29 June 2017 Jewish News
www.jewishnews.co.uk
19
Opinion
Grenfell is the wake-up call to redress balance JEMMA WAYNE AUTHOR & JOURNALIST
C
hange is in the air. First there was Brexit, then Trump, then Corbyn’s unexpected surge and the tragedy of Grenfell Tower, which has brought all these events into unavoidable clarity: we are a society divided, deeply, by class. Inside our bubbles, it is too often easier not to see; but amid the smoke and shattered lives, the anger of the poorest can no longer be ignored. There is a growing, spoken-out-loud fury with the Haves by the Have-Nots, and the old platitudes about meritocracy and free market don’t wash. There is simply no way to defend the reckless disregard for the safety of Grenfell’s tenants. Of course the emotion of catastrophe is sometimes blinding: it is not the fault of the wealthy Kensington neighbours that Grenfell was clad, essentially, in petroleum. It is not true that the well-off are heartless or selfish; there were many who leapt to immediate aid of residents and lead highly philanthropic lives. Similarly it is not right
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INSIDE OUR BUBBLES IT IS OFTEN EASIER NOT TO SEE, BUT THE ANGER OF THE POOR CAN NO LONGER BE IGNORED to suggest that Theresa May and the council/ government do not care. But the factors leading to Grenfell’s vulnerability are symbolic of all the ways in which all these people have not cared enough. Many of us have felt the injustice nagging away. Despite being a true-blue all my voting life, this was the first election in which my vote was cast reluctantly, because of a niggling conviction that the status quo is not working – there is no equality, not enough compassion. But Jeremy Corbyn is not the answer. There
are some who see him as a champion of the underdog. Perhaps he even sees himself as such, a man able to recognise divisions and stand on the right side of them. But division is not in fact what he is fighting against; it is not his enemy, but his greatest tool. Because like many socialists before him, he relies on inciting rage and vilifying the Other. It is not enough to support the working class, he must denigrate the wealthy. A year ago, many senior Labour politicians were concerned about this. They worried that Corbyn’s rhetoric on tax avoidance for example would appear anti-success, anti-aspirational. But he has found that this is what the current climate welcomes. Not so much a drive to pull up the poorest but instead, or at least also, to drag down the rich. To blame them. To punish them. To occupy their homes. It has been evident this week. The anger after Grenfell treads a fine line between (rightly) forcing those in a position of privilege to listen, and making them feel unfairly persecuted. The Jewish community in particular has felt this already from Corbyn’s Labour. Many Jews wish desperately to prioritise social conscience. Many Jews have long been proponents and
leaders of it. Many would even get on board with a more cautious support of Israel than previous leaders have offered. But Corbyn’s cosiness with those intent on Israel’s destruction, and his blithe enabling of anti-Semitism, make it impossible. Corbyn has identified the division, chosen his underdog, and we ain’t it. But this un-nuanced position does damage to any possibility of real change, because it defines the world as Us and Them. It fuels division. It feeds anger. It makes it harder and harder to close the gap. So it is too, with economic class. But the poorest, those people Labour supposedly care about, need that gap closed. There must be more innovative ways to redress the inequalities that plague our society. Few of us can claim to agree on what these are. But what we can all acknowledge, now more than ever, is that unacceptable injustices exist, and shouldn’t. Change is in the air. There is an appetite for it. Sadly, so long as the conversation is hijacked by division and the resentments that accompany it, both sides will continue to either batten down their hatches or arm their crusaders, in the hope that They remain at bay, or else, They be destroyed.
Noam Primary School 8-10 Forty Avenue Wembley, Middlesex HA9 8JW 020 8908 9491
Head of Early Years/Reception Teacher For September 2017
A position for a dynamic Early Years practitioner has just become available. We are looking for a candidate with strong leadership qualities and a love of teaching to join our outstanding team.
KS2 Position Available For September 2017
Just decided to go back to teaching? Looking for a change? Need to complete your NQT year? We are looking to recruit a qualified KS2 Class Teacher to join our team and offer a warm, friendly and supportive working environment.
Reception Assistant If you have an NVQ Level 3 and are looking for an assistant position we would love to hear from you. Please contact the school office at secretary@noamprimary.org for an application pack or to visit the school. Noam Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointments will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.
EARLY YEARS KODESH TEACHER Required from September 2017
We are seeking to appoint a highly-motivated, enthusiastic and inspirational teacher to join our Early Years Kodesh team and to deliver our curriculum, as well as contribute to the further development of Kodesh within the school. This is an exciting opportunity to join a Kodesh team that is a happy, hard-working and cohesive group which welcomes like-minded professionals. Spoken Ivrit would be an advantage.
The successful candidate will: • Be an exceptional teacher with suitable experience and knowledge to be able to integrate Kodesh into an Early Years class. • Be happy to liaise regularly with parents on their child’s progress. • Be innovative, self-sufficient, organised and motivated (newly qualified teachers are welcome to apply). • Be passionate about improving children’s Jewish experiences, both formal and informal, inspiring confidence in colleagues, parents and governors. • Be an organised and motivated individual, and member of the team, and share in the development of the Jewish ethos within the school. • Have the ability to work with the class teachers to integrate the Kodesh and Chol curricula, and support all aspects of the school’s work. To receive an application pack, please contact Mr Kett, our Head of Kodesh, at justin.kett@morashajps.org.uk. Completed applications should be emailed to Mr Kett at this address too. Salary according to experience and qualifications.
Closing date for applications: Friday 7th July 2017 Interviews week commencing: Monday 10th July 2017 Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check