

The day of Columbus’ travels are also of noteworthy

to covertly instruct his children to recite the kaddish prayer

significance. It is said that he had originally planned on

for him.

sailing on Tisha b’Av, but postponed his travels because the day is considered inauspicious for

“we come to know a man, who, in his quest to free the Jewish people from their oppression, was brought to America by the hand of Divine Providence.”

Simon Wiesenthal suggests that the motive behind Columbus’ voyage was to find a safe haven for the Jews.

People assume that King Ferdinand and

Queen

Isabella

financed

such ventures. Instead he began his journey on August 3rd, the 11th of Av, two days after the Jews were given the choice to convert or leave Spain. For our discerning readers, is this a fact of mere coincidence or of remarkable significance?

Columbus’ journey. But according to Charles Garcia of CNN, two conversos, Louis De Santangel and Gabriel Sanchez,

On the surface it seems that an ordinary sailor set forth

along with the prominent Rabbi Isaac Abarbanel, took

to find a different path to the Indies, and by a remarkable

money out of their own pockets to pay for the voyage. This

stroke of luck, landed in a land known for its benevolence

historical fact should raise yet another question: Why did

and religious tolerance. However, upon exploring the true

these Jews take interest in Columbus’ voyage?

identity of Christopher Columbus, we come to know a man, who, in his quest to free the Jewish people from their

Simon Wiesenthal suggests in his book, Sails of Hope, that

oppression, was brought to America by the hand of Divine

the motive behind Columbus’ voyage was to find a safe

Providence.

haven for the Jews. Similarly, others conclude that Columbus set sail to Asia for the purpose to obtaining enough gold to finance a crusade in an effort to take back Jerusalem and

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A S I C I L I A N M O B I N J E WI S H GR E E C E

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JEWISH HISTORY · WORLD

I. Unity or Community?

RABBI GIL STUDENT

In 1546, a rabbi tried to unite the Jewish community of

is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of TorahMusings.com and writes frequently in Jewish newspapers and magazines. Rabbi Student serves as Director of the Halacha Commission of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, on the Editorial Board of the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Action magazine, and as the magazine’s Book Editor. His latest book is Search Engine: Finding Meaning in Jewish Texts.

Patras, in western Greece and at the time part of the Ottoman Empire. Or as the opponents might have put it, he tried take control of the community. The fallout was ugly, causing great disagreement throughout the large Jewish communities on the Mediterranean. Patras had four Jewish communities — native Greek, Spanish, and large and small Sicilian communities. Years earlier, all the communities had governed together by mutual agreement but decades prior to this incident, the communities agreed to self-govern community to set its own rules and enforce them.

II. An Offer You Can’t Refuse

A recently arrived rabbi, Yosef Forman, discovered that the

In particular, the support of the leading rabbi of the

communities had previously been united and attempted to

Salonica Jewish community — Rabbi Shmuel De Modena

reunite them under his leadership. Each community would

(known by his acronym ‘Maharshdam’) — was important

have equal representation in the lay leadership. However, the

for the consolidation plan. However, the relatively young

native Greek community refused to submit to joint control

Maharshdam (40 years old) refused to comment on this

because it realized that it would always be in the minority.

contentious situation. Rabbi Forman sent emissaries across

The Greeks would be subject to Sicilian control. In response

Greece to Salonica, to ask for his opinion. Simultaneously,

to this refusal, Rabbi Forman wrote a halakhic treatise on the

the native Greek community in Patras sent their own

subject which he circulated to leading rabbis in the region,

emissaries to Salonica to enlist Maharshdam on their side.

in the hope for their support for his consolidated control of

After repeated requests from both sets of emissaries,

the Patras Jewish community.

Maharshdam agreed to adjudicate only if both sides agreed

without a federated Jewish government. This allowed each

in advance to follow his conclusion, which was impossible.

In frustration, one of the native Greek emissaries decided

“How is a minority protected From the tyranny of the majority?”

to sail to Constantinople, where he might find rabbinic assistance. Before the boat left dock, members of the local Sicilian Jewish community — whose Sicilian comrades in Patras supported the consolidation — boarded the boat and beat up the Greek emissary. Then they turned him into the police, claiming that the Greek Jew owed money to a Sicilian Jew — with two local witnesses falsely testifying to the debt.

The Greek Jew remained in jail for three days until he was able to find someone to pay the fictitious debt. Additionally, the community declared a curse on anyone who assisted the Greek emissaries, which they had announced in the marketplace. As a divine epilogue to this episode, two of the consolidation emissaries died within the year and a third fell seriously ill. (Maharshdam tells this story in the often omitted introduction to his responsum, Yoreh De’ah 253.)

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III. Federalism or Separatism Rabbi Forman then travelled himself to Salonica to enlist Maharshdam’s support. Maharshdam greeted him warmly but adamantly refused to discuss the consolidation issue. When Rabbi Forman left, he sent a blistering letter to Maharshdam, angry over his refusal to engage. Finally, Maharshdam conceded and got involved in this controversy.

To Rabbi Forman’s dismay, Maharshdam supported the native Greek community in their fight against consolidation.

Setting aside the personal elements of this case, the issue at

Maharshdam replies with a different passage emphasizing

hand is one inherent to all democracies: how is a minority

community rather than city. Regarding disagreements

protected from the tyranny of the majority? Different

between Talmudic adversaries Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai,

countries have tried various solutions, with some success.

when each group followed their own ruling rather than

The Greek Jewish community in Patras wanted its rights

accepting a consensus, the Talmud asks why this does not

protected from the majority. On the other hand, Jewish unity

violate the prohibition of forming separate communities:

is important. A united Jewish community has inherent value.

According to the one who said that Beit Shammai acted

Only, says the Maharashdam, if the minority is allowed to

in accordance with their opinion, we should read here:

maintain its independence when necessary. One important

“You shall not cut yourselves” (Deuteronomy 14:1), which is

detail is whether people can switch communities. If they can,

interpreted to mean: Do not become numerous factions…

then people can game a decentralized system by jurisdiction

Rava said to him: But the dispute between Beit Shammai and

shopping, joining the community most favourable to their

Beit Hillel is considered like a case of two courts in one city,

situation. In Salonica, people were not allowed to switch

as these two schools of thought were found everywhere,

communities, thereby avoiding this problem.

not in any specific place. Rather, Rava said: When we say that the prohibition: “You shall not cut yourselves” applies,

IV. Community or City?

we are referring to a case where there is a court in one city, a section of which rules in accordance with the statement of Beit Shammai and another section rules in accordance

The dispute over consolidation revolves around two

with the statement of Beit Hillel. However, with regard to

Talmudic passages. The first, on which Rabbi Forman bases

two courts located in one city, we have no problem with it.

his argument (his treatise is included as an appendix to the

(Yevamot 14a, Koren Steinsaltz translation)

2010 edition of Responsa Maharshdam (Yoreh De’ah)), on the rights given to city residents to issue local regulations:

Maharshdam says that from the fact that this verse does not apply to a city that has two courts we see that a city does

It is permitted for the residents of the city to set

not need to have uniform practices. Or rather, a community

the measures used in that city, the prices set for

with its own synagogue and religious court constitutes a city.

products sold there, and the wages paid to its

When the Talmud in Bava Batra says that residents of a town

workers, and to fine people for violating their

or city may set regulations, they include a community as a

specifications. (Bava Batra 8b, Koren Steinsaltz

city or town that may have its own regulations.¹

translation) ¹ See also Responsa Mabit 3:77; Responsa Radakh 11; Responsa Maharam Alshikh 59; Responsa Maharibal 2:77; Avkas Rokhel 191.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

I am the first Bangladeshi national in history to travel to Israel.

If social trends are anything to go by, I would have been an anti-Semite like most of my countrymen - not someone on the threshold of conversion to Judaism. I would have hated Israel and thought of them as the controller of the world who wanted to destroy Muslim identity. My story ended differently.

Bangladesh, a country of more than 165 million people, 90% of which are Muslim, was established with secularism as a virtue. However, political turmoil and subsequent military coups established governments who were sympathetic to Islamist groups and dependent on Middle Eastern aid. This made Bangladesh a breeding ground for Wahhabi Islamic teaching which has plagued the Middle East. This version of Islam promoted by Saudi Arabia, the driving ideological force behind groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda, also found its way into the minds and textbooks of Bangladeshi people. Most people around me hated Jews and Israel, and in a country with no registered Jews, there was hardly anyone to teach about Judaism and the Jewish people. My textbooks and teachers in school used to demonise Jews and Israel as the “Satan.� The culture of Bangladesh used to encourage and indoctrinate its people in anti-Semitism from a very early age.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Luckily for me, my story ended up being radically different

and did a one-year internship in Bangladesh. I would try to

to what is predestined for so many other Bangladeshis. Born

call out anti-Semitism when I saw it, and shared with others

into an affluent family, my parents promoted humanity as

my belief that diplomatic relations with Israel would benefit

a virtue above all else. My father is a secular atheist and my

us. My public support of Israel led to regular death threats

mother is a liberal Muslim. My maternal grandfather, an

from Islamists. They also threatened my parents too. I

atheist, was the first Bangladeshi Zionist and it was he who

moved to the UK in order to pursue my career as a doctor

introduced me to Zionism and the beauty of Judaism.

and to my surprise, found that anti-Semitism existed here too. After passing the registration exams and becoming an

At school and in public places, I was always told to hate

A & E doctor in the NHS, I joined Queen Mary University of

Jews but at home I was given a very different message. My

London to do a Masters in Public Health.

parents and grandfather encouraged me to read about Judaism, Zionism and Jewish history

I was shocked to see the level of

- something unheard of in my

“My public support Of israel led to Regular death threats from islamists”

country. They told me to first read and then question whether the hatred that the average Bangladeshi harbours towards Jews was justified or not. As a curious 12 year old, I read the book “A Case for Israel” by Alan Dershowitz and my perception of

hatred towards Israel and Jews on university campuses. It became my moral duty to stand up against hatred towards Jews and I became the secretary of the “Jewish and Israel Society” of Queen Mary University of London. I took to the streets with my fellow Zionists to

Israel changed forever. Since then, I have read a lot of books

campaign and uphold the truth about Israel. Since moving

on Israel and the Middle East and I have no doubt that to

to the UK, I have already received 37 death threats, but that

prevent another Holocaust, there has to be an independent

will not deter me.

State of Israel.

While working as a doctor and studying for my masters, I

32

My father is an engineer and my mother is a teacher, a

decided to take a break for a week and visit Israel. I knew

philanthropist and a women’s rights campaigner. In January

that if Israel approved my visa application then I would be

2015, I qualified as a doctor from Chittagong Medical College

the first Bangladeshi national to do so. Salah Chowdhury,

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FEATURE ARTICLE

a Bangladeshi national, had previously attempted to go to

For me, anti-Zionism is the modern anti-Semitism. While

Israel in 2003 and as a result is still in jail in Bangladesh. When

advocating for Israel, people ask me how I connect to

I applied for the visa, I was worried that my visa application

Zionism. Bangladesh was founded at the aspiration of

would be rejected as Bangladesh is one of the countries that

Bengali people just as Israel was for the Jewish people.

bans its citizens from going to Israel. But my application was successful and I travelled all over northern Israel with a close

Israel helped Bangladesh during our own liberation struggle,

Israeli friend. The opening of one door has most likely closed

but that part of history is not often cited. Israel was one of

another – as if I were to set foot on Bangladeshi soil now, I

the first nations to recognise Bangladesh in 1972 following

would likely be arrested at the airport and charged with high

the Bangladesh Liberation War, however, the country

treason.

rejected this recognition.

I travelled to Jerusalem, Haifa, Caesarea, Netanya, Abu Gosh, Ma’ale Hahamisha kibbutz and Sha’arei Tikva. In Jerusalem, I visited the Kotel, the Temple Mount, the Church, the Mammilla Mall and Yad Vashem. Praying at the Kotel was an incredibly uplifting experience and

One of my life goals remains the

“After coming back from israel, i felt even more obligated to tell the truth that i witnessed”

one of the factors in my decision to

establishment of relations between Bangladesh and Israel, which I believe would be hugely beneficial for both countries. I’m getting more traction in Bangladesh because of what I’m doing in the UK and although I am painted in a negative light, my message is being heard.

convert to Judaism.

Before he died, my grandfather told me the first country I After coming back from Israel, I felt even more obligated

should visit is Israel. He gave me his shoes, and when I came

to tell the truth that I witnessed, the democratic rights

to Israel for the first time I wore his shoes so that he would

Israel provides to all its citizens irrespective of their colour,

feel like he was walking in Israel with me. Now, on my path

ethnicity and religion. Now I campaign on a regular basis in

towards becoming a Jew, I can only think that the support

the UK on the truth about Israel and I face lots of abuse for

of my family towards pursuing truth above all, helped direct

being a Zionist and for my decision to convert to Judaism.

me on my journey.

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In Conversation With

Sir

MICK DAVIs There are many people to whom the community owes a debt of gratitude for their work on behalf of British Jewry.

Sir Mick and Barbara Davis arrived on these shores 20 years ago and have made an immeasurable contribution.

In an exclusive interview with Perspectives, Sir Mick shares his hopes and fears about the state and fate of British Jewry.

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FEATURE ARTICLE At the age of 18, Mick Davis’ older brother, Richard, was on a kibbutz in Sinai, Israel. It was the time of the Yom Kippur war, and Mick and his family hadn’t had any contact with his brother for three weeks. It was the first time Mick had experienced the dangers Israel faced so close to “home”, and what it could mean to Jews around the world. “We were obviously worried about my brother’s safety and wellbeing and that whole episode profoundly affected me, because then, for the first time, I really understood the vulnerabilities

“‘we probably did the First social impact bond in the world without realising we were doing it’”

and the existential issues that faced us”.

Growing up in the small community of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Mick had a traditional Jewish upbringing. As the youngest member of a proud Zionist family, he was engaged in Jewish life. Being a child of apartheid South Africa has shaped his moral compass. “A very big wake up call for me was in 1977 when Steve Biko, a leader in the Black Consciousness Movement, was detained by the police and beaten to death…There was a sense of collective guilt by the time apartheid came to an end, with many in the Jewish community feeling that more could have been done”.

Mick’s career progressed rapidly, and at the age of just 29, he became the Financial Director of Eskom, the South African state-owned electricity utility and one of the largest corporations in the country. It was through this that he became very engaged with his colleagues in the upliftment of disadvantaged communities in South Africa. “Many black townships had no access to electricity…we probably did the first Social Impact Bond in the world without realising we were doing it.” When asked about what drove the project he said “How were these communities going to progress if they didn’t have access to electricity? How can kids study at night without any light? The unfairness of the whole situation and the denial of opportunity was just wrong”.

Mick saw in this opportunity the possibility of helping both the deprived people in townships and business and the economy in the long term. An educated and skilled workforce was key to a growing economy, thriving businesses and upliftment from poverty.

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FEATURE ARTICLE

As Chief Executive of Xstrata, the Anglo-Swiss mining

diaspora, began to dedicate significant resources to impact

company, he sanctioned a project in the Espinar

the region with everything from education to healthcare to

Province in Peru. The Xstrata mine was surrounded by a

youth at risk. They also invested in coexistence programmes

community of subsistence farmers. The project facilitated

helping Jews and Arabs create an environment where they

the establishment of large scale

could work and live in harmony.

dairy production with the sale of products to retailers in towns and

Mick was elected first as a trustee

cities. The idea was that by the

and later as Chairman of the Jewish

time Xstrata’s operations closed

Leadership Council (JLC). Part of

as the ore body was depleted,

the mission was to institutionalise

the community had a business to

the political capacity of the Jewish

sustain them.

community in the UK and to identify

“Maybe it was in part because of the

the strategic needs of UK Jewry and

industry I was in, that once the mine

facilitate the arrangements needed

dies out you want the town to have

to ensure that they would be met.

a sustainable future far beyond

One of the first things he oversaw was

your presence there. To my mind,

the education commission which led

this is part of a company’s core

to the setting up of the Partnership

obligations.”

for Jewish Schools (PaJes), as well as the Commission for Women in Jewish

In 1998, Mick, his wife Barbara, two

Leadership and the Commission

small children and one more on

reviewing

the way, moved to the UK. To him,

of Jewish Youth. He also had an

the Jewish landscape in the UK

important

seemed more divided than in South

regional offices to better support

Africa. They were welcomed into

smaller Jewish communities in the

the Shomrei Adath community in

UK and ensure that Jewish interests

West Hampstead. After a few years

were promoted across the UK.

informal hand

in

education establishing

supporting Jewish charitable causes in the UK, almost out of the blue,

As is obvious to anyone with

“A conservative by nature, with selfprofessed liberalsocial views, mick is guided by his jewish heritage, even in his economic beliefs.”

Mick was approached to stand as Chairman of the UJIA. A master strategist, Mick felt that in order to have the biggest impact, they needed to focus their efforts and chose the Galilee in the North of Israel. The UJIA, supported by the British Jewish community together with other organisations in the

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access to Google search, Mick has an exhaustive list of philanthropic involvement, from being Chairman of

the

Holocaust

Memorial

Commission of the United Kingdom to being a trustee of the Foundation and Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and a trustee of two international Think Tanks. What others may not see, and what the

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Davis family keep out of sight from the public but close to

A conservative by nature, with self-professed liberal-social

their hearts, is their private contributions to many worthwhile

views, Mick is guided by his Jewish heritage, even in his

causes and individuals.

socioeconomic beliefs.

“My wife has a more developed social conscious than

“I guess I am defined by the social contract set up by the

me” Mick confided, “and we took the view that we would

Torah, it is without doubt the first progressive thesis or code

continue to support people in South Africa after we left”. Not

which propagates a set of normative values for society,

satisfied by simply benefiting large organisations or groups

values which ensure that the poor and disadvantaged

of trustees, Mick and Barbara put numerous young people

are safeguarded, enterprise is rewarded, and rights and

from disadvantaged communities through university,

obligations are proportionate. But at its heart is that the path

built schools in deprived areas and have supported free

to the Divine is found through the relationships we have with

provision of sanitary protection for teenagers so that they

our fellow man. We only find God if we find our humanity

do not have to take time off school every

first. If you don’t do that you don’t have

month and disrupt their studies as well

a society. That is what guides me.”

as seed funding a remarkable scheme which provides breakfast to school children who otherwise would attend school every morning without a proper meal to start their day.

After the 2017 election, Mick felt a strong sense of responsibility that Theresa May should be supported. “Our whole way of life in the UK is under existential threat by the far left who have captured the

“when asked about the future of anglo jewry, mick believes its strength is in the rebirth of jewish pride and connectivity.”

Labour party.”

Davis is also concerned by the rise of an alternative form of anti-Semitism in the UK. It has become legitimate to say that one loves Jews but doesn’t believe Israel, the nation state of the Jewish people, deserves to exist. Or to express support for the Community whilst disproportionately criticising Israel.

“For most Jews, Israel is central to their Jewish

identity…and

for

someone

to stand up and question the very “They are propagating a massive

existence, the legitimacy of the state of

intervention in the market economy and

Israel is anti-Semitic, it attacks the very

have a very troubling narrative which pits different parts of

fibre of my being.”

society against each other and peddle old myths of making society fairer by breaking capitalism and eschewing free

However, he has strong views on the obligations and rights

enterprise. Ironically this would lead to the many being

of Diaspora Jewry in their relationship with Israel. On the

controlled by the few. It will diminish the middle class,

one hand, when Israel is held up for criticism at a different

impoverish the poor and the consequences for everyone

standard than others that is troubling and we have an

in this country are so negative that I couldn’t stand by, and

obligation to defend Israel in these circumstances. And

if I can do something I need to do something and as CEO

certainly her rights to security both on and within its borders.

of the Conservative Party I hope I am making an effective,

But he feels it is our right to challenge Israel as well. “If Israel is

if small contribution to building a society which provides

the Nation State of the Jewish people then we all have a stake

opportunity for everyone.”

in it and a contribution to make.”

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FEATURE ARTICLE “It is complex for me at the vanguard of Jewish leadership.

I have publicly criticised the leadership of Israel – and will continue to do so – because I think for Diaspora Jewry not to voice criticisms of Israel when we think things are happening which are at variance with our Jewish values, is a negation of those values. We all have to both hug and struggle.”

Fundamentally, Mick believes that Israel is not just a safe haven to escape to if there is a return to the anti-Semitism of the past, but that Israel exists to be the embodiment of the value system of the Jewish people. “The values of the Jewish people come from the values of the Torah which I hold dear to me. If I see those values under assault, then I will speak out.”

When asked about the future of Anglo Jewry, Mick believes its strength is in the rebirth of Jewish pride and connectivity.

“Events like Chanukah in the Square are important, because they are a statement that we are part of mainstream society and Chanukah is an important part of our lives and its message is central to the values we bring to society and ‘we want you to see it’”.

His main concern is the impact of anti-Semitism in the form it takes today. “Young people could find an easy way to ‘opt out’ if they weaken their connection to Israel, and ultimately they may weaken their connection to their Jewish roots.”

“Jews don’t have a monopoly on social conscience, on value systems and on morality. But we do have a fantastic history of a well-developed social and religious law which should drive us in the way we contribute to society and I think that we should be faithful and true to that.”

“We should continue to be seen as contributors both within the community and outside the community. As a people, we have a lot to offer. We are blessed with sets of experiences, that although have been horrific in the centuries of our history, have nevertheless honed our capacity to form communities and to create stability, all the things fundamental to building society.”

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“we should continue to be seen as contributors both within the community and outside the community.”

[

]

Term 2 Applications Now Open £50 per term

contact yp@aish.org.uk

Tomorrow’s questions answered today.

What is humanity’s next chapter, and is Judaism still part of the story?

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EDUCATION · JEWISH CALENDER

THE STRANGE FESTIVAL OF TREES

RABBI ARI KAYSER Born and raised in London, Ari Kayser completed a BSc in Economics at University College London before making his way to learn in Yeshiva in Israel.

Along the way he spent a lot of time backpacking, visiting over thirty countries, writing poetry and attaining certification as a professional cocktail bartender. In 2008, Ari founded a non-profit startup dedicated to publicising Jewish values through creative media. In 2012, Ari received Rabbinic Ordination and became Founding Director of Outreach at Lev Modiin, an organisation dedicated to creating learning opportunities for the Anglo community in Israel. Ari managed the Schools Department of Aish UK for a number of years. Currently Ari is the Executive Editor of Perspectives, the magazine of Aish UK, as well as creating captivating videos for Aish’s Social Media operations.

What is this little known holiday all about?

I know we eat fruit and stuff. It’s the New Year for the trees (whatever that means!). Are we just ritualistic people stuck in the past doing things that we have no idea why we are doing?

That is what so many people think about Judaism. A bunch of random rules with zero meaning behind them. Little do people realize how Judaism is one of the most ancient wisdoms in the history of the world, having had such a profound impact on virtually all cultures, religions, and peoples.

So what is this strange festival of trees? Are Jews just really undercover treehugging hippies? What is its mystical undertone? And how is it relevant to me?

By way of introduction, everything in the Jewish tradition that we “do” is meant to be an external manifestation of something deeper, of what we “are”. And that in itself is more profound than it may seem on the surface. It is not mere symbolism. Rather, it is a way of bringing that which we know to be true in the

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realm of the mind, consciousness, and thought, down to

beforehand. Tu B’Shvat teaches us, that even in the depths

the very physical fabric of material reality, into our body and

of darkness, when all the leaves have fallen from their trees,

beyond. We are “infusing” ourselves with wisdom, depth,

when the night overpowers the day, when all seems dead

meaning, and connection.

and unconnected; there is a seed sprouting beneath the ground, sap flowing within the trees, and hope murmurs

Tu B’Shvat is a new year for the trees. So the question would be, why celebrate now? Surely the real “goal” of the tree is to produce fruit. Why don’t we celebrate in the spring or summer when the fruit begin to blossom? What are we celebrating in the depth of winter?

with a soft whisper that a better time

“ARE JEWS JUST REALLY UNDERCOVER TREE-HUGGING HIPPIES?”

What growth is happening now?

will come. And maybe, just maybe, there is a new, better, more confident, more beautiful, more kind and caring and loving “me”, growing within my very self.

When we celebrate this day by eating fruit, saying blessings, and

Part of the mystical undercurrent of this festival is in the

showing gratitude for what we have in front of us, we are

answer to this very question. Tu B’Shvat is the day when

“infusing” ourselves with this teaching. We become the

most of the winter rains will have passed, and the sap of the

very embodiment of growth within the winter, hope within

new growth has begun to flow. That hidden force of energy

the struggle, and light within the darkness. We are not just

lying dormant within the tree, awakens from its slumber to

having a fancy fruit party, we are energizing the fruits that

begin the process of growth, which will eventually bear fruit.

hide within us so that one day soon, when the time is ripe, they will blossom and show their true colours. That’s why

In an age where all we care about is the product. The quick fix.

we celebrate now, in the winter. We are celebrating not just

The new technological “fruit” on the market. We sometimes

the destination, but the journey itself.

fail to recognize the process of development that took place

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EDUCATION · JEWISH CURRENT ISSUES

THE REFUGEE CRISIS

A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE

ELI BIRNBAUM studied in Talmudic College in Israel for six years before attaining Rabbinic Ordination after two years in the Jerusalem Kollel. During this time, Eli completed a BSc in Criminology & Social Psychology. Together with his wife Naomi, Eli moved back to London to take up a position in the JLE’s campus department, where he set up the infrastructure for regular Lunch & Learns across London’s major campuses, as well as creating the ‘Genesis+’ programme, aimed at older students and post-graduates.

He now works as an Aish educator, primarily focused on the burgeoning Young Professional demographic.

Few stories have dominated the airwaves in recent months like the growing refugee crisis across Europe in the aftermath of widespread unrest in the Middle East. In September 2015, the image of three year old Aylan Kurdi lying face-down and motionless on the Turkish beach proved to be a harrowing turning point in the global debate and highlighted the moral responsibility of developed countries to do more to help. Three years later, there are over 3,000 children from Central America forcibly separated from their parents and a staggering 5.4 million Syrians displaced from a country overwhelmed by the destructive forces of ISIS and civil war.

Beyond this, Europe is witnessing a rise in right-wing populist parties driving hard-line anti-immigration policies not seen since the pre-war era. Both sides of this bitter divide scramble constantly to take the moral high ground. The political ‘left’ repeatedly emphasise how the West bears a significant portion of blame for the apparently infinite number of flashpoints in the Middle East, how we – as affluent, modern and educated people – should shoulder the responsibility of asylum as a matter of principle. Meanwhile, those on the ‘right’ bellow about concerns that some migrants bring with them behaviours and opinions that are simply too extreme to adjust to the West’s liberal democratic value system, and that in an age of shrinking productivity and global uncertainty, the least moral thing to do is flood communities with millions of economically dependent people.

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The question is: what is the Torah’s perspective?

Historically, as Jews we don’t need to delve far back into the archives to acutely feel the pain of today’s victims. Perhaps of even greater significance to the Holocaust than the infamous Wannsee Conference of 1942 was the 1938 summit at Evian in France when, on a beautiful summer’s day, delegates from 32 countries decided almost unanimously (the Dominican Republic being the sole exception) to slam their doors shut on any further refugees fleeing Nazi persecution and the storm clouds gathering over Europe.

On multiple occasions, the Torah reminds us of our duty to treat the ‘stranger’ with kindness and compassion, recalling in turn the fact that we were strangers in Egypt and met with unspeakable suffering as a consequence.

“Do not oppress the stranger, for you know how it feels to

“historically, as jews we don’t need to delve far back into the archives to acutely feel the pain of today’s victims.”

be a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

(Exodus 23:9) However, as is so often the case, it can be dangerous to use Beyond this, the harsh admonition against accepting the

emotional arguments to justify political decisions. It was

conversion of Ammonite & Moabite males is predicated on

with this in mind that the Ashkenazi communities of Europe

the fact that: “They did not greet you with bread and water

in the Middle Ages established a policy known as ‘Chezkat

as you journeyed out of Egypt”. (Deut. 23:4, Yevamot 76b)

Hayishuv’. This edict, loosely based on Talmudic sources (Bava Batra 21b), stated that local councils reserved the right

Clearly, there is a solid weight of responsibility incumbent

to deny residence to Jewish refugees fleeing persecution.

upon the Jewish people to actively seek out and see to

Still in practice as recently as the 19th Century, the rationale

the wellbeing and welfare of society’s most vulnerable,

behind the statute was as agonising as it was simple:

not least because of the hypocrisy inherent in a people

Ashkenazi communities lived by-and-large in abject poverty,

who have suffered through slavery, inquisitions, pogroms

lacking the financial or political clout to successfully absorb

and holocausts turning a blind eye to the self-same pain

large numbers of non-residents. Beyond this, there was a

elsewhere.

grave fear that sudden increases in Jewish demographics would lead to a proportionate increase in anti-Semitism, and the downtrodden refugees would consequently end up – ironically – bringing with them the very problem they sought to escape (Aruch Hashulchan C’M 156:12).

It is highly likely that the validation of the Chezkat Hayishuv was also based on the well-known comment of Maimonides: “The poor of one’s household take precedence over the poor of one’s city. The poor of one’s city take precedence over the poor of another city”. (Mishneh Torah, Gifts to the Poor, 7:13).

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EDUCATION · JEWISH CURRENT ISSUES

“[the cost] of Refuge is conformity and adaptability”

Maimonides’ vision of concentric circles as the most pragmatic and practical approach to charity suggests that until one’s own house is ‘in order’, it is counter-productive to search further afield for more problems in need of solutions. This position strongly implies that whilst countries like our own have made tremendous progress in tackling poverty, until the 15% of the UK population living below the poverty line no longer find themselves in that damning statistic, it would be unwise to welcome in an influx of more economically needy people.

Beyond this, the paranoia surrounding the concern that certain demographics of refugees may well contain extremist elements (a claim based on some evidence, if nowhere nearly enough to justify the frenzy stirred up by the media and right-wing politicians) also has a firm basis in Halacha. It was in this spirit that the prophets warned the Jews exiled to the Diaspora: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have led you in exile. Pray to God for it, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7) Sage advice that has been echoed in Synagogues throughout the world for generations via the Prayer for the Welfare of the State. Furthermore, it is clear that the ‘strangers’ we are compelled to treat with compassion are in turn expected to conform to the central theological and philosophical norms of a Jewish state. Namely, the seven Noachide Laws. A foreign resident living in the Land of Israel who flouts these most basic of laws can be pressurised to leave. The uncompromising cost of refuge is therefore, to some degree, conformity and adaptability.

Indeed, it is to this end that the most unambiguous call in the Torah to open our borders and accept a refugee with open arms is when that refugee actively seeks sanctuary from oppression via a heightened spiritual lifestyle in the Land of Israel (Deut. 23:16).

In summary, it can be said that while the Torah unequivocally places the value of granting asylum to vulnerable people on a very real moral pedestal, there are considerations that must be taken into account in the decision-making process behind legislature. First and foremost: will acceptance of refugees inevitably lead to increasing socio-economic problems for current citizens? And secondly, will the refugees in question adapt and contribute to the ‘law of the land’ that opens its arms to greet them?

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NOAH

E D U C AT I O N · T O R A H A N A LYS I S

REBBETZIN SHALVIE FRIEDMAN grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and received her BSc in Maths and Finance from the University of South Africa. She studied Jewish Thought and textual analysis at the Nishmat Seminary in Jerusalem.

Shalvie has taught in high schools in Johannesburg, as well as at many seminaries in Israel, both for newly observant students as well as those from religious backgrounds. She currently teaches Jewish Studies at Hasmonean Girls School as well as teaching for various parts of the Aish family all while raising her own family.

Rebuilding from destruction

Netflix has spent the last 10 years streaming videos to millions of subscribers.

Universe itself that brings utter chaos and destruction. For 150 days, the family, recognising their crucial role as the rebuilders of the world, live in a “safe house”, where they

In that decade, they have mastered the art of the cliffhanger.

care for all the surviving creatures. They feed them and they

You know, that heart-wrenching, stomach-churning scene

take out their waste. Imagine the discussions around the

that ends the season and keeps you in discussions with

dinner table as the family talk about their plans for when

friends until the next.

they leave the safe house and begin a whole new world.

Through this emotive tool, we can experience episodes

Finally, the day comes that it is safe to leave. The doors open

from the Torah to add depth and meaning to stories that we

and the family steps out. Noah, as the man of his household,

know so well.

and now the leader of the world, steps out first, followed by his wife and three sons.

One of the challenges that we face when dealing with the story of Noah and his ark is that we mostly envision it in

Can you picture the scene? If I were to close the episode

cartoon. Or, more recently, we picture Russell Crowe and

right here, what would you be feeling?

some really great special effects.

I have enacted this scene for secondary school students I would like you to imagine for a moment a different story. A

and at the end of the scene asked them to draw a picture of

story with people that are as real as you or me. In this story, a

what Noah sees and feels when he leaves the ark.

single family is chosen to survive the world’s worst genocide to ever sweep the earth. This genocide is not brought by a

Interestingly, half of the students drew a rainbow, sunshine,

super-power or an insane and charismatic leader. It is the

and bright green grass. They felt that this was a moment of exuberance and hope. A whole new world lay ahead of

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“I FELT LIKE I OWED MY UNBORN CHILD AN APOLOGY FOR BRINGING IT TO THIS TERRIBLE PLACE”

them. They were filled with dreams of a better future for

The Torah describes Noah’s terror as he disembarks from

their children.

the ark. The first interesting observation is Noah’s silence. For two whole chapters, God comforts Noah and attempts to

And the other half? They drew a grey, dark world with clouds

encourage him to continue humanity. And Noah does not

and barren soil. They felt that this was a moment of deep

respond. Noah is paralysed. He cannot even leave the ark,

tragedy and loss. Noah and his family were surrounded by

even though he knows that the waters have subsided and

utter destruction and loss of potential.

it is safe to do so. “And God spoke to Noah saying, go out of the ark, you, your wife and your sons and their wives.”

I pondered this juxtaposition, tragedy and rebirth, as I

(Genesis 8:16).

prepared for a trip to Poland earlier this year. I thought of the hundreds of thousands of Jews who, like me, chose

Once out of the ark, God has to tell him twice to repopulate

what to wear for their trip to Auschwitz 70 years ago. I

the planet:

shuddered. That day, I was Noah, heading out of my busy ark of maintaining, building and nurturing my family and job, to face the terrifyingly empty rows and rows of barracks. I was like the second group of students, anticipating seeing

“And God blessed Noah and his sons. And He said to them ‘be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth’” (Genesis 9:1); then “And you, be fruitful and multiply and swarm the earth and multiply in it.” (Genesis 9:7)

the scenes for what they so obviously were, the darkest and greyest moments of Jewish history.

And finally, the Torah dedicates many verses to God’s promise to Noah to never send such destruction again. “…I

It was crazy. I was staffing a Poland trip which would be my

will never again cut down all living beings from a flood, and

first trip to Poland ever. And I was seven months pregnant. I

there will never be a flood that destroys the earth.” (Genesis

felt like I owed my unborn child an apology for bringing it to

9:11)

this terrible place, the biggest cemetery in the world.

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E D U C AT I O N · T O R A H A N A LYS I S

And Noah’s response? He builds a vineyard and gets drunk.

I felt myself slipping into the Noah headspace as we walked down the train tracks to Birkenau. What good could possibly come from this place? Why had so many people been on trips to visit it? How would I cope with the sights and stories at the other side of the looming train station building? How is a Jew supposed to respond? Surely not silence and drunkenness!

“this is what we do As jews, we look tragedy In the face and we rebuild the world.”

After a painful and difficult couple of hours in the camp, we go to the gas chambers. The endless rows of barracks lay before us, filled with small groups of Jews. Some draped in Israeli flags, some singing words of Psalms or HaTikvah, some saying kaddish. I feel my unborn child move within me. This is what we do as Jews, we look tragedy in the face and we rebuild the world.

In fact, the contradicting responses of hope and despair are no contradiction at all. So many Jews have solidified their Jewish identity standing beside mass graves in Poland. So many Jews have found hope when learning from our modern-day heroes who have undergone devastating personal tragedies. It is because we look tragedy in the face that we have the impetus, the burning desire, and the steadfast commitment to rebuild the world. As our tour guide begins to recite El Malei Rachamim (the prayer for the souls of the departed), my unborn baby gives a mighty kick. I have nothing to apologise for. This is its heritage, where the past and future meet, at a glorious place called hope.

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EDUCATION · SPIRITUALIT Y

WHEN THE IRRATIONAL BECOMES RATIONAL There are very few occasions that excited me as much as

focus on the negation of alternative explanations. For

when I first heard that Rabbi Daniel Rowe was scheduled to

example, the teleological argument (argument from

debate the popular new-age atheist A. C. Grayling. I distinctly

design) stresses the need for a designer due to the lack of

remember settling down to watch the debate in Jerusalem

alternative explanation for the apparent design of life. In

with the help of the amazing technology of Facebook Live.

fact all the conventional, rational arguments for God, and

Amongst friends I can share that the first thing I did when the

certainly those spoken about in the debate, are negations

debate was over was watch it again!

of alternatives. I have always found these arguments compelling and strong and thoroughly enjoyed watching a

There was a seemingly insignificant line which many

well-known atheist stumble while finding good responses

listening may have missed which set off a chain-reaction of

to Rabbi Rowe’s presentation of them. But could there

thoughts in my head, and upon hearing Rabbi Rowe say it

perhaps be a compelling argument for a Creator made from

again I realised that perhaps my excitement for the debate

a positive direction and what would that look like?

had been misplaced. It was his opening line in his opening statement: “…there are of course lots of non-rational reasons

Perhaps the most beautiful statement reflecting my

why a person might believe in God…” Really?! Was this some

frustrations is made by Rabbi Joseph B. Soleveitchik (Footnote

kind of back-out clause safely inserted as a prelude for fear

I, p.51): “The trouble with all rational demonstrations of the

he might be bested in the ensuing debate? What I came to

existence of God, with which the history of philosophy

realise though was something extremely powerful. No, this

abounds, consists in their being exactly what they are

wasn’t an escape plan. It was the single most important

meant to be by those who formulated them: abstract logical

sentence uttered at the debate.

demonstrations divorced from the living primal experiences in which these demonstrations are rooted…does the loving

I was always familiar with the phrase “Emunah Peshuta”

bride in the embrace of her beloved ask for proof that he is

(simple faith) and never really related to it as an ideal. I failed

alive and real?” R’ Soleveitchik is rejecting the endeavour of

to distinguish between “blind” and “simple” when it came

negative argumentation and opting for something of more

to acceptance of theological constructs. I was first swayed

beauty and depth. But what is it, and how do we get it?

upon learning the distinction between “positive” arguments

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and “negative” arguments for the existence of a Creator. The

Perhaps the most beautiful line I have ever had the pleasure to

difference between the two is that “negative” arguments

come across sheds light on this very question. Rav Avraham

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RABBI GIDEON GOLDWATER Gideon has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the Open University and masters in Jewish Education from Middlesex University. His interests include philosophy, history and politics. In 2016, Gideon and his wife Tamar moved to Birmingham to run the Aish Birmingham branch. Now living back in London, Gideon is the Campus Programme Director.

Yitzchak HaKohen Kook, the first Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of

Western education and thought denies the existence of

Israel, opens his “Meorot Ha-emunah” (essay entitled: Lights

anything beyond “external vision”. If it cannot be measured,

of Faith) with the following words: “Faith is neither intellect

defined and described, then it doesn’t exist. The idea of

nor emotion, rather it is the revelation of the most basic and

“simple faith” as an expression of the deepest facets of the

essential self…And when nothing destroys its natural ways,

human condition is rejected as lunacy and frivolity. However

it does not need anything else to establish it; it on its own

when one considers the question of our own existence,

finds everything”. Perhaps there is more to “simple faith”

one quickly realises that this awareness is beyond rational

than I had always thought. Perhaps my critical thinking had actually done a disservice in my quest for the most compelling argument for the existence of God? The straw that broke the camel’s back came when I was listening

argumentation or demonstration. It

“Our ‘simple faith’ in the truth of our existence stands steadfast against any level of ‘evidence’ to the contrary.”

to R’ Akiva Tatz talking about the

is of the kind so deep, that external argumentation plays no relevance to the question, yet our “simple faith” in the truth of our existence stands steadfast against any level of “evidence” to the contrary.

My conclusions after learning of

concept of inner knowledge. He made reference to an idea

these ideas can be summed up quite basically. Negative

detailed by R’ Eliyahu Dessler in his iconic work “Michtav

argumentation is important, fun and in my opinion totally

Mi-Eliyahu” (Letter from Eliyahu). R’ Dessler distinguishes

compelling. However there is so much more to the Jewish

between “outer vision” and “inner vision”. Our normal senses

understanding of “faith”. As R’ Rowe said: “there are many

can be compared to a camera; able to take a snapshot and

non-rational reasons to believe in God”. Perhaps it is those

process everything in the world except itself. Our faculties

reasons that lie in the heart of the true “believer” and allow

of perception used to process the world around us, fall

for the experience of the bridegroom embracing his beloved

short when attempting to understand the “us” which is

that R’ Soleveitchik describes. So, with retrospect, the

doing the perceiving. R’ Tatz explains that this is one of the

term “simple faith” may be a misnomer as there is nothing

difficulties we face when trying to come to terms with this

“simple” about it.

element of our “essential selves”. However our aversion to this concept actually runs even deeper. As R’ Tatz explains,

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EDUCATION ¡ THE BIG QUESTION

THE KOSHER CHEESEBURGER?

BEN THWAITES read law at UCL before working at Herbert Smith until 2012. He spent four years in higher Jewish learning in Israel and has been involved in community and leadership projects such as UCL JSoc President, Ner Yisrael Youth Director, Har Etzion British Alumni Programmes, Co-ordinator and informal educator for Immanuel College and Hasmonean. In his spare time Ben continues to practice law and is the General Counsel for a number of Jewish charities, as well as running a family investment fund.

He lives in Israel with his wife Aviva and their three children but regularly commutes to the UK.

How does Jewish law view artificial meat?

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THE BIG QUESTION · EDUCATION

It would be hard to find a Jew on planet earth who has not grappled with the thought and desire of eating a cheeseburger. The Jewish laws surrounding milk and meat are well known and for those wishing to observe halacha/Jewish law this tasty combination has been off the menu for a very long time. However, times are changing, health concerns are continuing to rise, and recently there has been significant development of the market for what is known as artificial or clean meat. In the Jewish world this has caused quite a stir as many have asked the question what will the status of the new labgrown burgers be? Will they have meat status? Do they need to be Kosher?

Following the topic addressed a few weeks back on choosing the gender of one’s baby via PGS, this is another fascinating area of innovation which requires a thorough engagement with Jewish sources and ideas to establish what the approaches would be.

It will be no surprise to hear that the Talmud does not discuss the status of meat grown in a laboratory.

“It will be no surprise that the talmud does not discuss the status of meat grown in a laboratory.

Before we mine the Jewish texts, it is crucial to establish what is actually happening in the production of artificial meat. This is not as simple as it sounds, because due to the competitive nature of this development, the companies involved are not fully sharing how exactly they manufacture the meat. This will no doubt over time change, but in the meantime we can explore the general methods which are known.

To summarise the process, the laboratories take a myoblast cell from an animal, which is an early stage cell that is already differentiated enough to produce meat (you don’t want to end up with a slab of bone or hair). The myoblast cell is then placed in a culture medium (which can be blood or non-animal based) in a bio-reactor. Then the cells are placed on a plant-based scaffold on which the tissue grows.

These slabs of meat are identical to real meat but are grown in the laboratory.

Interestingly, NASA were the first to pioneer this process to create sustainable food supply for long term space travel. (For those star trek lovers out there, this may sound familiar.) Since NASA attempted this back in 2002, it has become increasingly popular and the price of a synthetic burger has dropped from around $300,000 to around $10, and is still dropping.

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EDUCATION · THE BIG QUESTION Once we understand the method of manufacture, we can move to the next stage of the halachic process – asking the right questions. Now this may sound trite but it is a crucial part of halachic methodology. If one is not sensitive to all the relevant concerns in Jewish law then the subject cannot be grappled with appropriately. Today’s Jewish scholars have

“we have an exciting opportunity to see how halachah [can] respond to new issues.”

been working on this and have raised the following points:

1

How do we evaluate the status of artificial meat

drop is less than one 60th of the soup and you cannot taste

which grew from cells in a lab as opposed to grown

the milk – again this technically forbidden mixture is entirely

out in the fields?

permitted. An important factor here is that a Jew would not be allowed to make this mixture on purpose, but if it was

2 3

If the original cell comes from a shechted, kosher

done by accident, or done by a gentile for their own benefit

animal, will the end product be considered meat?

it would be permitted.

If the original cell is taken from a live animal, could

Bringing this back to artificial meat, we can immediately see

this fall under the prohibition of ever min hachai/

the relevance and application of these rules just mentioned.

taking flesh from a live animal, and would it make a

On the one hand, we cannot see the original cell with the

difference what type of cell was used

naked eye and furthermore it is definitely less than one 60th of the final product. However, this original cell is the basis

4

If the original cell came from a non-kosher animal

for the entire product, unlike a bacteria or a drop of milk

would that mean the resulting meat is non-kosher?

in chicken soup, not to mention the culture process which may also involve non-kosher substances.

5

What impact does the medium have in which the cell is cultured, what if that is compiled of non-

Standing slightly further back, it is also discussed how

kosher meat.

significant it should be that the artificial meat looks and tastes just like meat. We all know that chicken was given

As you might have guessed by now, this is a multifaceted

meat status which implies a deep concern for the visual and

and complex new process and therefore how halacha will

experiential aspect of the product in question.

apply will follow suit in this regard. Full scholarly articles have been written but for now we will map out the relevant

Another concern raised here is maarit ayin/giving a

issues.

misleading impression, however in the same way as parve ice cream has become the norm, most scholars are not

Jewish law has plenty to say on mixtures containing kosher

concerned about this as clean meat will become common

and non-kosher substances. Although a product may

knowledge.

contain a non-kosher substance, if this is undetectable to the naked eye or it is drowned out by being mixed with

As of writing this article, these questions are still being

kosher substances then in many, but not all cases, this non-

explored by modern Jewish scholars, both in a factual way

kosher substance will be nullified.

and how to apply halachah. As the process continues to unfold we have an exciting opportunity to see how halachah

54

Bacteria is a good example where in theory it’s a living being

can move with the times and respond to new issues. We do

and not kosher but practically we ignore it as its not visible

not know yet if we will get to eat a kosher cheeseburger but

unless under a microscope. Another example would be

we do know that our tradition will continue to thrive on new

where a drop of milk, fell into a pot of chicken soup. If the

debates and analysis.

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F E AT U R E : H O L O C A U S T M E M O R I A L D AY

The Long Night An extract from the long night by ernst bornstein “My story has another purpose. It

have won our external life, but our inner

account by those who diagnose or

should help provide a connecting

self is dead.” I heard this phrase often

concern themselves with the welfare

theme for those scientists who deal

when I noted down the life stories of

of the psyche of camp inmates. How

with Survivors of this catastrophe, that

young Survivors for the Institute in New

often do I myself hear, especially in the

is, with people whose unique and

York. As dehumanised creatures we

evening, when I am on my own, my

unprecedented

and

could never free ourselves from the

parents and sister speak? I see their

social profile form part of society. This is

burden carried by those condemned

faces, which often appear calm and

because on the whole these Survivors

to be exterminated. The years of fear

contented. However, when suddenly

are broken in their psyche through a

and oppression left behind damage to

my little brother comes, a ghostly

trauma that cannot lead to ‘restitutio

the psyche that is just as irreparable as

turmoil rises in my mind. I see myself

ad integrum’.

damage to the grey matter of the brain.

again as someone drags me from our

The ex-concentration camp inmate can

flat; I hear the screams of my relatives

Although many Survivors seem to

laugh and be happy with others but

and I think that they also screamed like

be very much part of life and achieve

within himself he bleeds and is in pain

that in the gas chambers! I see only

successes,

remained

because the old wounds will not close

my father as a quiet, silent man with

psychologically sick people. Their

Usher Bornstein, Ernst’s father: “With

a serious appearance, as he says to

present life is burdened by their past

pride one shall exit this world.”

Mother and the children, “One shall

psychological

they

have

and no success can compensate

meet the murderers with calm. With

for their horrific experiences. Not

Although one has left the confinement

pride one shall exit this world. The

infrequently, in intellectual circles of

of the concentration camp, the

murderers will get their punishment”.

Survivors, the fateful words were heard,

terrible atmosphere of the camps still

My surviving sister told me that those

“Actually we already died in the years

embrace him, it is as if the camp is still

were my father’s words on their arrival

between 1940 and 1945. However, we

inside him. All this must be taken into

at Auschwitz.

The Long Night is available online and at all good book shops. The Long Night is available for the discounted price of $8.99 for a limited time only directly from the publisher, The Toby Press, by contacting orders@korenpub.com (offer valid until 24/1/19) for more information visit www.korenpub.com

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F E AT U R E : H O L O C A U S T M E M O R I A L D AY

Our Legacy

BY RABBI ARI KAYSER

On a recent trip to Auschwitz, I witnessed something unexpected. Picture the scene: two unassuming tourists taking a smiling-laughing-giggling selfie on the iconic tracks at Auschwitz-Birkenau. You can almost hear the afterthought: Holocaust, check.

Tick that off my list. Where to next? Taj Mahal? The Colosseum? Niagara Falls?

How do we prevent the Holocaust from being relegated to the status of tourist sites?

The 27th January is Holocaust Memorial Day. It marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. It is certainly a time for reflection. For many of us, the Holocaust conjures up images of skeletal bodies, piled up high like matchsticks. Of families torn apart. Of cruelties beyond belief. Of stories that sound so alien and barbaric to us that we pause only to consider “did this actually happen?”

As someone who leads Jewish heritage groups to Poland to visit camps and understand what Jewry was like in Eastern Europe, Holocaust Memorial Day is a bit of an anti-climax. It is not as powerful as going to the camps. It is not engaging a Survivor or a Righteous Among the Nations. For most people, it isn’t even going to a Holocaust museum. It is paying a quiet moment of respect. Of internal reflection. Of reaffirming and resolving to do better, to be better. But one day for six million Jews, and millions more who have perished in other genocides, just doesn’t quite seem to stack up.

As the years pass, and the survivors diminish in number, the Holocaust is slowly being doomed to the annals of the history books. Another atrocity of “a time gone by”. Reduced to selfies and social media posts.

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F E AT U R E : H O L O C A U S T M E M O R I A L D AY

“they tried to bury us, But they did not realise That we are seeds.�

How do we make this day meaningful, and commemorate those who lost their lives? How do we make the legacy live on?

For one, we have to understand that we are the legacy. And how we choose to live our lives, will determine if and how that legacy lives on.

They tried to bury us, but they did not realise that we are seeds.

In order to affect change in the world, one must start from within. How can we say the world should be a better place, if we ourselves are not striving, with sweat on our brow, to be better people? How can we ask the world to own up to its mistakes, if we do not own up to our own? How can we point our finger at others, before pointing that very same finger first at ourselves?

The story of the Holocaust has not yet ended. We are the continuation of that remarkable story. We are the children of those righteous and innocent men and women who died alone and courageously. We must not let their deaths be in vain. We must use their cries and tears and screams as the very driving force behind our desire to embody that which is good, that which is true, that which is right. We must carry the banner of peace, of love, of kindness. We must state with our words as well as our actions, that we are the beautiful truth and light that was born out of that very darkness. We are a nation who will never let that light be extinguished.

That is their legacy.

We are their legacy.

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FOOD

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FOOD

ILANA EPSTEIN has collected many experiences over the last few decades, from interior designer to international educator, qualifying as a pastry chef and working as a journalist for a number of publications. Ilana has lived in New York, Caracas, Rio de Janeiro and Israel and settled in London five years ago with her husband Daniel and their four children. Ilana is the Rebbetzin of Cockfosters and Southgate United Synagogue and is the founder and director of Ta’am.

Intro & RECIPES BY ILANA EPSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY BLAKE EZRA

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FOOD

One of my favourite childhood memories is Sunday

earn enough money to send back home for the rest of their

afternoons in the Lower East Side of Manhattan with my family.

families. The German Jewish delicatessens established by the

My father, who is a true food lover, always wanted us tasting

incumbents started catering to a whole new group of people.

his favourite foods and a successful Sunday was one where we would try some truly iconic Ashkenazi Jewish fare. The

The Jewish delicatessen serving cold meats, pickles, soups and

Lower East Side of the early 1980s still had a few kosher eateries

hardy side dishes was often nothing but a small storefront

including Ratner’s, Schmulka Bernstein’s, Guss’ Pickles and

wedged between two tenements, with a table or two inside.

Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery. And I loved them all! Even now,

People would come to buy a takeaway dinner and stay for a

years later, knowing a lot more about food, and having dined

schmooze. The Jewish delicatessen was akin to the country

in some truly beautiful restaurants, it is still the food I crave –

store – a welcoming place where people gathered and felt at

always. Why? What is the connection?

home. Aside from the local synagogue, these new immigrants had nowhere else to congregate, and thus the homey fare

I always wonder: is it because it is the food my father loves? Is it

served in the delicatessen became associated with comfort

my insatiable need for fat and salt? Is it to capture the memory

food; the Jewish version of soul food.

of a group of immigrants whose experience in America was phenomenal, who as a community have raised themselves

By 1950, at the height of the delicatessen’s heyday, it was

from the tenements of the Lower

estimated that there were approximately 5,000 delicatessens in

East Side to the upper echelons in

the metropolitan New York area, with

“the homey fare served in the delicatessen became associated with comfort food; the jewish version of soul food.”

almost every industry in America? It is worth considering their journey and how food impacted it.

Starting in the 1880s until 1914, masses of Eastern European Jews migrated

more in greater New York. It was this delicatessen food and the delicatessen itself that sustained the immigrants and gave them a base to work from.

With a full stomach and a community behind them, they were able to move

west, with a majority of them making

forward, establish themselves and

their way to North America. These

create a world that their families could

immigrants, by and large, first set foot via New York City,

move into. Not only did the food sustain them, it also acted

welcomed by the twin gatekeepers: the Statue of Liberty and

as an ambassador. Jewish fare became well known around

Ellis Island.

America as Jews moved out of New York, normalising Jews amongst other American immigrant groups and introducing

Once in New York, they found a Jewish population of Jews

a new dimension to the melting pot of cultures, making their

from Germany who had migrated half a century earlier and

route into society marginally easier.

established themselves; a pattern repeated both in Great Britain and other Western European cities. The established German

By the year 2000, a huge decline had left only 35 delicatessens

Jewish community was not especially welcoming to the Eastern

in the New York metropolitan area with only 12 in Manhattan –

European Jews who dressed differently, spoke differently, were

most of which were not kosher.

uniformly more observant and comparatively poor.

Happily, the interest in the New York delis and Jewish comfort These Jews settled in the Lower East Side of Manhattan and

food has returned and in the last 18 years there has been a

lived in tenements, setting up shops and livelihoods in the

resurgence of delis in New York. And if you can’t get to your

neighbourhood, where storefronts started sporting signs in

own local kosher delicatessen, I can urge you to try some of the

Yiddish and every other home became a sweat shop for the

quintessential recipes at home.

garment industry.

I promise you – even if they aren’t yet your comfort food of The profile of the first wave of immigrants from Eastern Europe was a group of young men, sent ahead to work hard and

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choice, they soon will be!

FOOD

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ny crumble cake THE CRUMB TOPPING: Crumb cake is one of those singular New York treats.

More breakfast treat than snack, it’s a combination of crispy crumbs and not-too-sweet moist cake, and always delicious!

1

Mix both sugars, cinnamon, and salt in medium bowl and whisk to blend. Add warm melted margarine and stir to blend. Add flour and toss with fork until moist clumps form (topping mixture will look slightly wet). Set aside.

The CAKE:

You will need:

2

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a standard baking tin (20 x 30cm or 9 x 13 inch) with baking paper.

cake:

• • • • • • • • •

315 g (2 1/2 cups) plain flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 170 g (3/4 cup) margarine, room temperature 300 g (1 1/2 cups) sugar 2 large eggs 300 g (1 1/3 cups) tofu (or other non-dairy) sour cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3

Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat margarine in large bowl until smooth. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.

Add eggs 1 at a time, beating until well blended after each addition. Add non-dairy sour cream and vanilla extract and beat just until blended. Add flour mixture in 3 additions, beating just until incorporated after each addition.

4 Crumb topping:

Transfer cake batter to prepared baking dish; spread batter evenly with a spatula. Squeeze small handfuls of topping together to form small clumps. Drop topping clumps evenly

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•

200 g (1 cup) dark brown sugar

•

100 g (1/2 cup) sugar

•

1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

•

1/2 teaspoon salt

•

225 g (1 cup) unsalted margarine, melted,/warm

•

315 g (2 1/2 cups) plain flour

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over cake batter, covering completely (topping will be thick).

Bake cake until tester inserted into centre comes out clean

5

and topping is deep golden brown and slightly crisp, about 1 hour. Cool cake in dish on rack at least 30 minutes.

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FOOD

Macaroni salad

No one knows if the macaroni salad of NY delis was an Italian dish that was adapted in Jewish delis or a Jewish treatment of an Italian ingredient. Regardless of its origin, macaroni salad was a de-rigour requirement at all potlucks and barbecues during my childhood.

YOU WILL NEED:

HOW TO MAKE it:

1

Cook the macaroni as per package direction (don’t skimp on

•

500 g elbow macaroni

•

½ red onion, diced small

then drain briefly so that macaroni remains moist. Transfer

•

1 stalk celery, diced small

to large bowl.

•

1 carrot, peeled and diced small

•

1 small bunch fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped

•

Juice of 2 lemons

•

2 tablespoon Dijon mustard

•

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

absorbed, about 2 minutes. Add mayonnaise and let sit until

•

Loads of fresh ground black pepper

salad texture is no longer watery, 5 to 10 minutes. Season

•

240 g (1 cup) mayonnaise

with salt and more pepper to taste. Serve.

2

the salt). Drain in sieve and rinse with cold water until cool,

Stir in onion, celery, carrot, parsley, lemon juice, mustard, garlic powder, and black pepper, and let sit until flavours are

3

(The salad can be covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days.

Check consistency and seasonings before serving.)

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Black White cookies

The first recipe I ever wrote was for Black and White cookies – away from New York and feeling homesick, this was the food I craved more than anything. It was our first year living in Israel and I searched far and wide for a Black and White cookie. I finally gave up, and set out to recreate my own version of the cake-like cookie of my childhood.

This recipe will make 5-6 huge cookies, but if you want to be a little less over-the-top, use a 1/3 cup measure instead of a ½ - but consider going all ‘New York’ and make your cookies either huge or miniature!

How to make the cookies:

1

Pre-heat oven to 180°C. Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in bowl.

You will need:

2

Using stand mixer attached a with paddle, beat margarine and sugar on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about

COOKIES

2 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined.

•

220 g (1 ¾ cups) plain flour

Reduce speed to low and add flour mixture in 3 additions,

•

½ teaspoon baking powder

alternating with non-dairy sour cream, scraping down bowl

•

¼ teaspoon baking soda

•

⅛ teaspoon salt

•

140 g margarine, softened

•

200 g (1 cup) granulated sugar

•

1 large egg

baking sheets. Bake until edges are lightly browned, 15 to

•

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

18 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through

•

80 g tofu (or other non-dairy) sour

baking. Let cookies cool on sheets for 5 minutes, then

cream

transfer to wire rack to cool completely.

as needed.

3

GLAZE

Spoon 1/2 cup of cookie dough 3 inches apart onto prepared

the glaze:

•

560 g (5 cups) icing sugar, sifted

•

7 tablespoons non-dairy milk

•

30 g corn syrup

vanilla, and salt together in bowl until smooth. Transfer 1 cup

•

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

glaze to small bowl; reserve. Whisk cocoa and remaining 1

•

½ teaspoon salt

tablespoon milk into remaining glaze until combined.

•

45 g cocoa powder, sifted

4

5

Whisk sugar, 6 tablespoons of non-dairy milk, corn syrup,

Working with 1 cookie at a time, spread vanilla glaze over half of the cookie. Refrigerate until glaze is set, about 15 minutes.

Cover other half of cookies with chocolate glaze and let cookies sit at room temperature until glaze is firm.

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Half sour pickles

One of my favourite childhood memories is standing outside Guss Pickles in NY with my dad, choosing an array of pickled goods for the family plus a whole bag of half sours just for me! Sadly I have not found its equal while living in London, but here below is the Ta’am version of the half sour pickle – it’s close to now effort and the payoff is outstanding!

you will need:

•

About 1 kilo small pickling cucumbers

•

1 litre water

•

25 g (¼ cup) kosher or canning salt

•

8 cloves garlic, crushed (not necessary to peel)

•

2 tablespoons pickling spice

•

4 sprigs fresh dill

How to make it:

1

Wash cucumbers well and slice off the stems.

2

Wash 2 wide-mouth quart mason jars in hot soapy water; rinse well.

3

Place 4 cloves garlic, 2 sprigs of dill and 1 tablespoon pickling spice into each mason jar.

4

Pack cucumbers into prepared jars, pack them as tightly as you can.

5

Mix the water and salt in a large non-reactive (i.e. ceramic, stainless steel) bowl and stir until salt is dissolved.

6

Pour enough salt water into each jar to cover cucumbers.

Seal and refrigerate. It will take about a week until they are done on average, but check them in about 5 days.

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FOOD

krupnic soup How to make it:

1 A Krupnic soup (or mushroom and barley soup) would have been a staple in any Polish home, but in Jewish homes, because of kosher dietary restrictions, two different versions emerged: a parve one and a meaty one. The parve version was often served with sour cream. Once in America, this soup became a standard in Jewish delis. Don’t be daunted by the amount of steps here; the soup is huge and one pot will go a long way!

In a large saucepan add the stock, the barley, bay leaves and whole garlic and bring them to boil while preparing the vegetables. Cook on a medium low heat (the stock should be on a rolling low boil throughout this time) until the barley is tender – this may take anywhere from one to two and half hours.

2

Heat a large sauté pan and add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan and heat, once the oil is hot add the

you will need:

chopped onion and cook stirring often until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the celery and cook until soft another 5 minutes. Add the carrots and keep

•

3 litres of chicken or vegetable stock

•

200g (1 cup) pearl barley

•

2 bay leaves

Season well with salt and pepper, remover from the pan and

•

2 cloves garlic, peeled

set aside.

•

Vegetable oil

•

2 large onions, chopped

•

3 sticks celery, chopped

•

5 carrots, peeled and chopped

•

500 g (about 4 cups) white mushrooms

cooking until all the vegetables are soft and cooked through.

3

Add more oil to the sauté pan and fry the mushrooms in a single layer until browned on one side, turn the mushroom over and brown on the other side. You may have to fry the mushrooms in two or three batches; don’t be tempted to fry

scrubbed and sliced •

3 sprigs thyme

them all at once, as they will steam and not fry (and won’t

•

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

get that lovely toasty flavour.) Add the fried mushrooms to the cooked vegetables.

4

Once the barley is tender, remove the garlic, add all the vegetables to the barley and then add the thyme. Add more stock if needed. Bring the soup back to a boil, then lower to a simmer and simmer covered for twenty minutes until all the flavours marry. Season to taste with salt and loads of freshly ground black pepper before serving.

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FOOD

Glazed corned beef

you will need:

•

2–21/2 kilo pickled brisket

•

60 ml (1/4 cup) soy sauce

•

60 g (¼ cup) brown miso paste

•

240 g (1 cup) duck sauce

•

8 cloves chopped garlic

•

250 g (1 1/4 cups) brown sugar

•

60 ml (1/4 cup) teriyaki sauce

How to make it: Prior to refrigeration, the preservation of food was always a challenge; pickling, brining, and drying are just some of the ingenious ways our forbearers found to preserve food.

Brisket, a cheap cut of meat that requires a long and slow cook to become tender, is a favourite of Jewish communities everywhere - and when pickled and then cooked, is a delicacy of Jewish delis the world over. In London we call it ‘salt beef’ and is served warm and thickly sliced. In New York, the same preparation is called ‘corned beef’ and is served cold, thinly sliced and piled high on fresh rye bread.

Here, we have taken corned beef, cooked it with a sweet and salty Asian glaze and can be served warm or cold – it’s the fusion of New York, London, Asian and Jewish American flavours.

1

Add pickled brisket to a large pot. Cover generously with water. Bring water to a boil over high heat and let cook for 2 – 4 hours. To check if the beef is cooked, stick a fork in the meat and pull out. If there’s no resistance, it is cooked Remove from heat and let corned beef cool in the water.

At this point, the pot can be covered and left to cool in the refrigerator overnight if desired.

2

In a medium pot, combine soy sauce, miso paste, duck sauce, garlic, brown sugar, and teriyaki sauce. Bring pot and boil until the sugar has melted.

Makes 8 - 10 servings.

3

Preheat oven to 180°C.

4

Place corned beef on a baking sheet. Cover very well with sauce. Bake for 30 minutes, or until edges crisp up. Let cool before slicing.

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FOOD

Potato knishes The original knish was created as a snack food in Eastern Europe; a thin pastry encasing a filling that was transportable. In the Lower East Side of New York at the turn of the 20th century, peddlers would put homemade knishes in their carts and peddle their wares as a quick snack. In 1890, Yonah Schimmel, a Rabbi from Romania, started peddling his wife’s knishes in the streets of New York. In 1910 he opened a store front and after moving down the road a few years later, the ‘knishery’ has been in the same location ever since. Though they make knishes filled with a huge variety of ingredients, potato remains the most popular filling. Though Yonah Schimmel’s recipe is a closely guarded secret, this adaptation based on the Savure recipe is a close replica.

You will need:

•

190 g (1 1⁄2 cups) plain flour

•

Salt

•

Lots of vegetable oil

•

10 large potatoes, peeled cut into quarters

•

4 medium onions, peeled and finely chopped

•

Freshly ground white pepper

•

1 egg yolk

Now here is the thing about knishes: I will not lie to you - they are time consuming to make, but they are insanely delicious, so set aside a good three hours and get knish making!

HOW TO MAKE THEM:

1

Combine flour and a pinch of salt in a large bowl and make a

4

Preheat oven to 180°C. Line a large baking sheet with

well in the centre. Add (120 g) 1⁄2 cup water and 1 tbsp. of the

parchment paper and set aside. Combine egg and 1 tbsp.

oil to the well. Then, using a large spoon, gradually stir flour

water in a small bowl and set egg wash aside.

into liquid until dough forms a rough ball. Place dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, about 10

5

Divide dough into 12 pieces, then shape each into a ball.

minutes. Transfer to a clean bowl, cover with cling film, and

Make one knish at a time, keeping remaining dough covered

set aside for 30 minutes.

with cling film to prevent it from drying out. To make each knish, using a floured rolling pin, roll out dough ball on a

2

Put potatoes into a large pot, cover with cold water, and

lightly floured surface into a 7” circle. Brush surface of dough

bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium and

with some of the oil. Place about 1 cup of the filling in centre

cook until soft, about 30 minutes. Drain, then transfer to a

of dough and fold dough up and around sides, leaving top

large bowl.

of filling exposed but overlapping edges of dough slightly to make a snug fit around filling.

3

In a large sautéed pan heat a lot of oil, enough that the onions will be swimming in a sizzling oil bath. Add onions

6

Transfer knishes, as finished, to baking sheet, brush tops

and cook, stirring often, until soft, about 15 minutes, try to

with egg wash, grind some more pepper on top and bake

not let them brown. Add in the bowl with the potatoes and

until lightly golden, 25-30 minutes.

mash. Season with enthusiasm, salt and pepper and set filling aside.

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FA M I LY & W E L L B E I N G · PA R E N T I N G

SHANNI SOLOMON is a parenting trainer and lecturer and holds a diploma in the foundations of counselling, a BSN in Nursing, a Masters in Psychology and works as an Innate Health Practitioner and Emotional Wellbeing consultant for schools in North and North West London. Shanni is now about to embark on a Doctorate

in Counselling Psychology, focusing on developing resilience in teenagers and its impact on school-wide antisocial behaviour.

She has been blessed with six beautiful children of her own and to be married to Rabbi Dr Leslie Solomon. She works with many child and teenage clients, their parents and teachers, and can be reached at: solomonshanni@gmail.com

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR TIME WITH YOUR KIDS In the last issue of Perspectives, we talked about laying the foundations for believing in our children, which is certainly important, but how do we show them that we believe in them? We could try telling them straight out: ‘I believe in you and value you as a person.’ However, that is a pretty mature concept and most young children will not understand what you are trying to say; they need a more childlike medium for the message. Happily though, there is a relatively simple recipe. The key ingredients in that recipe are…time and positive attention.

Part 2: show them The currency of love and of showing a child that we value them as people, is simply time spent with them. Since they think we parents know mostly everything (of course, teenage years are fast approaching, when they will most certainly be divested of that particular misconception!!), and they understand that time is very valuable to us, then it stands to reason that if we, as parents, choose to spend time with them then they must be of great value. And vice versa. If we don’t spend time with them they get the message that they aren’t particularly worth spending time with, and, as such, are not of great value to us. Which, of course, is not strictly true but that is the simplistic way that children of all ages read it.

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PA R E N T I N G · FA M I LY & W E L L B E I N G So, obviously I am going to offer some good news here (I am that kind of gal), and it will sound something like this: children see things through a child’s perspective. They don’t have the ability to gauge or measure abstract concepts like time, it simply has to feel like you are around for them, to feel like you aren’t always rushing off or are distracted by things more valuable than them (insert WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter here), that when you are with them you are emotionally present, and that feels to them like you are around and available. Rabbi Yitzchak Berkowitz once told my husband, when your child is upset hug her until she pushes you away. And that is the metaphor that helped me understand how much time a child needs in order to feel How much time, you ask? Hmm...how long is a piece of

they are valuable and worth believing in. Be there, so they

string? Some children kind of remind me of that hole that

can feel confident to push off from you, and not feel like

you put dishwasher salt into. You know the one? You have

they have to run after you.

a huge bag of salt and a relatively shallow hole, that is often full of water (well, it is in my machine!). So, you pour the

And the way to maximise your time with them, to help

salt but it doesn’t seem to be displacing the water, so you

them feel like you really value spending time with them? By

pour more and more, which seems rather incredible, as

making it somewhat exclusive. Private time increases the

the hole seemed so shallow, where is all that salt going, to

value exponentially. I remember sitting with my (very close

China? And finally, finally after you use up almost the whole

in age) boys when they were young, and spending 10-15

bag, you see that it is actually full and the water has been

minutes with each of them on their own. And no one was

replaced with the salt. So too, with some children. Some do

allowed to interrupt that private time, not even the phone

well with some time, others need more, and still others are

ringing (translate: mobile pinging), and certainly not the

like our salt hole, seemingly unfillable, until you finally see,

other children. This was highly valued time with my highly

after somewhat lengthy and involved input, that it seems to

valued child and no one was going to get in the way of this

have made a real impact.

private time together. And looking at these bright, talented, confident men today, I believe they got the message.

Another point to consider is that while adults need to spend quality time with each other, sharing interests and goals to deepen their relationship, children and their parents simply need time to strengthen the bond. It is about quantity vs quality. Adults need less time but it has to be of a higher quality, while younger children just need to know that their parent is their default experience; I am either somewhere else or with my parent.

I would imagine that for some of you reading this that is of some comfort. You mean I don’t have to entertain them as much as they think (yay!)? However, for others, it may be cause for alarm or feelings of guilt- do I spend enough time with my children, and how can I spend more time with them when I have to work to provide for their basic needs?

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FA M I LY & W E L L B E I N G · W E L L B E I N G

ARYEH SAMPSON is a BACP accredited psychotherapist and couples counsellor. He is in private practice in North West London as well as counselling on Skype. Aryeh is the author of Go To Yourself – Transformation

Through Jewish Wisdom and Psychology. He can be contacted at: aryeh.sampson@gmail.com. For more information see: www.counsellingnorthlondon.org

ANGER MANAGEMENT If you’ve ever exploded with anger and regretted it shortly afterwards or felt yourself simmering with resentment for days, you know how harmful these feelings can be. Anger can wreak havoc on relationships and have a destructive effect on one’s life. Recent medical research has also shown it to be linked to an increased likelihood of heart disease, stroke, cancer and the weakening of the immune system.

There are many effective techniques and approaches that can assist us in managing anger. Below is a four step strategy which I call the four C’s.

1

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2

CALM DOWN

Contemplate

Staying in control and calming down is a vital first stage

In the heat of the moment we often become irrational,

when in anger-provoking situations. Modern psychotherapy

blowing things out of proportion. Once we feel calmer, it

places much emphasis on techniques that help to reduce

is important to look rationally and objectively at the anger

and release the pent-up frustration associated with anger.

provoking situation. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Relaxing and breathing techniques are emphasised as

teaches that it is not the actual event that disturbs us, but

they have a physiological effect that calms the psyche and

our interpretation and internal response to it that causes us

reduces stress levels. Writing down your feelings in the

our emotional reaction. By cognitive thought restructuring –

form of a letter which will never be sent, or a physical form

changing the way we think of the situation – we can change

of release such as exercise or walking, are also effective

our emotional reaction. It is important to ask yourself if there

methods.

are other, less hostile ways of seeing and interpreting the

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W E L L B E I N G · FA M I LY & W E L L B E I N G situation and to try to see things from the other person’s perspective. This includes trying to understand their attitudes, motivation and background.

Other therapeutic approaches emphasise becoming more aware of one’s own motivations. You may become angry with one person but really be angry with someone else or even yourself. This is known as transference. For example, someone who is angry with his boss but is afraid to express it, may flare up at his wife or children instead. Anger may also be provoked when a comment touches upon or reminds one of a basic insecurity and feeling of vulnerability. When feeling threatened, it may be easier to become angry with another person than to acknowledge and face the real issue.

3

Change yourself

4COMMUNICATE

We have more control over ourselves and our own responses

When a person feels angry, two responses are common: fight

than we have over other people’s actions. We need to see

(explode outwardly) or flight (retreat inwardly). Learning to

if there is anything we can do ourselves to improve the

communicate one’s feelings in an open non-confrontational

situation or to prevent it from reoccurring. These may be

way is an important skill.

simple lifestyle changes, such as getting more sleep, eating better or being more organised. On a deeper level, it may

There is a valuable approach used in marital therapy and

mean taking responsibility to deal with our insecurities and

conflict resolution called ‘active listening’. Two people in

areas of sensitivity.

conflict are encouraged to make statements that begin with “I”, focussing on what they feel rather than making accusing statements that begin with “You”. For example, “I felt bad when you came late” instead of “you never turn up on time”. The other person paraphrases the contents of the statement, which enables the speaker to feel understood and validated. In this way, an empathetic environment is created where both sides can be understood and work to resolve their differences. This leads to consolation and ultimately forgiveness which releases the poisonous feelings associated with anger.

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FA M I LY & W E L L B E I N G · M E N TA L H E A L T H

RABBI MOSHE FRIEDMAN grew up in Manhattan, New York, and received his BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at the University of Pennsylvania. He studied Jewish Thought and Talmudic Law for ten years in Israel, including several years at the Mir Yeshiva, and has passed rabbinic ordination examinations from the Israeli Rabbinate.

Rabbi Friedman has been a regular lecturer at Machon Yaakov Yeshiva in Jerusalem and on numerous learning-based Israel trips.

In 2017, he moved to London with his wife and two children to take up the role of FJL UK Liaison, a role which includes regular campus visits and London-based educational programmes.

THE pSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF RELIGION Let’s put aside, for the moment, the questiON of whether the Torah is true. Does it work?

Okay, full disclosure: I am a rabbi, and my understanding of the world may slant my perspective on whether keeping kosher or observing Shabbat will improve your life. But I was surprised to find that I am in good company with behavioural economists, psychologists, researchers and historians. Rather than questioning the veracity of religious claims, they are now asking if subscribing to religious beliefs is beneficial to one’s happiness and to the stability of society as a whole. For many academics and scientists, even self-described atheists, the answer has been overwhelmingly, “yes!”

Let’s take the psychologist Ernest Becker, who wrote in his Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Denial of Death that mankind’s most essential psychological fixation is to grapple with its mortality. Our awareness of death creates our most basic terror: the finitude, and therefore insignificance, of our lives. The most potent antidote, he claims, is religion, which affirms our ability to transcend our numbered days on this earth, thereby giving an objective meaning to what we do whilst alive.

In a similar but more cynical vein, famous historian, writer, and atheist Yuval Noah Harari also finds usefulness in religion. In an article describing the challenges of the future, he writes that with robots replacing humans as the working class, people will struggle to fill their lives with purpose. The answer, he writes, is to create games for ourselves. On a simple level it could be someone who takes his Call of Duty very seriously. But on a much more complex level, he describes religion as the world’s oldest game - a series of “imaginary” laws through which you must score enough points to “win.” Despite his somewhat mocking tone, Harari seems to admit that religion is one of the best ways to have a psychologically healthy life.

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M E N TA L H E A L T H · FA M I LY & W E L L B E I N G But enough speculation. What about research? Enter

religious Jews took fate into their own hands and emigrated,

Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, where

while the equally-persecuted Russian Orthodox Christians

he magnificently outlines the process of creating and

remained under unbearable conditions. Comparing the

undoing any and all habits, be they positive or negative. In

prayer books of the two religions, Seligman found that

a specific chapter on substance addiction, he observes an

Jewish liturgy is systematically more hopeful and optimistic

unexplainable phenomenon that crops up repeatedly in

than the Russian Orthodox counterpart, and hypothesised

different studies. In order to break the ironclad habit of any

that the tone of the religion has helped Jews to remain afloat

addiction, one of the essential ingredients in the recipe is…

through years of persecution.

belief in a higher power. The most notable example of this is the 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous model in which steps 2,

In March of 2011, the New York Times covered a Gallup poll

3, 5, 6, and 11 all make explicit reference to God or a similar

of 1,000 randomly selected Americans who were asked a

all-powerful Being who can imbue us with the power to

range of questions about their quality of life, in an attempt

change.

to find common factors that could determine which types of people were generally happier. The results came back.

Then there are the fascinating experiments of behavioural economist Dan Ariely, who performed a particular

The happiest person in America was a composite of the following traits: male, of Asian descent, in his sixties, tall,

study involving test-taking in university

owned his own business and made at least

students. He found that a consistent

$120,000 per year, lived in Hawaii, and,

percentage of students who were asked to grade their own papers would cheat to some degree by giving themselves a higher score

than

they

actually

deserved. Then he threw in a spanner: he had the next group of students simply read the Ten Commandments before taking

you guessed it, was an orthodox

“It should be important to us that the Torah has a track record of being effective. One can be a non-believer and still derive much benefit from Judaism.”

the test. In the ensuing groups the

Jew. (Even more stunning than the results is that the Times then tracked down a real live person named Alvin Wong, a Chinese convert living in Hawaii who actually fit that description.)

As an observant Jew I might be inclined to disregard the scientific

percentage of those who cheated

literature on the efficacy of Judaism. If

came close to zero, and those who did

it’s true, one could argue, then who cares

cheat, cheated less. Makes you think, no?

if it works? But our tradition teaches otherwise.

In the foundational 11th century work, The Kuzari, Rabbi

Let’s get more specific. What about Judaism as opposed to

Yehuda HaLevi emphasises that Judaism is not a purely

other religions? Well Martin Seligman has an answer to that.

doctrinal religion, and the Jewish God is not understood

Seligman, the founder of positive psychology and former

merely by divine text. Rather, He is the God of history, the

president of the American Psychology Association, explains

God of our ancestors, who took us out of Egypt. Our religion

in his book Learned Optimism that being optimistic may be

is accessed not just through information, but through

the most important trait a person can have. Not only does it

personal experience. It should be important to us that the

predict one’s personal success, but he found that optimistic

Torah has a track record of being effective. One can be a

speech is the greatest predictor of which politician will win

non-believer and still derive much benefit from Judaism.

an election. He also found a strong correlation between the

But those who do believe, may find that the latest research

levels of optimism found in religious liturgy, and its ability

reminds us that our Higher Power is still very much helping

to survive. Under 19th century oppressive Russian rule,

us out.

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KID ZONE

TUTTI FRUTTI! COLOUR IN YOUR TU B'SHVAT SCENE

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Canali Pau l and S hark E ton S hirt s 7 F or A ll Mank in d B ugat t i G ran S as so K nitw e ar 69 G OLD ER S G RE E N R O A D LOND ON NW 11 8 EL T : 020 455 660 7 AISH UK

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www. bout iquehomme .c o .u k

Community

Business Insight:

Work Avenue Personal Perspectives:

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COMMUNITY

BUSINESS INSIGHT

WORK AVENUE

BY MICAELA BLITZ

For those looking for employment

important in order to be able to

Employment team. They cover a range

or wanting to start their own business,

market themselves effectively. As

of subjects from advice on writing CVs

taking the first step can be the hardest.

Emma May, Director of Operations

and mock interview practice sessions,

Work Avenue provides advice and

and

“We

through to more practical and wide-

guidance so that people can gain

embody the old adage: Give a man

ranging skills such as networking.

essential skills and support needed to

a fish, feed him for a day, but teach

For many the idea of networking

start their own journey.

him to fish and he will feed his family

can be extremely intimidating, but

for a lifetime. We provide the tools to

within the workshop the concept is

The first thing that strikes you as

ensure that people are able to work to

demystified and clients are shown

you enter Work Avenue’s shared

support themselves and their families

that it is essentially just another word

workspace, The Wohl Enterprise Hub,

with dignity.”

for communicating with other people

Employment,

explains,

and the more they are able to do it

in Finchley is the modern, vibrant look and feel of the place. Although a far

Work Avenue recognises that there is

the more fluent and confident they

cry from its previous incarnation as

not a ‘one size fits all’ when it comes

become.

Finchley Federation Synagogue, the

to employment, so in order to get

same sense of community is evident.

a better understanding of each

They also run events, which allow

Even the coffee cups offer supportive

individual’s requirements, they first

access to many of the leading

messages, ”Work begins with coffee”,

have a one to one meeting with one of

professionals within the community.

and this all reflects the overall ethos

their Matrix accredited advisors. This

Last November, they held Charity

of giving help and receiving help that

enables them to talk through their own

Central, a communal recruitment

Debbie Sheldon, CEO, refers to as a

hopes and expectations in the jobs

fair which was a one stop shop for

‘virtuous circle’.

market and to work out where they

those seeking jobs within the charity

may require further help and guidance

sector. It was attended by over 250

which Work Avenue can offer.

people and gave access to many of

The way that people find work has

the community’s most high-profile

changed significantly over the past

82

5 or 10 years, and for many who may

One of the ways that clients are able

charities and led to at least three direct

have been out of the job market for a

to develop skills is through regular

positions being obtained so far with

while, gaining new skills is extremely

workshops run by Work Avenue’s

more in the pipeline.

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COMMUNITY

In numbers 1575

Employment clients helped

633

Business clients helped

182

WE Hub Members

Find out more Contact them on 0208 371 3280 or at debbie@theworkavenue.org.uk

508

Clients placed in 2018

Further information can be found at www.workavenue.org.uk

As well as offering advice and

success. We would love to be able

train ‘women returners’ will also be

guidance for those looking to get back

to help you”. Emma suggests that

offered. It will help to empower women

to work, Work Avenue also encourages

sometimes

perspective

through education, mentoring, and

entrepreneurs starting or developing

when job hunting can open up

relevant work experience, to support

their own business. For those starting

new opportunities, as she explains,

them as they progress back to work.

their own venture, the first two years

“Often those seeking work can be too

are the most crucial, and Work Avenue

prescriptive as to what they want for

When talking to Debbie and Emma the

offers help and support, as well as

but by turning your thinking around

enjoyment that they feel for the work

access to experts and advice from

to focus more on what a potential

that they do is clear to see. Emma says

across the business sector. Clients

employee may be looking for, and

that she ‘genuinely loves’ being able

can apply for loans to help business

what you can offer, really helps.”

to help people to become what she

changing

development and there is also the

calls ‘the best version of themselves’.

opportunity to rent desk space, or

When it comes to looking forward

For Debbie, being able to help people

even an office to fit the needs of their

to the year ahead, the Work Avenue

to improve themselves is what it is all

businesses.

team are excited to introduce many

about. “I really enjoy the chance to

new programmes and initiatives. One

help, and when I go to bed each night,

For those seeking work, Debbie and

of the main things that they plan to do

I know that I have made a difference. I

Emma offer their top tips. “I would

is to set up a social enterprise where

consider Work Avenue as a family, and

recommend coming to see us at Work

businesses based in the building can

as with any family we all look out for

Avenue,” comments Debbie, “Taking

employ job seekers to help provide

each other, and help them in any way

that first step can be the hardest but

admin, social media and graphic

we can.”

will open up so many doors to your

design services. A programme to help

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COMMUNITY

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES

MICHELLE BARNET

INTERVIEWED

BY MICAELA BLITZ

You started your career as a probation officer, what made you move into the charity sector?

Whilst I loved being a probation officer and the everyday challenges that came with it, I also missed being able to contribute in a real, and meaningful way within the Jewish community. So when Rabbi Naftali Schiff offered me the opportunity to run GIFT, I knew it was too good to pass up. Being able to facilitate giving within the community and helping those in need was right up my street!

What were the first GIFT initiatives?

We formed a committee and we worked together brainstorming various projects. The first was a ‘Food Distribution’ initiative where volunteers, mainly sixth formers, would collect surplus bread daily from bakeries to give to families and organisations in need. Another initiative, ‘Helping Hand’, was a service for the elderly whereby volunteers would take them shopping or out for tea and helped with practical errands like returning library books or changing light bulbs. The third was ‘Gift it forward’ where children would give one of their new birthday presents to be distributed to kids in need locally and abroad. I guess you could say that GIFT kind of organically blossomed

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from these three initiatives, all focussed on inspiring children to give more and make a difference to those less fortunate.

What does GIFT mean to you?

To me, it’s about connecting with the heart and soul of a young person to discover how best they can be inspired to become a giver. The incredible impact that the volunteers make by helping those in need in a very real and practical way is so moving and inspirational; whether it’s volunteers helping in their home, tutoring, weekly food parcels, hospital or care home visits.

Are you surprised at how GIFT has grown over the time you have been involved?

The growth of GIFT over the past 15 years has really been incredible and inspirational for all involved. When we started, we were only able to support 20 families whereas this year, 23,237 food packages were packed and delivered to hundreds of families.

Additionally, this year, 45,646 hours of volunteering has been achieved which has made an incredible difference to so many. We have also increased our dynamic and innovative education sessions to 907 across 100 venues.

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When we first started we had no premises, so my house was used as the GIFT base where food packaging took place on a daily basis, as well as toy, fruit and flower collections before the Chagim. Today, we have a warehouse in Hendon where hundreds of children come in every week to pack food and get involved in educational activities.

What are the best and worst things about your job?

I still wake up every morning excited to go to work. I’m so appreciative to be working with such a special team and grateful to be facilitating such goodness in the community. Receiving letters and positive feedback from recipient families, volunteers, partner organisations, schools, pupils, and donors expressing the impact we have made in their lives makes us all feel so appreciated and our work all the more worthwhile!

The worst thing is never enough hours despite the support and family liaisons

that there are in a day! Also our volunteers offer to the

COMMUNITY families we support, so many of them experience such hardship and pain due to financial strains, ill health and relationship breakdown. It’s difficult to witness on a daily basis and not to be able to permanently fix it.

Do you think that in today’s society, the message of GIFT is even more crucial for the younger generation?

Yes! Children are being exposed to smart phones and other such technology from a younger age: Facebook, Instagram, computer games which can be so all-encompassing, and highly addictive, yet meaningless and antisocial. Giving to others and having an outside focus is the antithesis of this. It’s fun, provides meaning and a feel-good factor. Projects like the GIFT Shabbat Walk where between 100-200 young volunteers regularly walk together in groups to hospitals and care homes can lead to life-long and meaningful friendships, besides the incredible positive impact it has on the service users.

How has your work for this charity influenced your own family and their social conscience?

I’m very grateful that my children have grown up surrounded by chessed (giving). The variety of volunteering options GIFT has to offer has meant that between them, they have been

involved in so many opportunities like food packing sessions, tutoring, visiting the elderly, attending school lunch and do sessions, visiting patients in hospital psychiatric units, helping families with their special needs children, helping out at asylum seekers’ drop in centres, singing at fundraising events, cutting their hair for charity, running for GIFT at the Community Fun Run and celebrating

What are your hopes for GIFT in 2019?

More funding would be incredible so that we can impact on more young people further afield. Being able to employ more educators and volunteer coordinators to touch the lives of more pupils in Jewish and non-Jewish schools. We would also love to be able to launch GIFT in more countries to be able to positively impact so many more people and communities!

Finally, tell me something that people may not know about you?

I’m a martial arts black belt!!

(Only in my dreams at the moment...but watch this space!)

their Bar and Bat Mitzvah together with children from Emunah and Zichron Menachem. Miraculously, they still manage to find plenty of time to play on computer games!

What other organisations does GIFT work with?

Find out more Contact GIFT at info@jgift.org Further information can be found at www.jgift.org

GIFT have partnered with over 200 organisations and charities over the years, from Jewish Women’s Aid to Hannah Levy Home in Bournemouth, Michael Levin Lone Soldier Centre, Homeless Action Barnet, Israel Guide Dogs and Leora’s Flower Gemach. The full list can be found on our website!

“‘to me, it’s about connecting with the heart and soul of a young person to discover how best they can become a giver.”

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85

CHANUKAH PARTY

2018

The last night of Chanukah saw over 150 people celebrate hugely successful first term in the iconic Leake Street tunnel together with Aish Young Professionals and wider Aish staff.

Hosted at the trendy Aures Waterloo venue, guests were wowed by a bespoke ‘Banksy style’ graffiti workshop, as well as a Virtual Reality experience. Great music, great food and delicious doughnut shots were enjoyed by all throughout a chilled, fun evening celebrating Aish Young Professionals brand new ‘triumvirate’ of programmes: @Futures, @Wisdom and @Social.

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STAY TUNED FOR MORE EPIC EVENTS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NEW YEAR!

@FUTURES @WISDOM @SOCIAL

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AISH UK

HELPS THE HOMELESS

"THANK YOU SO MUCH TO AISH FOR GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SUCH AN AMAZING MITZVAH!" This Remembrance Sunday afternoon, 30 participants of the

was palpable as our team of fantastic volunteers prepared

new Aish Young Professionals programme assembled at the

packed lunches together with survival packs including

Aish UK centre in Hendon for a weekend brunch and second

sleeping bags, first aid and thermal clothing. We even had a

annual social action seminar. Run in conjunction with GIFT,

logistics team working out most productive routes and how

the group split into teams to organise and coordinate the

to best avoid Remembrance Day road closures! All in all, the

day’s main focus: delivering food and essentials to homeless

fact that our participants ‘built’ this event from start to finish

people living on the streets of London.

was a truly incredible experience for everyone involved.”

In addition to the ‘hands-on’ help, a separate crowdfunding

88

Commenting on the structure of the event, Rabbi Eli

campaign was launched which raised over £350 for the

Birnbaum noted, “We have always felt that grassroots-driven

cause. News of the event travelled as far as Manchester,

projects have the greatest impact and leave the longest-

where local business Retail ABC very generously donated

lasting impression. The energy throughout the building

over 20 high quality sleeping bags.

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"I HOPE THEY REALISE HOW MUCH WE HAVE GAINED FROM THEM"

Covering Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury, Oxford Circus, the Theatre District, Soho and Mayfair, over 30 survival packs were given out to London’s most vulnerable ahead of the winter months. Recipients shared both heart-warming and heart-breaking stories, perhaps most poignant of which was Nicky’s; a young woman who had run away from a controlling, abusive boyfriend nine months ago but was refused lodging at the local council’s shelter due to the fact that she had intentionally and knowingly made herself homeless. Nicky’s stories of the challenges she faces on the streets on a daily basis and how she has the strength and determination to overcome them left a lasting impression on the group.

Reflecting on the day, Nurit Lasarow said, “Thank you so much to Aish for giving us the opportunity to do such an amazing mitzvah! It really makes me feel privileged beyond words.”

Dinah Cowan added, “I hope that the homeless people we met realise how much we have gained from them; it was a truly humbling experience.”

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AISH

VISITS POLAND

Over 240 students from JFS recently took part in a number of

Rabbi Ari Kayser, who led one of the groups commented

educational experiences in partnership with Aish UK, JRoots

“On a trip with so many highs and lows, it has been amazing

and GIFT (part of the Jewish Futures family of organisations).

to watch the students conduct themselves with such tremendous spirit and Jewish pride. Many presume Poland

More than 160 students, in four groups, spent a week

to be a trip which focuses only on death and destruction,

exploring the history of the Holocaust on an emotional trip

and we try to build an educational curriculum that helps

to Poland, with visits including Warsaw, Majdanek, Chełmno,

students return home with a renewed sense of life, gratitude,

Łódz, Krakow and Auschwitz. They brought the city of

and inspiration.”

Krakow back to life over Shabbat when all four groups joined together in song and dance for the Friday night service.

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"IT HAS BEEN AMAZING TO WATCH THE STUDENTS CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH SUCH TREMENDOUS SPIRIT AND JEWISH PRIDE"

Closer to home, 80 students spent three days discovering the important episodes in the history of Anglo and European Jewry with visits to the Imperial War Museum’s acclaimed Holocaust exhibition, a tour of London’s East End and a talk from a Holocaust survivor. They capped these Heritage Days

AND JEWISH LONDON

with a day of social action and volunteering to help those in need.

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GENESIS ON DEMAND 92

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This term, the Aish UK campus

opportunities including Genesis trips to

team soft-launched a new online webinar

Poland, South Africa, Kiev and Israel.

programme – Genesis on Demand – for

students studying at campuses across the

Genesis on Demand are open through the

UK where Aish is currently not offering weekly

Genesis website. Aside from the live webinars,

speaker events. This provides students with

Aish UK will be offering a range of pre-recorded

an opportunity to join the larger Genesis

sessions, supplemented with materials about

programme, which operates in Nottingham,

the topic of the talk as well as information

Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds & Liverpool, by

about the guest speakers. Where possible,

logging on and being part of the guest speaker

Aish UK will also be visiting numerous smaller

series online. Participation in the webinar

campuses to further develop relationships

programme allows students to build up a

and offer campuses with a smaller Jewish

scholarship which can be put towards various

demographic the chance to learn and engage.

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Applications

for

the

January’s

R’ Shauly & Adina Strom

R’ Zvi Gefen

07952 567 878 / 07528 767 551 sstrom@genesisoncampus.com astrom@genesisoncampus.com

07506 630 077 zgefen@genesisoncampus.com

Leeds MAnchester

Liverpool

R’ Doniel & Sophie Levy

R’ Abba Yaakov 07974 222 732 / 07506 643 700

NOTTingham

Birmingham

07915 084 723 / 07342 317 199 dlevy@genesisoncampus.com slevy@genesisoncampus.com

lONDON Bristol

Aish UK is proud to bring you the biggest, most cutting-edge, social and educational campus programme for Jewish students nationwide.

i R’ Uri & Tamar Jaskiel

020 8457 4433

07974 222 995 / 07506 641 906 ujaskiel@genesisoncampus.com tjaskiel@genesisoncampus.com

@genesisoncampus

NATIONAL WEEKEND

2019 Only £20

*

t Join the bigges Jewish event on campus! a programme of

genesisoncampus

genesisoncampus

ON DEMAND

SOUTH AFRICA

Live webinars & catch up sessions featuring incredible speakers!

019 26 Jun -16 Jul 2 Only £1259*

S H V A T 5 7 7 9 | J A N U A R Y 2 0 19 | A I S H U K apply now at www.genesisoncampus.com *Subject to terms & conditions. South Africa trip price of £1259 subject to having earned full Genesis scholarship.

National Weekend price includes all food, accommodation, transport and programme. Ticket price rises in Jan 2019.

Aish UK is a member of the Jewish Futures family of organisations & Olami

Simple integration with Emis Web, SystmOne, Vision and Docman We are an ECG interpretation service provider for medical centres in the UK. We offer healthcare professionals access to ‘consultant led’ interpretation of 12 lead ECGs, 24 hour tapes and loop event recorders.

The service has successfully interpreted well over 1,000,000 ECGs and is now commissioned by 70+ CCGs.

Here is why we think you will like our service

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MA from Hebrew University with leadership training, focus groups with NGO think-tanks and key influencers in global policy.

August 2019 – September 2020 For more information, contact ggoldwater@aish.org.uk S H VAT 57 7 9

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J A N U A R Y 2 0 19 | A I S H U K

Aish UK is a member of the Jewish Futures family of organisations & Olami Member

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