1449 - 11th Dec 2025

Red Shield

THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW STARTS NOW

Magen David Adom UK launched its fiveyear fundraising and awareness campaign “Machratayim” (Hebrew for The Day After Tomorrow) in the run up to MDA’s Centenary in 2030. At the launch dinner in November, held at the Peninsula Hotel, the charity set out its vision for the next five years with an uplifting message of hope and healing whilst acknowledging the ongoing impact of trauma both across Israel and the UK. With guest speeches from the First Lady, Michal Herzog, global vlogger Nas Daily, and MDA volunteer Fadi Dekaidek, the evening highlighted a shared commitment to Israel’s

future. Together, they emphasised the urgent need for mental, emotional, and physical support for all Israelis, while honouring the continued bravery and lifesaving dedication of MDA’s volunteers.

Introducing “Machratayim” and the importance of MDA’s work not only in emergency life-saving care but also in helping to address the physical and mental health impacts of the past two years, Russell Jacobs, Chair of MDA UK, said: “None of us can be certain when we will arrive at Machratayim, but we hope and pray that it is sooner rather than later. One thing is for sure: if we do not

begin to build for it now, it will take far longer to arrive.”

The evening also saw the launch of two landmark initiatives, the MDA UK Bridge to Israel Awards (see P.4) and MDA UK’s 30 by 30 project, which will see 30 new projects by 2030 funded by MDA UK supporters. Linking 30 communities in the UK with 30 in Israel. Daniel Burger said: “For generations, people have identifi ed MDA as ‘the ambulance people’ and donating towards an ambulance is an amazing sign of philanthropy. But MDA is about so much more and one of the greatest aspects of our work has been the building of links between communities in the UK and communities in Israel.”

Over 400 guests attended the event, raising a phenomenal amount to support the work of Magen David Adom and save more lives.

Nas Daily in conversation with Robert Rinder MBE

Daniel Burger, MDA UK Chief Executive, Presenting Machratayim with Chairman, Russell Jacobs

Bulletin from Magen David Adom UK | Number 57 | Winter 2025

IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, THERE IS MDA

The return of the remaining living hostages in October was an emotional moment for the people of Israel and Jewish communities across the world.

As we enter into a fragile peace, we all know that tomorrow will be extremely di cult. There is no immediate healing. There is no immediate calm. There is no immediate closure on what everyone has been through. And sadly that won’t change overnight. We are too far down the road now for things to return to normal. Life remains unstable, uncertain and hard.

That is why, at our recent Annual Campaign Dinner, we launched a five-year campaign to take us through to that time of healing, renewal and hope. As you will have read in our cover story, this is Machratayim – The Day A er Tomorrow.

Tragically, there are still (at the time of writing) bodies of deceased hostages being held in Gaza. We will not forget them and will continue to support our friends at the Hostages and Missing Families Forum for as long as their work is necessary. I would like to congratulate Nivi Feldman, the fi rst winner of the MDA UK Bridge to Israel Award (see page 4) for her tireless commitment to this cause over the past two and a bit years.

The connection between our community in the UK and the people and communities of Israel has never been stronger - MDA UK is proud to be part of building and creating these connections now and into the future.

Daniel Burger Chief Executive Magen David Adom

UK

GLOBAL INFLUENCER STARS FOR MDA

Global YouTube sensation Nas Daily began his two-day Magen David Adom UK speaking tour (see front page) with a sell-out event in Radlett. Over 200 people packed in to Radlett Synagogue to hear the Israeli-Palestinian social media influencer in conversation with journalist, Nicole Lampert.

The wide-ranging discussion moved from Al-Jazeera and the BBC to hopes for lasting peace in the Middle East and AI. Daily, the Harvard economics graduate turned vloggermost famous for his one-minute videos of inspiration - spoke of his desire to live in a world where he could take a taxi from Tel Aviv to Beirut for lunch and then on to Damascus for dinner.

Nas, born in the Arab town of Arraba in the Lower Galillee and real name Nuseir Yassin, acknowledged the toxicity of media coverage towards Israel and stated his personal mission to show the “real Israel” to his 68 million followers. He shared his hope that many would now take the opportunity to visit, declaring that there has never been a safer time to visit Tel Aviv.

When asked what his own hopes for the future were, he declared that he wanted to be the fi rst Israeli-Arab founder of a ‘unicorn’ (a startup valued at over $1billion). Something he intended to achieve by bringing people together with good news and positive stories form around the world.

There was no better place to start than with Magen David Adom who, he said, “had 100 stories a day worth telling”, before encouraging the next generation of story tellers. “Half your e orts should be to save lives and half to tell everyone about it.”

LONDON MARATHON RUNNERS

Nuseir Yassin (Nas Daily) speaking at Radlett shul

Zac Barnett

Ricki Stone

Oliver Morely Adam Biton

This year, supporters to raise inspiring together lives in

In June, Fun Run, walked, national

In July, Teper Memorial Golf Club, Funds went Shelter, civilians winning Aron Keet October the challenge Marathon,

Pure glamour!

Hat-trick of deceit

Police were duped by ‘Islamist agitators’

Then smeared Tel Aviv football fans

Then invented Jewish support for a ban

The future of West Midlands police chief Craig Guildford hangs in the balance after the policing minister pointedly declined to say she had “confidence” in his leadership in the wake of last month’s dubious decision to bar Israeli fans from attending a football match in Birmingham, writes Adam Decker.

Sarah Jones told the Commons it was “clear that mistakes” were made, when Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group (SAG) moved to bar Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters from their side’s game against Aston Villa.

Conservative MP Nick Timothy, who questioned whether “Islamist agitators”, including groups linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, played a role in the controversial decision, used an urgent question to summon Jones to the despatch box, and said Guildford “must go”.

Timothy said he feared West Midlands Police used artificial intelligence (AI) to come to its conclusions, relying on a false narrative that involved a made-up game between the Israeli team and West Ham two years ago. He asked Jones whether she believed the

evidence that Guildford, assistant chief constable Mike O’Hara and West Midlands police and crime commissioner Simon Foster gave to the Commons Home A airs Committee at a meeting last week. The West Su olk MP also asked: “Does the chief constable retain her confidence as policing minister and the confidence of the home secretary?” He added: “Police are accused of fabricating

Continued on page 4

HMD ORGANISER DISMISSED OVER

by Lee Harpin lee@jewishnews.co.uk

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) has terminated the contract of its Scottish representative, Melanie Goldberg, due to her association with a left-wing grassroots organisation that has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza.

Jewish News understands that Goldberg, a freelance contractor, was asked to leave the HMDT with immediate e ect this week because her role as a committee member of Scotland Friends of Standing Together (SFoST) was deemed a “clear conflict of interest” with the Trust.

Despite acknowledging Goldberg’s contributions as Scottish

Support Worker, HMDT argued that Standing Together’s statements supporting claims of genocide by Israel in Gaza were incompatible with the Trust’s values.

Goldberg’s dismissal came as she was organising the o cial Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) Ceremony for Scotland, scheduled for January at the Scottish Parliament.

Recalling the events, Gold-

YOU SHALL GO TO THE MATZO

BALL!

Cinderella And The Matzo Ball rolled into JW3 this week. See page 30

GENOCIDE

berg told Jewish News: “When an impromptu Teams meeting was arranged with senior management on Monday, I thought nothing of it. I was completely shocked when they informed me that I was being fired. There was no warning, no prior discussion – just a message that all the trustees, none of whom I’ve ever even met, had decided over the weekend that terminating my

CLAIM

LINK

contract was apparently the only option. I was given no opportunity to negotiate or defend myself. The decision was final.” She added: “I was told that there was nothing I had said or done that was antithetical to the Trust’s values, but that any form of connection with Standing Together apparently contravenes the work HMDT does.”

Continued on page 3

Anti-Israel protesters outside Villa Park. Inset: Police chief Craig Guildford

UK to host crucial IsraelPalestine peace summit

by Lee Harpin lee@jewishnews.co.uk

The UK will host the inaugural meeting of the International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace next March, in what UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has described as a “crucial step” towards bridging deep-seated divisions and advancing a viable two-state solution in the Middle East.

The announcement was made on Monday by Cooper, and also by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as she addressed the Labour Friends of Israel annual lunch. Both underscored the significance of the upcoming conference at Lancaster House.

The event will bring together Palestinian and Israeli civil society organisations, aiming to foster dialogue, build common ground, and support peace-building e orts between the two peoples.

“This conference will be a crucial step in that journey, bringing together representatives of Palestinian and Israeli civil society to

build common ground between their communities, challenge entrenched divisions, and work towards a future where both states can live side-by-side in peace and security,” Cooper stated.

She added that the UK is “well placed to host and facilitate these talks”, and emphasised the role of the new International Peace Fund in providing practical support to drive the initiative forward.

Reeves confirmed the event would go ahead at the historic venue, noting the importance of placing civil society groups “at the forefront of our e orts to advance long-term peace, and a two-state solution.”

The announcement fulfils a pledge made by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who last year expressed his support for the International Peace Fund.

Starmer has privately met with key figures involved in the peace process, including the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) executive director John Lyndon, peacebuilders Ibrahim Abu Ahmed and Barak Talmo, and UK Advocacy Manager Rachael Liss.

Blair cut from ‘peace board’

Tony Blair is no longer being considered for a board position in the interim authority the United States has proposed to run Gaza, with a number of Arab states reportedly expressing their opposition to his  involvement, writes Lee Harpin.

According to a report from the Financial Times, the former UK prime minister, whose Tony Blair Institute was believed to have been involved in the creation of Donald Trump’s 20-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas conflict, was no longer being considered as a member of the ‘Board of Peace’.

The board is intended to aid in the transition of Gaza away from Hamas control.

Its proposed role would be to oversee the efforts of a “technocratic, apolitical” committee of both Palestinians and international experts, who would help move Gaza towards a place where the Palestinian Authority

could retake control of the Strip. Blair was the only person the Trump specifically named in connection to the project, other than himself. However, both Arab and Muslim countries were said to have opposed the idea, citing Mr Blair’s involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, as well as a lack of achievements in his Middle East envoy role as representative of the Quartet – UN, EU, US and Russia – in the 2010s.

There has been further suggestion that while Blair will not sit on the board itself – which it is believed may contain a number of current heads of state once finalised – he may play a role in a smaller executive committee working at the direction of the

Others rumoured to be under consideration for that smaller committee include Jared Kushner and US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witko .

Lyndon had previously praised the PM’s willingness to take the lead over the peace-building initiative, with ALLMEP representing over 160 Israeli and Palestinian member organisations. With an o ce in Ramallah in the West Bank, and an o ce in Tel Aviv, ALLMEP aims to build trust along with creative ideas rooted in Israeli/ Palestinian partnerships. International policy

team members work inside the West Bank and will once again aim to increase their presence in Gaza.

The UK’s decision to proceed with the conference comes amid ongoing e orts to create an environment conducive to peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians.

Jonathan Powell, the UK’s national security adviser and a veteran of the Northern Ireland peace

process, has shown sustained interest in supporting such initiatives.

The conference is scheduled at a critical moment, following a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, and is expected to draw on lessons from the Good Friday Agreement to support grassroots relationship-building and shift public attitudes toward conflict resolution.

Michael Rubin, director of Labour Friends of Israel, said: “In opposition, Keir Starmer repeatedly pledged Labour’s support for establishing an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace.

“At this critical time, we are delighted that the government is delivering on that pledge, drawing on the successful lessons of the Good Friday Agreement to support peacebuilding and lay the vital civic society foundations for a two-state solution.”

The International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace aims to provide ongoing support for civil society initiatives, promoting understanding and cooperation as a foundation for lasting peace in the region. • Reeves addresses LFI, page 4

HALF OF ISRAELIS OPPOSE PARDON FOR NETANYAHU

A new national survey shows that more Israelis oppose than support granting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a presidential pardon that would stop his criminal trial.

According to the November 2025 Israeli Voice Index, published by the Israel Democracy Institute, half of Israelis are against a pardon, while 41 percent support one.

Among Jewish Israelis, support stands at 43 per cent, compared with 30 percent among Arab Israelis.

Political identity plays a major role in shaping views. Only a small minority on the left back a pardon, support rises modestly in the political centre, and a clear majority on the right say the president should intervene. Voting patterns from the 2022 election mirror this divide, with coalition voters strongly in favour and most opposition votes firmly against.

The survey also reveals growing concern about regional security. A clear majority of Jewish Israelis believe the planned US sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia would harm Israel’s security, while most Arab Israelis think the sale does not pose a threat. Many respondents across both communities expect a di cult year ahead, with

large numbers predicting renewed fighting with Hezbollah and Iran and more than half saying they expect another round of conflict with Hamas. Almost half believe Israel may also be drawn into a confrontation with the Houthis in Yemen.

Fears of internal unrest are also on the rise. Nearly two-thirds of Jewish Israelis think a new Palestinian uprising in the West Bank is likely in the near future, compared with just over a third of Arab Israelis. Across the full sample, most respondents believe the situation could deteriorate.

The survey further shows rising frustration over settler violence. Forty-five percent of Israelis say security forces treat settlers involved in attacks on Palestinians too leniently, far outweighing those who believe authorities are too harsh or have struck the right balance.

The November 2025 Israeli Voice Index is based on responses from 757 adults, interviewed in Hebrew and Arabic by phone and online between 30 November and 3 December.

The survey has a maximum margin of error of 3.56 per cent.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump discuss the conflict in the Middle East at the World Forum in The Hague

HMD freelancer removed over genocide claim link

Continued from page 1

Last year, HMDT faced controversy after invitations to the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony referred to “devastating violence against Palestinians”. The wording drew criticism from figures including Lord Carlile and Baroness Deech, who argued it was o ensive to compare the Shoah with the actions of the IDF against Hamas in Gaza. Former HMDT chair Laura Marks apologised, calling the language inappropriate. Marks has since been succeeded by former Tory minister Sajid Javid.

Standing Together (Omdim Beyachad), founded in Israel in 2015, seeks to unite Arab and Jewish Israelis in pursuit of Israeli-Palestinian peace, equality, and social justice.

The group has consistently advocated an anti-occupation stance and gained support in Israel and abroad, especially after the 7 October Hamas attacks.

While initially seeking to counter anti-Arab sentiment in Israel, Standing Together has adopted a more critical approach to the Gaza war. Statements put out by the group included refusing “our government’s genocidal war”.

But Standing Together has also been criti-

cised by hardline Palestine campaigners for allegedly “normalising” Israel’s actions, and now faces a call for it to be boycotted from the BDS movement. Standing Together supporters in the UK have included the Labour MP Alex Sobel. UK and Scotland “Friends of” branches were established as part of wider attempts to boost support for the group outside Israel.

Hostage Sharabi’s big win

A packed audience at the University of Westminster applauded with warmth and enthusiasm at the announcement of this year’s London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism (LCSCA) book prize, which went to Eli Sharabi for his book Hostage, an account of his 491 days as a Hamas captive in Gaza.

The applause was all the warmer when Sharabi announced, in a video message, that he intended to donate his £1,000 prize to the UK’s Kisharon/Langdon charity, which he said was “close to his heart”.

The first of the night’s awards was the Pete Newbon award, named for the young UK academic who was a fierce fighter against antisemitism and who died four years ago. Chairman

Nicole Lampert, left, receives the Pete Newbon award from Heidi Bachram

of the all-female judges panel, Heidi Bachram, who won the award herself last year, announced the 2025 winner was journalist Nicole Lampert.

Gillian Lazarus and David Collier were highly commended.

SETTLER VIOLENCE SHOCK

Supporters of the Jewish-Palestinian movement Standing Together gathered at King’s Cross on Sunday to mark Human Rights Day and heard testimony of escalating settler violence during this year’s West Bank olive harvest. Londoner Marcia Gamsu, who joined Rabbis for Human Rights, Standing Together activists and international volunteers in Qarawat Bani Hassan to support Palestinian farmers whose groves have faced increasing attacks, told how a drone monitoring the group crashed and injured an Israeli volunteer before two armed settlers in army fatigues arrived, pointed rifles at the activists and fired into the air.

The village mayor told the group such harassment was “a daily experience” for residents.

Speakers said one of the settlers involved was dismissed from reserve duty, while the other received only a warning, which they argued reflected systemic failures by police and the army to curb violence. Gamsu said the biblical symbolism of the olive branch now felt “inverted”. “It signals the end of destruction and return of life. It feels as though this symbolism has been turned into power and violence.”

• Unlikely West Bank alliance, page 11

Goldberg described her shock at the dismissal, especially given what she said were her positive relationships within HMDT and recent recognition of her work. “I regularly received positive feedback from my manager and others in the organisation, and had just been informed last week that I was to be flown down for the ocial UK HMD Ceremony in January. Another

reason why my dismissal came as such a shock.”

She insisted HMDT knew of her involvement with Standing Together from the outset: “They were aware of it throughout the hiring process, and nobody ever flagged it as a concern. I just don’t understand why this is happening now.”

Goldberg emphasised her commitment to Holocaust education and combating antisemitism: “The implication that Holocaust education and antisemitism are not hugely important issues for me, and that my values somehow do not align with the Trust, is entirely tenuous.

“I have never said or done anything to encourage the misuse of the terms ‘genocide’ and ‘Holocaust’, and it is deeply hurtful that this has been suggested.”

She added: “With just a month and a half to go until the Scottish ceremony, it is very upsetting to no longer be included, nor credited for the work that I have done. I have worked incredibly hard, and to just be cut out so suddenly was devastating ... I’m at a bit of a loss as to why this has all happened.”

HMDT told Jewish News it was “unable to comment on something that is a legal and conditional matter”.

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Supporters of Friends of Standing Together at a Human Rights Day vigil in London

Attendees on stage at a previous Holocaust Memorial Day Ceremony

Israel /

Reeves: We won’t tolerate this hate

by Lee Harpin lee@jewishnews.co.uk

Chancellor Rachel Reeves declared “No other community in Britain has to live like this – and nor should they” as she addressed the rise of antisemitic hate and the recent terror attack on Heaton Park Synagogue during her keynote speech at the annual Labour Friends of Israel (LFI) lunch this week.

Reflecting on how “fears and anxiety over the rise in Jew-hate in this country were realised by the murderous attack at the Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur,” Reeves told the audience – including Heaton Park’s Rabbi Daniel Walker – “The record increase in antisemitic attacks that we have seen since October 7 has been a stain on this country.”

She added: “This is a situation we cannot, and will not, accept.”

Earlier in the event, at a central London hotel, LFI director Michael Rubin directly criticised the government’s stance on Israel, saying: “It is no secret, like us, many of you will be disappointed by some decisions made by the government, most especially with the timing and manner of the recognition of a Palestinian state this summer.”

The Labour Friends of Israel said 400 guests had attended, including Deputy Leader David Lammy, Justice Minister Sarah Sackman, Home Office minister Alex Davies-Jones, MPs Luke Akehurst and Christian Wakeford, as well as Progressive Judaism’s Rabbi Josh Levy and Rabbi Charley Baginsky, and Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg.

The Chancellor said: “We must not tacitly accept the distortion that Zionism is something to be apologised for or, worse yet, a label to be surrendered to conspiracy theorists and antisemites.

“That progressive friends of

Israel – whatever their criticism of particular governments – must be willing to say, unapologetically: ‘I am a Zionist’. And that I am a Zionist not in spite of my belief in democracy and freedom and equality, but because of those beliefs.”

She continued: “Confronting the roots of antisemitism is a great moral challenge for all of us.”

In his speech, newly-appointed LFI chair Mark Sewards MP said:

“As I set out on my year ahead as the honorary chair of LFI, an honour which I do not take lightly, I want the Jewish community to know that, in this endeavour that I have set out today, you will always have an ally and a friend in me.”

Former Labour General Secretary Iain McNicol paid tribute to the late Sir David Garrard, noting, “make a difference to people’s lives” as a reason many joined the Labour Party, and recalling how Garrard “persuaded Tony Blair to change the law on educational establishments to allow children from the ages of four to be given schooling, often in the most deprived areas of the country”.

Following the event, LFI director Rubin said: “Rachel Reeves’s com-

mitment to Israel, the safety and security of the British Jewish community, and the fight against the rising tide of antisemitism shone through today’s speech.

“The chancellor laid out in the clearest possible terms that hatred of the world’s only Jewish state rests at the core of modern antisemitism. And she recognised that this simple truth is key to defeating Jew-hate in Britain today.”

Rubin added: “In opposition, Keir Starmer repeatedly pledged Labour’s support for establishing an International Fund for IsraeliPalestinian Peace.

“At this critical time, we are delighted that the government is delivering on that pledge, drawing on the successful lessons of the Good Friday agreement to support peace-building and lay the vital civic society foundations for a twostate solution.”

LFI lay chair Adrian Cohen also expressed gratitude to those attending the annual event, during difficult times.

Pro-Palestine activists briefly made their way into the hotel lobby to protest the staging of the event, but were swiftly escorted outside.

MINISTER DECLINES TO BACK TOP COP

Continued from page 1 evidence to justify a predetermined outcome demanded by Islamists. They’ve had weeks to defend themselves and failed to do so.

“This is fatal for public confidence in the police and in justice, and in my opinion, the chief constable must go.”

Jones replied: “I don’t want to express a judgment here when we have a very thorough process, which is ongoing, about the evidence that was gathered in order to reach the conclusion that was reached in the case of the Villa match.”

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) is looking into risk assessment advice provided to local SAGS, and will hand its findings to Shabana Mahmood by 31 March next year.

The fire and rescue services body will also provide a specific update on the intelligence gathered by West Midlands Police and the way it was used by the end of this year, the minister had earlier said.

Jones’ reluctance to back West Midlands Police came as its assistant chief constable, Mike O’Hara, wrote to members of the Jewish community to apologise for claiming members of the community had agreed with the exclusion of the Israeli fans.

Ruth Jacobs, chair of Birmingham and West Midlands Jewish Community, told the BBC this week that she had been “horrified” at the suggestion.

She said: “We in the Jewish community could not imagine who from our community would have said such a thing – to have agreed to the ban.”

Jacobs added that while the apology letter was considered “honest and sincere”, trust and confidence in the police had been “undermined” for a lot of people in the Jewish community as a result of what the force had asserted in the run-up to the game.

Jones also told MPs: “I was also really clear that if it is the case that there is anything other than the highest standard in terms of what

Plea for step-free station

family of a Jewish woman who died after falling down stairs at Mill Hill Broadway train station are appealing to the local community to help progress funding for step-free access seven years after her “utterly avoidable” loss, writes Michelle Rosenberg.

A member of Edgware United Synagogue, Priscilla Tropp, 76, who had leukaemia, was returning home from treatment at Guys Hospital in central London when she fell.

She died in the Royal Free Hospital

in 2018 after suffering a cardiac arrest, internal bleeding, and a ruptured spleen.

While the coroner inquest ruled the incident an accidental death, Tropp’s family believe that had a lift been available at the station, she would still be alive.

Daughter Sara Sherrard, 58, a grandmother and member of Mill Hill United Synagogue, marked 27 November 2025, the seventh anniversary of her mother’s death, by resurrecting the Step Free Access campaign that she “honestly hoped we had seen the back of”.

She told Jewish News: “In April 2019, Mill Hill Broadway was awarded step-free access, with the promise, to huge fanfare, that we would have a lift being built within five years. That never happened, and here we are now in the next funding period, which is 2024 to 2029, with £350m ringfenced for an Access for All fund.”

To date, funding has only been approved to deliver the design phases of the project.

Jewish News approached Network Rail for comment.

we would expect, that is a matter of profound concern.

“And it is also clear that mistakes have clearly been made in this process, not least the fictitious match that [Mr Timothy] referred to, so I want to get to the bottom of what happened.

“It’s also the case that I have been on record praising West Midlands Police for things they have done in the past, and I wouldn’t want to jump to those conclusions, but I do want to assure him that we will get to the bottom of this and we will act accordingly once we have that information.”

Jones later said: “He asked whether I have confidence in the chief constable, which I was asked last week, and I’ll repeat that I have seen some very good work in the West Midlands across a range of issues, but we need to get to the bottom of this particular issue.”

Peter Prinsley, the Labour MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, joined the debate by saying that “at the heart of this is the question of the truth, and the question of whether the deliberation of the SAG at the Birmingham City Council was compromised or prejudiced”.

In reply, Jones said there were “number of questions” the government was considering, “from the starting point that those SAGS were set up many years ago in a different context”.

She added: “It’s right that we look at the way that police intelligence, police information, is fed into those SAGS.”

West Midlands Police chief constable Craig Guildford

Rachel Reeves: ‘No other community in Britain has to live like this’

The

Above: Campaign supporters: Sara’s sister Debbie Gluckman, Sara Sherrard, Sharon Deaner and Gill Gallick Left: Priscilla Tropp

Home is where your is

Court date set for student suing uni over suspension

by Jenni Frazer

A student taking legal action against his university after he was suspended for telling a peer she was wearing a “tea towel” will have his claim tried next summer, a judge has said.

Brodie Mitchell, 19 a non-Jewish but fiercely pro-Zionist undergrad studying politics and international relations at Royal Holloway, part of the University of London, is in his second year and also involved in the Conservative Association and the Free Speech Union.

According to his witness statement presented before Mr Justice Mansfield at the High Court, Mitchell has previously clashed on campus with Friends of Palestine students.

He said: “Towards the end of Freshers’ Fair on Tuesday 23 September, Ms [Huda] El-Jamal smirked and pointed at me saying something like ‘here’s the wannabe Jew….’.

“I began filming the interaction as I realised I didn’t have any witnesses and said ‘You’re wearing a tea towel on your head”, referring to her Yasser Arafat-inspired keffiyeh, which I considered at the time to be a fitting off-the-cuff retort to her pre-emptive racist and antisemitic attack on me and reference to her jibe about my lack of a kippah.”

Mitchell said he later accepted his response

was “poorly expressed and inappropriate” and that “it was only about politics, not about race or religion”. Essentially, his barrister Francis Hoar told the court, he was saying that “she started it and that her remark was just as bad”.

The day after the run-in, Royal Holloway told Mitchell that he had been suspended from the university “for alleged conduct

MAN JAILED FOR THREATS TO

A man has been jailed after sending hundreds of abusive and antisemitic messages to the constituency office of a Jewish MP.

Kevin Smith, 61, looked confused and said “I don’t believe this”, as he was led out at Leeds Magistrates’ Court after admitting religiously aggravated harassment.

District judge David Kitson said Smith sent voice messages and 300 texts to the constituency office of Leeds Central and Headingley MP Alex Sobel between 6-15 March 2024.

The voice messages were “just generally unpleasant and offensive”, but many of the texts included phrases like “kill the Jews” and “kill all the Jews, they should be arrested for war crimes”.

Smith, who showed no remorse, was jailed for eight weeks after prosecutors argued his actions were a deliberate attempt to cause harm and distress.

In a statement to police, Sobel described the correspondence as “deeply disturbing”.

MP

Investigators examined the messages on Smith’s phone and confirmed Sobel was a saved contact, contradicting Smith’s claim he did not know who he was messaging.

Smith admitted the offence at a hearing last month. He was handed an eightweek custodial sentence and a fiveyear restraining order banning him from contacting Sobel except for genuine constituency business, and from coming within 50 metres of the constituency office.

Senior prosecutor Claire MacDonald said: “The right to freedom of expression does not extend to sending grossly offensive and menacing messages.

“Criminal offences committed against MPs imperil both the democratic process and our public service, and the antisemitic abuse subjected to Mr Sobel and his staff was simply unacceptable.

“Parliamentarians, like everyone else, should never have to work or live in fear, and the CPS will not hesitate to prosecute.”

that could be considered hate speech and for filming of individuals without their consent”.

He was also (temporarily) evicted from his university accommodation and notified he was to appear before a “major misconduct panel”, to face charges of breaching university regulations on a variety of alleged offences.

They included “violent, indecent, disor-

BBC training plan for antisemitism

Outgoing BBC directorgeneral Tim Davie has announced all BBC staff must complete a new training course on antisemitism within the next six months as part of a drive to combat “discrimination, prejudice and intolerance”.

It comes after more than 200 Jewish staff, contractors, suppliers and contributors accused the BBC board of ignoring calls for an investigation into alleged prejudice against Jews at the corporation.

Davie told staff: “The BBC is for everyone, and we are clear that everyone working here should feel they belong ... we stand united against any form of discrimination, prejudice or intolerance.”

The course was developed with the Jewish Staff Network, the Antisemitism Policy Trust and the Community Security Trust, and includes real-world examples of antisemitism in society.

Davie said the BBC Academy had spent months developing new anti-discrimination training, beginning with e-learning mod-

ules on antisemitism available immediately and Islamophobia, to launch in February.

A senior BBC staff member said: “There was some useful content for non-Jewish staff, but it did not really tackle the elephant in the room, which is Zionism.

“This is the biggest issue of the day, but all it said was there is a wide range of interpretations of Zionism. It missed a chance to make clear Zionism is not racism, a belief which infects BBC Arabic.”

The move was welcomed by the Board of Deputies, which met senior BBC leaders last week to discuss antisemitism training, concerns over BBC Arabic, and wider Middle East coverage.

Board president Phil Rosenberg said: “A key component of the cultural change required [at the BBC] is a proper understanding of contemporary antisemitism, provided by credible organisations.”

The Board hoped the training will eventually extend to suppliers and contractors as well as staff.

derly, threatening, aggressive or offensive behaviour or language, however expressed, whilst on university property or engaged in any university activity”.

El-Jamal did not take part in the proceedings and Mitchell said Royal Holloway refused an appeal, leading to him taking legal steps funded by the Free Speech Union. The university is represented by Gemma White KC.

Mitchell, who works part-time to fund his university studies, says as a result of the suspension and disciplinary proceedings he has lost seven weeks of tuition – 68 teaching hours – and has worked on at least one occasion until 4.30 am to finish writing an essay on time.

He has applied to the court for an interim mandatory injunction against Royal Holloway to require it to extend his essay deadlines and to provide tuition privately to enable him to catch up with his peers.

Mitchell’s barrister painted a bleak picture of his client’s future if the university were not ordered to comply with the requested conditions: the university was “intransigent”, he said, and “only at court, when prompted by a judge, will the university buckle”.

Royal Holloway had “stolen a march on Mitchell’s ability to complete his year”.

A full trial has been provisionally scheduled for next year.

UK BLOCKS INFLUENCER

The home secretary has denied entry to Pakistani influencer Tuaha Ibn Jalil, blocking his planned UK speaking tour after being alerted to his history of antisemitic comments and incitement to violence, writes Lee Harpin

Jalil, who has two million Instagram followers, was scheduled to speak at mosques, community centres, a university and a school across the UK. However, his visa was revoked after The Times brought his inflammatory statements to the attention of home secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Past remarks by Jalil included claims that “Israelis and Jews … are controlling the whole world through interest-based finance” and the repetition of racist conspiracies about Jewish people controlling the media.

He has also urged Muslims to travel to Palestine for “jihad” and expressed frustration that, as a Pakistani citizen, he cannot enter Israel to wage holy war.

“We cannot go to Palestine because Palestinians don’t have an airport,” Jalil said. “The only airport is in Israel and we cannot land there because they do not allow us.

“It is not possible for us to travel to Israel on our passports. We cannot do jihad right now.”

Student Brodie Mitchell will have his claim heard in court next year

@Jennifrazer

Alex Sobel

Tim Davie

Tuaha Ibn Jalil

Antisemitism is rising.

By leaving a gift in your will to Campaign Against Antisemitism, you can play a vital role in safeguarding our community in the years to come. SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE OF BRITISH JEWRY

Take action today

Visit antisemitism.org/legacy E-mail legacy@antisemitism.org

Telephone 0330 822 0321 extension 804

Together, let us empower future generations and make your legacy the stand against hatred.

JFS and Immanuel shine in faith school rankings

by Annabel Sinclair annabel@jewishnews.co.uk

Jewish schools secured some of their strongest results in years in The Sunday Times Parent Power 2026 guide, with JFS named State Faith Secondary School of the Year and Immanuel College ranked as the country’s best-performing Jewish school.

The annual league tables are widely regarded as one of the most authoritative assessments of school performance across the UK. This year’s edition analyses exam results from more than 2,000 schools and includes a fully searchable database for parents comparing local and national performance.

Immanuel College, ranked at 116th nationally, was the highest placed Jewish school overall. JFS is listed as the second-highest comprehensive school in London, with editors recognising its sustained academic strength across both GCSE and A-level outcomes. Its national “Faith School of the Year” award reflects what the guide describes as consistently high standards across a challenging period for schools. It ranked at 195 on the overall list.

Hasmonean High School for Girls ranks eighth among London’s top comprehensives (301st nationally), while JCoSS also featured prominently, placing tenth among London’s top comprehensives (315th overall). Yavneh College came 318th, underlining strong

results for the Jewish secondary sector. Several high-performing schools in areas with significant Jewish populations also dominate the wider London rankings. Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet was named State Secondary School of the Year, as well as winning national awards for Academic Excellence and A-Level performance. It tops both the London and UK state secondary tables.

Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, said schools nationwide were operating amid “budget challenges, rising student mental health issues, special educational needs and an increasingly uncertain future”. Yet she said the guide also captured “so much to celebrate from the dedication of

teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to enrich their students and give them the very best start in life”.

Hasmonean Primary school was the top ranked Jewish primary school on the Sunday Times list, in 175th place. The school’s headteacher, Hayley Gross, said the institution was “deeply honoured”, and that the achievement “reflects the dedication of our staff, the curiosity and resilience of our pupils, and the unwavering support of our community”.

FISH AND CHIPS TAKES AWAY THE DIVIDE

A Leeds fish and chip shop has become an unlikely hub of interfaith connection after introducing kosher-certified servings for the first time in half a century, writes Annabel Sinclair.

Marlow’s British Kitchen on Street Lane, Moortown, began

offering kosher fish and chips shortly after opening in September, following a conversation between co-owner Arabaab “Paddy” Munir and Rabbi Anthony Gilbert, they told the Yorkshire Evening Post Munir, who runs the chippie

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with his business partner, said the decision was rooted in respect and a desire to bring neighbours together. “Selling kosher fish and chips helps bring the community together – that’s the main objective,” he said. “When people walk through my door it doesn’t

matter what faith you are. People want to eat together.”

He added that the shop had taken care to meet strict halachic requirements, including sourcing kosher-approved ingredients and maintaining separate fryers for fish and chips

JFS headteacher with pupils

Arabaab “Paddy” Munir with Rabbi Anthony Gilbert outside Marlow’s British Kitchen

Jewish Culture Month will launch next year

The Board of Deputies has announced a major new national initiative with the launch of Jewish Culture Month, a UK-wide festival designed to celebrate the breadth and vibrancy of Jewish life.

The first edition will run during the Jewish month of Sivan – 16 May to 14 June 2026 – with registrations now open for synagogues, schools, charities, cultural institutions and public bodies wishing to host events under the new national banner. The Board says the festival is intended to provide an upbeat, unifying celebration of Jewish creativity and contribution at a time when British Jews continue to face record levels of antisemitism.

Jewish Culture Month will spotlight the work of major Jewish cultural institutions, encourage wider

British cultural organisations and schools to engage with Jewish heritage, and support local community centres to open their doors

to visitors. The initiative will also highlight Jewish figures in public life and foreground the positive impact the community has

had on the nation.

The Board describes the month as a joyful complement to existing commemorative dates such as Holocaust Memorial Day, offering a broader and more celebratory lens on Jewish life in the UK.

Board of Deputies President Phil Rosenberg said the community deserved a space to showcase its creativity and warmth. “We want Jews and our friends and neighbours of different faiths and beliefs to experience all the light, creativity and laughter of Jewish life in the UK,” he said. “It is time we all had less ‘oy’ and more joy in our lives. We look forward to a wonderful celebration of all that is good and positive in our community.”

Get involved at bod.org. uk/jewish-culture-monthcall-for-proposals

ALLEGED JEW-HATE HALTS LIONS MATCH

A Maccabi London Lions home football match against Hitchin Town FC was abandoned last weekend following claims that one of the away team repeatedly made antisemitic remarks.

A post on Lions X social media account simply read “Game abandoned” after the Southern League game played on Saturday afternoon at the club’s Rowley Lane ground.

Hitchin was leading 2-0 at the time the game ended in the final minutes of the match.

Lions players appeared to take the decision to leave the field of play together after the 85th minute in a united stance over the incident.

Sources told Jewish News

that problems began after one of the Hitchin players allegedly described the Lion’s players as “big nosed”. It is claimed the taunts continued, despite complaints from the home side.

In a club statement Hitchin confirmed:”This game was abandoned after 85 minutes with Hitchin leading 2-0.

“An allegation that a Hitchin player made discriminatory remarks led to the London Lions’ players choosing to leave the pitch, giving the referee no choice but to abandon the game.

“We are working with the relevant authorities to conduct a full investigation into the allegations. Until this is complete we are unable to make any statement on the incident.

“As a club we will not tolerate any forms of discrimination or abuse. We will await the findings of the investigation upon which we will provide a further update.”

Hitchin Town FC, Hertfordshire

Inside the group protecting Palestinians on Shabbat

An unlikely partnership is trying to reshape the West Bank

When a small circle of young religious Jews decided to revive Bnei Avraham in 2022, they had no sense of how quickly the project would grow, writes Annabel Sinclair.

The original group, active in Hebron two decades ago, had long since dissolved. What began as a few friends studying mystical texts together would become a new movement of religious volunteers working alongside Palestinian communities across the West Bank.

“I think this round of activity really began with our learning,” says Roei Kleitman, one of the group’s co-leaders, speaking slowly as he searches for the right English phrasing. He describes late-night chavruta sessions studying Hasidut and Kabbalistic works. “We would learn together every week… and we felt there had to be an action that came out of it.”

One of the original activists told them about a Palestinian friend he had lost touch with – someone who now lived without any activists visiting or supporting him. The group decided to go on a Friday.

“That’s really how it started,” Roei explains. “Once we began showing up, it all expanded.”

From there, the new Bnei Avraham found itself involved in small but significant acts of solidarity: rebuilding destroyed fences, helping farmers plough and restore land, joining nonviolent walks through fields that settlers had tried to take over. Roei recalls one early action in which the group created a Shabbat-themed protest against violence, placing a symbolic notice calling for blessing rather than power.

There were moments of real danger. “We were attacked by a settler with a weapon – he put it on the ground in front of us,” Roei says. “Another time they waited with attack dogs. It became too complicated to continue in that area.”

As the violence escalated, the volunteers shifted their focus. “We started doing protective presence,” Roei explains, referring to the practice of physically accompanying Palestinian communities during moments of risk. At the same time, the group opened a midrasha – a small learning institute – to teach young religious Israelis about Hasidut, nonviolence, and spiritual activism. “It really made our numbers grow,” Roei says. “Now we are much bigger and younger than before.”

Dvir, the group’s other co-leader, later expanded the historical details. He traced the

WE STARTED DOING PROTECTIVE PRESENCE. IT MADE OUR NUMBERS GROW

origins of Bnei Avraham back to Hebron’s Tel Rumeida neighbourhood, where earlier activists – some of whom later helped found wellknown Israeli organisations – worked in close partnership with Palestinian families before the group eventually dispersed.

The new generation, he explains, aims to continue that legacy while responding to a very different political landscape.

Much of the group’s activity now centres on supporting communities facing ongoing attempts at displacement. Roei describes one village where settlers had seized land in Area B, a highly unusual and illegal development.

“Every Friday, the women, the elders, everyone would walk through the land as a nonviolent act. We joined them. They told us that since we started coming, the soldiers were less violent.”

Other activities include agricultural support, soil preparation, fence repair, and communityfocused work such as running a travelling circus for children affected by repeated settler incursions into schools.

“Sometimes the children have a lot of fear,” Dvir says. “The circus brings positive encounters with Jewish activists.”

But much of Bnei Avraham’s work takes place on Shabbat, in

Bedouin communities such as Ras al-Ain, near Jericho. Volunteers stay in tents prepared before Shabbat, host shared meals, light candles with local families, and walk out quietly if settlers approach.

It was this work that first led Lawrence, a Haredi British-born volunteer, to join the group. “When I first heard about protective presence on Shabbat, I didn’t want to join. I thought it meant breaking Shabbat,” he says. “So I spoke to my rabbis – dozens of them.”

He explains the halachic reasoning he learned: Jewish law permits breaking Shabbat when failing to act could endanger the wider Jewish community.

In his view, settler violence has real repercussions. “When I see how it affects the world’s view of Israel and of Judaism, and how antisemitism grows as a result, that is a danger to Jewish communities. There is precedent in halacha for breaking Shabbat in situations like that. Doctors do it. Soldiers do it. It’s the same idea.”

Bnei Avraham volunteers meeting with Palestinian residents ( Photo: Bnei Avraham )

Bnei Avraham volunteers with a Bedouin community

News

Guinness refuses Israel records

Guinness World Records has confirmed it is not accepting submissions from Israel and has not done so since November 2023, after an Israeli charity reported that its attempt to get the organisation to consider a potential world record had been rejected, writes Daniel Sugarman.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the Matnat Chaim charity, which helps people to voluntarily donate a kidney, was planning an event to bring 2,000 such donors together in Jerusalem.

However, when the charity approached Guinness World Records for consideration for the event to be included, it was informed that the organisation was not accepting submissions from Israel, as well as Gaza and the West Bank.

Jewish News approached Guinness World Records, which has its headquarters in London. A spokesperson confirmed: “We are aware of just how sensitive this is. We truly do believe in record-

breaking for everyone, everywhere, but unfortunately, in the current climate, we are not generally processing record applications from the Palestinian Territories or Israel, or where either is given as the attempt location, with the exception of those done in cooperation with a UN humanitarian aid relief agency.”

The record for world’s largest biscuit mosaic is currently held jointly by the State of Israel and the Atlanta Jewish community, which was created in honour of Israel’s 70th anniversary in 2018.

“The policy has been in place since November 2023. However, we are monitoring the situation carefully and the policy is subject to a monthly review. We hope to be in a position to receive new enquiries soon.”

However, Matnat Chaim maintains that it paid hundreds of dollars to register, and that since it heard back from Guinness World Records, the organisation has not responded to follow-up emails. A spokesperson for Guinness World Records told Jewish News that a refund will be processed for this application.

Speaking to Channel 12, Rachel Heber, president of the Israeli charity, said: “Israel leads the entire world in this remarkable revolution of mutual responsibility through altruistic kidney donations. The fact that Guinness refuses to include this Israeli achievement, one that is met with amazement across the medical world, is unacceptable.”

Five Guinness World Records from Israel

While the organisation is not taking record submissions, here are five records either currently or previously held by people in Israel.

1. Largest Megillah

Created and owned by artist Avner Moriah, this record was achieved in 2023. The scroll is 34.295 metres long, with images painted in watercolour and gold/silver leaf.

2. Most passengers on a commercial flight

This record (which was not sought at the time) was achieved during Operation Solomon in 1991, when Israel emergencyairlifted thousands of Ethiopian Jews to safety. Around 1,088 people are believed to have been carried on an El Al Boeing 747.

3. Most expensive mezuzah

Has held its record for 16 years, achieved by Avraham Borshevsky, a scribe and calligraphy artist, in Jerusalem in 2009. He sold his mezuzah for $51,361.

4. (Previous) World’s oldest man

Between 2016 and 2017, Yisrael Kristal, a Holocaust survivor, was recognised as the world’s oldest man. Born in 1903, he survived the Lodz Ghetto and Auschwitz. He died at the age of 113.

5. World’s heaviest strawberry

In 2021, Ariel Chahi, from Kadima-Zoran, grew a strawberry weighing 289 grams. It was 18cm long and 4cm thick.

Celebrated architect Frank Gehry mourned

Iconic Jewish architect Frank Gehry died this week, aged 96. The award-winning architect was known for his imaginative designs which included the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and Berlin’s DZ Bank Building.

Born on 28 February 1929 in Toronto as Frank Goldberg, he moved to Los Angeles in 1947 with his family before he went on to get his bachelor of architecture degree at the University of Southern California. In the 1950s, he changed his surname from Goldberg to Gehry in response when his former wife expressed concerns about antisemitism.

the wider context and culture.

Over his career he was awarded a range of prizes, including some of the highest honours in the industry such as the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 1989 and later the distinguished Gold Medal for Architecture from the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2000.

Gehry’s work and influence was also recognised by governments and institutions around the world.

In 2003 Gehry was designated a Companion to the Order of Canada and was also inducted into the European Academy of Sciences and Arts by the European Union.

WINDERMERE BOY IKE DIES, AGED 97

Tributes from across the UK have been paid to Holocaust survivor, author and community educator Ike (Itzick) Alterman BEM, who died on Thursday aged 97.

Alterman, one of the ‘Windermere Boys’ brought to Britain in 1945 after the liberation of the camps, became one of the most recognisable survivor voices in the country.

His career spanned over six decades with designs for both public and private buildings around the world. Incorporating distorted and fragmented shapes and materials, his work consistently placed a focus on the surrounding environment, ensuring it complemented

Three years later he was given the distinction of Chevalier and in 2014 was elevated to the rank of Commandeur of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, which is the highest honour in France for military and civil merits. In 2016 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama.

For decades, he spoke to schools, synagogues, youth groups and public institutions, ensuring that the horrors he witnessed were understood by generations who would never meet a survivor again. He was widely admired for the clarity, warmth and unflinching honesty with which he communicated his experiences.

Born in Ożarów and raised in Ostrowiec, he survived the ghetto, forced labour in Bliżyn, deportation to Auschwitz, the forced march to Birk-

enau, a death march, and imprisonment in both Buchenwald and Theresienstadt. His mother, sister, and younger brother were taken away by Nazi guards. He was the only member of his immediate family to survive.

At his funeral, My Voice director Raphi Bloom delivered an emotional eulogy, describing Alterman’s life as a testament to strength, dignity and belief in the value of education.

Frank Gehry

Ike Alterman with his daughters and granddaughters in Manchester

Green councillor blames his ban on ‘Zionist lobby’

A Green Party councillor and chair of one of Bristol’s biggest mosques has said “some people feel there is a Zionist lobby pursuing this” after the Charity Commission recommended he be given a threeyear ban from serving as a charity trustee, writes Lee Harpin.

Abdul Malik, a Bristol City councillor, magistrate and chair of Easton Mosque for more than a decade, shared a social media post of a Hamas press conference the day after the 7 October attack.

When he was exposed for sharing the 18-minute-long conference, he initially said he’d been tagged before admitting he’d shared the post himself.

After the charity watchdog began an investigation, Malik also shared a post put up by supporters sued by the “Zionist lobby”.

The Green Party has continued to stand by Malik, saying he is being targeted for his “activism”.

A further WhatsApp post, appearing under his name and then subsequently deleted, also included an attack on this newspaper for earlier articles covering the investigation.

Now, in an interview with BBC Bristol’s Points of View programme, Malik initially attempted to deny responsibility for sharing a post from his supporters with the phrase “Zionist lobby” in it.

Asked if he recognised the term was “veering towards an antisemitic trope”, he said: “I have not put that on my page… it’s not written by me.

“Somebody’s propagating

that message. I do not stand with that message.”

But pressed on the fact that the post appeared “on your page under your name and you’re saying you don’t stand by it” by presenter Hannah Miller, he said: “Some people feel there is a Zionist lobby that’s pursuing this and I’m really worried about where we as a Muslim community have been put. And how answerable we become to matters that wouldn’t normally, you know, be considered for any other community.”

Malik is appealing against the Charity Commission’s recommendation of a three-year ban on serving as a trustee for any charity.

MPJ EVENT NETS £2M

The newly-formed Movement for Progressive Judaism (MPJ) launched with a £2.2m fundraising boost, marking one of the most significant structural shifts in British Jewish life in decades.

More than 350 supporters gathered at a West End hotel on Sunday night for the movement’s inaugural dinner, celebrating the formal coming together of Liberal Judaism and the Movement for Reform Judaism ahead of the merger taking effect early next year.

Co-leads Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy described the launch as “a moment of history” and “ a moment when the vision, courage and optimism of so many people come together to create something bold, hopeful and essential”.

They told guests the new body would champion “dignity, inclusion, justice, compassion and intellectual honesty”, insisting these values “must shape the world” rather than sit as “slogans for evenings like this”.

UJS calls for Nigel Farage’s apology

The Union of Jewish Students (UJS) overwhelmingly passed a motion condemning Nigel Farage for alleged antisemitic behaviour during his time as a pupil at Dulwich College.

The motion also calls on the Reform UK leader to apologise to Jewish alumni of the school.

Proposed by students from the Jewish Societies of Bristol, Edinburgh, and Nottingham, the motion also noted the mainstream communal organisations reluctance to comment on the allegations, which were first reported by The Guardian.

Jewish News understands the resolution received “overwhelming” support from delegates at the UJS national convention last weekend.

Peter Ettedgui, a Jewish classmate of Farage and the grandson of refugees from Nazi Germany, alleged that Farage would “sidle up to [him] and

growl: ‘Hitler was right’, or ‘Gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers.”

Farage was also accused of using racial slurs against Black and Asian students and telling them to “go home”.

These accusations have been corroborated by more than a dozen other Dulwich College alumni in the weeks following the initial report, including several former Jewish pupils.

Farage has denied all allegations.

WARWICK’S RAPHI LEON ELECTED UJS PRESIDENT

Warwick University JSoc’s Raphi Leon has been elected the next president of the Union of Jewish Students following the organisation’s second-highest recorded voter turnout, writes Michelle Rosenberg.

The election took place at UJS’ annual Shabbaton conference over 28-30 November, with 1817 students voting, just 41 shy of last year. Key campaign topics including campus antisemitism, Jewish pride and potential, Israel engagement and regional expansion.

Glasgow JSoc’s Anat Kraskin, Warwick JSoc’s Raphi Leon and Bristol JSoc’s Jonah Levy vied for the top spot as the leader of the union representing 9,000 members across 75 Jewish societies in the UK and Ireland.

Leon won a very close election in the final round of voting, securing the presidency by just seventeen votes more than Levy.

Speaking to Jewish News, he said: “It’s an honour to have been elected the next UJS President, and have the opportunity to give back to an organisation that has shaped my own university experience so positively.

“I look forward to empowering Jewish students up and down the country, on campuses large and small, to take ownership of their Jewish identity and their Jewish student experience.”

Mervyn Kaye, UJS chief executive, said: “After a well fought campaign by three very strong candidates, massive congratulations to Raphi. I’m really excited to work with him next year.”

Louis Danker, current UJS president, added: “Anat, Jonah and Raphi ran phenomenal campaigns, and their ideas, commitment and drive for change will shape Jewish student life for years to come. The state of our union has never been healthier, with the second-highest ever voter turnout, and a buzzing UJS Convention.”

In the third year of a philosophy degree at Warwick University, 21-year old Raphi Leon grew up in London’s Swiss Cottage, has advised UJS Trustees on organisational strategy and represented UK and Irish students as part of delegation to the European Union of Jewish Students.

Councillor Abdul Malik

Raphi Leon

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage

Special Report / Return to Israel’s northern border

‘Life looks normal, but nothing feels normal’

Returned families’ fear, trauma and political neglect still shape daily life in Israel’s north, despite quiet brought by the ceasefire, writes Annabel Sinclair

When Jewish News last spoke to Barry Praag – a London-born retired English teacher who made aliyah four decades ago –he was living out of suitcases, unsure whether he would ever feel at home again. His kibbutz, Dafna, had been emptied almost overnight after the Hamas attacks. He and his wife left with only sentimental items and basic necessities, joining the tens of thousands displaced from Israel’s northern frontier once Hezbollah unleashed daily fire from Lebanon.

Today, in November 2025, the kibbutz looks deceptively restored. The lawns are green again, the café is open, and the River Dan still cuts its tranquil path through the orchards.

Yet Barry says the sense of ease and certainty that once defined life here has not returned.“You look around and it seems normal,” he said. “But nothing feels normal.”

He remembers the early hours of 7 October with absolute clarity. Although the attack took place far to the south, the psychological shock reached the Lebanon border within minutes. The moment his wife, Orit, received the message that her nephew, Iftach, had been killed fighting Hamas, everything shifted.

“The fear wasn’t abstract anymore,” he said. “It was personal. If Hamas could breach our borders, we knew Hezbollah, with far greater strength, could be next.”

By then, Dafna’s 1,100 residents were already organising themselves. Messages circulated urging families to pack valuables, gather documents, and leave as soon as possible. There was no guidance beyond “go”. Parents put children in front of the television while they scrambled for passports, jewellery, and keepsakes.

Barry and Orit eventually ended up in Daria Village, a lakeside holiday resort repurposed into emergency housing for hundreds of evacuees – one of many such sites across the Galilee. What was meant to be a stay of “a few weeks” stretched into many months.

When they finally returned, the experience was not the relief he had imagined. Unlocking the door felt like re-entering a life interrupted

mid-sentence. Their belongings sat exactly as they had left them, and a stillness hung over the house that felt unsettling rather than peaceful.

“What struck me most was the atmosphere,” he said. “It looked like home, but it didn’t feel like it.”

Even now, with the lawns restored and children running freely again, he says the emotional landscape remains marked by the months of upheaval.

“You see normality,” he said. “But inside, people are still carrying the weight of what happened. Returning doesn’t erase the fear. It just becomes quieter.”

He is not alone. A Canadian-born resident of Dafna, who asked for her name to be withheld, is one of many who echo that feeling – but her story carries a different kind of fracture.

She moved to Kibbutz Dafna a decade ago after making Aliyah from Toronto, and for her, the community had always felt like the closest thing to the childhood she wanted for her own children: “Kids running outside on their bikes, neighbours helping each other, holidays as one big family.”

“It was a dream,” she said. “I felt completely at peace here.”

That peace evaporated on 7 October. Her husband was abroad on a work trip, leaving her alone with three young children as the news from the south grew darker by

the hour. She remembers watching friends in the north panic as Hezbollah rockets began falling across the border, yet she still didn’t grasp the full scale of the catastrophe until her husband landed home and they turned on the television.

The next morning, the message came from the kibbutz leadership: strongly recommended evacuation. “Take sentimental items. Take essentials. Leave immediately.”

She grabbed passports, jewellery from her grandmother, and the children’s favourite toys before heading first to family in central Israel, then to an Airbnb whose owners offered their home free of charge “as long as you need”. But even that was temporary.

Eventually, with no clear end in sight and no functioning school system for their children, her family chose something most evacuees could not: a temporary move to Toronto, where a Jewish day school took in her children at short notice. “It was meant to be one or two months,” she said. “It became four.”

They returned to Israel in February 2024 – not to their home, but to another temporary accommodation on the Kinneret, and later a cramped rented unit above a family in the Jordan Valley. That period, she said, was one of the hardest: “There was no safe room. During the first Iranian attack we

had nowhere to go except under the stairs. We would put the kids there and sit in the corner praying nothing hit the glass in front of us.”

Her family returned to Dafna earlier than most because they could no longer tolerate the lack of safety. The kibbutz was nearly empty when they arrived.

“You would walk outside and it was so quiet, but you could still hear explosions in the distance. The atmosphere was still a war zone.”

And her message to the UK Jewish community is one of gratitude and urgency: “Don’t assume the north has healed because people are home. We’re rebuilding – but we are not the same as before 7 October.”

Among those helping to drive that rebuilding is Eyal Dor, a former IDF lieutenant colonel and Dafna resident, whose story reflects yet another dimension of the north’s upheaval: the long, grinding reality faced by those who served continuously from the first minutes of the war.

Eyal had lived in the north for a decade after moving for his military posting. He and his wife built their home in Dafna over two years, finally moving in on 1 November 2022 – just 11 months before the evacuation.

“We thought the hardest part was behind us,” he said. “We had built the house, settled the children, integrated into the community. We were ready for calm.”

On 7 October, he woke early to a silent phone filled with emergency messages. Within minutes, he recognised that the attack as not “another round” but a war.

Three hours later, he was called back to his unit in the Northern Command.“I’ve served 30 years,” he said. “I knew immediately this was different.”

He urged his wife to pack a bag for “two or three days”. Neither imagined that the government would formally evacuate the entire kibbutz, sending families to hotels across the Galilee, where they would remain for 16 months.

Their first visit home came two months after they had left, only because a temporary ceasefire with Hamas led to a pause in Hezbollah fire. What they found was heartbreaking: every item in the fridge and freezer had rotted. They spent hours clearing the garden they had planted just months earlier. “It cost us over 100,000 shekels to restore what had died,” he said.

But since Passover, he said, the community has undergone a transformation. Donations from Jewish Federations and supporters abroad have begun to rebuild Dafna’s communal spaces: a new pub, a renovated library, a flourishing community garden that has become a hub for children and grandparents planting vegetables together.

“Today we’re stronger than on 6 October,” Eyal said. “People understand what it means to live on the border.”

As for his own family, he says the children are settled again, back in school and sports classes. “We’re still processing everything,” he said. “But we’re home. And our enemies will not push us out of our place.”

Left: Barry and Orit were lucky their home was intact when they returned; above, scenes of devastation in northern Israel

Celebrating celebrations!

Hundreds of families planning simchas flocked to Jewish News’ Big Event. Held at 610 The Avenue, a new event space in Elstree, the annual show has become a must-visit for anyone planning a wedding, barmitzvah or batmitzvah with more than 60 top industry suppliers exhibiting. Highlights included two fabulous fashion shows by Rebecca Rinder, dancing by The Israeli Dance Institute and a lavish bu et by Oli’s Kitchen. To book for next year, email beverley@jewishnews.co.uk

Photos by Devon Shoob Photography

Glamour Gloss Girls

Forever Framed by Emma

SEEING MY DESIGNS ON THE RUNWAY WAS EMOTIONAL, BUT WHAT TOUCHED ME MOST WAS SEEING OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER

Rebecca Rinder

THE ATMOSPHERE WAS FANTASTIC AND WE LOVED SHARING OUR FOOD WITH SO MANY ENTHUSIASTIC ATTENDEES

Editorial comment and letters to the editor

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

VOICE OF THE JEWISH NEWS

Wrong for Corbyn, wrong for Farage

Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has been repeatedly accused of making comments of a deeply antisemitic nature during his schooldays. One Jewish contemporary at Dulwich College, Peter Ettedgui, has described how “he would sidle up to me and growl: ‘Hitler was right’, or ‘Gas them’, sometimes adding a long hiss to simulate the sound of the gas showers.”

Another has said Farage would sing “gas them all” at Jewish pupils. Altogether, more than 20 schoolboy contemporaries report recalling such behaviour from Farage.

Some people – Jewish and non-Jewish – have shrugged off the allegations, saying the incidents they describe happened long ago. But Farage has a more recent record of troubling remarks about the “Jewish lobby” (2017) and “unelected globalists shaping the public’s lives based on secret recommendations from the big banks”, specifically citing Goldman Sachs (2020).

Many Jews will have little time for those who dismissed antisemitism under Corbyn now magically rediscovering outrage at alleged Jew-hate. But similarly jarring is the reaction of those – Jewish and non-Jewish - who were outspoken in their alarm at Labour circa 2015-2020, yet now seem breezy in their dismissals when antisemitism accusations have arrived closer to their political home.

Reform UK have a comfortable lead in opinion polls. A man with serious aspirations to lead Britain owes its Jews a far better response than dismissing accusations as “playground banter” or saying that he would “never, ever do it in a hurtful or insulting way” – as if the statements he is accused of making could have ever been viewed otherwise.

Just as antisemitism transcends the political divide, Jews must call out alleged antisemitism wherever it arises, whether from a Corbyn or a Farage.

It should not be unthinkable to expect a basic level of consistency on a subject deeply important to so many of us.

THIS WEEKEND'S SHABBAT TIMES...

4.46pm Sedra: Vayeishev

This parrot doesn’t fly

As someone who has been a long-time admirer of John Cleese (in my youth I was head of the Israeli Monty Python fan club), I was glad to read that he apologised to Jewish News. However, there are still some issues left to address on the subject.

Your report mentioned online speculation about him succumbing to BDS. However, this narrative stems from a statement by the Israeli production when they announced the cancellation of Cleese’s four shows.

Online, a significantly more substantial speculation was that Mr. Cleese has been trying to get himself “cancelled” by the local audience in order to be released from his contract.

One must admit it is suspicious that he did not tweet about Israel since 7 October 2023, and throughout the war in Gaza, yet suddenly became very vocal on the issue only in the month

before his planned shows. This is why now, when Cleese promised Jewish News he would return to Israel and perform for free, I remain sceptical. Somehow, the title of the show he held in Tel Aviv in 2019 – Last Chance To See Me Before I Die – seems much more honest and accurate.

Regardless of whether we will meet again or not and where, I hope that Cleese, whose brilliant satire never shied away from provocation, will find a way to overcome the recent anxiety he described in his interview, which caused him to stay away from Middle Eastern politics.

Those who remain fixed in their positions, refuse discussion and avoid exchanging ideas, lose relevance. They cease to be. Expire. Rest in peace. Dead parrots.

Dr. Ido Rosen By email

NO MORE MR NICE GUY

I write to express my astonishment at Guy Pearce’s recent behaviour. After reposting baseless conspiracies about Israel, including claims tying Israelis to 9/11 and the death of a conservative activist and suggesting Jewish control over pornography, he has now offered a public apology to Jewish News and withdrawn from social media.

Some may argue that he was simply misinformed, or acting out of political conviction. That may be true – but such flimsy excuses do not excuse the careless amplification of hateful and false ideas. For a high-profile actor to spread dangerous misinformation shows, at best, ignorance; at worst, a reckless disregard for the real pain those claims inflict.

His belated apology and vow to “be more diligent” is a step – but only a small one. That he only corrected himself under pressure, and chose silence over responsibility, speaks volumes. Genuine contrition demands more than quitting social media: it requires owning up to the harm done, not merely hiding from scrutiny.

Emma Haslein, By email

PHONE TONE

I commend Leo Pearlman on his wonderful article and may I make one simple suggestion. When someone telephones you, especially if they are not from our community, the question you are immediately asked is: “How are you?” The normal response is: “All good thank you”, or words to that effect. May I strongly suggest that you add a couple of words – “As you can imagine, it isn’t easy for me right now.” Those few words will probably beg a question as to “why”, then simply answer in your own few words that it isn’t easy living with the increasing antisemitism. Don’t dwell on the subject; move on, but the point will get home.

Ronnie Harris By email

THE INSENSITIVITY OF DISMISSING HATE

The intervention of Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, dismissing claims that Nigel Farage once taunted a Jewish classmate with remarks like “Hitler was right” or “gas them” as “made-up twaddle” reveals more than mere political spin. It betrays a disturbing insensitivity to the lived trauma of those subjected to such abuse. Public figures like Mr Farage owe it not only to those they represent but to the country as a whole to engage honestly with such accusations. A apology and transparent reckoning are the bare minimum. Anything less damages all of us. Malcolm Vincent, By email

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“Another country is boycotting Eurovision due to Israel’s participation. If this continues, we might even stand a chance of winning!”

The fairy tale that could cost us our future in this country

LEO PEARLMAN TV & FILM PRODUCER

Every so often, usually at the end of a long dinner or after a particularly bleak headline, I hear a familiar reassurance from fellow Jews. A delusional reassurance is eating away at our community, one so entrenched, so comforting, and so catastrophically false that it may one day be remembered as the most fatal lie Jews told themselves in the West.

It is the belief that the moment the darkness grows thick enough, the moment antisemitism reaches the threshold of the unbearable, a silent majority of “good people” will rise up and defend us.

Ah yes, the silent majority. That everpresent, never-visible cavalry. Those mythical superheroes who, according to those who rely on them, are simply waiting for the most dramatic of moments to arrive. They’ll appear over the horizon, backlit for e ect, descending just in time to rescue us.

Fashionably late, quietly noble.

History has tried to correct this delusion over and over, but we refuse to listen. We insist on believing in heroes who never existed, a lovely story; it’s a shame it’s never been true. Yet while we wait, make no mistake, the danger grows.

Let’s examine the record, not in ancient times, but in modern history.

When pogroms tore through Eastern Europe, did the silent majority emerge? No. Did a silent majority intervene in Soviet Russia? No. In 1948, when five Arab armies tried to annihilate the newborn Jewish state, did the silent masses stand with us? Still no. When the Nazis and their enthusiastic collaborators set about murdering six million Jews, did a quiet mass of good-hearted Europeans step forward? No.

And here lies the most damning evidence of all. The only reason we remember the righteous is because so few existed.

Yad Vashem, after decades of meticulous research, has recognised 28,707 individuals as Righteous Among the Nations, across 51 countries. These are the non-Jews who risked

their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust.

Let’s sit with that number: 28,707 people across 51 nations. An average of less than 550 people per country who stood up for Jews during the single greatest industrialised massacre of a minority in human history, while it happened in full view of their neighbours and governments.

That is not a silent majority; that is a microscopic minority of moral courage.

And their very rarity is why we honour them, not because the world rose up for us, but because almost no one did.

Yet somehow, in Britain today, the myth persists. Maybe believers in the silent majority think the British public is merely dozing, that they’ll awaken at some final, intangible threshold. So let’s ask the only question that matters. How bad does it have to get?

Would it take political movements openly built on the destruction of the only Jewish state? Check. Cultural boycotts of Jewish creatives and Jewish-owned companies? Check. A national broadcaster proven to be systemically biased against Jews? Check. Two-tier policing applied against the

Jewish community? Check. A major UK city becoming a no-go zone for Zionists? Almost there. Jews murdered on British streets for the crime of being Jewish? Check.

If the silent majority isn’t coming, and it isn’t, then the path forward becomes brutally clear. Stop being afraid. Stop being afraid of people discovering you’re a Jew. Stop being afraid of being known as a Zionist. Stop being afraid of what it might mean for your finances, your safety, your friendships, your future.

Because here is the truth, cold, hard, and unforgiving. You don’t have a future unless you take back control of your narrative. Reclaim your story before someone else rewrites it. And most importantly, tell your children to be proud. Proud of who they are, proud of where they come from, proud of what Jews have given the world, proud to stand tall, even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

If others want to join us, amazing. If others want to stand with us, welcome. If others want to support us, thank you. But we will not rely on them, not anymore, not ever again. Our future depends on us.

Our dedication to trust , extensive experience , unwavering reliability , and vast professional contacts enable us to offer you a fulfilling and seamless Aliyah experience. We are passionate about helping you make Israel your home, and our mission is to support you every step of the way.

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It’s going to be all light on our big festive night

This year, we’re turning up the volume on joy, and you’re invited to be part of something unforgettable. If you’ve missed Chanukah in the Square these last few years, you’re going to love ChanukahLIVE! Because we’ll be back in Trafalgar Square in Tuesday 16 December.

At a time when our community has had more than its share of challenges, this year’s celebration is designed to bring exactly what we all need: light, joy and a sense of coming together in the heart of our capital. Experience the unmistakable spark of our community’s spirit – the kind of energy only we can bring.

This year, we’re not holding back. Our line-up brings together some of the community’s favourite performers for an evening guaranteed to lift spirits higher than the menorah itself. First up, the decks belong

to DJ Dan Kraines, who will transform Trafalgar Square into London’s liveliest dancefloor. He’ll be joined by the sensational Avi Kraus, whose voice can warm even the frostiest night.

But the stars of the show might just be the smallest performers. Pupils from Jewish primaries across London, including Mathilda Marks-Kennedy, Clore Tikva, Rimon, Mosaic,

Chaim and Wolfson Hillel, will unite to form one giant children’s choir. Expertly conducted by Stephen Melzack, they’ll perform Ma’oz Tzur as you’ve never heard it before.

And it’s not just the performers who will make the night special. Designed by Richard Robins of Lit Event Group, London’s menorah will beam hundreds of metres into the night sky beside the iconic Nelson’s Column.

Friendly faces will be on hand to welcome attendees, hand out doughnuts, and make sure everyone feels part of the celebration. This is more than just an event - it’s a reminder of what our community does best: showing up for each other, celebrating our heritage with pride, and bringing light when it’s needed most.

Chanukah is a story of light overcoming darkness. Throughout history, Jews have refused to bow to fear, choosing instead to bring, share and spread light. ChanukahLIVE! will celebrate that everlasting resilience.

This isn’t just a Jewish event. Londoners of all faiths and none, who uphold values of decency, tolerance and respect, are welcome. Because when allies sing with us, dance with us, or simply stand beside us, it sends a message that echoes far beyond Trafalgar Square. It shows we’re not alone. It tells those who seek to intimidate us they will fail. And it tells our children they can grow up Jewish and British without compromising either identity. So come for the candle lighting, stay for the music, eat a few doughnuts, and leave with the distinct feeling that you’ve been part of something wonderfully uplifting.

Etz

The staggering hypocrisy of boycotting Eurovision

BEN KENTISH RADIO PRESENTER

Is nothing safe anymore? Is there no event, no area of cultural life, no possible moment of joy that won’t be spared the clutches of the various virtue-signalling crusaders determined to turn absolutely everything into a front in their political campaigns? Until recently, the Eurovision Song Contest was about cheesy music, ludicrous outfits, questionable songs, petty voting patterns, catty commentary and an overdramatic results show. Millions tuned in for an evening supposed to be about music and dance. Now though, the contest is at the centre of a political storm, with Israel at its heart. Within hours of the confirmation that Israel would be allowed to take part in next year’s Eurovision, four other countries announced they would boycott the event. The Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland, Slovenia and Spain have chosen to turn a musical contest into yet another source of political tensions and division (Iceland has now joined them). This was

not a decision by those countries’ governments (although it was largely supported by them): Eurovision is organised by broadcasters, and it is the television stations that have decided to stay away next year.

Quite what these TV executives think they are achieving is anybody’s guess. Anyone who seriously thinks banning Israel from Eurovision or other nations boycotting will make a jot of di erence to Israeli government policy is deluded. This government has ignored increasingly strident warnings and even sanctions from close allies, waved away UN Security Council resolutions, tried to undermine its country’s own constitution and is accused of flouting international law. But Slovenia refusing to sing a song? That will do it. So this will achieve precisely zilch. It is the epitome of gesture politics. But will that stop sanctimonious TV bosses from this self-righteous stance? Of course not. Rosa Parks refused to move seats on a bus, Gandhi led a march to the sea, the Su ragettes chained themselves to Parliament and these well-paid executives will refuse to send a singer to prance onstage in Vienna. They no doubt think they are part of the same history. They should get a grip on

reality: this isn’t a brave act of protest as much as a petty example of playing to the crowd. Then there are the staggering double standards involved. Next year Netherlands and Spain, plus Ireland if they qualify, will take part in the football World Cup alongside Iran. Support for terrorism, destabilising the Middle East, hardline Islamist ayatollahs and their brutal repression of their own people, systematic abuse of women, LGBT people and other minorities, enabling of attacks on international shipping - none of that has prompted these broadcasters to declare they will not televise the World Cup or play if Iran participates. I would be more sympathetic to the boycott were Benjamin Netanyahu and Bezalel Smotrich set to perform in Vienna next May. But the people banned, if those demanding Israel’s omission got their way, would be singers, dancers and musicians. That is the fundamental problem with cultural boycotts. Boycotting musical performers, comedians, bands or sports teams is to target ordinary citizens because of the country of birth or their passport. It must be called out for what it is: the punishment of a whole nation for the actions of its leaders.

Some countries were open about this. The director of Slovenia’s RTV declared: “We cannot stand on the same stage with a representative of a country that caused the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.” It is worth noting that Slovenia, like the other countries, has diplomatic relations with Israel – it hosts an actual representative of the Israeli government in its capital. But perform on a stage where an Israeli singer might also perform? A step too far, apparently. This has to stop. It is perfectly legitimate to criticise the Israeli government or Israeli policy – I have done so repeatedly. It is not antisemitic to be appalled by the su ering in Gaza or to think that much of it was preventable. And in that context it is not unreasonable to seek sanction or punishment of those responsible: Netanyahu and his government. But preventing Israeli musicians, actors, comedians or sportspeople from working or taking part in performances or competitions? That is an entirely di erent matter – a slide down a slippery slope that must be halted immediately.

It is about time Eurovision got back to being what it is supposed to be: not yet another diplomatic or political battleground but an endearingly na song contest.

Among the displaced of Lviv, you see the true cost of war

ADRIAN COHEN SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, BOARD OF DEPUTIES

Last month I was privileged to visit Western Ukraine with World Jewish Relief to see the invaluable work the charity is doing with its local partners. I was part of a small group of trustees and other stakeholders of the charity led by chief executive Paul Anticoni and head of livelihood development programmes Ekaterina Mitiaev. Mostly we were based in Lviv but we also ventured to another town in the Lviv oblast called Stryi. I have history with Ukraine, having worked there as a lawyer over several years, and I had spent time in Kyiv and Kharkiv pre-Covid and pre- the Russian invasion in early 2022. Like many British Jews, I have ancestral connections with Western Ukraine, much of it known as Galicia and at times part of Poland, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Soviet Union.

Before we left for Lviv we had a briefing focusing inevitably on the fact we were going to a country at war, albeit to a place a long way from the front line.

You cannot fly direct, so we travelled to Rzeszow in Poland, an hour’s drive from the

border. You know it’s an area of conflict because it’s surrounded by anti-missile batteries. When you cross the border by foot the first thing you see are posters recruiting for the Ukrainian International Brigade. We downloaded an app to alert us to sirens and during our first night in the hotel in Lviv we heard them across the city – there was no need to rely on an app. We moved to the basement until the all-clear. In truth, there are not many alerts here compared to other areas, which are under constant attack. Lviv is a city of outstanding beauty, rich in heritage and with a long and deep Jewish history. Before the Holocaust, about a third of the population were Jewish. It was the capital of Galicia and reminded me of Krakow. It hosted the oldest synagogue in Ukraine, the Golden Rose Synagogue built in 1582, but as with most Jewish monuments in the city, it was destroyed by the Nazis.

You could almost forget you were in a place of conflict but there are stark reminders, like the relative absence of men, the occasional attacks, the daily 9am sirens followed by a minute’s silence (resonant of Yom Hazikaron), and, most shockingly, the local military cemetery in the heart of the city with endless fresh graves, each with a photo of a young man and occasionally a woman in army fatigues. With its grieving families, it brought home the severe cost to this proud nation fighting for survival.

I have attended WJR dinners over the years, seen videos of the work of the charity and its partners and listened to various impassioned speeches, but there is no substitute for seeing the work with one’s own eyes and meeting the people involved on the ground.

I got a real sense of the breadth of work being done and the real impact it has on people’s lives. Within the Lviv oblast there are up to 600,000 internally displaced people and many families often with absent husbands and fathers. creating widespread vulnerability.

Since the Russian invasion, WJR has helped 5,473 individuals through a series of projects and we met various beneficiaries of these initiatives, which include ‘Active Ageing’ for older people, ‘Back to Work’ placing people in work and ‘Building Stronger Families’.

We met older women who receive home care

visits who would otherwise be very isolated, and others who are able to come into the day centre to make and enjoy music – exhibiting considerable talent!

The people we met had lived incredible lives with family stories spanning the Second World War and post-war Soviet history. I was struck by the high level of education and erudition. We met people who had been helped into jobs or to start and build businesses, including a florist, clothes designer and a poultry farmer – particularly important for the displaced, who have had to rebuild their lives and develop new skills, all while providing for dependents.

We met teenagers benefiting from career orientation sessions and mothers with younger children benefiting from social activities and emotional support.

Visiting was a bit like peeling an onion. We pulled back the layers of history of the communities, the moving borders, the despair and the resilience, death and survival, and, as with an onion, at time there were tears.

Given the current conflict it’s easy to sink into dark thoughts, which is why WJR’s work is so impactful and in winter even more essential.

Leaving the country we were, by chance, waved o by a large group of children on a school visit to the border. I pray for their future and a swift and just resolution of this conflict.

1

BOARD HONOURS VIGIL VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers who attended vigils for the hostages in Gaza from 2023 until the last living hostage was released in October were honoured this week at a Board of Deputies ceremony. Both Jewish and nonJewish, the volunteers stood at Westminster for two hours every week while Parliament was in session to maintain public awareness of the captives. One volunteer said of the families: “You had to carry a burden no family should ever have had to bear. It has been one the greatest honours of our lives to stand alongside you.”

2 NATASHA’S FUNDRAISER

Newsreader, TV presenter and journalist Natasha Kaplinsky was in conversation with the UK’s special envoy for post-Holocaust issues, Lord Pickles, at an evening attended by 120 guests to raise funds for Jewish Care’s Sidney Corob House, a care home for people with enduring mental health needs. Meeting residents, Kaplinsky said: “Mental health is at the forefront of our minds now – it’s so important to talk about it and to donate. I’m so pleased to support Jewish Care.” Chief executive Daniel Carmel-Brown added: “At a time when we are facing significant economic challenges, these funds help provide extra creative, therapeutic activities and stimulating outings that enhance the everyday lives of our residents.”

3

TRAVELLING CHASSIDIM DROP IN

A group of Travelling Chassidim and their families spent Shabbat with the Kesher Kehilla on Finchley Road as part of The Shabbos Project, which is now in its 12th year. Coming from Stamford Hill and Golders Green, members were dressed in their traditional clothing and shared their singing, dancing and animated storytelling. The Travelling Chassidim is the brainchild of British-born Rabbi Moshe Royde, of Monsey in New York, and aims to break down barriers and build bridges between communities.

4 A SHABBAT OF SONG WITH JONNY

Woodford Forest United Synagogue welcomed Chazan Jonny Turgel and his family for what has become an eagerly-anticipated annual tradition. A community member told Jewish News: “From the moment Kabbalat Shabbat began, it was clear we were in for something special. Jonny doesn’t simply perform – he brings the community with him, creating a participatory service filled with energy, warmth and spiritual depth.” This year also saw a series of duets between Jonny and Rabbi Wollenberg, who has been taking singing lessons with Jonny. The weekend was sponsored by Geoff Rosenberg in memory of his parents, Moshe ben Yitzchak and Faige Rochel bas Chazkel.

5 CHABAD CTEEN LOUNGE OPENS

The local Jewish community gathered in celebration as Chabad of West Hampstead unveiled its brand-new CTeen Lounge with a ribbon-cutting and mezuzah dedication. What began as a thriving preschool at Gan Yeladim has expanded into a full youth centre with a wide range of children’s and teen programming serving the broader community. The project was led by Shluchim Rabbi Dovid and Chana Katz, together with Rabbi Menachem and Tobale Vogel, with the support of Rabbi Dov and Aidel Katzel. The excitement encouraged a large group of local teens to join the upcoming CTeen International Shabbaton in New York.

6 WICKED FUN AT JEWISH CARE

Jewish Care’s Local Angels Committee held a lunch event at the Delta Hotel By Marriott, Waltham Abbey, raising more than £31,500 to provide essential services to support the north-east London and Essex Jewish community. The event featured an interview with and performance by Emma Kingston, who is currently playing Elphaba in the London

West End production of Wicked. Jewish Care’s new campus in Redbridge will be opening next summer.

7

HACKNEY’S PEARLY QUEEN SPARKLES

Side by Side School at the Ronson, Wohl, Esfandi campus welcomed the Hackney Pearly Queen for a memorable visit that brought a treasured piece of London history into the classroom. Pupils learned about the origins of the Pearly tradition, the charitable work at its heart and the important role it has played in London’s cultural story. The morning concluded with students proudly sharing their classwork and enjoying photo opportunities with their special guest, a highlight for both the children and the Pearly Queen.

8

NETWORKING, COFFEE AND IDEAS

It was standing room only at Work Avenue’s flagship Enterprise Expo 2025, with more entrepreneurs, freelancers and small business owners in the community than ever before turning to the charity for support and advice. With more than 70 attendees, the popular event sold out quickly, with Work Avenue chief executive Debbie Lebrett saying: “It shows just how great the need is for support, especially in this challenging economic climate for small businesses.” Guest speakers included awardwinning leadership coach and former BBC correspondent Rachel Ellison, WPP Media global client president Simon Sadie, and Jonny Goldstone and Julia Blackman of EOS Worldwide.

9

BARNET BACKS SEBBY’S CORNER

Barnet Shul was proud to support the Sebby’s Corner charity for families in need for Mitzvah Day this year by collecting donations of children’s clothing, books, toys and baby supplies. The Barnet-based charity supports vulnerable families and children living in poverty. More than 30 bags of donations were sorted and delivered to Sebby’s Corner by a team of wonderful volunteers, including local Labour MP Dan Tomlinson, who came to the shul to sort through donations and transport and unpack everything.

10

MILESTONE FOR EPHRAIM COURT

Ephraim Court, the newest development of specially adapted mobility apartments from Jewish Blind & Disabled, is near completion and reached a milestone moment with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis affixing the mezuzah on the front door at a small ceremony for supporters. Ephraim Court, in Mill Hill East, is JBD’s eighth building and will provide a total of 30 one- and two-bedroom apartments for people with physical disabilities or vision impairments, as well as an overnight studio apartment for the on-site house manager and a range of communal facilities. The Chief Rabbi said:

“This is an amazing, wonderful occasion and I am so privileged to be part of this event. Seeing this building come to life – it is clear it is a labour of love that will enable people in our community to live independently with dignity.”

11 BEARING WITNESS TO 7 OCTOBER

Co-chair of The British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel (BFAMI) Pamela Crystal was in conversation with award-winning photojournalist Chen G. Schimmel in central London last week for an evening centred around Schimmel’s newlypublished book on the 2023 Hamas atrocities, October 7th: Bearing Witness. The work of the young London-born Israeli gained international recognition after the Black Shabbat attacks. Having discovered photography during her military service, she now documents the human impact of war as a staff photojournalist for The Jerusalem Post. Her images portray displaced families, wounded soldiers, hostage families and survivors, with the objective of emphasising human resilience amid devastation.

Lior Suchard sprinkles magic on Simcha LeYeled event

Lior Suchard helped conjure up a magical evening – and hundreds of thousands of pounds to support disabled children in Israel – at a charity evening in London.

The master mentalist gave a jaw-dropping 40-minute performance at Simcha LeYeled’s sixth fundraiser in the UK, with the event having previously funded an expansion of the charity’s services in the south of Israel.

The charity is the only foundation in Israel supporting children with complex physical disabilities, host Mili Avital told the 250 guests on Sunday night at the Leonardo St Paul’s hotel.

In sessions run by its own graduates, it provides weekly mentoring in the homes of beneficiaries, puts on parties and educates the wider public about inclusion. Its flagship annual event is an annual camp in Eilat funded by the Wynn family, who were among those in attendance.

Itai, who lost a leg six years ago after being struck by a speeding car that killed his mum and sister, received a standing ovation after saying: “Simcha LeYeled helped me forget about my disabilities and I did things I wouldn’t even dream of doing with two legs.”

His father Ephraim, who is confined to a wheelchair after the same accident, said: “Itai was still in rehab when Simcha LeYeled came into our lives. As a parent I think the name of the charity should be changed to Simcha LeHoreh – Happiness for the Parent. Seeing him going out for an event is a joy I wish on any parent. He finished high school with good grades and after climbing mountains he has now started to focus on the next big step of enlisting into the IDF.”

JNF UK announced it would provide an additional 25p for every pound donated on the night up to £200k.

JNF UK CEO Elan Gorji said: “As parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends, we all want the same thing – for children to be able to fulfil their potential, not just get by. For the families who turn to Simcha LeYeled, that wish becomes harder but the dream doesn’t disappear. In fact it becomes sharper. Simcha LeYeled refuses to allow a medical file to define a child.”

He said his charity’s mission in working in the Negev and the Israeli periphery was about ensuring a child’s outcomes aren’t determined by his or her postcode. Together, he suggested: “Our task is to ensure that every child, whatever their challenges, wherever they live, have a chance to fulfil their potential.”

The event was also addressed by Ran Avidan, board member of Simcha LeYeled, who noted it costs £1,800 for a child to go through the charity’s programme each year, amid little government support.

He described event producer Tali Tzemach as “not just a gifted producer but a bulldozer who will move everything out the way to ensure success” when it comes to the charity.

Dan Patterson’s Dracapella is funny, clever and a musical triumph.

By Caroline Friedman

As festive activities ramp up, many theatre audiences want to see something fun and a little bit different. Dracapella at Park Theatre promises that and much more. The tale of a solicitor from London and a mysterious count from Transylvania, an ensemble of vocal talents create a show that is full-blooded fun.

Co-written by Dan Patterson, creator of hit TV shows Whose Line Is It Anyway and Mock the Week, and Jez Bond, who directs the show, Dracapella is the story of Dracula told with help of beatbox player extraordinaire UK Champion Beatboxer, ABH Beatbox, and a talented cast of performers skilled in both comedy and music.

When Harker sets off to Transylvania to sell a crumbling castle to a mysterious client, he doesn’t expect to wind up in a love triangle – or is that a square? –involving his wife, her best friend, and one very melodramatic vampire.

Things spiral quickly – capes are flung, necks are bitten (accidentally), and a human beatboxer accompanies it all. Featuring a capella covers of everything from Somebody to Love to Eye of the Tiger – and more terrible puns than strictly necessary – Dracapella is a fast, funny, fang-filled festive treat.

“I had the idea for the show a couple of years ago,” explains Dan. “I wanted it to be a little bit different, definitely not run of the mill, and had been working on the

script when I went to Edinburgh to see some fringe shows. I saw some a capella performances where the most incredible music was created

A look

Hot Rabbi Chanukah, JW3 panto Dune founder

without any instruments, and knew somehow I wanted to incorporate this within the show.

“Originally I thought they could sing alongside the performers and then I realised I wanted them to be part of the show. I needed to find actors who were brilliant at comedy and also had fantastic singing voices.”

Dan trawled through this his extensive list of contacts and friends in the entertainment industry and soon had his dream cast for the show. The cast includes Olivier Award winners Stephen Ashfield (The Book of Mormon), Lorna Want (Beautiful), Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman, Wicked: The Movie) and Ako Mitchell (Sister Act, Mean Girls), who plays Dracula.

You don’t need to be a fan of Dracula to enjoy the show, says Dan. As you would expect from someone behind so much TV and radio comedy, the jokes come in quick succession. “If you don’t like one, then there’s another one straight after that,” he promises.

Londoner Dan’s career happened by chance. He won a scholarship to study history in the US, and when he took up his place, realised he could change courses, jumped to film and TV.

It was while he was at North West University that he began teaching and got into improv. In those days, he thought he would be great in front of camera. He auditioned for the improv show Mee-ow, making it to the shortlist but eventually missing out on a part. Then the show’s director offered him the chance to direct.

Studying for his PhD, he came back to England to revise and saw

a job advertised with the BBC. He abandoned his studies and followed his heart to work in radio and TV.

“I realised that I am better behind the camera than in front of it,” says Dan. His success has been meteoric. He moved from the BBC to Hat Trick Productions, then set up his own company, Angst. His hits include The Clive Anderson Show, Fast and Loose and Room 101

But his love of the entertainment world is not solely confined to radio and TV – indeed it was his love of theatre that made him decide to turn his hand to playwriting. “I love theatre and live performance. Of course it’s very different; the actors have to reprise their show over and over again, whereas with TV and radio you can record and edit.”

Dan’s first play, The Duckhouse, co-written with Colin Swash, about the parliamentary expenses scandal, had a six-month run at the Vaudeville Theatre and was nominated for an Olivier Award. With former diplomat Daniel Taub he co-wrote The Winner’s Curse, a play about negotiation set within the framework of international peace talks.

Dan is very proud of the careers he has helped launch. Many household name comedians, when they were virtual unknowns to mainstream audiences, received their big break thanks to an invitation to appear in one of his shows.

TV viewers were shocked when Mock the Week was seemingly cancelled by the BBC. Now Dan says the show is continuing and will be screened on TLC in early 2026.

• Dracapella is Park Theatre until 17 January. Age guidance 10+. parktheatre.co.uk

Monique Ash-Palmer and Lorna Want, feeling fangtastic

Lorna Want, Ciarán Dowd, Stephen Ashfield, Ako Mitchell and Monique Ash-Palmer having a bloody good time

Dan Patterson

Erin Foster talks about the show everyone insists they don’t want –but can’t stop watching. By Brigit Grant

No-one is in any doubt that there will be a season three of Nobody Wants This. Even if they don’t want it. But we do, don’t we? And that’s all because season two – which continued the tale of the Hot Rabbi and Joanne, his podcaster girlfriend – may have its detractors, but it ended with the same burning question for us all that closed season one: will Joanne convert?

In real life, series creator Erin Foster answered that question already when she converted to marry her husband, Simon Tikhman, in 2019. They now have a baby girl, Noa, a name divinely aligned with the show centred around a rabbi called Noah and a woman hovering on the brink of Jewish life.

When Foster spoke to Jewish News, she became very animated about her new faith, describing the rituals she’s grown to love and particularly Friday nights.

“It’s not something we have a rule about,” she explained, “but if we are both in town… if we’re in the same place on a Friday night, which we are if my husband’s not travelling, we really try to at least take a minute to light the candles.”

She explains: “It’s to say something great about our week and express our appreciation for each other” – noting that her husband excels at this.

world to ‘Chrismukkah’, a blend of the Christian and Jewish holidays to make his interfaith family feel whole.

In the now-iconic season one episode The Best Chrismukkah Ever, Seth explained the hybrid holiday as: “Eight days of presents followed by one day of many presents.” It became a cultural TV moment — so much so that ‘Chrismukkah’ entered the popculture dictionary.

Now, decades later, Brody finds himself back in a Chanukah-adjacent world, this time as the rabbi who is on the verge of marrying out unless his girlfriend converts.

Well?

“He is much better than me. He’s really good at slowing down and saying ‘I really appreciate you, you’re such a good mom, we’re so grateful for you’.” And then she teases, laughing at herself: “And I want to take a minute to thank you for all the millions of amazing things that I do.”

But beneath the humour was the real revelation of her conversion: “One of my biggest things about becoming Jewish is these subtle things where we slow down and take in the week… it doesn’t feel religious.

“It feels like it’s filling us up with the gratitude we need to keep being happy and connected.”

Noa, their daughter, wasn’t there when we spoke, but she gained a mention: “Not growing up Jewish, the prayers don’t have nostalgic significance for me,” Foster says. “It’s

more of a habit you form that feels comforting – and I want Noa to grow up with that.”

With Chanukah on the horizon, it merits a mention too, particularly when I tell Foster that – like the festival – Nobody Wants This brought light into the dark times our community has been facing.

“Yes, I guess it really did. The theme of the show feels more personal now,” says Foster, who did a Chanukah special last year on World’s First Podcast, which is the show she hosts with her sister Sara – yes, just like Joanne and her sister Morgan (Justine Lupe) in Nobody Wants This

Curiously, Chanukah has never actually been celebrated in either season of Nobody Wants This. But the show is so drenched in meno-

rahs that The Forward news outlet published a full investigative piece titled Why Is Nobody Wants This Obsessed With Menorahs?

The article points out that the absence of Chanukah has not stopped menorahs appearing like Jewish houseplants in every scene. There was the Chabad-style menorah in Noah’s o ce, the sleek menorah in his living room ;another at his brother Sasha’s place and at Noah’s childhood summer camp – an electric menorah glowing in midsummer.

The Forward really did its homework, counting eight menorahs at the home of Rabbi Noah’s parents Bina and Ilan. The Forward also called it “the menorah-fication of Jewish spaces” – in other words a deeply and recognisably Jewish set.

Back in our chat, Foster was keenly aware of the world those menorahs are glowing into. “It’s a very tense time, and everyone has a lot of passion and anger about what’s going on in the world – I have anger too,” she says. “But we have enough angry voices. There has to be a third option. The internet doesn’t have much traction for positivity – it’s like screaming into a void.”

So instead of getting political, Foster went for rom-com. “If you make a TV show that feels positive, people can experience the light of it and remember that it’s about love — falling in love, growing the love

you have for someone. And if there’s a little sprinkle of Jewish lesson in there, then it’s just a bonus.”

Adam Brody – Rabbi Noah –has also weighed in on the debate about Judaism’s place in the show.

Asked whether Noah and Joanne might ever create a blended holiday, he laughed: “If they had children someday, maybe… but Noah would need to do Chanukah by the book.”

And Brody should know a thing or two about televised Chanukah.

Long before he became Hot Rabbi, he played Seth Cohen in The O.C. and back in 2003, Seth introduced the

Foster smiles but doesn’t spill, so I ask her whether she will be buying Chanukah presents for the cast and crew this year. “We aren’t in production, so I wouldn’t have a cast and crew to buy them for… but honestly, that would be a lot of presents. Everyone gets eight! I don’t know if I can a ord that. I think I’ll just say Happy Chanukah to them.”

Finally, I asked what her own Chanukah miracle would be this year.

“Being a mom for me is the biggest miracle of all. Every day I’m shocked I got that lucky. I feel like I’m living a miracle – with where my career is and my personal life. I’m the luckiest. It’s a miracle I’m here at all.”

Whether you love or loathe it, I know you’ll be watching season three because if you don’t you’ll never know what Joanne does.

Adam Brody and the cast in The O.C.

Menorah madness on Erin Foster’s Jewish show

Erin Foster with husband Simon before Noa arrived

A different kind of BALL

Cinderella and the Matzo Ball is this year’s pantomime offering at JW3. Daniel Sugarman took his kids to see it. Oh yes he did!

I’ve never been to a pantomime before,” my daughter tells me excitedly as we take our seats at the JW3 panto, Cinderella and the Matzo Ball. This isn’t actually true – her first experience of the silver stage was two years before, at the centre’s first-ever highly successful winter show, Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Pig, but then she was three, and as any five-yearold will tell you, three is just a baby, but five is old – “almost as old as you, daddy”. So this year’s verdict will be the real proof of the pudding. Fortunately, baked goods abound in this production.

It’s a time of crisis in the Kosher Kingdom, with the realm in dire financial straits. Its ruler, the perilously impecunious Prince Charming, comes up with (or rather, steals from his aide) an idea – throwing a grand ball. And not just any old ball – a Matzo Ball, no less – in the hope of snaring a fantastically rich bride to prop up the royal finances. Meanwhile, poor Cinderella works herself to the bone for her siblings at the family store, Breadzinski’s in Yeast Finchley. How will she escape from her carb-heavy

‘A

confinement? We move from the bakery to the palace, and then to the far-off unrecognisable country of Treyf, with marvellously designed sets and props accompanying us on the journey.

Daniel, 26, feels stuck. He struggles to move on from the past as everyone seems too busy for him, so he attends a class at his local synagogue to change things up.

The production serves up a platter of bakery-related puns guaranteed to have the audience rolling (sorry) in the aisles. It is an openly, warmly, unapologetically British Jewish smorgasbord of laughs, in a time where laughter has been so sorely lacking. Nick Cassenbaum, the writer of the show, has said he feels like “together we are building a tradition, a festive ritual, a yearly treat which… let’s face it, could only happen in the UK”. He is absolutely right, and it would be worth going for that alone.

But there is more to it than that – far more, because the incredibly talented cast are firing on all cylinders. As with any panto, audience participation is a must, but the cast were particularly quick on their feet, responding off-the-cuff to occasional heckles from one particularly forthright young attendee. Talia Pick makes herself very much at home in the

starring role as a fresh-faced young Cinderella. Talya Soames shines as Moshe Pipick (or ‘Buttons’) while Rosie Yadid and Libby Liburd impress as the dastardly duo of clownishly wicked sisters Milchig and Fleishig. Ronan Quiniou is the prince, with the full extent of his chicanery becoming gloriously evident in the production’s second half. Michael Cowan and Lillith Freeman excel in a variety of supporting roles, including First Aide and Lemon Aide respectively. The cast further benefits from two special guest appearances – Debbie Chazen, who played fabulous roles in the 2023 and 2024 productions, swoops in as Cinderella’s Fairy Cake godmother, while BBC Radio 4’s Emma Barnett’s news updates are heard throughout as the voice of the “10 o’clock Jews”.

As you might expect, the show is peppered with Yiddishisms, but the programme provides a helpful glossary for both younger and nonJewish attendees who might not necessarily be familiar with the full lexicon. Another lovely touch is all the songs and music in the show, played by a talented trio of musicians led by musical director Josh Middleton, come from tunes either sung by Jewish artists, written by Jewish composers, or both. This, inevitably, led me down a rabbit hole of delighted discovery (really? Carole King and Jerry Goffin wrote The Loco-Motion? Elvis’s Can’t Help Falling in Kove was co-written by George David Weiss? Howard Shore of Lord of the Rings fame is Jewish?).

As we have come to expect from a JW3 panto, the ending will be a happy one, though not in an entirely predictable fashion. Meanwhile, get ready for a shower of confectionery, as well as the appearance of giant balloons –both of which events, as you can imagine, went down extremely well with the younger sections of the audience.

Speaking of which, I’m delighted to inform you my five-year-old was similarly enchanted by what she saw – and keeping my daughter consistently entertained for two one-hour stretches (the show runs to 120 minutes, with a small interval) is not an easy feat.

It all makes me wonder, as I write this, whether the full panto production offers house calls. There were gasps and giggles from the seat on my left, as well as some joyful and enthusiastic participation in the beloved “oh no he isn’t / oh yes he is” elements.

I have a strong feeling if I mention another trip this time next year, the suggestion will be enthusiastically received.

“How many stars out of five shall we give the performance?” I ask, only to be told that the question is the wrong one. “Not stars, daddy – bagels!” So there you have it – five bagels out of five, a ranking system which I sincerely hope catches on.

A captivating cast and a spellbinding story, at the British Jewish community’s home from home – see it if you can; regret it if you don’t.

• Cinderella and the Matzo Ball runs from until 4 January 2026 at JW3. Child tickets under 16. Under 2s do not require a ticket. jw3.org/panto

Five bagels out of five – one of the show’s zanier moments. Below, Love Story, JW3 panto-style

Walford Road Synagogue

Shaare Mazal Tov

Invites you, your family & friends to our

Chanukah Party

On Sunday 21st December

99 Walford Road, London N16 8EF

Candle lighting at 6:00pm

Entrance: Adults £3 – Kids Free!

Music by Nosson & Co

Face Painting by Elssye Santos!

Raffle - Doughnuts & Latkes!

Rav: Rabbi Avraham Citron

Treasurer: Brian Harris

Secretary: Simon Raymond

Chairman: Ike Albert

Happy Chanukah

Stay

To

May your Chanukah light shine bright with peace & happiness!

For over 120 years JNF UK has worked tirelessly to develop the Land of Israel.

Much of our work has only been possible thanks to the generosity of our legacy donors like Sheila and John, who had a deep commitment to how the country had shaped their lives.

Leaving a gift in your Will, no matter how small or large, is one of the most valuable ways you can forge an everlasting bond with Israel.

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Business

By Candice Krieger candicekrieger@googlemail.com

DUNE FOUNDER CREDITS JEWISH VALUES FOR RETAIL SURVIVAL

Daniel Rubin says his upbringing shaped the approach that kept his shoe empire standing among so many high-street casualties

aniel Rubin, founder of the Dune shoe empire, says the Jewish values he grew up with have helped guide him through five decades in one of retail’s toughest industries. Over that time, Rubin has watched many of the Jewish-founded businesses that once dominated Britain’s shoe trade and high street disappear – a stark reminder of how unforgiving the sector can be.

“Although I am not particularly frum, Jewish values were instilled in me from a young age,” says Rubin, 78. “Treating your sta fairly and responsibly, during good times and bad, has always been a key principle in running Dune.”

Founded in 1992, Dune has become one of British retail’s most

resilient success stories, with turnover above £140m and a growing international footprint.

was filled with Jewish-founded businesses. “Manufacturing was dominated by Jewish immigrants,” he recalls. “Rosenblatt’s, Solomon’s, Meltzer’s, Wachman’s, Franks … they specialised in elegant women’s shoes. All have since vanished as production moved to the Far East where costs were so much lower.”

He adds that “most of the specialist footwear retailers have also disappeared as they couldn’t compete with clothing and department stores who started to take footwear seriously”. The high street, he says, is brutal: “If you’re not on top of your game, you won’t survive.”

Rubin has certainly had his share of battles.

The past decade alone

When Rubin entered the industry in the early 1970s, the landscape has delivered a financial crisis, Brexit, supplychain turmoil, spiralling costs and the pandemic. Covid was the worst. Dune lost around £25m in

two years, and Rubin, then in his 70s, stepped back into the role of chief executive. “That was the closest I’ve come to thinking ‘are we going to get

come to thinking ‘are we going to get through this?’”

Despite the strain, he insists he

Despite the strain, he insists he never let the pressure spill into his home life. “I don’t feel stress hugely. I sleep very well. I’ve been very lucky,” he says. “I managed not to take work home. Getting that work-life balance

sleep very well. I’ve been very lucky,” is super important.”

a television producer, and Olivia, a

He is married to Anne and they have two children: Edward, who is a television producer, and Olivia, a fashion designer behind her own successful label,

always

and industry, he went to help his father when Rubin senior’s health declined. When his father died in 1976, Rubin stayed in the trade, first in manufacturing, then importing. “I got to love the product,” he says - “the smell of the shoes, the complexity, the manufacturing process.” He himself owns more than 100 pairs of shoes and has a soft spot for a well-made loafer.

He describes how the “combination of being an accountant and having a love of shoes, which most likely I inherited from my father, has enabled me to succeed in a tough industry”.

when private equity arrived and they “lost the essence” of what made them special, while he credits Dune’s survival to its focus on product.

“It

Rubin wasn’t always destined for a life in shoes. He was steered away from the trade by his father, who urged him to become an

for from the trade by his father, who urged him to become an

accountant.

because I was useless at maths, but I did qualify,” he says. After spells in accountancy, banking

Rubin chronicles his career in his recently published memoir, Sole Survivor, o ering a candid look at five decades of highs and lows in business. Among them is the moment he took out a second mortgage to fund his first large import shipment – only for 10,000 pairs of espadrilles to arrive completely faulty.

“It struck home how easy it is to fail in footwear,” he says wryly.

Rubin rejects the idea that the high street is dying. “The proof of that is that rents are going up, which means there’s still demand,” he says. “For some it’s working okay, for others not.”

He says many casualties were predictable. Brands like Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and Warehouse, he believes, simply couldn’t compete with faster rivals like Zara and H&M. “You could see it. The stores were looking tired. The ranges were looking tired. They just weren’t interesting enough.”

Others, he adds, lost their edge

“It’s a brutal place. You have to have the product and the value proposition completely right. We’re not o ering cheap shoes. We’re doing a ordable luxury. Quality and comfort are essential. That’s always been our mantra and still is.”

Dune is now shifting from its longstanding position as a UK retailer to becoming a global footwear and accessories brand. Around 35 percent of sales come from overseas, and Rubin wants to reach 55 percent within three years. Growth in the US is a major focus, helped by recent celebrity exposure from actresses such as Jennifer Aniston and Katie Holmes. The company has also expanded into bags and accessories.

A member of St John’s Wood Synagogue, Rubin admired earlier generations of Jewish retail titans, “the likes of Lord Sie , Jack Cohen, Isaac Wolfson, Charles Clore”, figures who formed part of the backdrop to his own career, even if they didn’t directly shape it.

He doubts the tradition still resonates as strongly today. “I think my generation was still influenced by the challenges facing immigrants and the need to work hard to be successful. I think that has changed.”

He still believes retail can be a path for young Jewish entrepreneurs. “I wouldn’t deter them,” he says, though he stresses that “your proposed business has [to have] a point of di erence… and you test it thoroughly, through online and wholesale, before opening stores.”

While Rubin has stepped back from day-to-day operations, he remains “the guardian” of the brand. His family still owns 85 percent of the business. Before the pandemic, he received two very attractive o ers to sell - o ers he now admits he should have accepted: “They were lifechanging, but that ship has sailed.”

But he isn’t one for looking back. As he says: “I’m excited about the future. I believe the business will grow over the next two to three years and its value will increase with it.”

• Sole Survivor by Daniel Rubin is published by Canbury Press

Gillian Anderson models Dune shoes

Rubin’s memoir

Dune’s first store on King’s Road, London, which opened in 1993

Olivia Rubin.

destined

was a struggle

to help his father when Rubin senior’s health

Daniel Rubin

MAKING SENSE OF THE SEDRA

BY RABBI BENJY MORGAN JEWISH LEARNING EXCHANGE

Story isn’t over

There are few narratives in the Torah as emotionally charged as the story of Joseph in Parshat Vayeshev. A gifted young man, beloved by his father and resented by his brothers, is torn from his home, cast into a pit and sold into slavery. It is one of the most painful family rifts recorded in our tradition. And yet, years later, that same Joseph becomes the one who feeds a region in the grip of famine and sustains the very brothers who once betrayed him.

Joseph’s story is not about su ering being justified. The pain he endured was real, the wrongdoing unequivocal. What the Torah does instead is teach us something subtler and profoundly important: that we rarely see the full picture of our lives while we are living them. We experience events as fragments,

isolated scenes in a narrative whose ending we do not yet know.

Only later, sometimes much later, does a larger pattern begin to emerge.

The Torah captures this with exquisite simplicity. When Joseph eventually reveals himself to his brothers, he does not deny their actions, nor does he diminish his own suffering.

Instead, he reframes the meaning of his journey. “You did not send me here – God sent me,” he says. Not because their actions were right – they were not. But because even in the darkest moments, a Divine purpose was still unfolding, hidden from view.

Faith, in Judaism, has never meant blindness to tragedy. It is the courage to believe that tragedy is not the end of the story.

Our generation has witnessed its own shattering trauma. The events of October 7 were horrific – a day of grief and devastation etched forever into Jewish memory.

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Nothing can justify it. Nothing can soften the anguish of lives shattered, families torn apart and innocence violated.

Yet even as we mourn, we are also witnessing shifts in the landscape of the Middle East that would have been unthinkable only a year ago – the weakening of Hamas, the isolation of Hezbollah, the exposure of Iran’s ambitions, the recalibration

of powers from Yemen to the Gulf. These are not consolations. They do not heal the wounds of the past months. But they are reminders that history is not static and that even moments of profound darkness can become turning points.

Jewish history is a long record of this paradox. Exile led to creativity. Persecution led to resilience. The destruction of the Temple led to the birth of a Judaism centred on prayer, study, and community – a faith portable enough to survive every empire that sought to extinguish it.

We do not know how our own chapter will unfold. But Parshat Vayeshev invites us to hold two truths at once: that suffering must never be justified, and that despair must never be final. We see only a fragment of the story. Faith is the willingness to believe that there is more.

In the darkness, that belief has carried our people before. And it can carry us still today.

We only understand patterns afterwards

Progressive Judaism

LEAP OF FAITH

BY RABBI D.Y. STERN RADLETT REFORM SYNAGOGUE

This year’s Budget Day mattered widely for its financial announcements, yet for me it held a more personal meaning. It was my birthday. Birthdays are moments of reflection: a time to pause and consider the world and our place within it. For me, they bring a mix of emotions –anxiety and optimism. Anxiety - facing the challenges ahead; optimism – remembering the blessings behind.

A birthday feels deeply personal, yet it is also profoundly universal – every person, every living creature, has one. It is a reminder that while our lives are unique, they are woven into a shared human story.

The Budget feels much the same: anxiety over its impact, hope for the relief it might bring. Each of us will be a ected di erently, with our own concerns and expectations.

Yet, just as your birthday is not only yours but part of a shared rhythm, the Budget is not just your budget – it is everyone’s budget. It shapes the life of the nation and, in turn, all the communities that give that nation its character.

The Jewish community is a microcosm of that nation, with financial realities as diverse as

society itself. The implications of the Budget will be wide-ranging. Yet Judaism reminds us that each of us has a role to play; each must give according to their means.

As the Babylonian Talmud teaches: “Even a poor person who is sustained by charity is obligated to give charity.” The Shulchan Aruch, a 16th-century code of Jewish law, sets a minimum amount for giving, making clear that those with greater means should give more.

In short, everyone shares responsibility for the whole.

This principle is not abstract – it is lived. Over the past year, Progressive Judaism has awarded more than £76,000 to help young families participate in RSY and LJY activities. Why? Because financial pressures, while felt most acutely by those struggling

to a ord the basics, also weigh on those who can meet their needs.

When the cost of living dominates the mind, it is hard to prioritise the very things that sustain us – being part of a community.

Synagogues and youth movements provide vital networks of support. They are deeply personal, yet they are also part of a greater whole on which we all depend.

These spaces o er friendship, meaning, and resilience - things no budget line can measure, but which matter profoundly when times are tough.

So my birthday wish is simple: that each of us gives and receives according to our means and needs – and that financial pressures never keep you from the communities and youth movements that sustain us all.

A stimulating series where our progressive rabbis consider Judaism in the face of 21stcentury issues

SCHOOL RECEPTIONIST &

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We invite you to come and work in this warm, caring and nurturing environment where your enthusiasm will be encouraged and you will be offered professional development and training.

For further information on the school and an application form please visit our website www.nrps.co.uk

For further enquiries regarding the two positions or to arrange a visit to the school please email: Mrs Sheetal Raja on: sheetal.raja@nrps.co.uk

Symbol of resilience: a Gerry Judah menorah

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THE MANY WAYS TO RAISE AND SAVE

This year, Magen David Adom UK’s supporters have gone above and beyond to raise vital funds, through a mixture of inspiring sporting events and challenges, together raising over £100,000 to help save lives in Israel.

In June, MDA was represented at the Maccabi Fun Run, where 15 enthusiastic participants ran, walked, and cheered in support of Israel’s national emergency service.

In July, HOD hosted the 20th Annual Asher Teper Memorial Golf Day at the Hartsbourne Golf Club, this year choosing to support MDA. Funds went towards a new Portable Bomb Shelter, helping to protect medics and civilians on the front lines. Mazal tov to the winning team - Adam Shama, David Birne, Aron Keet and Mark Dickson.

October saw 20 dedicated runners take on the challenge of the Royal Parks Half Marathon, raising over £30,000 for MDA’s

lifesaving work. Just before this, a team of cyclists completed the iconic London to Brighton bike ride, pedalling for the same cause. The combination of these two events raised money for the donation of a fi rst responder car.

Supporter David Ridge took things to a whole new level with his ‘Triathlon with a Twist’, which combined a 10km run, a 15,000 skydive, and a back wax! David’s one-of-a-kind challenge exceeded his fundraising goal with all proceeds going towards the Yorkshire Project.

Whether on a well known marathon route, the golf course, or from the skies, our supporters continue to show that there’s no limit to creativity and dedication when fundraising for Magen David Adom.

Challenge yourself and help save more lives. Visit mdauk.org/challenges to see and take part in our upcoming events.

REFLECTING ON RESTITUTION AT CHRISTIE'S BRIDGE TO ISRAEL AWARDS LAUNCH

The inaugural annual MDA UK Bridge to Israel Awards will be held 27 April 2026 but the fi rst award was made at the recent Campaign Dinner in London, presented to Nivi Feldman by former hostage Shoshan Haran in acknowledgement of the brilliant work she has done over the past two years leading the Hostage & Missing Famlilies Forum UK. Making the award, Daniel Burger, CEO of MDA UK said: “At MDA UK, we have been proud to support Nivi’s work and this award is for her brilliant leadership through the toughest of times.”

In September, Magen David Adom UK was honoured to partner with Christie’s to host Reflecting on Restitution, an exclusive panel discussion at the London headquarters of one of the world’s most prestigious and influential auction houses, exploring the extraordinary story of the Fuld art collection and its lasting connection to MDA.

going towards MDA’s lifesaving work, including Henri Matisse’s Le Mur Rose (1898) and the Renaissance sculpture La Vierge de Pitié by Gil de Siloe, which was returned to MDA in 2023 and later auctioned o by Christie’s.

Chaired by broadcaster and barrister Robert Rinder MBE, the panel featured an exceptional lineup: Dr Imke Gielen, a leading restitution lawyer; Anke Adler-Slottke, International Consultant for Christie’s; Richard Aronowitz, Christie’s Global Head of Restitution; and Daniel Burger, Chief Executive of MDA UK. Together, they reflected on the remarkable journey of artworks once owned by industrialist Harry Fuld Jr, a man with an incredible life story that the German government is making into a film in partnership with MDA UK. Fuld’s art collection, le to his housekeeper Gisela Martin, was bequeathed to Magen David Adom UK a er her passing. Over time, several pieces have been restituted with funds

The event o ered a powerful reminder of how justice, remembrance, and generosity intertwine, resulting in a powerful legacy. Through the ongoing restitution of the Fuld collection, the proceeds continue to support MDA’s vital work, ensuring lives are saved in Israel and beyond.

David Ridge Skydive as Part of his Triathlon with a Twist

20th Annual Asher Teper Memorial Golf Day

Christie's Panel: Daniel Burger, Imke Gielen, Anke Adler-Slottke, Richard Aronowitz, Robert Rinder MBE

Dr Shoshan Haran (r) presenting Nivi Feldman with her award

DEDICATIONS AT THE DOUBLE

The second half of 2025 has seen an amazing amount of MDA UK supporters dedicate critical lifesaving vehicles. These include ambulances and two-bed Mobile Intensive Care Units, the first of their kind.

PLANTING THE SEEDS OF HOPE IN BELFAST

Over 600 people gathered to hear from Dr Shoshan Haran, a leading agricultural expert and resident of Kibbutz Be’eri who was held hostage in Gaza for 50 days following October 7th. The event, in partnership with Northern Ireland Friends of Israel, was held on the second anniversary of Shoshan's release from captivity.

30 BY 30 BY 2030

MDA UK has launched its ambitious 30 by 30 initiative as part of the new Machratayim campaign, unveiled at the Annual Dinner. The project aims to create 30 meaningful partnerships between UK communities and MDA stations or programmes in Israel by MDA’s Centenary in 2030.

Introducing the initiative, Chief Executive Daniel Burger said: “For generations, people have identifi ed MDA as ‘the ambulance people’ and donating towards an ambulance is an amazing act of philanthropy that saves lives… But MDA is about so much more, and one of the greatest aspects of our work has been building links between communities in the UK and Israel.”

The fi rst five twinning projects were announced on the night, including partnerships with Mas’ade, Beit Shemesh, Netanya, Shoham, and the new MDA Headquarters and International Training School in Ramla.

If you would like to become one of the thirty, please contact us at info@mdauk.org

Paul Givan, NI Education Minister with Dr Shoshan Haran and Nivi Feldman

Gerald Steinberg, Nivi Feldman, Dr Shoshan Haran, Steven Ja e, Daniel Burger, Fadi Dekaidek

Photo credit Stephen Hamilton

2 Bed Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) donated by Barry & Batya Segal of the Joseph Storehouse Trust and Vision for Israel

MDA UK VP, Judy Saphra, donating a 2 Bed Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) in memory of all the fallen IDF soldiers since 7.10

Ambulance donated by Michael and Audrey Dangoor of The Exilarch’s Foundation

Patricia and Tony Abram donating an Ambulance on behalf of themselves and their friends

Ambulance donated by Danny & Ariella Rivlin

Dedication of 2 Ambulances by Michelle and Martin Hirst

Daniel Burger and Russell Jacobs presenting 30 by 30