The Jewish Weekly Issue 315 - February 29th

Celebrating 7 years

BY EDITOR YOSSI SAUNDERS

It is with tremendous thanks to Hashem that we celebrate The Jewish Weekly’s 7th anniversary this weekend. Since 1st March 2017, The Jewish Weekly has grown to become the largest circulated Jewish Newspaper in the UK, thanks to the hard work of all our wonderful staff, our dedicated readers and our ever-growing fanbase of clients, both nationally and around the world.

We delight in providing great content for all ages and backgrounds. Without a doubt, our raison d’être is to support Israel. We are proud to have been labelled by two Ambassadors to Israel as ‘the most pro-Israel Jewish newspaper in the UK. We strive each week to provide comprehensive reporting on Israel, especially when most of the media in the world are not accurate when it comes to reporting on Israel.

Since the terrible events of Simchat Torah on October 7th, anti-semitism around the world has risen sharply.

Never did we believe we would be writing about current events that seem to belong to the Holocaust. Not many would have thought such a massacre could take place within Israel’s

borders. We were sadly reminded of the famous verse in Psalm 127– ‘If Hashem does not guard the city, in vain does the watchman guard.’ Despite all the great strength of the IDF and all the technology in Israel, Jews endured the worst massacre in modern Israeli history.

As well as the people who were murdered, many forget that thousands more have had life changing injuries. Hundreds of thousands of Jews have been displaced from their homes near Gaza and up north, and these evacuees who are mostly living in hotels are forgotten about and ignored by the media. This is the equivalent of nearly every British Jew living in a hotel for months. We of course cannot

and won’t forget the hostages, and we pray daily for their immediate and swift release, as well as a quick and victorious end to the war.

PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK ANNOUNCES

18M A YEAR FOR NEXT 4 YEARS AT CST DINNER

Chairman Gerald Ronson, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak & Deputy Chairman Lloyd Dorfman

Continued from Page 1

We hope and pray that Israel achieves its goals and is not forced by international pressure to stop before their basic goals are met. If missions are not completed properly and Israel gradually allows Gaza to return to pre October 7th, then it would be a travesty for all those brave soldiers who died.

Each lost civilian and soldier left a whole world behind.

I was recent at a funeral in Herzliya, for a soldier who died in Gaza. The young orphan son stood up and asked ‘Abba where are you? When are you coming home?’

The UK has had its share of the ugly face of anti-semitism. Just this week, a reader called in to say that he was buying a bottle of coke in Sainsbury’s in Hendon and did a double take when he saw the price said £19.67. Upon further inspection, the bottle had been cleverly rewrapped in the same logo and typesetting, with a vile message. It read, ‘Genocide in a can – the owners of this brand The Coca-Cola company operates on stolen Palestinian land since 1967. This is just one of far too many UK incidents, including a campus rabbi in hiding after receiving death threats for serving in the IDF.

Inside our 7th Anniversary Supplement, we have interviewed people who were personally involved on the darkest day for world Jewry since the Holocaust, people who have gone to extraordinary lengths to help rebuild shattered worlds since October

7th.

The Jewish Weekly accompanied JNF UK to the Gaza Envelope communities, including Kibbutz Be’eri and Kfar Aza and we spoke to Chairman Samuel Hayek to see how JNF UK are helping to rebuild shattered communities.

You will read incredible stories of how selfless paramedics put other lives before their own and miraculously saved multiple lives on the darkest day for world Jewry since the Holocaust, including testimony from the founder and President of United Hatzalah Eli Beer.

We hope you are inspired by these heroes and may all our prayers for safety and security for Israel and world Jewry be answered swiftly, Amen.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF 7

The number 7 is very important in Judaism. Seven days of the week, ending with the seventh day Shabbat.

Seven years in the Shmita cycle, the Sabbatical years. Seven Shmitas until the Yovel year. Sheva Brachot, the seven blessings recited under the chuppa, and for the seven days following a wedding. Seven times most brides encircle their groom. Seven days of sitting Shiva for loved ones. Sheva Denechemta, the seven Haftoras between Tisha B’Av and Rosh Hashanah. Seven

blessings in Mussaph of Shabbat, and all Shabbat and Yomtov Amidas, except Rosh Hashana Mussaph. Seven themes in Magen Avot, a microcosm of the Amida on Friday night. Seven aliyot on Shabbat. Seven straps of the tefillin on the arm. Seven days of Pesach and Succot in Israel. Seven Noachide laws. Seven pairs of clean animals were

brought into Noah’s ark. Seven generations from Avraham to Moshe. King David was the seventh brother in his family. Perhaps if Snow White was Jewish we could add the seven dwarfs!

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Simon

GoldersGreen@RaymondJames.com

GoldersGreen.RaymondJames.uk.com

IDF military options against Hezbollah

BY DAVID SAFFER

As the Jewish Weekly went to press, a worrying report came out of the Arabic Post, claiming that Iran has given Hezbollah the green light to escalate its attacks on Israels northern border.

Israel Defence Forces is increasing its military options against Hezbollah.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant updated troops on a visit to the IDF’s Northern Command headquarters this week. And he had a stark warning for the terror group.

back Hezbollah forces and infrastructure from the border area.

“We are striking (Hezbollah) operatives and commanders,” he said. “They are looking for replacements and I don’t see any volunteers, everyone is afraid. We will continue to strike them down.”

Whilst negotiators work to organise the release of hostages held in Gaza, Gallant was forthright on IDF targets in the north.

“If anyone thinks that when we reach an agreement to release hostages in the south and the fire stops (in Gaza) temporarily, this will make things easier here, they are mistaken,” he said. “We will continue the fire and we will do so independently from the south, until we achieve our goals. The goal is simple, to withdraw Hezbollah to where it should be - either via a (diplomatic) agreement, or we will do it by force.”

He said: “We are planning to increase the firepower against Hezbollah, which is unable to find replacements for the commanders that we are eliminating. If a temporary pause is reached in Gaza, we will increase the fire in the north separately, and will continue until the full withdrawal of Hezbollah (from the border) and return of Israeli citizens to their homes.”

Gallant was briefed on plans to push

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the IDF Alpinist Unit and 53rd Battalion on Mount Hermon where he received an operational briefing from 210th Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Zion Ratzon.

He said: “We are on the way to eliminating Hamas and releasing our hostages. We will not relent until we achieve victory. In the north, we have a simple goal to return the residents. In order to do that, we need to restore the sense of security and this will be achieved. We will not relent. We will achieve this militarily, if necessary, diplomatically, if possible. Hezbollah needs to understand, we

will restore security. You are part of this message. The people of Israel are behind you.”

Netanyahu told CBS News on Sunday that Israel is committed to a military operation in Rafah and to end the Gaza war in the coming weeks.

Speaking on Face the Nation, Netanyahu said: “Once we begin the Rafah operation, the intense phase of the fighting is weeks away from completion, not months. We’ve already destroyed 18 of the 24 Hamas terrorist battalions. Four of them are concentrated in the Rafah. We can’t leave the last Hamas stronghold without taking care of it.”

having enormous complications. They said you cannot fight, you can’t enter Gaza City, you can’t go into the tunnels…

Regarding a hostage deal, Netanyahu said Hamas must come down from “delusional claims”.

He explained: “Hamas started out with crazy demands. It’s too soon to say if they’ve abandoned them, but if they come down to a reasonable situation, then yes, we’ll have a hostage deal.”

Netanyahu addressed reports on issues with the Biden administration.

He responded: “The US agrees with us on the goal of destroying Hamas. And on the goal of releasing the hostages. The decisions of how to do that are left with us and with me and the elected cabinet of Israel. And we’re doing that… They said you can’t enter the ground war without

All of that turned out to be not true. Our soldiers are in the tunnel network. We don’t have to take apart hundreds of kilometers of tunnels, we are taking apart the missile production factories that are underground, the command and control headquarters, the computers that are there, the money that is there, the weapons that are there… We’re doing that methodically... we’re doing it very responsibly. John Spencer, who’s the head of urban warfare at West Point, says no other army has gone to the lengths that Israel’s army has gone to clear civilians out of harm’s way, even though Hamas is doing everything to keep them in harm’s way.”

WJC welcomes Von der Leyen candidacy

BY DAVID SAFFER

World Jewish Congress has welcomed Ursula Von der Leyen seeking a second term in office as President of the European Commission. The top Euro diplomat confirmed her candidacy for another five years in the post at a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party meeting in Berlin.

“I am taking a very conscious and well-considered decision,” Von Der Leyen said. “I am very grateful to the CDU for nominating me as the top candidate for the EPP,” she said.

The four month process takes place against the backdrop of increased tensions over Vladimir Putin’s Russia, the forthcoming US election and Gaza war.

Von der Leyen said Europe needed to “defend against divisions from within and without” during her address but will be “better prepared” than 2019 when she prevailed in a tight contest.

“Under her leadership, the Commission has developed into a powerful player in global politics, successfully steering the continent through the coronavirus

pandemic and taking a clear stance against Russian aggression,” said a WJC spokesman.

“The fight against Jew hatred in Europe is a matter close to Von der Leyen’s heart. She has worked tirelessly to achieve this since the beginning of her term in office. The first European ‘Strategy on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish Life’ adopted in 2021 was a milestone. The central position of the Commission’s Coordinator for combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish Life also speaks volumes.

“Unlike many other high-ranking political representatives, Von der Leyen also stood firmly and unreservedly on the side of the victims after the terrible attacks of October 7. She emphasised Israel’s right to self-defence just as uncompromisingly as the obligation of politics and civil society worldwide to counter the resurgence of Jew hatred with all their might. For the Jews in Europe, there can be no better Commission President.”

Announcing Von der Leyen’s nomination as CDU candidate, Party leader

Friedrich Merz, said Von Der Leyen was a unanimous selection within centre-right political parties in the European parliament. She needs backing of two more EPP parties.

WJC President Ronald S. Lauder, meantime, has issued a forceful condemnation against Brazilian President Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva who compared Israel’s actions in Gaza to those of Nazi Germany and accused Israel of genocide.

“The allegations by President Lula are not only historically inaccurate but dangerously blur the lines of antisemitism,” he said. “Such comparisons are not just a distortion of reality but are profoundly disrespectful to the victims of the Holocaust and the October 7 massacre.”

“Israel’s military engagement is a legitimate act of self-defence against Hamas, a recognized terrorist group,” Lauder added. “With antisemitism surging across the world, it is particularly important that political leaders be informed and supportive of their Jewish communities. In this case, President Lula must urgently correct course to ensure that

Jews feel protected in Brazil, home to one of the largest populations of Holocaust survivors.”

WJC discussed ways to support Israelis impacted by the October 7 terror attack by Hamas at a special conference in Miami.

The event was a follow-up to a WJC mission to Israel where delegates visited Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and kibbutzim across the southern region.

The forum was attended by Israel’s Deputy Consul General in Miami, Mike Driquez.

He observed: “We are fighting the war for the future of Israel, the future of the Jewish communities around the world, and actually, the future of mankind.”

The delegation learnt about Israel’s legal structure and humanitarian impact of the ongoing war.

The trip took place as the International Court of Justice sat over Israel’s actions in Gaza.

Defence Minister Gallant receives an update PHOTO: GPO

Prime Minister Netanyahu visits Mount Herman troops PHOTO: GPO

Hostage hopes rise as talks continue

BY DAVID SAFFER

Hopes are rising to free 130 hostages held in captivity by Hamas.

Delicate negotiations are taking place between mediators whilst Israel Defence Forces continue operations against Hamas and Hezbollah targets.

Mossad director David Barnea held talks with US, Egyptian and Qatar officials in Paris last Friday. Hamas have received an outline agreement to approve that would include a six week ceasefire.

Qatar and Egypt served as intermediaries between Hamas and Israel.

Negotiations on ‘technical issues’ continued in Doha earlier this week when Israel’s war cabinet was expected to back Barnea. An Israeli delegation are due to hold more talks this week.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told CNN’s ‘State of the Union’ programme on Sunday that Israel wanted to liberate its remaining hostages and was working on the “framework” of an agreement.

“We are all working on it,” he said. But Hamas have to drop “crazy” demands for a deal.

Netanyahu has indicated an assault on Rafah could be delayed if a deal is reached.

He said: “If we have a deal, it’ll be delayed somewhat. But it’ll happen. If we don’t have

a deal, we’ll do it anyway. It has to be done. Total victory is our goal and total victory is within reach. Not months away, weeks away once we begin the operation,”

Netanyahu has reportedly insisted ‘high-level Palestinian security prisoners’ released would not return to Palestinian Territories but be deported to Qatar. Doha’s position is unclear.

There are reports Israel want a list of hostages that are still alive.

Finance Minister Smotrich is against a proposed deal as they are too favourable for Hamas.

Tzachi Hanegbi, National Security head told Israeli media after Shabbat that a deal was “possible” but any deal would not signal the end of the war with Hamas across Gaza.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan informed CNN that the ‘basic contours’ for an agreement had been agreed with a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. But he was being cautious.

“I’m not going to go into the specifics because it is still under negotiation in terms of hammering out the details,” he said, adding, “There will have to be indirect discussions by Qatar and Egypt with Hamas because ultimately they will have to agree to release the hostages. That work is underway. We hope that in the coming days, we can drive

to a point where there is actually a firm and final agreement on this issue.”

Sullivan continued: “There’s been a lot of to’ing and fro’ing. So I’m not going to make predictions and I’m not going to kind of put percentage chances on it.”

Various reports have noted a deal would see up to 40 children, women and over 60s and sick patients hostages released. Barnea is pushing for the inclusion of female soldiers in this phase.

In return, Israel will ratify a cease-fire for a number of without committing to end the war.

Mediators aim to finalise details before Ramadan on March 10.

Hamas insist Israel halt drone and IAF operations across Gaza during this period.

Israel would release hundreds of Palestinians in prison and redeploy Israeli troops in Gaza but there would not be a complete withdrawal as Hamas have demanded.

Pressure is beginning to tell on the terror group who have not relented on this clause to a deal.

The outline would reportedly see Palestinian women and children return to northern Gaza.

Channel 12 reported points of contention including Israeli opposition to Gaza being reconstructed until it is fully demilitarised. There are also disagreements on

the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released.

Netanyahu presented a draft ‘Day after Hamas’ proposal for the Gaza Strip to the security cabinet last Thursday.

The IDF in an initial stage will continue to target Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad infrastructure to end future threats at the border whilst aiming for a hostage deal.

Operations will continue in Gaza during a second phase. Israel, Egypt and the US will establish security to end weapons smuggling into southern Gaza and ensure the Strip is demilitarised. A Gazan civilian administration would include local figures with no affiliation to terrorist supporting countries.

Long term, Israel opposes unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state although the document does not rule out the Palestinian Authority being part of future Gaza governance. The UAE and Saudi Arabia, whilst not having full government support, would contribute to Gaza’s rehabilitation.

The IDF would launch a pilot administration programme in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood.

Any deal includes the de-radicalisation of religious, educational and welfare institutions across Gaza. And UNRWA would be replaced by international welfare agencies.

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Department KLBD - Kashrut Division of the London Beth Din

Job Title Research Worker

Working Hours 35 Hours per week

Salary Dependent on experience

A vacancy has arisen for a full-time Research Worker to join the Food Technology Team at the KLBD, Europe’s Largest Kashrut Authority.

The job involves investigating products for listing in the Isitkosher search and The Really Jewish Food Guide. This entails contacting food manufacturers to ask them for information about the ingredients and manufacture of their products, processing the responses received to request further or missing information, inputting the details to the KLBD food database and submitting products for Rabbinical approval once the information is complete. Some of the time will be spent dealing with product enquiries from members of the public and KLBD licensees, and on occasion there may be a requirement to help with other areas of work at the KLBD.

The ideal candidate will be a quick learner who has good analytical and writing skills and is computer literate. They will be flexible and able to work as part of a team. They will be well organised, with a good eye for detail and will work to a high standard of accuracy.

It would be an advantage, although not essential, if the applicant had spent time learning in a Seminary or Yeshiva. A rabbinical or food technology qualification is not required for this post. Full training will be provided in all aspects of the work.

For further information and to download an application form, visit www.theus.org.uk/vacancies. Closing date for completed applications is 14th March 2024.

If you have any questions, contact the KLBD on 020 8343 6255 or email rcoten@kosher.org.uk

Cleverly blasts Big Ben message

BY ADAM MOSES

Home Secretary James Cleverly has condemned a ‘deeply offensive’ genocidal slogan projected on one of London’s most iconic visitor sites during a Gaza war debate in Parliament last week.

Pro-Palestinian activists beamed the controversial chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” on Big Ben as politicians debated an SNP motion which ultimately descended into chaos.

Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was forced to apologise to MPs for allowing the Labour Party’s ‘immediate humanitarian ceasefire’ amendment to the SNP’s Gaza ceasefire motion.

Labour’s amendment was ‘nodded through’ after the Conservative Party refused to take part. SNP MPs walked out of the debate in disgust. The ramifications continue.

Cleverly told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the projection outside Parliament was “deeply, deeply offensive”

He said: “It’s very difficult for me to second-guess the operational nature of this. I don’t know where those images were projected from. I don’t know how easy it would have been for the police officers to get there. But the fact is they are deeply, deeply offensive words... The implication is the eradication of the state of Israel. Both personally and as a Government, we completely reject that.”

London Metropolitan Police have been criticised for not acting as they don’t deem it to be a criminal offence.

“This is a chant that has been frequently heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations

for many years, and we are very aware of the strength of feeling in relation to it,” the police said on social media.

“While there are scenarios where chanting or using these words could be unlawful depending on the specific location or context, its use in a wider public protest setting, such as last night, is not a criminal offense.”

Ministers will not “impinge on operational decisions” by the police to stop such protests, Cleverly stated Friday.

CFI Parliamentary Vice Chair Andrew Percy, labelled the slogan a ‘genocidal call’.

Co-Vice Chair Theresa Villiers noted: “No one should have to hide who they are to protect their own safety. The police must use the full force of the law against perpetrators of anti-Jewish hate crime. Enough is enough.” She added: “We have a climate of hard-line support that has seen antisemitism on the streets of our capital city. My constituents from the Jewish community feel intimidated about coming into the centre of London.”

StandWithUs UK were among Jewish organisations enraged at the sight of an iconic British monument, which represents British democracy, being used to protest.

“This abhorrent chant calls for a state of Palestine at the expense of Israel, the only Jewish state in the world,” said a spokesman. “Whilst British MPs are increasingly speaking about fears for their safety due to hateful mobs and threats, iconic symbols of this country are abused with these antisemitic slogans.”

A Campaign Against Antisemitism

spokesman said the stunt and chaos in Parliament was ‘a wake-up call for Britain’. They also called on the Police commissioner to act.

CAA noted: “They hijacked Big Ben and turned it into a billboard for their genocidal slogan. We have had people on our streets holding antisemitic placards and glorifying the most barbaric of terrorists. They then moved on to intimidating our lawmakers and disrupting the lives of the public. Now they are making their mark on our national landmarks. When will we say enough? When will this count as sufficient “disruption to the life of the community” for Sir Mark Rowley to invoke his powers to ban this?”

The SNP-proposed ceasefire motion has put Speaker Hoyle under pressure from some quarters to resign.

During the debate CFI Parliamentary Chair Stephen Crabb condemned the “appalling outpouring of antisemitism” across the country.

Crabb said there had been a “concerted campaign” to pressure and bully MPs to “fall into line behind a very specific wording about a ceasefire” that had the objective of “keeping Hamas in place in Gaza”.

Former Attorney General Sir Michael Ellis said: “Israel has been through multiple rounds of conflict initiated by the genocidal Hamas terror group in Gaza.”

The SNP motion would grant Hamas “endless opportunities to destroy Israel”.

Villiers added: “Unless Hamas are defeated militarily and removed from power, there is nothing to stop them rebuilding their capacity to commit heinous

acts of terrorism. We must not forget the October 7 attacks in which 1,000 people lost their lives, involving sickening levels of violence and abuse of the most horrific kind.” She continued: “We must not forget the hostages still held in Gaza. No pause or ceasefire can be workable, sustainable or permanent unless it comes after the release of all hostages, the defeat and removal of Hamas from power, and an end to the terror group’s capacity to repeat their October atrocity.”

Leader of the House Penny Mordaunt commented: “British Jews are suffering a grotesque level of hatred and abuse, which quite frankly shames our country”

Former Cabinet Minister Robert Jenrick said that leaving Hamas partially intact would be intolerable for Israel.

“It would send a clear message that using human shields works and that we will not allow Israel to fully defend itself,” he noted.

Jenrick added: “This House appears cowed by threats of violence and intimidation. British Jews and others (are) too intimidated to walk through central London week after week. Now we are allowing Islamist extremists to intimidate British Members of Parliament.”

Dr. Matthew Offord added that his constituents faced a level of antisemitism not seen before.

Offord said there were calls for “jihad on the streets of London” and the Metropolitan Police had refused to act while the Crown Prosecution Service were “declining” to prosecute.

Israel is safe to visit Katz tells NRB convention

BY DAVID SAFFER

Tourism Minister Haim Katz is actively promoting a renewal of travel to Israel despite the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza.

Katz offered his views to 4,000 delegates at the National Religious Broadcasters Media Convention in Nashville.

Israel’s tourism chief thanked the evangelical community for support and called for increased pilgrim tours to the Hold Land.

“The massacre that was perpetrated on us on October 7 brought us back to dark days, days in which we rediscovered the resilience of the people living in Zion,” he said. “The support and messages of solidarity from the Christian community were a great light for us in the darkness.

“Be our ambassadors in words and deeds. The best way to support Israel is to visit Israel. The safety of tourists is our top priority. Israel takes great care regarding the safety of tourists and citizens alike. Most of the tourist areas were not affected by the war and are completely safe. Come again

this year, to strengthen yourselves and to strengthen us.”

Over a third of tourists to Israel are Americans, half Christian pilgrims. Evangelical solidarity missions have increased exponentially this year but the war has hit Israel’s tourism industry.

According to reports January saw a 77% decrease on January 2023.

In 2019, Israel welcomed a record-breaking 4.5 million tourists.

Katz called on the Christian world to boost tourism to Israel.

Meetings took place with marketing and media companies, including TBN, the largest evangelical television network in the US and Salem Group, who are the most prominent in the field.

Katz held meetings in New York with InterNova Travel Group and United States Tour Operators.

He noted: “2024 will be characterised by faith-based and solidarity tourism.

“The NRB convention is a key event to garner support and promote travel to Israel. The American market is the largest source market for Israel, with the highest figures for incoming tourism and very

significant for the Israeli economy. Demand from the US is at a peak. We must maintain the momentum, and especially in light of the war, encourage as much as possible tourism to Israel.”

Katz and ministry representatives are strengthening collaboration with tour operators and opinion leaders.

Israel’s Ministry of Tourism ran a dedicated booth illustrating the pilgrim and tourist experience in Israel.

Katz and NRB President Troy Miller cut the ribbon of the Israel booth, which provided a platform for tour operators, social organisations and business entrepreneurs to create collaborations.

In travel news, United Airlines is the latest carrier to resume direct flights to Israel. The Chicago-based flyer is the first American carrier to resume services since the October 7 terror attack by Hamas.

Flights will operate from Newark to Tel Aviv tomorrow and Sunday with a stop in Munich. Return flights to Newark take place March 3 and 5. United are hoping to resume a daily nonstop service to Tel Aviv starting March 6 from Newark on a Boeing 787-10.

United do not plan to restart flights from other US cities until later this year.

United, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines suspended services to Israel following the terror attack. Restarting flights is a huge statement of intent and turning

point for travel to Israel.

United have conducted a detailed safety analysis including ‘work with security experts and government officials’ in the US and Israel. They will continue to monitor the situation in Tel Aviv and adjust schedules accordingly, including New York/Newark. Before October 7, United ran four daily direct flights to Tel Aviv from Newark, San Francisco, Washington and Chicago.

Flights not yet resumed will be evaluated in the coming months.

Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Aegean and Air France have already restarted flights to Tel Aviv.

Delta canceled flights to Israel until April 30, American Airlines to October 28.

El Al, meantime, continues to fly twice daily (except Shabbat) from Heathrow to Tel Aviv and also Luton. Wizz plans to return from tomorrow and will fly three times a week.  EasyJet is indicating a four times per week service starting March 25.

British Airways plans to return beginning of April with four flights per week, outbound flights stopping in Larnaca for 45 minutes for a crew change.

Virgin Atlantic has confirmed flights to Tel Aviv will remain suspended until September 5.

Israel-bound travellers can connect via most European gateway airports and connect with Arkia and Israir.

Tourism Minister Haim Katz PHOTO:GPO

Ancient scarab found in Galilee

BY ADAM MOSES

Erez Avrahamov, 45, of Peduel, discovered a scarab at the Tabor Stream Nature Reserve in the Lower Galilee dating back to the First Temple period.

The seal may indicate the presence of Assyrian (or perhaps Babylonian) officials nearly 2,800 years ago. Avahamov, who was on two days IDF leave, received a certificate of appreciation.

The rare find was transferred to the national treasures department of the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Avrahamov said. “I saw something sparkling on the ground. At first, I thought it was a bead or an orange stone. After picking it up, I noticed engravings on it resembling a scarab. I reported the amazing find.”

According to Nir Distelfeld of the Theft Prevention Unit at the IAA: “I understood that Erez had found something special. I told him to look closely at the flat side of the scarab and check if it was engraved. Immediately I heard an exclamation of amazement and he’d identified a figure.”

Professor Emeritus Othmar Keel,

University of Fribourg in Switzerland. said: “The scarab, made of a semi-precious stone called carnelian, depicts a griffin (a mythical creature) or a winged horse galloping. Similar scarabs were dated to the 8th century BCE.”

“Erez showed good citizenship. Such a rare find can certainly expand our knowledge of the past.” The scarab was found at the foot of Tel Rekhesh in the north of Israel. The site is identified as the city of ‘Anacharath’ (Joshua 19:19) within the territory of the tribe of Issachar.”

According to Dr. Yitzhak Paz, an IAA archaeologist who has excavated at Tel Rekhesh since 2006, “One of the most important periods of settlement dates back to the Iron Age. A large citadel stood atop the mound containing fortified structures, paved bathrooms, halls and ceremonial chambers which belonged to the Assyrian rule. This rule was responsible for the destruction of the kingdom of Israel. The scarab discovered may be from the period of the Assyrian rule and may indicate the presence of Assyrian officials (or perhaps Babylonian) at Tel Rekhesh during this period.

“The griffin appearing on the seal is a known artistic motif in Ancient Near Eastern art and is common on seals from the Iron

Age. Considering the scarcity of finds discovered so far area of the citadel, and if indeed the seal can be dated to the late Iron Age based on iconographic considerations, it may be possible to link the seal to the Assyrian presence in the citadel of Tel Rekhesh, which may be a discovery of great significance.”

The scarab is seal common throughout the 4th millennium BCE onwards. Scarab seals were designed in the shape of a beetle. The Egyptian name is derived from the verb ‘to be created’ or ‘to be born’.

Scarabs were made from a wide variety of stones, most were made of steatite, a soft talc stone that usually had a bluish-green glaze.

The glaze survived the dry climate of Egypt, scarabs found in Israel, have almost no traces of glaze and appear grayish-white. Against this background, the orange colour of the scarab stands out.

Eli Escusido, IAA Director observed: “Every winter, with the arrival of the rainy season, antiquities begin to ‘float’ and rise above the surface.”

Escusido called on the public to adhere to the Antiquities Law and report finds to the IAA.

The exact place of discovery is crucial. The scarab will be preserved in the national treasures department of the IAA, where there will be further research.

Second Temple stone box discovered

BY HARRY SIMONS

A 2,000-year-old multi-compartment stone container dating back to the Second Temple can be viewed at the Israel Museum, Jerusalem.

The rare box was discovered during excavations by the Israel Antiquities in the City of David part of the Jerusalem Walls National Park. The square box, measuring 30 x 30 cm, was carved from soft limestone and divided inside into nine equal sized compartments.

The work was funded by the City of David Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of Heritage.

Researchers assume the box was used for commercial purposes.

Dr. Yuval Baruch and Ari Levy, IAA excavation directors, noted in a statement: “During excavations we uncovered ceramic and glass vessels, production and cooking facilities, measuring tools, stone weights and coins. These objects suggest the road was connected to commercial activities such as a lively urban market. The Pilgrimage Road connecting the Pool of Siloam to the Temple Mount was the main thoroughfare of the city.”

The economic and commercial systems were similar to other large cities in the Roman world and boasted large markets featuring local and imported goods. As a

temple city and pilgrim center, ancient Jerusalem markets must have had specialised items, uncommon in other areas.

Daily life and trade must have been conducted with strict adherence to Jewish purity laws. Evidence can be seen by

archaeological finds such as thousands of limestone vessel fragments discovered in excavations throughout the ancient city and surroundings.

The widespread use of stone vessels can be explained by Jewish law which

designates that stone, unlike made clay or metal, cannot become impure.

“It seems that the stone box from the City of David was related to the unique Jerusalem economy conducted in the shadow of the temple maintaining strict observance and in accordance with purity laws, we can consider this box a distinctly Jerusalem find.” Levy and Dr. Baruch noted.

Pieces of a similar box were discovered 50 years ago by archaeologist Nachman Avigad during excavations in the Jewish quarter.

Avigad described the object as a ‘nuts and seeds bowl’. Similar boxes have been discovered in Jerusalem, mostly in the City of David, however, this example is complete, so a rare find.

Dudi Mevorah, Archaeology Department at the Israel Museum senior curator said: “The fragments were brought to Victor Uziel, of the conservation laboratory which specialises in restoration of artefacts. We placed the stone box on permanent display with spectacular colourful frescos, chandeliers and magnificent pottery, stone and metal vessels from Jerusalem’s luxury houses dating to the Second Temple period.”

First Lady welcomes ARCCI report

BY HARRY SIMONS

A 40-page publication documenting gender-based violence by Hamas on and since the October 7 terror attack has been sent to the United Nations.

First Lady Michal Herzog recognised the importance of the newly published report by the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel when she met faculty members and students of UCLA visiting Israel.

She also addressed the hostile atmosphere towards Jews and Israel on US campuses.

The First Lady noted: “We, Israeli women, Jewish women, felt betrayed by the deafening silence of the human rights organisations and women’s rights organisations around the world, that did not respond or address the October 7 atrocities in any way or framework,” she said. “We were always asked, where’s the evidence, show us evidence. Based on past experiences, we know that first and foremost, the victims and survivors must be believed. The first step is to believe the women. Moreover, there is ample evidence: unfortunately, we all watched and witnessed. This was a shockingly photographed and recorded series of events. The atrocities were shown and flaunted with glee by the people who actually took part in this horrible attack.”

She added: “It is a heartbreaking report, describing in detail the gender- based violence, the witnesses, the evidence. I am so glad that they put it together in order for the world to read, for organisations like UN Women to understand what really happened. I hope that with the backing of such reports and evidence from very brave people, especially witnesses, and very brave women from Israeli civil society and from around the world who are fighting to bring this message to the world, we will move the needle so that the world understands what went on.”

The report is the first official research since October 7 and demonstrates Hamas had a clear operational strategy.

Focusing on gender-based violence during the massacre of October 7, 2023, and war that ensued, the publication analyses confidential and public information, including testimonies, interviews and direct information received by the ARCCI. The report does not provide quantitative information due to the nature of the events, most of which resulted in the victims’ deaths, making their full extent unknown and possibly unknowable.

The report has been submitted to decision-makers at the UN.

Orit Sulitzeanu, CEO ARCCI, “Hamas chose to harm Israel strategically. Silence is no longer an option. We expect

international organisations to take a clear stance; we cannot stand on the sidelines. Silence will be remembered as a historical stain on those who chose to remain silent and deny the sexual crimes committed by Hamas.”

Gender-based violence occurred systematically at the Nova Festival (Re’im music festival), kibbutzim, IDF bases and assaults in captivity.

Dr. Carmit Klar Chalamish and Noga Berger, stated: “The brutal practices used on October 7 were designed to destroy and inflict sadistic terror. The manner in which these assaults were carried out aimed to reinforce their impact on the victims and their communities, which

failed to prevent the harm. As the scars in our hearts refuse to heal, and the souls of our sisters and brothers cry out to us from the depths of the earth, a significant portion of those we considered partners responded in silence and denial of these horrors. We call on you to raise your voices and not allow the cries of these victims to fade away.”

The ARCCI was founded in 1990 as an umbrella organisation addressing around 50,000 calls each year. The organisation operates as an agency for social change. The ARCCI works to promote rights and services for survivors of abuse, adopt preventive measures, and reduce the prevalence of the phenomenon in Israel.

GMC suspends Apprentice contestant

BY ADAM MOSES

A The General Medical Council has suspended a participant in the hit BBC show ‘The Apprentice’ pending an investigation.

Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed the action against Dr Asif Munaf, who appeared on the top rating show. CAA submitted a complaint about Munaf’s conduct to the GMC.

Munaf hit the headlines for inflammatory remarks. Reported comments included ‘Zionist antichrist’, ‘slimy Zionist PR machine’, ‘odiously ogre-like Zionists’,

‘Zionist doctors’ and ‘weaponising the Holocaust’.

A CAA spokesperson described alleged remarks by Munaf “vile” with “no place” in the medical profession. CAA added: “Given the gravity of these allegations, it is right that the GMC has suspended him pending an investigation, following our complaint. The GMC must send a message of zero tolerance of antisemitism. We will be monitoring this case closely.”

Munaf was reportedly sent by the BBC on diversity and inclusion training before further online comments after his departure from the show.

CAA, meantime, have welcomed news that The Honours Forfeiture Committee has withdrawn an MBE from grime rapper Richard Kylea Cowie, known as Wiley.

In 2020, CAA wrote to the committee, who opened a case against Wiley which he received in 2018 following an antisemitic rant.

Stephen Silverman, CAA Director of Investigations and Enforcement, said: “Antisemites like Wiley must understand that we will work tirelessly to hold them to account. For four years, we have worked to ensure that Wiley faces ruinous consequences for his unhinged antisemitic tirade, for which he has shown no remorse. Today’s decision is a vindication of that effort.

“We commend the Committee for using its powers to make clear that anti-Jewish racists cannot be role models in our society and will be stripped of their honours. Receiving an honour is not a one-time thing: it carries an ongoing responsibility to set an example to others.

“Due to technical reasons, including legal action that we continue to pursue against Wiley, the forfeiture was delayed. We are grateful to the Committee for its work on this matter.”

CAA called on Twitter and Instagram to close Wiley’s social media accounts.

Wiley has reportedly likened Jews to the Ku Klax Klan and repeated conspiracy theories against Jews.

CAA have also praised news of a solicitor being struck off over “vile” antisemitic social media tweets.

The Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal made the ruling against Farrukh Najeeb Husain.

The SRA investigated Husain, an

immigration and employment solicitor, following complaints regarding his conduct on X, reported by Bevan Brittain, a law firm that employed him.

Silverman gave expert witness testimony in the case. Husain represented himself.

A CAA spokesperson said Husain had shown no remorse for the hurt and disgust caused.

“The SRA was right to bring this case to restore confidence in the legal profession,” they noted. “The SDT has shown that there is no place for antisemitism in English law.”

Tweets were directed at Simon Myerson KC and journalist Hugo Rifkind.

Husain claimed the SRA was “weaponising new antisemitism” and accused the regulator of being “in bed” with CAA. During her cross-examination of Husain, he said: “Mr Myerson is a fascist”.

Silverman asked the defendant if he was calling him an antisemite, Husain responded: “Yes.”

Husain accused CAA of being set up and funded by a former Israeli diplomat.

Throughout proceedings, Husain was reminded by the chairperson to conduct himself appropriately. In one instance, the panel accused Husain of “bordering on being abusive to Mr Silverman at times”.

First Lady Michal Herzog presents report

PHOTO: GPO

OPINION

Borrow is Brilliant!

OPINION PIECE

BY ANDREW ROSEMARINE

Tom Borrow has just wowed Manchester and the North in five concerts with Manchester’s Halle Orchestra. Last year, Tom, from Tel Aviv, won the Orchestra’s elite Terence Judd-Halle Prize. He has already won all the major Israeli piano competitions. He’s also a BBC New Generation Artist. Good to see the BBC doing something positive.

I’ve just heard Tom live, playing Beethoven’s melody-full Third Piano Concerto, with gusto, drama and authority. His virtuosity excels in dynamics, as he skillfully

changes the volume within a short phrase, bringing out the best from each note, like the best of chazzonim.

Watching him close up, as I did, is like a trip to the theatre. His eyes sink into a reverie in romantic bars; his hand heads for his chin, like Rodin’s Thinker; his forelocks flop, when his playing is forceful; his ears prick up, when an orchestral soloist surprises him; and he bows the deep bow of the Russian masters, like Kissin. What a spectacle! The audience lapped it up.

The Halle’s musicians listened spellbound. This, together with conductor Maxime Pascal’s passion, produced a play with pianist and orchestra and the mighty Halle. Just like the first performance, with Beethoven at the piano, but better. The

What did we miss?

OPINION PIECE

BY ROBERT FESTENSTEIN

The answer is pretty much everything.

When I say we, I mean the Jewish community as a whole. Only now, with the hate marches a regular feature, the lack of activity by the Metropolitan Police, the vilification of Israel by various politicians and finally the decision of an employment tribunal that elevates hatred of Israel to a philosophical position, has the penny finally dropped that we are in deep trouble.

There are many dates which could be used as a starting point for the decline into the position we currently face. For me it is July 2014, when the IDF launched a response into Gaza following unceasing missile, rocket and mortar fire on civilian centers in

Israel. The reaction to that was shocking, both in its intensity and volume. Levels of Jew-hate rose to record levels. It was then that the real destructive and hateful power of social media came to the fore, and crucially, the number of demonstrations intimidating Jews across the country. Added to that was the clear bias of various news outlets (sounds familiar) and the passing of various critical motions by local authorities so it was abundantly clear the Jews were a target.

Yet we ignored all of this, so when the fighting stopped and the hate campaigns abated, we thought it was okay to come out and play again. Only it wasn’t. Jeremy Corbyn became leader of the Labour Party and for the 5 years he was leader from 2015 to 2020, levels of anti-Semitism in the party just rose and rose. It was so bad one Labour MP needed police protection at one of the Labour Party conferences.

The opinions on this page do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper

composer’s page-turner at the 1803 premier, commented that many of the pages were blank, others contained hieroglyphic-like scrawls. Beethoven improvised, and the concerto was not well received. He should have engaged Borrow and Halle instead. Tom has just been appointed artist-in-residence with Sao Paolo’s Symphony orchestra. He is only 23, and already hitting all the right notes, (and in the right order,) worldwide. The concert was fun. We should borrow Borrow’s brio. You can see him on YouTube playing the last movement with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. He will be back with the Halle. Come and marvel!

Andrew Rosemarine is a former scholar of Israel’s National Academy of Hazzanut, and writes frequently on Classical Music. AndrewsShots@gmail.com

The communal wisdom was to reach out to Labour and make friends with them, or rather those who would talk to us. Explain how much we supported the Two State Solution and how Israel was sometimes in the wrong. More recently, in order to convince our enemies that we are ‘on-side’ various leaders of communal bodies openly criticized Israeli politicians and policies. Inter-faith became the accepted way forward for us in the hope that we would be understood by other faith communities. Then came the 7th October 2023. Briefly, and only briefly, Israel was supported by most UK politicians and institutions, right up to the point where the IDF started their response. Suddenly, and predictably, the support started to melt away and demands for a ceasefire (to allow Hamas to stay in power) became more and more shrill. Now, as I said at the outset, it is clear we are in deep trouble, unprotected by some

Happy 20th Birthday, GIFT

OPINION PIECE

BY RABBI NAFTALI SCHIFF

Smartphones have been the symbol of our individualistic age’s obsession with ourselves.

As Will Storr, a British author and journalist, charted in his book, Selfie, in today’s economy, individuals have been transformed into a currency, with influencers marketing themselves and competing against one another for popularity and followers. Yet, in the Jewish community, we have seen the rise of another currency altogether, of giving, volunteering and countless acts of charity.

Next month GIFT turns 20, marking over two decades of immense charitable activity. At its inception, there was a perception that GIFT was simply an organisation that

would provide challot and food packages for struggling families, coordinating with drivers to deliver these bags across London. Yet, we always held a deeper vision, of educating and inculcating an activism and spirit of giving to others, of focusing outwardly and not inwardly. Our smartphones, for example, seen by many as tools of selfishness, have been used to give to others. WhatsApp groups of thousands of people, ready to volunteer, tutor, deliver food packages, shop, and support are active almost every hour of every day.

GIFT celebrates 20 years of spreading this message, of the importance and pleasure of giving to others, across the entire communal spectrum of British Jewry, Israel and beyond. As a result of the work of 20 years, it is a profound pleasure to see the beginnings of a palpable transformation from “Me” to “We” happening within our

community, from London to Manchester, Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. Giving and volunteering are increasingly the norm amongst young people in our communities. There is a second wave change in which GIFT has also played a significant part. In today’s world, we are stricken by a sense of disaster. The recent crises that have stricken us, from the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the horrendous massacre of October 7th and Israel’s ongoing war against Hamas, are earth-shattering catastrophes, all different in scale and personal impact of course, but all catastrophic and, for many, paralysing. GIFT has served the vital role of enabling us to respond to each of these events positively, of facilitating giving on an unprecedented scale, mobilising an army of volunteers to help provide for those shattered in the wake of those tragedies. We need not only focus on

police forces and the subject of increasing hostility.

What we missed is that Jew-hate is one of the oldest hatreds, and simply trying to be nice to people in the hope they will be nice back just doesn’t work. History has told us this again and again, and yet we as a community ignored it. If we are to remain a viable community in the UK, we need to recognise that the approaches taken so far just haven’t worked. It’s to look at the history, see and understand the mistakes then and now, and start again. Only this time, not quite so nicely.

Robert Festenstein is a practising solicitor and has been the principal of his Salford based firm for over 20 years. He has fought BDS motions to the Court of Appeal and is President of the Zionist Central Council in Manchester which serves to protect and defend the democratic State of Israel.

the negative, dwelling on the despondency and destruction that pervades, but can also stand up and act, improving the lot of so many around us. We need not simply be coloured by the terror around us, but can actively fight back through acts of kindness, changing society for the better.

GIFT exists thanks to the thousands of volunteers, supporters, and friends that make GIFT what it is. A grassroots movement educating, inspiring, and enabling a positive attitude towards giving, transformed daily into thousands of acts of giving. GIFT, and its spirit, have now come of age, a permanent and much beloved feature of our community.

Happy 20th Birthday to a movement, part of the Jewish Futures family, that just keeps on giving.

“In Plain Sight”- A strap line from friend and Holocaust survivor Ivor Perl

OPINION PIECE

BY LORD ERIC PICKLES

At the end of February, the UK takes over from Croatia the Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). I will be the Chair of IHRA for the next twelve months. It would be a daunting responsibility at any time, but in the context of the 7th October doubly so. Antisemitism is on the rise; violence intolerance and hatred can be witnessed on our City Streets any given Saturday and ethnic cleansing slogans are shamefully displayed beneath Big Ben. From the USA and Canada across Europe to Australia IHRA member countries have the same Jew hatred undermining society from within.

Countering Antisemitism, along with the by products of Holocaust distortion

and and denial will be central to the UK’s Presidency.

Each Presidency has a theme; ours will be “In Plain Sight”. The strap line comes from my friend and Holocaust survivor Ivor Perl who reminded me on the separation ramp at Auschwitz, which he experienced first hand as a youngster, that the Holocaust did not happen in remote dark corners, but on bright sunny days in plain sight with the world watching.

Key to our presidency will be our efforts to highlight the nature of society that allowed the murder of six million Jews. We will explore why so many people witnessed, facilitated, participated, and frankly benefited from the Holocaust.

In a series of meetings across member countries we will address Holocaust distortion and denial and agree counter measures. In conjunction with the OSCE, we will examine the potential of Artificial Intelligence to create “Deep Fakes” that undermine gathered survivor testimony.

We will also look at ways AI can be used to identify bigots and their contacts of lies. There will be two main gatherings (plenaries) in the UK of IHRA delegates; a Summer one in Scotland, which will be combined with an initiative on Antisemitism in Sport and a Teachers Conference; a Winter one in London which will pull together our work over the year.

There are two practical examples of projects the UK intents to introduce to IHRA.

First “My Home Town” which is a youth engagement project for young people 14+ from schools across the IHRA to get involved in a local history project about their town during WW2. This could include towns that were occupied by Nazi Germany, towns that were home to rescuers, or towns which took in people fleeing persecution. The best of these projects will be presented to the London Plenary Second, 2025 will see the significant 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Camps, in the lead up to the event we will

present the Holocaust in eighty objects on social media.

Finally, the UK’s legacy project will be creation of a British Holocaust Testimony Portal. Working alongside trusted partners across the world, the aim is to create a digital space which can serve as a signpost and learning resource for larger and smaller collections of UK Holocaust testimonies. We hope this will encourage other countries to do the same.

Lord Pickles was appointed Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust issues in September 2015, replacing Sir Andrew Burns. Lord Pickles works closely with the wide range of Holocaust academics, survivors and educational organisations in the UK. Along with the former Labour Cabinet Minister, Ed Balls, he CoChairs the United Kingdom’s Holocaust Memorial Foundation. He was made a Life Peer in 2018.

The real-time unravelling of society in Britain’s tryst with Illiberal Islamist forces

OPINION PIECE

BY STEVE WINSTON

Among the incessant rise in pro-Palestine antisemitism, a concurrent disturbing trend is emerging - one that threatens to unravel the very fabric of our society. It’s a trend marked by a dangerous flirtation with illiberal forces and a worrying willingness to pander to extreme Islamist ideologies under the guise of political correctness and misguided tolerance.

Take, for instance, the rise of the “Muslim Vote” coalition, a brazen attempt to corral the Muslim community into a singular voting bloc, demanding adherence to religious lines and employing a litmus test of political “fitness” based on an elected official’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The coalition’s insistence on treating the Muslim community as a monolithic entity not only oversimplifies the beliefs, values, and priorities within the different Muslim communities, but also perpetuates a dangerous narrative of groupthink and conformity. Plus, its insistence on using support for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict as a litmus test for political fitness

perpetuates a divisive and polarising narrative that pits communities against each other based on their perceived stance on foreign policy issues.

Equally concerning is the proliferation of pro-Hamas cheerleaders in the streets of the UK, openly endorsing Islamist terrorism and projecting genocidal slogans targeting Israelis and Jews. The recent incident of projecting the slogan “From the River to the Sea” on Big Ben, is deeply troubling and indicative of a systemic failure to uphold law and order - made worse by a subsequent Tweet by the Met Police downplaying the incident and defending that it wasn’t a “criminal offence.” Likewise, pro-Palestine Judge Ikram’s leniency towards the pro-Hamas “Paraglider Girls,” convicted terrorists without sentencing, underscores the UK’s growing tolerance of extremist sentiments and actions.

Moreover, the UK government’s flirtations with unilaterally recognising a Palestinian state, devoid of any preconditions and disregarding Israeli concerns, sets a dangerous precedent. Such actions not only reward terrorism and validate the demands of the pro-Hamas crowd but also undermine the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict brokered by the two relevant

interlocutors - Israel and the Palestinians. By caving to pressure and intimidation from radical elements, the UK government risks emboldening extremist groups and jeopardising regional stability. The intimidation and harassment of politicians, exemplified by the fire-bombing of Mike Freer’s office and the heightened security measures for Damien Egan MP due to antisemitic threats, further highlight the toxic atmosphere created by Islamist extremist elements in our midst. Let’s not forget that it was only last week that pro-Palestine intimidation broke out in force, sparked by the SNP’s vote for a ceasefire. The relentless targeting of politicians for their perceived support of Israel or opposition to Hamas is a blatant attempt to stifle dissent and undermine democratic values.

So, what is to be done in the face of this alarming trend? Firstly, the police must uphold the rule of law and enforce regulations without fear or favour. The Metropolitan Police must cease their appeasement of jihadist sympathisers and unequivocally condemn Islamic extremism. Additionally, elected leaders must demonstrate courage and resilience in the face of intimidation, refusing to capitulate to the demands of extremist groups, no matter what

unpleasantness comes their way. Expanding the proscribed organisations list to include even more Islamist terror groups and cracking down on their activities, recruitment, and fundraising would also go a long way to safeguard national security. Moreover, the government must take decisive action against individuals and organisations found to be spreading antisemitism and endorsing terrorism. The government should hastily cancel the visas of those involved in spreading antisemitism and Islamism in the UK, and concurrently investigate and de-register charities linked to Islamic extremism.

The rise of illiberal forces in British politics poses a grave threat to the values of democracy, tolerance, and pluralism that define our society. It is incumbent upon all stakeholders, from law enforcement to elected officials to civil society, to stand united against Islamic extremism and defend the principles of freedom and equality for all. Only by confronting Islamic extremism head-on and reaffirming our commitment to democratic values can we safeguard the future of our nation.

Steve Winston is the Managing Director of the National Jewish Assembly

We know that making such a significant decision can be daunting. That's why we're here to guide you through the process, to make your aliyah stress-free & easy

Young Jewish Care raise £110,000

Over 380 young Jewish Care supporters gathered at The Londoner Hotel on Thursday for Jewish Care’s annual Young Patrons Dinner, raising over £110,000 to help support Jewish Care’s vital services. Guests heard from Fiona Mendel, who shared her family’s moving story.

Fiona’s late mother, Anne, was cared for at Jewish Care’s Anita Dorfman House care home at Sandringham until she sadly passed away in December 2021, after her diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Fiona said to the young supporters, “Jewish Care is not just close to my heart but has been a lifeline for countless others. They care about people. They care about us. Without Jewish Care my mum would have died alone in hospital.

at Anita Dorfman House at Sandringham.

“We may know Jewish Care for its Holocaust Survivors’ Centre, community centres and care homes.” Fiona said. “But how many of us know they offer bereavement services for those who have recently lost loved ones and need someone to talk to?”

At a time of crisis, Jewish Care was able to be there and to support the family every step of the way. Understanding the needs of clients and their families and supporting them through end-of-life care is key to the unique care Jewish Care provides.

A short film was shown to further share the impact of Jewish Care’s work and the care the organisation provides. Nicole Ashton, Chair of the Young Patrons Committee and Young Jewish Care Committee, appealed to guests to give generously, highlighting, the need of both financial support and volunteering from younger members of the community.

“When I called their helpline they put me through to Amanda in their admissions team, she listened. She understood. She felt my pain as if it were her own. I told her about mum - how much she would love listening to my son play the piano to her each night since he was a young child. I knew instantly that Amanda wanted to help us.”

Amanda remembered what Fiona said about her mother’s love for the piano and when she moved into Anita Dorfman, there was a piano sitting outside her room. She had arranged with the staff for the piano to be there, so Fiona’s son could play to her when she arrived.

Anne was cared for at Jewish Care’s Anita Dorfman House care home for two weeks at the end of her life.

After Anne passed away, Fiona’s father, Tony, attended The Ronson Family Community Centre at Sandringham. Whilst at the Centre, Tony had a stroke and Jewish Care’s community centre team reacted quickly to the situation. Tony is now also cared for by Jewish Care’s dedicated staff

“As our older Jewish community continues to age, health conditions, including dementia, continue to be more prevalent, the number of people experiencing mental health conditions continues to grow, and so too, does the increase in almost everything, from the price of food to electricity bills,” said Nicole. “This is having a huge impact on Jewish Care financially, which means that Jewish Care needs our support now more than ever.”

Speaking after the event, Ellisa Estrin, Jewish Care’s Director of Fundraising & Marketing, added, “It was truly amazing to see a room full of hundreds of young people supporting Jewish Care and showing that they care about the older members of the community, and about all those we support. I would like to thank Fiona Mendel for sharing her story with us tonight.

“Jewish Care needs to raise almost 17 million pounds this year to help keep services like our community centres, our centres for people living with dementia, bereavement services, social work and community support team and so many more, running. The Young Patrons Dinner will go some way to achieving that goal and we are grateful to our young supporters for their generous support.”

To donate to Jewish Care, please visit jewishcare.org/donate or call 020 8922 2600.

Project Impact ‘Adopt-a-gran/grandad’

CTeen teenagers continue to work hard at their Impact Care Awards projects. Several groups signed up for “Adopt-a-Gran/ Grandad”. Residents of Leeds Jewish Housing Association kindly offered to be interviewed by the teens. “For an hour or so the teenagers were fascinated by stories of days gone by and amusing incidents in the lives of people old enough to be their greatgrandparents!” commented Rabbi Reuven Cohen. “It is so important for the younger generation to appreciate and learn from the experiences of the older generation. Their wisdom is invaluable.”

Rafi Gordon: “It was a really lovely experience meeting Ralph and hearing his stories.”

Jake Small: “Ralph was so interesting and amazing to chat to.”

Freddie Broch: “I had a great time talking to Ralph. He was really interesting. We had a good chat about football too.”

Josh Cohen: “It was really enjoyable to talk to Ralph and what he had throughout

his life.”

Leo Small: “It was really interesting to meet Marcia and chat with her.”

Isaac Serr: “I enjoyed asking Barbara about the past and finding out about her life.”

Jack Daly” “Barbara told us interesting stories about her life.”

David Bentley: “it was a really good experience and I enjoyed the visit. It was interesting to hear about Mrs Whyman’s life.”

Zara Sefton: “I really enjoyed the whole experience and Diane was amazing to talk to - I loved learning about her life and the experience was great.”

Louis Baker: “It was interesting to hear about Sylvia’s life.”

Sebastian Warner: “It was lovely to meet Sylvia and she was a very interesting lady.”

Any other high school children who wish to enrol in this rewarding scheme should contact as soon as possible: email lyo@judaismlive.com or telephone 07814 856 360.

Why are people talking about Ramat Beit Shemesh

BY JONATHAN SHOOTER

Wherever one goes around the world, when you talk to people thinking of making aliya, or wanting to invest in Israel, more often than not it’s Ramat Beit Shemesh that they are considering. It’s not to say there aren’t other options out there, but what gives RBS its appeal?

First and foremost is that when people finally make that move, they want a soft landing. A place with like-minded people who share their vision. RBS contains some world renowned Rabbanim and welcoming shuls and communities specifically for ‘chutznikim’ with learning and other activities and opportunities, making the move that much easier. Let’s just say making aliya 20 years ago looked very different. In addition there are schools who know how to cater for the new olim and endeavour to make the transition easier. It’s fair to say one can get by in RBS with limited Hebrew (don’t get me wrong, it’s a good idea to learn it).

(with organised minyanim) take people with greater ease to their workplace or kollels. There is investment taking place in making more work opportunities available locally.

The third factor is housing affordability. Once upon a time, RBS was a developing town, with very cheap housing. However with the success and establishment of RBS, housing has become more expensive. With people from around the world looking to move or invest, as well as local demand as people marry off children, the prices are no longer that cheap. However that doesn’t mean there aren’t good opportunities to be had. It’s certainly cheaper than Tel Aviv, Modiin and Jerusalem, but supply and demand has had its say over the years making it a search for that ideal home. The expansion of RBS means that hundreds of brand new homes are becoming available. Thinking of fulfilling the dream? Be in touch and find out how we can help you.

Secondly, RBS is in proximity both to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Buses and trains

Jonathan Shooter is contactable by phone or WhatsApp +972544513847 or jsrealtyisrael@gmail.com

Jewish Care Young Patrons Dinner Committee

PHOTO:GRAINGE PHOTOGRAPHY

“Life-Changing” Jewish Women’s Health Seminars Making Vital Impact on Women of the Kehillah

The great need for education on women-specific health topics for women in our kehillah has been the focus of specialist Women’s Physiotherapist, Rochelle Cowan, ever since she moved to the UK in 2012. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, mother of five Rochelle realised that there was a great need for proactive health education, whilst also approaching the sensitive topics in a holistic way that combined hashkafic, physical and emotional perspectives.

To that end, Rochelle embarked on a mission to enable greater access to information and support for women’s needs by founding the ‘Mind Body Soul Seminars’ which

began over a year ago. Tracking down specialist female speakers such as Rebbetzin Yael Hamer (BLBH), Dr Sheryl Kaplan (GP, EdgCARE), Dr Gabrielle Fine (Registrar in Gynaecology) and Chana Hughes (Family Couples Therapist), the seminars have not only helped women feel empowered about their health but have greatly enhanced the sholom bayis of countless marriages. Rochelle said, “these seminars are about empowering women – giving them education to better understand themselves. I have found that some women lack knowledge, without which they cannot live their best life, nor function in the best way for

CholentFest 2024

Hendon Adas Yisroel Evening Kollel’s Brent Street location buzzed with activity last Thursday, February 22nd, as Purim Katan was celebrated with the inaugural CholentFest. This unique competition, drawing over 150 participants from across the community, saw 13 different cholents vying for the coveted title of “CholentFest Champion.”

In a testament to the unity within the kehilla, major local establishments – Deli98, Reichs, Satmar Butchers, Avrumi Smokehouse, Yacov’s Kitchen, Shef Mehadrin, Itzik Caters, Ezri, Habiba Deli, Cheffmans, Kosher Deli, and Tapuach – put aside friendly competition and came together

under a variety of hechsherim, including KLBD, Kedassi, Federation, and Rabbi Bixenspanner’s, to submit their cholent creations for anonymous judging. After careful deliberation, “The Kollel’s Cholent” emerged victorious, capturing the hearts (and stomachs) of 35% of the voters.

CholentFest proved to be a resounding success, fostering a spirit of friendly competition and community cheer. While “The Kollel’s Cholent” is not currently available for sale, plans are underway to make it available in the future. In the meantime, community members can enjoy it free of charge every Thursday 8-10pm at the Kollel located at 11 Brent Street, Hendon.

their family.

“Whilst our previous seminars have covered topics relevant to bringing a closer connection in marriage, the upcoming two-part seminar in March will focus more on the female changes later in life – understanding how symptoms can be improved through various lifestyle modifications and how these changes can affect us spiritually.”

A participant in the 2023 “Connection in Marriage” seminar commented that the event had been: “Absolutely life changing! There are no words to describe how much it has helped me for the better!”. Another mentioned that this was a “seminar that

all women need to attend: the education and clarification on these topics is so important.”

Speakers at the upcoming seminar which is being sponsored by EdgCARE at a location in NW London will include Rochelle Cowan, Dr Sheryl Kaplan (GP, EdgCARE), Esther Donoff (nutritional therapist), Rebbetzin Ruthie Halberstadt, Dr Katy Jackson (psychologist and counsellor) and Fabiana Abadi (midlife women’s health educator).

To find out more about the upcoming seminar on March 10th and 17th, email womenshealthseminar@gmail.com or call 07432 223 188.

Beis Yisroel Melava Malka

The Beis Yisroel shul, Manchester, held its annual melava malka for the men and women of the shul this past motzai shabbos. The event was beautifully catered by Ushy Kosher Catering. The Rov Rabbi Yehoshua Ahron Sofer Shlita introduced the evening with a vort from Rav Chaim Shmulevitz zt’’l how the Nesium, although promised to underwrite the building of the Mishkan there was still an element of laziness. Rav Chaim explains that when they saw the yidden donating so generously and quickly, they should have thought that they should quickly donate something before it’s too late. This was a laziness in the thought process of not thinking through a situation properly. The Rov explained that a shul Melava Malka is an opportunity for the members of the shul to come together to hear and discuss important issues and think them through properly. Rabbi Sofer

continued with discussing BRCA testing and its many implications from a Halacha and Hashkofa point of view and shared the opinions of senior Poskim with whom he has consulted.

Afterwards there was a Chinuch panel with Rabbi Dovid Eisenberg Shlita and Rabbi Yechiel Emanuel Shlita where many different Chinuch questions were answered. Topics included can you go on holiday without your children, finding the balance between simcha and feeling for the matzav in Eretz Yisroel, should parents be worried that a child of theirs might go off the Derech and how do you build resilience in children. The panelists answered the questions with expertise and enlightening everyone with Chinuch experience. Many thanks to the shul’s event committee for arranging another event thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

Rabbi Yehoshua Ahron Sofer Shlita speaking at the shul Meleva Malka

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SPONSORED BY

Ovus Uvonim Kumzits Melaveh Malka 5784

Motsei Shabbos Parshas Tetzaveh saw the conclusion of another successful year of the Winter Ovus Uvonim Programme in Ohr Yerushalayim, Manchester.

Fathers and sons came together to celebrate with a beautiful Kumzits Melava Malka held in the Shul hall.

Approximately 75 people joined to partake in delicious hot food, wonderful music and to hear Divrei Chizuk.

Kehilla Rov, Rabbi Berel Cohen, opened the evening by telling over a story demonstrating the importance of not succumbing to the “Instant Culture” of modern society, but rather working hard to achieve one’s potential.

This was followed by Bonim speaker Eli Bakst who spoke about how the Mizbayach Haktoras held the key to the Mishkan and, similarly, the weekly Avos Uvonim programme holds the key to enable boys to come and learn together with their fathers. Mr Dani Epstein expertly chaired the

proceedings with his customary humour and grace.

Each boy received a personalised table top shtender.

Musical entertainment was provided by Lipa Tomlin who enhanced the evening with his melodies, concluding with an inspiring kumzits.

Picture mementos were taken by the onsite mobile Photo Booth provided by Dan Smith, ably assisted by Michal Scherer.

Elisheva Scherer arranged the lighting to create a beautiful ambiance to match the festive mood.

The catering was expertly managed by Naftali Scherer, Shmuel Chaim Epstein and Avrohom Yehudoh Epstein.

Special thanks to Mr Adam Bookman, the original pioneer of Ohr Yerushalayim’s Avos Uvonim program. Who, even from afar, is still a constant source of support, encouragement and guidance.

Central hosts successful Lord Michael Howard event

On Sunday, Central Synagogue had the pleasure in hosting former leader of the Conservative Party and Home Secretary Lord Michael Howard of Lympne at their latest “ Talks of Interest”. He was interviewed by , and in discussion with , Council member Jonathan Metliss.

To an audience of more than 50 members and guests ,in a most informative exchange, he spoke at length about his family history and Jewish roots in South Wales ( his grandmother was murdered at Auschwitz) , his distinguished political career and ministerial posts under prime ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major and leadership of the Conservative Party.

The discussion went on to cover current topical issues including anti -semitism , Israel and the war in Gaza , the respective roles of the Metropolitan Police and the Mayor of London, and the election prospects of the Conservative Party.

The discussion stimulated great interest and provoked a variety of questions and comments from the floor.

A formal vote of thanks was given by synagogue chairman Mervyn Druian who presented Lord Howard with some books on the history of Central Synagogue , one written by the chairman Mervyn Druian and vice chairman Leonard Fertleman.

Mervyn Druian went on to say “we were honoured by the presence of Lord Howard and were captivated by stories of his career and his comments on the current political situation , including anti semitism and the war in Gaza.

This was a special event for Central Synagogue and thank you to Lord Howard for his clear and dignified words , impressing everyone present“.

Central Synagogue has embarked on an active programme of cultural events of Jewish content in its Talks of Interest and Kiddush Talks series.

Aish UK Empowers Young Professionals through Mentorship Programme in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Aish UK, in collaboration with Olami, recently completed a transformative mentorship programme which resulted in a trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil, engaging 25 young professionals in a culturally rich and impactful experience. Sao Paulo is home to a thriving and warm community built on Jewish values and ideals, making it an excellent location for the young professionals to end their 10-week programme. The programme

culture, social issues, and community dynamics.

The programme commenced with an enlightening session featuring the head of Liberta, an organisation dedicated to combating sexual abuse in Brazil. Participants gained valuable insights into the organisation’s vital work, emphasising the importance of collective efforts in addressing societal challenges. Additionally, they had the privilege of interacting with aspiring musicians from the favelas (slums), witnessing their talent firsthand during a captivating concert.

aimed to foster personal growth with mentors, encourage community engagement, and global awareness among participants.

Throughout the immersive journey, participants had the opportunity to delve into various aspects of Brazilian society, engage with local communities, and contribute to meaningful initiatives. The itinerary encompassed a diverse range of activities aimed at providing insights into Brazilian

Immersing themselves in the local Jewish heritage, participants visited the Jewish museum and engaged in enriching discussions with prominent philanthropists committed to empowering underprivileged youth through music education initiatives in the favelas.

Further exploring the cultural fabric of Sao Paulo, participants ventured into the vibrant Batman alley, admiring its stunning graffiti, and experienced the bustling energy of an outdoor market. The programme also included moments of relaxation and fun, with activities like dinner, bowling, and a memorable Shabbat within the local Jewish community.

As a testament to the programme’s holistic approach, participants engaged in meaningful exchanges with students at Aleph Peretz High School, discussing essential life principles and engaging with the students through a game of football. Additionally,

they enjoyed outdoor adventures, including bike rides through picturesque parks and attending a Brazilian football match—a testament to the programme’s blend of cultural immersion and recreational activities.

Eli Horn, a distinguished Jewish philanthropist, graced the programme’s conclusion, sharing insights into community development and bidding farewell to participants with heartfelt encouragement.

“We are immensely proud to have facilitated this enriching mentorship programme in collaboration with Olami, providing young professionals with a platform for personal growth, cultural exploration, and community engagement,” said Rabbi Yoni Abadi Director of Young Professionals at Aish UK.

“Through exciting immersive experiences and meaningful interactions, participants gained valuable insights into global issues facing Jewish communities, embedding within them an emphasized sense of social responsibility.”

The 10week Olami Mentorship programme is a journey of meaningful discussions and support connecting young professionals with mentors in their Aish UK tailored to meet their circumstances. Aish UK remains committed to empowering future leaders and fostering cross-cultural understanding through innovative mentorship programmes like these.

7NJA Leading the way throughout the war

1. Who does the charity benefit?

BIG QUESTIONS

Since October 7th, we have noticed a significant increase in media and television requests for commentary compared to previous periods.

3. Biggest challenges for charity

We provide a platform for all UK Jews to engage in our diverse array of activities, such as attending frequent meetings either via Zoom or in person, featuring notable guest speakers from Israel and the Jewish world. Additionally, we actively advocate for the community by lobbying the government, organizing trips to Israel, and facilitating engaging debates and events.

2. Have things changed since 7/10?

Our main challenge is to grow our membership base. We currently have approximately 600 members but aim to reach 2,500 by the end of 2025. To support this objective, we have expanded our team by hiring an additional staff member.

4. Upcoming events

Scheduled events include a debate on the future of the Jewish community in the UK on March 17th, as well as our support for a rally against antisemitism in Glasgow organized by Christians on March 3rd. We are also planning more speaker meetings, including one featuring a

Caring beyond belief

1. Who does the charity benefit?

Jewish Care touches the lives of 10,000 people each week, connecting many otherwise isolated members of the community with the warmth and vibrancy of our community centres, including our Holocaust Survivors’ Centres and centres for people living with dementia.

Our Meals on Wheels service, Jewish Care Direct helpline, our Social Work and Family Carers team and our support groups and services are there for the community. Our nine care homes provide excellent care to older people and those living with mental illness and our four Retirement Living apartments provide older people with opportunities to live independently with support on hand. Jewish Care and Jami have recently become one, so that we can continue to be there for those in the community who are living with mental illness and distress through a range of mental health support services and our care homes.

2. Have things changed since 7/10?

Many of the people we support and many of those who support us in the community have strong connections and family ties in Israel and are deeply affected by the tragic events that have occurred in Israel. Since 7/10, we have been and

prominent Israeli minister.

5. Future direction?

We aim to expand in all areas, including membership, guest speakers, government lobbying, and other activities.

6. CEO role?

Our CEO, Steve Winston, along with our events manager, Dalia Hajioff, does a commendable job of overseeing and coordinating our activities.

7. What has changed the most in the last 7 years?

Over the past seven years, we have observed a significant surge in anti-Semitic

continue to be there to for those we support to cope with the challenging times we are living in, especially older people and Holocaust survivors’, who never thought they would experience this level of antisemitism again.

3. Biggest challenges for charity?

Jewish Care’s annual budget is £50 million of which we need to raise almost £17 million in donations. With rising costs of £1 million in the last year, the generous support of the community is invaluable.

4. Upcoming events?

Last week, over 380 young guests attended our Young Patrons Dinner raising over £110,000. Next week our 36th Topland Group Business Lunch, a major highlight of the business calendar, will attract 1000 of the most prominent people in the business community to raise funds for Jewish Care.

5. Future direction

sentiments, which we are actively working to counter. We also seek to enhance support for Israel from both Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

We will continue to adapt to provide excellent person-centred care and support for those who rely on us, in the community, in our care campuses and community centres and we will be sustainable, providing support to those with living with mental illness, distress and trauma. We begin building our wonderful, new purpose-built Redbridge development this year, comprising of a modern, fully accessible community centre space, a centre for people living with dementia, and a beautiful, first-class, purpose-built, care home to meet the needs of the community in the East London and Essex area.

6. CEO role

My role is to ensure that Jewish Care’s innovative, compassionate and excellent high-quality care continues to be there to meet the needs of the thousands

of people in the community who rely on us, now and in the future,

7. What has changed the most in the last 7 years?

Demand across all our services has never been higher, the rise in mental illness is unprecedented, there are more urgent discharges from hospital into our care homes and more complex cases with families at absolute crisis point than ever before. The need for our Meals on Wheels service has more than doubled since pre-pandemic levels with us and demand for our befriending services has tripled. Jewish Care’s JC Presents online programme of stimulating activities has grown a huge audience, our fundraising events are well-attended and our activities at our vibrant community centres and dementia day centres are busier than ever. We continue to be grateful for the generosity and support of our community.

CEO Jewish Care, Daniel Carmel-Brown

Chairman NJA, Gary Mond

7Chai - constantly giving opportunities

1. Who does the charity benefit?

BIG QUESTIONS

Chai Cancer Care is the Jewish Community’s dedicated cancer support organisation providing 68 specialised services to cancer patients and their loved ones. We are currently supporting just over 4,200 clients, aged 3-98, from 11 centres across the UK and in client’s own homes through our Home Support Service. Clients can also benefit from our expertise and care via telephone and Zoom nationally and internationally.

2. Have things changed since 7/10?

Sadly, demand for our services continues to increase and in recent months our clients are having to manage the impact of a cancer diagnosis, together with the tragic events of October 7th.

3. Biggest challenges for charity?

Chai do not receive any statutory funding and relies on the generosity of the community to meet our annual budget of £3.7m.

4. Upcoming events

• Mad Hair Day – Friday 29th November

• Chai Shabbat – 29th-30th November

• Chai Campaign – 1st-2nd December

• Kids Artisan Market (Manchester) – Sunday 17th March

• Club 18 Golf Day – Friday 7th June

• Gift Sale – Thursday 26th September

For more information about any of these events, or if you would like to organise your own event for Chai, please contact Lucy lucy.hayim@ chaicancercare.org | 020 8457 3394

5. Future direction?

There have been many new developments at Chai, including the official launch of the Jewish Community’s NHS BRCA Testing Programme which has so far seen over 17,000 people registering to be tested for a BRCA gene mutation. For more information and to register for the

free test, visit jewishbrca.org.

6. CEO role?

I ensure the smooth running of our 11 centres across the UK, meeting daily with our services teams, Trustees and Medical Advisory Panel.

7. What has changed the most in the last 7 years?

In recent years there has been a noticeable shift in the demographic of our clients, with an increase in the number of younger people needing to turn to Chai. Of the 4,200 clients we are currently supporting, one in three are under the age of 50, accounting for 40% of all 21,512 appointments in the last year alone. This emerging younger demographic prompted us to launch our Young Adults Support Group and in continuing to see a rise in the number of young parents diagnosed, we have recently started a new parenting support group, focused on how to support children when a parent has been diagnosed with cancer.

A hero in our generation An interview with Eli Beer

Eli Beer has just landed in Sao Paulo when we start our interview. The founder and President of United Hatzalah has flown first to Brazil and then on to Miami on a vital fundraising mission to raise funds for his ‘Angels in Orange.’

The name of the new book written by Rabbi Nachman Seltzer describes in great detail the tremendous courage that members of his organisation displayed as they saved lives on that terrible day of Simchat Torah on October 7th.

The darkest day for world Jewry since the Holocaust saw over 1500 Jews lose their lives and over 240 people being abducted in a single day. As Israel awoke to a terrifying war, United Hatzalah sprang into action, driving past police blockades, driving and flying into the war zone against all government, police, army and air traffic control advice in a heroic bid to save lives.

Jewish Weekly editor Yossi Saunders caught up with Eli to hear first-hand accounts of how heroic Jews definitely saved many lives on that tragic day.

Yossi: I’ve read your new book and I’m truly struck by the courage your organisation showed on October 7th. You recalled how it was a tough moment saying goodbye to your wife, daughter and son in law as they headed down south whilst you stayed at the dispatch centre in Jerusa-

lem. What were you thinking as you saw them drive away?

Eli: It wasn’t the first time I’ve said goobye to my family thinking I may never see them again. I caught Covid in Miami on a previous fundraising trip and the doctors told me I needed to be put on a ventilator within a few minutes and that I only had a 5% chance of survival.

On the phone I was calm and told my kids to always do chessed; it was the most important thing my father always taught me; ‘veohavtah lareacha kamocha’ is the most important mitzvah.

It was exceptionally difficult with my daughters, one of whom was just bat mitzvah and the other who was several months pregnant.

When I landed in Ben Gurion there were 1000 volunteers waiting to greet me, it was like it was my funeral. One guy told me that I suffered so much pain including one month in a coma and not being able to walk for such a long time for this very moment. Hashem knows

how hard it is to fundraise. It’s not always easy and sometimes unkind things are said. By taking me to the brink of death and back, He wanted me to see how much appreciation there is for volunteers and that it is truly worth all the hardships.

This time was different yet equally tough. Unlike Miami, I was not calm. But my heroic wife Gitty is a paramedic and she simply said we are going in; we save lives that’s what we do. I was proud but petrified as they drove away.

Yossi: At what point did you realise the severity if the situation?

Eli: From 6.30 am we heard sirens in Jerusalem, and we rushed down to the headquarters near Centre One in Romema. Very quickly we began to realise this was a full blown out war, even quicker than the army, police or government did. When there’s a terrorist attack, calls come in from a few places, but these calls were coming in from 25 different places.

People were saying the most terrible things; that they were hiding their kids in their house and going out to surrender to terrorists and that we must remember their address and retrieve their hidden kids later.

Yossi: How prepared were you as an organisation?

Eli: We have raised much money over time to ensure our huge warehouse near Beit Shemesh is always fully stocked.

October 7th proved that all our constant planning and foresight paid off.

Unlike governments who are always worrying about what the electorate will say, we have nothing like that to deal with so we just get on with it. We were more

prepared than everyone else and other paramedics together with both the police and the army made use of our services and equipment. The army borrowed ambulances and there is no doubt that we saved many lives by being more prepared than others.

Yossi: Did you ever expect something like this to happen?

Eli: No, not on this level. I always ensured that our warehouses were well stocked for any eventualities of mass casualties resulting from a joint war with Hamas and Hezbollah but we never dreamed the level of barbarity and cruelty that we witnessed.

We expected buildings to collapse, or countless missiles to land simultaneously and have rehearsed many drills for that kind of situation but this was unimaginable, especially in our own land.

I have seen terror attacks, in buses, restaurants, hotels, shootings, car ramming’s, terrible incidents where they simply kill their enemy.

But this was a religious massacre, with the aim of destroying the core identity of the Jew, the body and soul of the Jewish people.

We are facing evil monsters who are engaged in a religious war, who will stop at nothing to show the Jews what they can do. Every woman who was raped was as if they were doing it to all Jewish women around the world.

It is a horrible thing to say but unfortunately it could happen again and we must stay prepared for any eventuality.

Eli Beer with David and Chana Wallace of Kosher Travelers

Eli Beer and Donald Trump hugging

Appreicating Bidens support

BIG QUESTIONS

impacts of events in Israel) is essential if we are to sustain services while meeting exponentially increasing demands.

7Innovative programmes lead to fulfilling lives

Richard Franklin is CEO of the Kisharon Langdon since the founding charities came together in August 2023 in what was the largest community merger in a generation, having previously been Kisharon’s CEO since 2019. Richard has over 20 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector includes senior roles at Crisis UK and Jewish Care, and was previously a partner in the city law firm Nicholson Graham and Jones.

1. What is your as CEO?

My role is to serve the charity in supporting over 400 people with learning disabilities and autistic people. A main purpose is to bring together stakeholders and staff around a shared innovative, ambitious, groundbreaking vision - rooted in our Jewish, religious and cultural valuesas well as to ensure that we have the very best possible team to change realities for the better.

2. Who does the charity benefit?

We primarily benefit individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people within the Jewish community. Our services and support are designed to help enhance the lives of people by offering education, vocational training, supported living and other support programmes tailored to their needs. The charity aims to empower these individuals, promote their inclusion in the community, and help them lead fulfilling lives.

3. What are the biggest challenges for the charity?

Kisharon Langdon faces several significant challenges in its mission to support individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people.

In the immediate term, managing a merger while contending with chronically underfunded social care services presents a complex operational challenge. Securing consistent and adequate funding (particularly given the adverse

Moreover, we must continuously adapt and innovate our programmes and services to address evolving needs and demographics, as well as stay abreast of advancements in research and best practices. Overcoming stigma, misconceptions, and societal barriers associated with learning disabilities and autism remains an ongoing challenge, necessitating advocacy for policy changes and the promotion of inclusivity. Collaboration and partnerships with other organisations, government agencies, and stakeholders are crucial for maximising impact and leveraging resources effectively.

By addressing these challenges, including funding, through strategic planning, community engagement and innovative approaches Kisharon Langdon will be well placed to strengthen its positive impacts.

4. What has changed the most in the last seven years?

Kisharon Langdon has undergone significant service transformation including merger. Notwithstanding the ongoing challenges of coping with chronic social care underfunding, the charity has employed creative strategies to maintain cost effective person-centred support services.

(£13.5m on our school; £2m+ on supported living; £250K on our nursery upgrade) as well as in appropriate investment IT and facilities management infrastructure (£400K+) for over 170 units in which we now operate. Ultimately, this enables us to increase standards while driving efficiencies for which we have already seen the benefits at our Wohl Employment programmes and as well as at our Good Days Services- a Loftus Learning Centre in what is now a £18m+ operation.

5. How has 7/10 terror attack impacted charity?

It has only added to the challenges, particularly among those directly affected by the tragedy, including those we support who tragically experienced loss on that awful day. We also extended our support to individuals who sought refuge following the terrorist atrocities and offered immediate assistance. In the face of such profound human suffering, everything else seems insignificant by comparison. That said ultimately, we can only deliver where we are funded. As with other domestic social care charities, we have been significantly adversely impacted as attention (and charitable donations) have been drawn towards Israel. We will only know the true extent of our available resources after our 10 March match-fundraiser. In truth we are absolutely reliant on further and extended generosity of our donors if we are to meet the significant challenges ahead.

gearing up for the TCS London Marathon in April and the Velo 2024 London to Amsterdam bike ride scheduled for June 23rd to 26th. In September, we’re hosting Golf Days on the 11th and 12th, promising fun for all participants.

Furthermore, we’re excited about our upcoming Monopoly property event later in the year.

For those interested in attending these events, become a team leader for the fundraiser or become a bucket collector or speiler for Kisharon Langdon, more information can be found on our website. We welcome everyone to join us in these vibrant and meaningful endeavours!

7. Can you share any future plans or projects?

As we look towards the future our plans and projects are continuously evolving, especially in light of recent challenges. Despite the adverse impacts we’ve faced, particularly in the aftermath of 7/10, we remain steadfast in our vision of enabling those we support to thrive.

Firstly, this means fully integrating all services, policies, and approaches to support within 18 months, which currently involves 16 working groups led by Michelle Janes.

This will facilitate smoother, speedier and more appropriate transitions across the services. With more than double the number of school students attending our Wohl Campus (in less than three years), Further Education space must be found to accommodate this fast growth - and additional supported living space will be much needed to meet the greater breadth and complexity of demands. Like painting the Forth Bridge, our enlarged stock of existing premises will also need adapting and upgrading to meet fast-changing needs.

We have to contend with increasing pressures generated by growing demands (12% annually for learning disability and autism services) at the same time as funding is more difficult to secure. Therefore, we has to evolve and change, which I recognise is so hard for many who are committed, engaged and involved. There are essential costs incurred in: investing in staff (inflationary increases alone this year cost £600K); uprating premises

6. Are there any exciting upcoming events?

We have an array of exciting events lined up. First off, we’re eagerly preparing for the Kisharon Langdon online matched funding campaign on March 10th and 11th. Additionally, we’re in full swing planning for Purim on March 24th, complete with engaging activities like bucket tzedukah collections, where participants can vie for prizes for both the highest funds raised and the best costume.

Looking ahead, we have participants

We have developed a formidable team of trustees and staff working alongside a generous warm-hearted community who see what we see. However, to realise what now needs to be achieved, fine minds and the most innovative of solutions must be applied at a time when global “choppy waters” are exacerbating difficulties already present in what are generationally underfunded UK Social Care services. Given the daunting backdrop, I remain confident, however, that this is when our community will truly come into its own.

Information: www.kisharonlangdon. org.uk or 020 3209 1163

Kisharon CEO, Richard Franklin

7Jewish families reach full potential

BIG QUESTIONS

Sandy Weinbaum together with her husband Dr Bunim Weinbaum founded the Jewish Family Centre in 2000 as a culturally appropriate place for Jewish families to meet and thrive. It quickly became obvious that there were gaps in the provision available for the most vulnerable in the community, and the Centre stepped in to fill this gap. The mother of a large family with a great deal of life experience, Sandy is the Centre’s Volunteer Director. A qualified teacher, she has based her life around the principles of ‘Ahavas Yisroel’ and over the years has worked to expand the Jewish Family Centre’s team of professionals to ensure the continued and developing provision of strong support for the community.

1. What is your role as CEO?

I have worked as a volunteer Director of the Centre since its inception 22 years ago. My primary area now is fundraising. However, I also oversee the many different strands of the Family Centre to see that they mesh harmoniously.

2. Who does the charity benefit?

We work with families with children up to 18 in our Family Support Service. ‘Family’ is now a broad term as it may have one parent or two. Children could be living with one parent but have contact with the other.  Children may not be living either parent. Our job is to support every Jewish family, regardless of religious affiliation and work with them to help them reach their full potential and be able to thrive.

3. What are the biggest challenges for the charity?

We were known for many years as ‘the play place under the bridge in Golders Green’. Over the years our focus has shifted. As other organisations cut back or closed their Family Support Services, we have expanded significantly to address the evolving challenges facing Jewish families today. It’s crucial for the word to spread that we are available to support the community from our new premises in Temple Fortune. While our excellent play services remain available, it’s important to note that they are not our primary focus.

Words like anxiety, stress, trauma were not words used to describe children and young people, but now they are, and if they are not dealt with, they lead to crisis. The challenges facing one-parent families - financial and emotional. We are taking an average of six new referrals a week, some from families with complex needs and many involving Social Services, the Police and schools.

5. How has October 7 terror attack impacted the charity?

specialist was running once a month; working in partnership with another local charity. We have increased that to every two weeks and always have baby scales available if a mum wants to weigh her baby. Many mums feel safer coming into a culturally appropriate place where staff are understanding of their religious needs as well as medical needs.

Lastly, as a lot of funds, quite rightly, are directed to Israel, it is an extra pressure for fund raising here, and we rely on the community to exist and grow.

6. Are there any exciting upcoming events?

4. What has changed the most in the last seven years?

Covid brought dramatic increases in Mental Health issues. Families that were ‘getting by’ were now thrown together 24/7, often in overcrowded conditions and this put untenable strain on many families.  Lack of finance as breadwinners lost their jobs or were scaled back.

Firstly, the influx of Israeli families needing places to go with their children, and supporting those families, where possible, with challenges in schooling, accommodation and therapeutic needs. Several of the families needed a room for one of the couple to work online - without noise! In addition, we provide hot soup and sandwiches every day - always a winner.

For families here, a culturally appropriate place to play became more of a necessity for some.

The NHS have cut back their Baby Clinic services and there is now one Baby Clinic outside the immediate area. Our well Baby Clinic, with qualified Midwife and Nutritionist and a lactation

We are excited to announce our inaugural Ladies Lunch on May 8, aimed at raising essential funds and increasing awareness of what we do. Additionally, we are hosting a community-wide fundraiser on May 26-27.

7. Can you share any future plans or projects?

We have launched the first Jewish Contact Centre in the UK under the auspices of NACCC. A Contact Centre is a place where children can meet their non-resident parent after a divorce. In many cases the Court feel a need for that Contact to be supervised and notes taken of the interaction between the non-resident parent and his/her children.

We have expanded our premises to include two new Contact spaces one aimed at younger children and one at older children and we are one of the few Contact Centres providing Sunday opportunities for children to meet their parent. Facilities include a sensory room and age appropriate toys and activities. Many parents have to travel long distances to see their child or children and have commented that the facilities have really made the meetings so much more relaxed.

In addition, we are planning to increase our Family Support Team to cope with the ever-increasing need.

To join the luncheon on May 8 or to become a team leader for the fundraiser: 0208 209 1117 or info@jewishfamilycentre.org.uk

Founders Sandy Weinbaum and Dr Bunim Weinbaum

Monday 4th March, 8 - 9.15pm Webinar

Presentation by Hudi Ellinson CTA, Paperweight Caseworker and Avroham Sugarman, MBE, JCCG Welfare Advisor. Part

Have you had a letter saying your benefits are changing?

Do you find it di cult to access online information?

Have you heard that your childcare costs may be a ected?

Could you lose your benefits because you’re saving up for a deposit?

instagram.com/paperweighttrustlondon facebook.com/WeArePaperweight the-paperweight-trust-63496029a @PWtrust85

THE BIG QUESTIONS

Norwood - supporting so many people

1. Who does the charity benefit?

Norwood is the oldest Jewish charity in the UK supporting vulnerable children and their families facing challenges and anyone of any age with a learning disability and autism. Norwood supports more than 2,500 people each year, giving them the tools they need to live the most fulfilling lives they can.

Norwood works with 56 local authorities, delivering wide-ranging services including residential and supported-living accommodation, short-breaks facilities, a range of therapeutic services, and support groups aimed at the whole family, not just the individual.

It costs £32m a year to run Norwood’s life-changing services, of which £12m must be raised from voluntary donations.

2. Have things changed since 7/10?

Throughout our 230-year history, Norwood has always adapted to support members of our community in need – from its origins as an orphanage, to fostering, adoption, and social services. After 7/10, when Israeli families began to seek refuge in London, our children and family team responded to their need for support and social interaction. We launched “Stay & Play” sessions which offer a dedicated space for Israeli parents to sit and chat with each other, while their children enjoy craft activities and play games, supported by our experienced family support team. Our counselling and psychotherapy team has also supported children and their parents struggling to cope with trauma from 7/10, either from the perspective of having experienced it at first hand or through the lens of close family and friends in Israel; or forced to

confront antisemitism in a school environment or on social media and often a sense of dissonance between their British Jewish identities.

On a fundraising front, our flagship Annual Dinner had long been scheduled just three weeks after 7/10. When we first began planning the event, we couldn’t have imagined it would be against a backdrop of such heartbreaking events in Israel. We thought long and hard about going ahead, and with the support of the JLC, Board of Deputies, the CST and the Office of the Chief Rabbi, we decided that what we needed more than ever was to come together to express togetherness and resilience and to continue to be a lifeline for the ever-present needs of our community at home.

But Jewish culture is incredibly important to the people we support, and we gave our residents the tools to process what is happening in Israel. We did that through holding a resident-led solidarity ceremony, where they expressed how they were feeling and their hopes for peace and reconciliation.

environment. Like all other sector providers, our job is to make sure that the fees that we are getting for the individuals that we support, actually cover the cost of care. And like a lot of other agencies in the sector, it just hasn’t been up until now; local authorities are quite cash strapped, and funding has been stripped back to the bone. And so a lot of the work that I’ve done with my team over the last year since becoming Chief Executive is just making sure that actually, we know what each individual costs us to, in terms of support workers, and managing the buildings and everything, and that we’re claiming the right amount back from the local authorities. It’s a massive challenge in the sector. When I go to conferences and speak to colleagues, everybody’s fighting the same battles.

of them.

4. Upcoming events

Norwood runs a mix of community and corporate events to raise funds and awareness of our work. But we also run regular cultural activities around the chagim for the people we support and their families and communities. We are looking forward to the much-loved residents’ Purim party next month, where adult residents, their families, the staff supporting them and from around the organisation come together to celebrate our favourite customs together. Beyond that, we have networking events for female philanthropists, as well as our 25th annual Property Lunch for more than 700 industry professionals, and the inclusive accessible Norwood Carnival in July for families in our community and beyond.

5 Future direction

3. Biggest challenges for charity

It’s a really difficult social care

People choose Norwood because they want their loved one to live in a Jewish environment as part of a wider community. Norwood looks to support those communities to become more inclusive so that the people we support can explore their culture and heritage, whilst benefitting from social interaction. But also we know that people of all abilities enrich their communities by being part

I am committed to making sure that the charity is taking a holistic approach to supporting individuals and families and I am proud of what we’ve achieved so far. It’s very intangible, but I think there is a renewed sense of optimism and ambition in the charity. There’s a real sense of possibility. There’s a new strategy, there’s new values, there’s new leadership, we’ve got a new chair who’s extremely ambitious, we’ve got a few new trustees. It feels like we’re just getting ready to shoot for the stars, which is a really, really nice place to be.

CEO Norwood, Naomi Dickson

7AJEX is jewel in crown of UK Jewish community

BIG QUESTIONS

Armed forces with many continuing to do so today. We are proud of this and need to make sure our contribution is remembered as well as honouring all who served.

Fiona Palmer joined AJEX JMA just a matter of weeks before lockdown began in January 2020 and hit the ground running. She has a strong background in strategic communications and marketing as well as wider charity governance experience. Many years of work as Director of a third sector marketing agency has given her extensive experience in strategic planning, effective communications and management.  Previous to Fiona’s work as a Director she was Head of Campaigns and Government Affairs for an international environmental organisation. Fiona is passionate about the work of AJEX. She splits her time between AJEX, studying and her family of six.

1. What iss your role as CEO?

I am honoured to be the CEO of AJEX JMA which is a jewel in the crown of the UK Jewish community. I work closely with our inspiring Chair, Dan Fox, the trustees, my team and our many wonderful volunteers to deliver on our core pillars of Remembrance, Education, Welfare and Combatting Antisemitism. This can involve a huge variety of work including overseeing the Annual Remembrance Parade & Ceremony in all its complexity, budgeting, fundraising, managing the Jewish Military Museum collection, education and welfare programmes, as well as supporting our members and Jewish veterans more widely.

2. Who does the charity benefit?

AJEX JMA exists to ensure that the immense contribution of veterans from the Jewish community who served in HM Armed Forces is never forgotten. Over 120,000 Jewish men and women served in the British Armed Forces during the World Wars. Our work is diverse and far reaching. Our aim is to honour those veterans’ legacy through our key Remembrance events such as the AJEX Annual Parade & Ceremony at The Cenotaph and our education outreach programmes. We support veterans old and new, with welfare and festival grants as well as signposting and other help throughout the year. We foster community relations and encourage understanding of the Jewish contribution to HM Armed Forces, helping to combat antisemitism. For 350 years British Jews have served in the UK’s

3. What are the biggest challenges for the charity?

Amidst the fundraising landscape, we find ourselves in greater need of support than ever before to sustain our vital work. With numerous organisations vying for limited funding, we rely on membership, donations, and legacies. However, as the number of veterans from the Second World War and National Service has sadly declined, we also require passionate and effective volunteers to assist us. Tackling antisemitism remains a continual challenge, particularly in the current climate. The closure of the Jewish Museum in Camden has posed an additional hurdle for AJEX in reclaiming control of the Jewish Military Museum collection and planning for its future. Despite these obstacles, we are actively working on exciting plans to ensure the collection’s security and sharing, emphasising the significant contributions of Jews in our society.

thousands of marchers and spectators last November of all ages. We are delighted with the increased involvement of families, young people, the cadets and more, a change from the sea of bowler hats of the past. We are also working more closely with CST and are delighted with their support of our work.

5. Have things changed since the 10/7 terror attack in Israel?

4. What has changed the most in the last seven years?

It has been a time of change for AJEX as many veterans have passed away.  This has brought new challenges and impetus to the organisation to ensure it is relevant for the future. We have focused on modernising a charity that is almost 100 years old. We have come into life on social media and other online avenues, pushed forward by the Covid pandemic. We have brought into the fold a much wider range of people who support our aims, attend our flagship events, and see the importance of what we do. We have built new individual and organisational partnerships too. This is all shown in the

The events of October 7 in southern Israel have affected us all. This historic loss of life is one we continue to mourn while drawing some comfort in knowing that standing proud as British Jews as we did at the Parade in November defies the perpetrators. The rise in antisemitism and the discomfort many Jews feel walking around our cities in particular on days when there are pro-Palestinian marches, have affected the charity, our members and supporters. Many have friends and family caught up in the hostilities and our thoughts are with them all. With the huge rise in antisemitism around us we have an even bigger imperative to spread knowledge of the immense contribution of the Jewish community to the freedom we all enjoy today in the UK. AJEX wants to do all it can to challenge this antisemitism, as we have done in the past.

6. Are there any exciting upcoming events?

To mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day we are holding a special beacon lighting for the whole Jewish community on the evening of Thursday 6 June at a north London location.  The bravery and sacrifice of all those people 80 years ago in securing the peace and freedom we enjoy today is huge, and Jewish men and women were a key part of this victory. Across the UK and beyond, villages, towns, cities and organisations of all sizes will be marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day

by lighting a beacon on this date. This will be as a celebration of the ‘light of peace’ that emerged out of the darkness of war. There will also be a special ceremony at the National Memorial Arboretum later in June and at Willesden cemetary in July.

7. Can you share any future plans or projects?

We are looking to develop a variety of projects over the next year or so. We have kickstarted our Chaplain Card project which looks to digitise the thousands of handwritten index cards from the Second World War and National Service. The vast majority of Jewish men and women serving had one of these cards created for them when one of the Jewish chaplains encountered them in Service. They are a priceless part of our history and remembrance as well as a personal tribute to each and every person recorded within. Linked with this, we are working on new plans for the many wonderful items in the Jewish Military Museum collection and the stories they tell about our heritage. Stories of bravery, struggles and light. We also of course have welfare and education programmes, a legacy campaign and will soon begin preparations in earnest for this year’s Remembrance period. Dates to save are November 15 - Remember in Red in schools, November 16 - AJEX Shabbat across our communities and November 17 - AJEX Remembrance Parade & Ceremony. Due to the success of the Medals campaign, we look forward to seeing even more medals on display at Remembrance events. If you would like to reclaim family medals or participate in our events please be in touch.

For D-Day information or to register www.ajex.org.uk/d-day

To contact AJEX: www.ajex.org.uk or 020 8202 2323 or headoffice@ajex.org.uk

CEO AJEX, Fiona Palmer

Mission to the South Joining JNF UK on a mission to Kibbutz Be’eri and Kfar Aza

As my wife and I headed down closer towards the Gaza envelope communities, a stillness seemed to fill the air as we approached the areas where just weeks earlier over 3000 terrorists had killed over 1500 Jews, inflicted thousands with life changing injuries, taken over 240 people hostage and changed the face of the middle east forever.

table from Simchat Torah; rubbish bags with milk bottles and contents of rotting food are still on the porch as you come in and different sizes and types of shoes are in a heap on the stairs.

The mess all around the insides and outsides of houses is not something you automatically think of when you picture what took place, but when you see people’s clothes strewn around the kibbutz it hits home the sheer level of panic that would have accompanied their deaths.

We were on the way to join a JNF UK trip to Kibbutz Beeri and Kfar Aza, to witness firsthand the places of death and destruction that took place on that tragic day. As we get closer to Sderot, we can start to see many bomb shelters on the side of the road, riddled with bullet holes and grenades holes, a stark reminder of the sheer panic that hundreds of people went through in their final moments as they were gunned down.

As we pull up to the gates of Beeri, the soldiers ask to see IDs before letting us in through the yellow gates. There are soldiers all over the place, driving around in jeeps and armoured vehicles and tanks and the sound of live gunfire and rocket fire is so loud it shocks the system each time you hear it - you never get used to it.

It is surreal as the kibbutz looks so familiar from all the images and videos I had seen post Simchat Torah yet the true horrors of that fateful day cannot be fathomed until you are there and see the houses for yourself. The sights are truly shocking. Many houses no longer have their roofs on. Contents of houses lie strewn all over gardens and paths, including washing machines riddled with bullet holes. In one house we see inside how everything was burned yet there are still remains of challah left on a plate on the

The sheer terror was brutally exposed when we were all told to squash into a small ‘Mamad,’ - protective room. The room was littered with bullet and grenade holes across the walls, ceilings and floors, and the windows were smashed. We heard the live Whatsapp messages of the family as the horror of live terrorists outside their house slowly dawned upon them. At first they said there are many rockets being fired at us so we are staying in here.

Then you hear whispered trembling as they reveal they are surrounded by terrorists who are shooting at them non stop. They beg their family members to call the police, IDF and ambulance. They then progress to reveal how they can hear them inside the house burning everything down. As the messages go on, you hear them struggling to breath over the smoke, as they start to debate if it is better to die from smoke inhalation or if they should just open the window and get shot instantly. What a choice!

They start saying goodbye to their loved ones, and it struck me how they went from voices of panic and denial to more calmness and acceptance as their end became nearer.

In the house that we were in, the daughter managed to save her father’s life by wrapping some clothes around him as a tourniquet to stop the bleeding of various bullet wounds. Sadly she lost her mother and brother that day.

Many of those who survived spent many hours in their safe rooms until

rescue. One tour guide, a young boy in his twenties spent 30 hours inside with his parents, with no food or water or toilet facilities. He wasn’t rescued until Sunday afternoon.

Yet he was extremely determined to resettle and rebuild as much as he can as quickly as possible. It was truly amazing to see firsthand the tremendous fighting spirit from people who lost too many loved ones on that tragic day, and endured much anguish and suffering, yet never give up hope.

Against the backdrop of determination to rebuild a better future, we sat down with Samuel Hayek, Chairman of JNF UK to hear his thoughts on the October 7th massacre and to hear how JNF can make a difference going forward.

He felt that the initial strong support from America helped the UK government gather parliamentary support.

However, the roots of anti- semitism

Samuel told us that he had previously fought for Israel in the Yom Kippur war, and he really related to the struggles the IDF are going through trying to make Israel safe again.

He explained how this war is so differ-

have not died, they have only resurfaced in new ways such as the anti-zionist movement.

Many anti-semites are hovering just beneath the surface and if a Jeremy Corbyn type Prime Minister ever took office in England, the anti- Jewish feeling would accelerate much quicker.

ent to previous wars and that so many people in Israel and around the world expected the country to be much better prepared.

JNF are continuing normal business as usual, for example refurbishing kindergartens. A recent survey found that many kindergartens are way under the required standard, without running water, toilets and safe playgrounds. As there are no toys, they only thing the kids play with is sand and stones. Donations from UK benefactors allow the kindergartens to look brand new.

Samuel wrote to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak demanding action for Israel. He is surprised at the level of verbal support Israel received from the British government, especially in the early days of the war, and even from Keir Starmer as well.

Many high rise flats and tall buildings around areas including Sderot and other towns around the Gaza envelope communities have utterly inadequate bomb shelters.

JNF UK have surveyed and refitted out many of them.

Some shelters were in such poor condition that people couldn’t even enter them and one person was tragically killed by a rocket when they were unable to enter a shelter, so they really save lives as well as improve them.

We were told how the charity is supporting affected residents by placing them into apartments in other areas of Israel whilst their homes are badly damaged and unsafe to go back to.

JNF UK will always be there to help rebuild the country and to make Israel a better place to live and a safer place for children to grow up in.

Date: 27 February 2024

Release: Immediate

COUNCIL OF EUROPEAN JEWISH LEADERS MEET IN ROME AMID ANTISEM ITISM CRISIS

EUROPEAN GOVERNMENTS ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR COMMITMENTS TO JEWISH COMMUNITIES SAY COUNCIL HEADS

“The test is now” says EJA Chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin “and European governments are failing it so far . ”

(Rome, 27 February 2024) The European Jewish Association’s Council of Jewish Leaders is meeting in Rome to discuss the challenges faced by European Jewish Communities.

Despite commitments to safeguard jewish communities and promises to root out antisemtism, too many governments across Europe have done neither, concluded the 40 Jewish heads from across Europe present at the EJA’s Council of Jewish Leaders meeting.

There is a political and policing failure to act upon anti -hate and anti -BDS legislation already in place, and despite many countries signing up to the IHRA definition, barely any are adhering to its principles.

“The laws and definition are not worth the paper they are printed on right now ” , said one Dutch Jewish Community Leader , citing the number of protests advocating genocide and ethnic cleaning of Jews in Israel, and often worldwide by using Nazi tropes and iconography.

Based in Brussels and representing hundreds of Jewish communities across Europe, the European Jewish Association’s Council meeting is a key decision making body of the EJA, bringing Jewish Leaders together, to exchange insights and develop the strategic and advocacy backbone of EJA activities and policy for the betterment of Jewish life in Europe in 2024

The Jewish leaders agreed upon an 18 point plan of action for 2024, including increasing Community safety, securing a ban on the sale of N azi memorabilia and engaging major sports clubs and institutions in fighting antisemitism .

The Council was adressed by Israel’s Special Envoy for Combatting antisemitism, Israel’s Ambassador to Italy, Alon Bar, Italy’s special envoy for combatting antisemitism Pasquale Angelosanto, and the President of the Italian Senate, Ignazio La Russa.

Joel Mergui, the President of the EJA’s Council of European Jewish Leaders and the Paris Consistoire, said at the close of the Conference.

"The Jewish leaders are clear, we refuse to live in fear, we are strong and we will overcome this current tide of hate. It is unnacceptable that calls for genocide and ethnic cleansing as typified by “From the river to the Sea”, and calls for “infidada” are now commonplace, along with nazi symbols and outright antisemitic imagery in regular use.

7LSJS delivers inspiring educational programmes

BIG QUESTIONS

mission, which is to provide an exciting and engaging Jewish education programme, and to train and develop inspirational teachers and educational leaders for our schools and communities.

Joanne Greenaway is the first female Chief Executive of LSJS and joined in 2019. She is an experienced International Arbitration lawyer and formerly Director of Get cases for the London Beth Din. A graduate of Cambridge University, she is part of Ohr Torah Stone’s International Halakha Scholars Programme and a Sacks Scholar.

1. What’s your role as CEO?

To drive strategy, oversee the direction of the organisation, provide thought leadership for the sector and inspire our team and trustees.

I ensure we’re running effectively and successfully. In my case, I am also one of our educators, alongside our Dean, Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum and Head of Adult Education, Michael Rainsbury. I also act as an ambassador for the charity.

2. Who does the charity benefit?

LSJS benefits the whole Jewish community; any teacher or educator, any adult interested in learning and any family who sends their child to a Jewish school.

We provide teacher training and the chance to train as a Primary School teacher, Primary Jewish Studies teacher or a Secondary School teacher of Jewish Studies, Maths, Science, MFL and other subject. We train the teachers educating our children every day, with 15,200 children taught daily in Jewish schools by LSJS-trained teachers. We are the UK’s only provider of Jewish education degrees.

We are also the home of adult learning, providing an environment that is challenging and text based yet accessible, innovative and open to all. As part of this we lead the way for high-level learning for women and have been doing so for over 20 years.

Our aim is to deepen Jewish engagement through teaching and learning by delivering inspiring educational programmes which transmit a lifelong love of learning and achieve excellence in teaching.

3. What are the biggest challenges for LSJS?

Having the funding to be able to do everything we want to do to fulfil our

This week we held our annual fundraising appeal and our special free event Is the Future Bright where participants are invited to join the discussion on the future of Jewish education at a time of crisis, with our educators.

We also want to ensure we remain relevant and at the forefront of the most pressing issues of the day facing the modern orthodox world. For example, we recently held a symposium on Climate

institutions and educators overseas, to provide our students with access to the best teachers in the Jewish world.

We are in our second year of the Iyun Programme, advanced halacha learning for women, which was created to meet the demand from women seeking to learn Gemara and Halacha at a high level and aims to raise the standard of women’s knowledge of the halachic process in the UK.

course on Responses to the War. We ran a threeweek learning programme for gap year students who came back from Israel due to the war, enabling them to continue their learning.

Change and Halacha which looked at aimed to bring together the worlds of Torah and science.

4. What has changed the most in the last seven years?

We have become the go-to place to train teachers for our Jewish schools, to study at both under and post graduate levels and to develop a lifelong love of Jewish learning.

Since Covid, we benefitted from the move to Zoom classes and secured a new online global audience. We have worked increasingly with leading global

In 2002, we launched the LSJS Rabbi Sacks Learning Fellowship; a year-long course for 20 young professionals from the UK and abroad, whereby fellows will learn with expert educators including Rabbi Sacks’ closest students. The course is now available to students of all ages.

The last seven years has seen us continue to thrive as a hub of Jewish educational excellence at the heart of the UK Jewish community and with a global impact.

5. How has October 7 terror attack impacted the charity?

Our connection to Israel and the Jewish people is even more critical, this is what we do through education. In the immediate aftermath of 7 October, we responded to the demand for relevant learning about the war and situation, and held a

For younger students, we ran an-in person course, in partnership with Etgar Israel, exploring the reasons and circumstances of the founding of the State of Israel, and are planning a History of Israel course for adults during our Summer term.

We are also dedicating each day of our Torah learning to a fallen soldier and hostage.

6. Are there any exciting upcoming events?

Our Dean, Rabbi Dr Raphael will be launching his book Questioning Belief, on Sunday March 17. This book responds to twelve challenging questions that confront the Torah today, questions about the veracity of its narratives, the morality of its laws, and the theology it engenders.

We have an exciting Pesach programme coming up, including How to Leave Egypt; a three-week course, Slaves and Masters; a British Museum Pesach tour and the Haggadah: What literature can ‘tell’ us.

We also have an event on The Remarkable life of Flora Sassoon, philanthropist and pioneering religious feminist, with Prof. Shalva Weil.

And of course we are recruiting for the next generation of excellent teachers for Jewish schools across the country through one of our many teachers.

7. Can you share any future plans or projects?

We will keep developing our global educational presence and continue to pave the way for high-level textual learning. We will further develop our digital offering across different platforms attracting scholars and students from across the Jewish world and ensuring that both online and in person we are a dynamic thriving hub of Jewish excellence.

Information on events and courses: www.lsjs.ac.uk or call 020 8203 6427

LSJS CEO, Joanne Greenaway

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Beyond the headlines A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read in the news

Insights from a ‘Speaking Fast’

BY SIVAN RAHAV MEIR - TRANSLATED BY YEHOSHUA SISKIN

I’m not usually one for joining initiatives, but this past Thursday was an exception. I encountered an incredibly heartfelt call from the families of the captives, supported by rabbis, urging a taanit dibbur, an hour without mundane speech, only Torah study and prayer.

In response, I shut down my electronic devices and picked up Mesillat Yesharim, a classic mussar text by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, the Ramchal. I delved into a special edition annotated with personal reflections and interpretations written by the late Hadar Goldin, whose body is still being held by Hamas in Gaza.

The Ramchal articulates in his preface that although people grasp the truth, the hustle of life often leaves them with little energy to live by it. He emphasized that the work is not about transforming ourselves as much as uncovering and being true to our deepest desires and potential, naturally reverting to our own foundational principles. Hadar Goldin noted in the margins for himself: “That’s the beauty of it! It requires effort to uncover these truths, yet, they are, in fact, deeply embedded within us.”

In relation to the fact that Mesillat Yesharim is based on a spiritual path outlined by Talmudic sage Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair, Hadar goes on to note to himself: “The Talmud recounts Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair splitting a river on his way to fulfill the mitzvah of redeeming captives, bringing them out of darkness and into light. This act, intrinsic to his being – Yair means “to illuminate” - symbolizes not just physical liberation but a spiritual journey from the confines of this world to a higher state of being, where the body becomes a vehicle for the soul’s sanctity.”

Motivated by the plight of our cherished captives in Gaza, I immersed myself in study. Hadar’s writings also served for me as a poignant reminder of the imprisoned state of our own consciousness.

From Pinchas ben Yair, through the Ramchal, to Hadar Goldin, and now to my own desk. Thank you to those behind this unique initiative, through which hundreds of thousands worldwide dedicated an hour to the captives’ welfare,

in a way that departs from the typical. I think we’d do well to try, independently, to adopt this practice occasionally, even for less than an hour.

A PICTURE THAT TELLS ONLY HALF THE STORY

Yaheli and Tsud Badichi, hailing from Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel, found themselves evacuated from their home with their five children after the massacre on Simchat Torah. Due to the urgent nature of their departure, they could only take what fit into the two red suitcases, shown in the photo. After four months living in the community of Kfar Haroeh, they prepared to move to an apartment in the Hibat Zion community, between Netanya and Hadera.

All their other possessions, accumulated over this period and which they crammed into black garbage bags, were generously provided by the community in Kfar Haroeh, along with donations from across Israel and the Jewish world. (Incidentally, the bags in the picture represent only about half of what they received!)

Understanding the challenges associated with relocating to a new apartment right before Shabbat, their new community reached out and prepared the Shabbat meals for the Badichi family and all the other evacuees, aiming to ease their transition.

SHLOMIT RESIDENTS: A TEARFUL FAREWELL ADN A GRATEFUL HOMECOMING

Translated by Janine Muller Sherr

They have every reason to despair, yet their faith keeps them strong.

During the 2005 disengagement from Gaza, they were torn from their homes in Gush Katif, tearfully warning of dire scenarios horrifyingly similar to the events of October 7th. From the sands of Gush Katif they moved to the sands of Eshkol, between Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva, where they made the desert bloom into their thriving settlement of Shlomit.

On the morning of Simchat Torah, their first-response team sprang into action to shield the neighboring town of Pri Gan. While they managed to save Pri Gan from the slaughter, four members of Shlomit tragically fell in battle.

Members of Shlomit now faced another evacuation, their homes left behind

for four long months. They sought refuge in the luxurious Cramim Resort near Jerusalem, a place where guests go to be pampered for a brief sojourn of indulgence, not extended stays exceeding 100 days.

I encountered this resilient community in the first week after Simchat Torah. Amidst the upheaval, they’d already established Torah classes for their children.

Last week marked their return home. Before leaving the hotel, they organized an event to express their gratitude to the hotel staff, from the CEO to the cleaning staff, presenting each with a gift accompanied by a card, written in three languages: Hebrew, English, and Thai.

And while they invested great efforts to clearly communicate their gratitude, their true language is that of love and of unbroken faith – and it is their faith that will carry them through this crisis.

Welcome home, residents of Shlomit. May you be blessed with peace.

LESSONS FROM CONVERTS TO JUDAISM

In the attached photo, the only one born Jewish is me. The rest converted to Judaism and made Aliyah — two entire families, one from New Zealand and the other from Maryland, USA. They’re now living in the community of Dolev, located in Samaria, northwest of Jerusalem. The cheerful young girl next to me is Elia, who is celebrating her bat mitzvah. She asked to interview me, and then I interviewed her and the others. Here’s what they shared:

“New Zealand’s lush greenery pales in comparison to Israel’s vibrant essence.” “Living outside Israel, I felt that I had no air, that only here can I breathe fully, filling my lungs.” “It’s peculiar when Israelis ask me how I could leave Maryland, or why I took it upon myself to fulfill the mitzvot. Due to the difficulties and the challenges, they sometimes take for granted the privilege of living as Jews in this land and the treasures that are to be found here.”

We recently read in the Torah about Yitro, who chose to convert and join the nation of Israel. Similarly, in Shir HaMaalot we read: “Then it was said among the nations: ‘The Lord has done

great things for them.’” Only afterwards, in the next verse, do we read: “The Lord has done great things for us, we were joyful.” Sometimes other nations see from the outside the greatness and the significance of what happens to us, and only then do we acknowledge it as well.

I believe that engaging with those who have converted to Judaism reminds us to shed the dust of complacency and reconnect with our identity.

To our nation’s newest members, thank you and mazal tov! Your journey enriches us all.

HAVDALAH AT TIMES SQUARE

Last Saturday night, thousands of Jewish teenagers from all over the world attended a Havdalah event in Times Square, capping a massive Chabad Teen Shabbat. The following is a report from a participant:

“Two brothers who were rescued from the Nova Festival went on stage and movingly recited a chapter of Tehillim, and we all repeated after them. After that, the entire crowd cried out together to free the hostages, as photos of each hostage were shown on the huge screen. The speakers exhorted the youth that as each one returns home, to Toronto, Texas or Tel Aviv, they should see themselves as an emissary.

“The way I see it, though, the highlight was the Havdalah itself. I have never felt the words of the prayer so strongly: ‘Who distinguishes between holy and profane, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations…’ Wishing all a good week.”

IT’S SOON PURIM – SMILE!

Dear Rabbi

I know it’s not Purim yet but we’re all hopefully getting in the spirit. Can I dare ask you to share with readers one of the funniest stories that you’ve ever heard? We can all use some light relief at the moment.

Zelda

Dear Zelda

An estate agent, typically looking to schmooze his client, sent her flowers upon completion of a new home. They arrived at the new home with a card that read: “Rest in Peace.” The client was naturally angry and called to complain. The estate agent contemplated a moment and reflected on the other elderly client who just passed away and to whose widow he also sent flowers: “Look, I’m really sorry for the mistake, but if it’s any consolation, think about this. Somewhere there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying, “Congratula tions on your new home.”

THE GOLDEN CALVES IN OUR LIVES

Dear Rabbi

I teach a Bible class and the question about the Golden Calf came up this week (as it’s what we’re reading in the Torah). I have never been able to offer a reasonable explanation for how the Jews could make the calf after experiencing so many miracles. I’m turning to you for some insight if I may.

Simon

Dear Simon

You know how they say, “you can never have too much of a good thing?” It would seem the Jews in the desert certainly did. They had an abundance of good things but alas the biggest problem in life – whether society, in relationships, at work, in fact in virtually every dimension of our existence is that familiarity breeds contempt. Truth be told there is no such thing as too much of a good thing other than the insatiable character it carves out

Thus, even as you are here, you are already looking to see what’s out there such that you never get to thoroughly enjoy the here – you never learn to live in the moment and to appreciate what you have now. Our desires always disappoint us because even when we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, it never thoroughly answers our expectation.

One of the great undiscovered joys of life comes from recognising that your given set of circumstances is where you are meant to be – there’s a treasure to be unearthed in doing everything you can and to the best of your ability where you are now.

I believe that we all have golden calves. Not objects but images. The image of being something that we are not; the image appearing more beautiful, the image of being happier than we might already be.

When you pause long enough to simply look around you and take in the scene – of people who cherish your love, of a workplace that values your input, of an endeavour that necessitates your expertise, of a project that requires your enthusiasm – then you’ll appreciate that this is where I am, this is where I can make my difference, this is where I can discover meaning and lasting satisfaction.

better filtered through, and you’ll have that “aha” moment!

The specialist masons in creating bespoke Granite and Marble Memorials for all Cemeteries.

Sometimes the problem with having too much of a good thing is system overload. You know how you lose something and you then go searching for it, what is it people say? “It’s always in the last place you look!” Why do they say that? Of course, it’s in the last place you will have looked. It’s not as if you will have found it and then kept on looking!

But the reason it takes longer than expected to normally find where you put those car keys is because in that initial state of panic when you realise something of importance is missing, all the many places you think it may be come rushing to the fore and your brain is then one big mumble-jumble of ideas, and so you are confused. It is only when you take time out – step back and relax the mind that everything then falls into sequence and your brain will then systematically process and focus on each place you visited before you realised it missing.

Authors, script writers, lecturers, even Rabbis when having to deliver talks will tell you that sometimes so many ideas come crashing on the shores of one’s creativity that the brain just jams to a halt. You need to totally distract yourself with something altogether disconnected so that the structure of ideas can then be

The Jews in the desert were being plied with miracle upon miracle. It was a system overload such that they couldn’t pause long enough to focus on the individual blessings in their lives. So, they make a golden calf. And G-d’s response is that He is withdrawing Himself from them. Maybe it wasn’t so much a punishment as a means for time out. In the vacuum they could better appreciate what once filled the void.

The message to you and me is it is often precisely when so many things are going well at once that we lose perspective and as soon as one or more of those things don’t go to plan – we throw in the towel and get ready to move onto something else. That, as the Jews in the desert came to discover, is a recipe for disaster.

Take time out – focus on each dimension of your life. Learn to appreciate each moment in its own right and within its own context. We navigate the highs and lows on the graph of life but our objective is to stay focussed throughout. Appreciate the miracles of everyday, learn to enjoy every minute, live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment, and discover the blessings within.

Ki Tisa: A Four-Year Revolution

BY RABBI MOSHE TARAGIN

Four years ago, the world shifted. Beginning in March 2020, humanity suffered a worldwide pandemic which took close to 7 million lives. The Covid-19 outbreak upended our routines, and disrupted our lives, our professional careers, our education, our social interactions, and our travel. We all assumed that this devastating pandemic would be the life-altering episode of our generation, the stories we would convey to incredulous grandchildren. Little did we know that just over three years later an even greater earth-shattering event would rock the foundations of Jewish identity. The tragedy of October 7th dwarfs the shock of the Corona virus. After October 7t, who even mentions the Covid pandemic anymore? October 7th and our responses to this catastrophe will shape our generation’s identity. Of course, only Hashem knows what else is in store for us in the future.

During a short, four-year interval, we experienced two overwhelming upheavals, each of which inflicted tragic loss of life. Understandably, during the past few months we were more attuned to our own losses but, unfortunately, there is too much unnecessary death on both sides. It is almost impossible to discriminate between innocent Gazan civilians and the overwhelming majority of Gazans who collaborated with Hamas. Our soldiers discovered Hamas paraphernalia and munitions in almost every civilian home. Yet, there are many totally innocent people who have been caught in the crossfire of this just and moral war. Such is the horrid legacy of terror. It kills indiscriminately.

Both of these cataclysms have left us with questions of faith. Why does Hashem allow a pandemic to take innocent lives? How could He allow such widespread suffering? How could He have permitted October 7th to unfold? Isn’t life in Israel meant to be different, immune to the suffering and persecution we endured in exile? The world around us is swirling, and our minds are spinning.

Religious people respond to a crisis with faith, prayers, and good deeds. We respond to aggression and genocidal violence with greater unity of spirit and of action. In the wake of these two overpowering moments, however, we must also adjust our religious voices. These two mega-events taught us that we don’t possess all the answers and we must articulate our faith, our religion, and our hopes for Israel in a more unpretentious and humble voice.

UNDER A BOULDER

Moshe Rabeinu thought that he completely understood Hashem. He had a front row seat to a series of 10 awe-inspiring miracles which liberated a nation of slaves. Moshe had split the seas and ascended the heavens. After the terrible debacle of the golden calf, he fervently prayed for our forgiveness and rescued an entire people from possible extinction. When Moshe’s request for penitence was granted, it all seemed to make sense. During these heady months of revelation, Moshe had discovered that Hashem, the G-d of Creation, was also the G-d of history, the G-d of law, and the G-d of mercy and compassion.

Having discovered these basic tenets of monotheism, Moshe lodged an ambitious request of G-d: “Show me Your essence and teach me Your ways”. Moshe wanted to study the deeper essence of Hashem.

Hashem’s response signaled to Moshe that his request was impossible to grant. The human imagination cannot possibly comprehend the divine mystery. Hashem is fundamentally different from human experience and His wisdom and motives lie beyond human reach.

As Moshe sheltered under a large boulder Hashem passed before him and cautioned Moshe that Man can never “see” G-d, nor can he completely grasp Him. From his obscured view “under the boulder” Moshe could only peek at Hashem’s “back” and not His essence. He is only granted a fleeting glimpse of Hashem.

the Oct. 7th boulder. Each of these humbling catastrophes has taught us to speak less boldly and less confidently. We need to discover a voice of uncertainty and humility.

Life in the modern world infused us with too much confidence. Technology, democ racy, capitalism, and science all empowered us toward greater op timism and greater confidence. Our opinions were too overconfi dent, and Covid-19 dealt a crush ing reminder about the limits of modern culture. It helped us replace our voice of confidence with a voice of vulnerability.

Life in Israel over the past 20 years was even more empowering and even more confidence-infusing. During this period of dizzying and euphoric success our population soared, our economy boomed, and we formed strategic peace alliances with numerous Arab neighbors. Dubbed a start-up nation we became the envy of the world. Israeli know-how and technology enabled us to desalinate sea water and made us naively assume that we could build an impenetrable wall to protect us from our murderous neighbors.

Our confidence has now been shattered. The Arab world isn’t yet ready to embrace us and the world at large is still not ready to allow us to live peacefully in our homeland.

be rash with your feelings, because G-d inhabits Heaven, and you live below on Earth. Therefore, your words should be few”. Over the past four years, Heaven and the ways of Hashem have seemed more distant than ever. Under these conditions we must speak less, and when we do speak, we should voice our opinions with greater humility and less certainty.

Of course, faith outlasts any event on this earth, as tragic and horrific as it may be. My revered mentor, HaRav Aharon Lichtenstein remarked that faith should be so sturdy that you are capable of being the last Jew to walk out of Auschwitz and still maintain your faith. Faith provides certainty and hope, especially during dark times. However, just because we are faithful doesn’t mean we have all the answers. If anything, faith enables us to live under the weight of unanswerable questions. Faith allows us to embrace the unknown, but not to assume that we know everything.

Of course, as G-d doesn’t have a back this phrase is merely a metaphor. The Hebrew word for back is “achorai”, which alludes to the conclusion of a process, rather than its inception. By declaring that Man can only glimpse His “back”, Hashem assured Moshe that ultimately, when history concludes, divine actions will make logical sense. Until then, they will remain mysterious and cryptic. Hiding under a boulder, the greatest prophet learned that G-d is unknowable.

UNDER TWO BOULDERS

The past four years we have lived under two boulders: the Corona boulder and

Viewing our presence in Israel through a religious lens provides a further boost of confidence. Redemption is an essential tenet of Jewish belief. History has a predetermined endpoint, pivoted upon the restoration of our people to their ancient homeland. So much of the past 75 years in Israel appeared to sync with our prophetic expectations. It was obvious that Jewish history was veering toward its pre-programmed endpoint. Absolutely certain that we “knew” the arc and timelines of history we spoke with confidence and conviction. Everything seemed to be humming along, until Oct 7th.

FEW WORDS

In Kohelet Shlomo Hamelech writes “Don’t speak impetuously and don’t

We must learn to better calibrate our voices between faith and uncertainty. We don’t have all the answers. We know the general trajectory of history but cannot guarantee every step of the process.

More humility and less conviction. More modesty and less confidence. After four years and two heavy boulders our voice must be less presumptuous. Hopefully, this chaotic four-year revolution will provide us all with a more measured and mature voice.

The writer is a rabbi at Yeshivat Har Etzion/Gush, a hesder yeshiva. He has smicha and a BA in computer science from Yeshiva University as well as a masters degree in English literature from the City University of New York.

A two-stage sin Weekly Dvar Torah FROM ERETZ YISRAEL

BY RABBI MENACHEM LEIBTAG

Despite the severity of the sin of the Golden Calf, it’s important to notice that G-d only becomes angry on the day after it is formed. This point, together with the fact that Moshe doesn’t accuse Aharon of sinning, he only asks his brother – what caused you to do something that caused the people to sin (see 32:21) – suggests that the primary sin must have been how the calf was worshiped. When comparing the celebration on that ‘next day’ (32:5–6) to the parallel celebration at Mt. Sinai some forty days earlier when Am Yisrael declared “na’aseh v’nishma” (24:4–11) – it becomes quite clear that the key difference is the final phrase “vayakumu l’tzachek” (32:6,7) – suggesting that the celebration concluded with ‘frivolous’ behavior and wild dancing.

It may have been even worse if we note G-d’s initial instruction of Moshe: “go down for your people have gone astray” (32:7). This is the same verb that the Torah used in Sefer Bereishit to describe the behavior of society before the Flood (6:11–12) which included terrible corruption and crime.

To further support this – note Yehoshua’s initial reaction to the ‘loud noise’ that he heard:

“Yehoshua heard the sound of the people b’rayo – screaming loudly, and said to Moshe: there are sounds of war in the camp. But Moshe answered – these are not the sounds of triumphs… they are simply sounds [of wildness] that I hear.”

(32:18)

Because of this behavior, G-d concludes that Bnei Yisrael have not changed their ways, as they have reverted to their Egyptian ways and customs. The events at chet haEgel, which had started with good intentions, quickly turned into wild and out-of-control behavior, revealing deep down nothing had changed.

Based on the terms of the ‘Ten Commandments’, G-d should punish them harshly and immediately, but Moshe ‘saves the nation’ by breaking the “luchot” – thus breaking the original contract. Afterward, Moshe will argue for a ‘new contract’ which will include G-d’s attributes of mercy – thus enabling Am Yisrael to remain G-d’s people, even though they may continue to sin.

Bnei Yisrael’s sin at chet haEgel had two

Ki Tissa

1st Aliya (Kohen) – Shemot 30:11-31:17

G-d instructs Moshe (Moses) to take a census. Instead of counting people, each man over 20 will give a half-shekel coin towards the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle); the census will be based on the money collected. G-d instructs Moshe to make a copper washing basin (kiyor) for the Kohanim. Moshe is to make anointing oil to anoint Aharon, his sons, and the vessels of the Mishkan. G-d tells Moshe to make incense (ketoret) from specific spices, to be offered twice daily. G-d designates Betzalel to supervise the construction of the Mishkan and tells

Moshe to again instruct the people about keeping Shabbat.

Point to Consider: Why is the mitzvah to keep Shabbat restated specifically here?

(see Rashi to 31:13)

2nd Aliya (Levi) – 31:18-33:11

According to Rashi, the narrative moves back in time to the aftermath of the giving of the Torah. Moshe has been on Mount Sinai for 40 days. The people calculate that Moshe is late returning. Fearing he is dead, they decide to fashion and worship a golden calf (see Rashi). G-d threatens to wipe out the nation, but Moshe successfully pleads with Him to relent. When Moshe sees the calf, he throws down and breaks the two stone Tablets (Luchot). Moshe burns the calf and instructs the tribe of Levi to kill the sinners. Moshe asks G-d to forgive the nation. G-d responds that He will no longer lead the people; an angel will lead them through the desert instead.

3rd Aliya (Shlishi) – 33:12-16

Moshe appeals to G-d to directly ‘accompany’ the nation and requests that

stages. The first – making a physical representation of G-d – though improper was understandable. The second – the frivolous behavior after the ceremony – was inexcusable.

These two stages are reflected in G-d’s ‘double statement’ to Moshe in the aftermath of this sin (32:7–10).

1) G-d’s first statement:

“And G-d spoke to Moshe: Hurry down, for your people have acted basely… they have turned astray from the way that I commanded them – they made an ‘egel masecha’ [a representation of Me]...”

2) G-d’s second statement:

“And G-d spoke to Moshe: I see this nation, behold it is an “am k’sheh oref” [a stiff-necked people]. Now, allow Me, and I will kindle My anger against them and I will destroy them and I will make you a great nation [instead].”

G-d’s first statement describes the act that began with good intentions but was nonetheless forbidden [Shemot 20:19 – “lo ta’asun iti elohei kesef…”].Though requiring rebuke and forgiveness (see 32:30), this sin didn’t warrant the destruction of the entire nation.

G-d’s second statement reacts to

“vayakumu l’tzachek,” i.e. their frivolous behavior, indicating a regression to Egyptian culture. Concluding that they are a ‘stiff-necked people’ resistant to change, G-d decides to destroy Bnei Yisrael, selecting Moshe as His chosen nation instead.

The punishment for Bnei Yisrael mirrors the two stages of their transgression. Initially, the three thousand instigators responsible for the licentious behavior (stage 2) are killed without forgiveness (32:26–29). However, on the next day, Moshe pleads with G-d to forgive the rest of the nation (32:30–32) as their actions, starting with good intentions (stage 1), warrant pardon despite their sin.

Rabbi Shalom Rosner is a Rebbe at Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh and Rabbi of the Nofei HaShemesh community. He is a member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau (www.mizrachi.org/speakers).

Israel retain a special status. G-d agrees to both requests (Rashi).

4th Aliya (Revi’i) – 33:17-23

Moshe asks G-d to show him a vision of His divine majesty. G-d responds that no mortal can see a ‘full view’ and live, but He will show Moshe a glimpse of His presence.

5th Aliya (Chamishi) – 34:1-9

G-d instructs Moshe to carve a new set of Tablets, containing the same words as the first set. Moshe ascends Mount Sinai with the new Tablets. G-d appears to Moshe and teaches him the 13 Attributes of Mercy. Moshe appeals to G-d to bestow His full guidance and protection upon Israel.

6th Aliya (Shishi) – 34:10-26

G-d tells Moshe that He is making a covenant with the people. After entering the Land of Israel, they must not follow the idolatrous ways of the Cana’anite nations. The mitzvah of coming to the Temple with an offering for the three festivals (Pesach, Shavuot and Succot) is

restated, as well as the mitzvah to redeem a firstborn male child (pidyon ha’ben) and not to mix meat and milk.

7th Aliya (Shevi’i) – 34:27-35

Moshe descends with the new Tablets, his face radiating with light. He has to cover his face with a mask when speaking to the people.

Haftarah

Taken from the Book of Kings, the haftarah records the heroic deeds of Eliyahu (Elijah) the Prophet, who stood up to the idolatrous King Achav (Ahab) and Queen Izevel (Jezabel). The conflict reached a climax when Eliyahu challenged the 450 prophets of Baal to bring offerings to their god. Eliyahu would make an offering to Hashem. The offering that would be consumed by fire would indicate the authentic deity. In full public view, G-d responded to Eliyahu’s prayers and sent down a fire to consume his offering, after which the people called out twice “Hashem – He is the G-d”.

Family Fun Ki Tissa

Moshe is up the mountain receiving the Torah from Hashem, and learns about the Ketores, spices that were to be brought every day in the Mishkan, as well as the Kiyor - the large container of water for the Kohanim to use to wash their hands when arriving in the Mishkan to serve Hashem.

When Moshe is about to come down the mountain with the Luchos he is saddened to see the Jewish people dancing around an Egel - golden calf. Sadly, there were groups among the Jewish People, who thought it wise to create an image to serve in place of Moshe. As good as their

Word Search

intentions may have been, the second of the ten commandments may never be transgressed.

So, sadly the Luchos were broken, and the pieces were placed in the Aron.

Now, the Jewish people are taught about some of the laws of the three main Chagim and the ban

on mixing meat and milk. The journey of the Jewish People through the Midbar continues.

Parasha Stats

Facts about Parashat Ki Tissa

Number of Lines - 245

Number of Verses - 139

Number of Words - 2,002

Number of Letters - 7,424

Jewish Riddle

This week’s Question: In Parashat Terumah, it speaks of the components and vessels of the Mishkan/ Tabernacle. Three of the items are spelled with the same letters, just in different orders. What are these items?

Last week’s Answer: What are the names of TWO sets of Grandfather - Grandson mentioned in the weekday Shemoneh Esrei?

Answer: Avraham and Yaakov-in the 1st bracha, and Adam and Enosh-in the 4th bracha ("Ata Chonen"). In the 4th bracha - it does not actually refer to the people Adam and Enoshrather these are two synonyms for "human beings."

Email your name, age, where you live and the answer to office@thejewishweekly.com! Next week’s paper will feature the answer and will mention one person who gave the correct answer!

Using all the shapes, can you make the shape on the right?

Tangram Challenge! Word Wheel

The goal of a word wheel puzzle is to create as many words possible with the letters in the word wheel. Each word must contain at least three letters. You can only use each letter once and every word must have the letter in the centre of the wheel.

Last edition’s words

Here are some words you may have found from last week – you may have found more!

Jokes Riddles

Q: What do librarians take with them when they go fishing?

A: Bookworms!

Q: What did one wall say to the other wall?

A: “I will meet you at the corner!”

Q: What did one toilet say to the other?

A: “You look a bit flushed!”

Q: Why was the broom late?

A: It over swept!

1. What two things wouldn’t you eat after waking up in the morning?

2. What is easy to get into, but hard to get out of?

3. Why can’t someone living in Manchester be buried in London?

EXPERT ADVICE

How involved and aware do I need to be when considering a transaction in Israel real estate?

Last week we looked at understanding due diligence, financial analysis and physical inspection. This week we will continue looking at compiance and permits and risk mitigation.

Compliance and Permits

Israeli real estate is subject to strict regulations and permits, including zoning laws, land-use restrictions, and environmental regulations. Due diligence involves verifying whether the property complies with these regulations and has obtained the necessary permits for construction, renovations, or land development. Failing to comply with these requirements can result in legal complications, delays, financial penalties, and lower evaluations (which will affect sale value or mortgage availability).

Risk Mitigation

One of the primary purposes of due diligence is to identify and mitigate risks associated with the real estate transaction. By thoroughly investigating the property, its legal status, and potential liabilities, buyers and investors can make informed decisions and negotiate favorable terms. Furthermore, due diligence allows parties to renegotiate or back out of a deal if significant issues are uncovered, protecting their interests and minimizing financial and legal risks.

For all these reasons, investing time and resources into due diligence is a critical step towards a smooth and successful real estate transaction in Israel. Real estate lawyers in Israel are qualified to carry out all the steps mentioned above in the purchase process, which is why it is crucial to utilize a real estate attorney to handle your transaction.

Yair Givati

Dear Jacob

I’m a local mortgage and insurance broker and keep hearing about the FCA Consumer Duty recently. Are you able to explain what this is about and what I need to do?

Abe

Hi Abe,

The FCA’s aim with Consumer Duty is to establish a higher and clearer standard of care for the services you provide.

The FCA added a twelfth Principle to their Consumer Principles, which says that firms are required to deliver good outcomes for customers. This means that firms must act in good faith, avoid causing foreseeable harm, and enable and support customers to pursue their financial objectives, (among other obligations).

More specifically for mortgage and insurance brokers, Richdale advise that the Consumer Duty requires you to:

1. Fully consider your customer’s needs, as well as the costs and risks involved.

2. Obtain from your providers, clear information and a clear understanding of each product’s target market, costs and benefits, prices and fees, and fair value assessment.

3. Provide your customers with clear and transparent information to enable them to make informed choices and understand the costs involved.

4. Have appropriate controls in place to protect your customers from fraud and financial crime.

5. Provide appropriate support to meet your customers’ needs. This includes for example, ensuring your customers don’t face unreasonable barriers to make a complaint or to change products.

6. Support vulnerable customers, by (for example) helping and encouraging them to contact providers for support and helping them understand the types of debt help or money guidance that may be available.

Whilst all of these responsibilities should already be met by brokers who strictly adhere to a clear, orderly and transparent Advisory and Operational Process, the Consumer Duty makes such a process more prescriptive than ever.

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and let us plan

Anglo Community | Magnificent parks, leisure and bike paths | Quick access to Tel Aviv by train

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40,000+